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Abstract Background During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the simultaneous detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Influenza A, and Influenza B viruses is essential for rapid differential diagnosis in patients with similar symptoms, especially during “flu season” in the post-pandemic era. So far, several multiplex methods have been approved for the simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, and Influenza B. However, due to the rapid mutation rate of the SARS-CoV-2 genome and the emergence of new variants, existing methods must be improved and updated. Methods To identify a highly conserved region in the SARS-CoV-2 N-gene, a genomic survey was performed to increase the sensitivity and specificity of primer and probe sets targeting the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The 95% LLOD (95% lower limits of detection) were calculated by probit analysis. A total of 70 predetermined clinical samples using singleplex RT-qPCR assays, were included. The clinical performance of the multiplex RT-qPCR assay was determined and compared with a commercial multiplex kit. The Cohen’s kappa coefficient, P-value (McNemar’s test), Passing-Bablok regression, and Bland Altman agreement analysis were determined to monitor the agreement of the assays. Results The novel SARS-CoV-2 primer and probe set designed in this assay was able to detect all variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs) with high analytical and clinical performance. The 95% LLOD for the multiplex RT-qPCR was 20 copies per reaction for the N gene of SARS-CoV-2, 2 copies per reaction for M1 gene of Influenza A and NS1 gene of Influenza B. The diagnostic sensitivity of the multiplex RT-qPCR was 94.4%, 93.7%, and 100% for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, and Influenza B genomes, respectively. Moreover, the specificity was identical (100%) in both assays. According to the agreement analysis results, there was no statistical difference between our multiplex assay and the commercial kit. Conclusions In this study, we developed a novel in-house made multiplex RT-qPCR assay, with high sensitivity, specificity, and reliability for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical samples. This is valuable during Influenza seasons when influenza co-circulates with SARS-CoV-2, as it saves costs, time, and thus specific and timely treatment of patients.

This study provides an applied method to estimate the land sensitivity of wind erosion in the Hamoun-e Baringak Sistan, as an ephemeral lake. Due to the wide extent of the sources of dust and sand production in Sistan, finding areas that are prone to wind erosion is of paramount importance in prioritizing stabilization. For this purpose, indices of transport rate (erodibility), soil shear strength, and SAVI were conducted. To investigate the land erodibility to aeolian transport, 74 graduated pins were embedded randomly in the ephemeral Baringak Lake bed and the aeolian transport rates were measured for the total study period. The shear strength of the soil surface was measured using Torvane. The vegetation canopy density was extracted from digital images using the SAVI index. The results showed that there is a very significant relationship (1%) between soil shear strength and SAVI indices with transport rates. It means that this proposed method may be also applied to estimate land sensitivity in environments instead of threshold friction velocity of wind erosion in the field. Comparison of the results of regression model estimation with transport rates in the field were significant.

Introduction Heterogeneity of collateralization in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a marker of fast versus slow progression of penumbral consumption and infarct expansion. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between time‐dependent stroke progression and incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and acute neurological deficits. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients presenting with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO)‐associated AIS at our comprehensive stroke center with 24 hours last known normal (LKN) who underwent endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) without intra‐arterial thrombolytics or non‐thrombolytics were included. We used Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) on initial non‐contrast CT to identify slow versus fast progressors. ASPECTS 7 and

Introduction Vertebral artery asymmetry due to hypoplasia or early termination is common in the general population with 50% left dominance, 25% right dominance, and 25% codominance. Our aim was to identify if an association exists between vertebral artery dominance and incidence of embolic basilar artery occlusion. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients presenting to our comprehensive stroke center with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to embolic basilar artery occlusion were reviewed. Artery‐to‐artery occlusions related to athersclerotic steno‐occlusive disease or proximal dissection with distal thromboembolism were excluded. Successful recanalization was identified as a modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2b and 3. Fisher exact test statistic was used to assess for significant differences in recanalization. Social science statistics software was used for data analysis. Results From May 2017 to November 2019, 29 patients with acute basilar occlusions undergoing thrombectomy were identified. Acute basilar artery occlusion patients had a dominant right vertebral artery (31%, n = 9), codominant vertebral arteries (31%, n = 9) and dominant left vertebral artery (38%, n = 11). Successful recanalization of TICI 2b or higher was achieved in 89.6% (n = 26). Difference between successful recanalization and right or left vertebral artery dominance was not statistically significant (Fisher exact test statistic value 0.48). Conclusions Our study suggests a higher proportion of our patients presenting with basilar artery occlusion had right vertebral artery dominance or codominant pattern. Larger, studies are needed to validate our results.

Sand dunes are one of the most dynamic geomorphic features of the earth's surface. Accordingly, identifying the factors affecting the mobility of sands and predicting their future status is essential to control dust. The study area was selected due to the location of Sabzevar city in the busiest railway line of the country, and the condition of sand dunes around this city. For this purpose, after calculating the percentage of erosive winds and drought index, the Lancaster index based on the average annual rainfall ratio and annual potential evapotranspiration for the period of 1990-2016 was calculated for analysis of sand dunes' mobility status. To predict the effect of climate change on the mobility of sand dunes, a sensitivity analysis test was carried out. The results show that the values ​​of the Lancaster index in this station did not show the inactive status in this span time period. The results of the analysis of the relationship between drought index and mobility of sand dunes show a significant effect of drought on the mobility and activity of sand dunes. Finally, the results of sensitivity analysis showed that if the frequency of erosive winds and evapotranspiration potential increases by 30%, the activity of sand dunes in the Sabzevar station will increase by 38%. Also, due to the potential of solid particles in creating dust, the location of sand dunes, and the study of local dust at Sabzevar station, the priority is to stabilize the hills located in the east of the study area.

Abstract Background Esophageal leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare tumor that constitutes less than 1% of all malignant esophageal tumors. Concurrent occurrence of esophageal leiomyosarcoma with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is even rarer than isolated leiomyosarcoma. Case presentation In this report, we present a case of concurrent leiomyosarcoma and SCC in a 64-year-old woman presenting with vomiting and solid dysphagia, which has not been properly diagnosed following several referrals and diagnostic modalities. At last Exploratory laparotomy with gastric pull-up was performed in addition to radical laryngectomy with partial resection of the esophagus and subtotal thyroidectomy. Pathologic evaluation of the surgical specimen showed concurrent LMS (5.2 × 4.5 × 3 cm) and SCC (1.5 × 0.6 × 0.6 cm) at the same anatomical level in the proximal esophagus. Conclusions This study proposes the importance of using ancillary diagnostic tests such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) to diagnose less common cases such as concurrent LMS and SCC.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently the most important etiological agent of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with millions of infections and deaths in the last two years worldwide. Several reasons and parameters are responsible for the difficult management of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients; the first is virus behavioral factors such as high transmission rate, and the different molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathogenesis remain a matter of controversy, is another factor. Summary: In the present review, we attempted to explain about features of SARS-COV-2, particularly focusing on the various aspects of pathogenesis and treatment strategies. Key Messages: We note evidence for the understanding of the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, which can help design the appropriate drug or vaccine. Additionally, and importantly, we reported the updated issues associated with the history and development of treatment strategies such as, drugs, vaccines, and other medications that have been approved or under consideration in clinics and markets worldwide.

مقدمه: با وجود استفاده‌ی گسترده، پوشش پروتئینی پایین و الگوهای اسمیری، از مهم‌ترین موانع بازدارنده برای استفاده از مطالعات پروتئومیک مبتنی بر ژل در بررسی‌های بالینی می‌باشد. بنابراین، در این مطالعه تلاش شد تا پوشش نمایه‌ی دو بعدی پروتئوم رده‌ی سلولی Hs578T، متعلق به سرطان پستان افزایش یابد و تأثیر کارآمدی روش‌های مرسوم حذف مداخله‌گرهای غیر پروتئینی در افزایش تعداد پروتئین‌ها در نمایه‌ی دو بعدی ارزیابی گردد. روش‌ها: سلول‌های رده‌ی Hs578T، به منظور استخراج عصاره‌ی خام سلولی، در بافر لیز مناسب تیمار شدند. عصاره‌های سلولی حاصل از استخراج‌های متعدد، با هم همگن و در حجم‌های یکسان تقسیم شدند و در سه تکرار، با روش‌های استون، استون- متانول و تری‌کلرواستیک اسید (Trichloroacetic acid یا TCA)- استون خالص گشتند. سپس، پروتئوم خالص تهیه شده از هر روش، در یک بافر بازآب‌رسانی استاندارد حل شد و بر روی نوارهای Immobilized pH gradient (IPG) 17 سانتی‌متری بارگذاری گشت. پس از تفکیک ایزوالکتریک در بعد اول، محتوای پروتئوم، یک ‌بار دیگر در سیستم الکتروفورز O'Farrell نیز مورد تفکیک الکتروفورتیک قرار گرفت. در نهایت، پس از ظهور نقاط پروتئینی در نمایه‌ی دو بعدی، تصاویر حاصل با استفاده از نرم‌افزار ImageMaster به ‌صورت کمی- کیفی تحلیل شدند. یافته‌ها: بازده‌ بازیابی پروتئوم، برای روش‌های استون، استون- متانول و TCA- استون به‌ ترتیب 001/0 ± 100/0، 002/0 ± 070/0 و 005/0 ± 120/0 نانوگرم به ازای هر سلول محاسبه شد. آنالیز تصویر نیز حضور 9 ± 1299 نقطه‌ی پروتئینی را در نمایه‌‌ی دو بعدی تخلیص‌ شده با استون نشان داد که این تعداد برای تخلیص با استون- متانول و TCA- استون به ترتیب 14 ± 1698 و 17 ± 1973 بود. نتایج از سه اندازه‌گیری جداگانه به دست آمد. نتیجه‌گیری: آماده‌سازی نمونه‌ها با روش TCA- استون، نه تنها بالاترین بازده ‌بازیابی پروتئین را دارد؛ بلکه، پوشش پروتئومی بهتری را نیز ارایه می‌دهد. بنابراین، این روش برای مطالعات پروتئومیک مقایسه‌ای توصیه می‌گردد. با این وجود، تخلیص با استون- متانول، با توجه به ارایه‌ی نقاط پروتئینی قوی‌تر، برای مطالعات سرولوژیکی پروتئوم پیشنهاد می‌گردد.

Shifting aeolian dunes damage to infrastructure in Sistan plain. Accordingly, distribution, morphology and fixed and unfixed status of sand dunes in erosive corridors were surveyed by using satellite images and field investigation. Mean wind velocity, average seasonal and annual sand drift potential, resultant drift direction, resultant drift potential and unidirectional index (RDP/DP) were calculated using hourly wind speed and direction data in six meteorological stations around Sistan plain. In addition, temporal and spatial variation of wind energy were mapped using Kriging geostatistical method. The results show that activity of sand dunes matched wind of 120 days which lifted sediment from the dry beds of Hamoun Lake into 4 erosive corridors based on topography which forms Registan sand seas in the southwest Afghanistan. The types of dunes are Barchans, transvers and sheet which is formed by unidirectional wind. The DP decreased from northwest to southeast of region and the value of drift potential in Zabol station was calculated 2516 vector unit that it is one of the highest values in inland deserts of the world.

BackgroundThe current study assessed a recently developed resuscitation protocol for bleeding trauma patients called the Targeted Transfusion Protocol (TTP) and compared its results with those of the standard Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP).MethodsPer capita utilization of blood products such as packed red blood cells (RBCs), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and platelet concentrates was compared along with mortality rates during two 6-month periods, one in 2011 (when the standard MTP was followed) and another in 2014 (when the TTP was used). In the TTP, patients were categorized into three groups based on the presence of head injuries, long bone fractures, or penetrating injuries involving the trunk, extremities, or neck who were resuscitated according to separate algorithms. All cases had experienced motor vehicle accidents and had injury severity scores over 16.ResultsNo statistically significant differences were observed between the study groups at hospital admission. Per capita utilization of RBC (4.76 ± 0.92 vs. 3.37 ± 0.55; P = 0.037), FFP (3.71 ± 1.00 vs. 2.40 ± 0.52; P = 0.025), and platelet concentrate (1.18 ± 0.30 vs. 0.55 ± 0.18; P = 0.006) blood products were significantly lower in the TTP epoch. Mortality rates were similar between the two study periods (P = 0.74).ConclusionsIntroduction of the TTP reduced the requirements for RBCs, FFP, and platelet concentrates in severely injured trauma patients.

Introduction: Trauma has been recognized as one of the leading causes of death in many countries for decades. Reduction in mortality and morbidity rate of trauma cases is one of the most important attitudes in this field. Evaluation of different risk factors have been considered as the main goal of some studies. The purpose of this study was determining potential risk factors of death in trauma patients. Method: In a retrograde study, data of 740 patients admitted during three years (2009-2011) were studied. Demographic data (sex and age), clinical factors (blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, Glasgow coma scale (GCS)), trauma characteristics (location, type of injury, etc.), as well as outcome of patients were evaluated. Data analyses was done using SPSS 18.0. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis was used for recognition of independent predictive factors of death in multiple trauma patients. Results: Of those admitted, majority of patients were male (81.4%), 68% between 18 to 60 years, and 11.2% of them died during the course of treatment. Age; type of trauma; abnormal respiration rate, pulse rate, blood pressure; total GCS ≤8; abnormal pupil size; and head and neck; vertebral, and extremities fractures were obtained as significant predictive factor of death. GCS≤8, head and neck fracture, and abnormal pulse rate were independent death predictors. Conclusion: We identified GCS≤8, head and neck fracture, and abnormal pulse rate as predictive factors of mortality after trauma, which remained independent in the presence of all other factors and potentially treatable.

Background: Poisoning with paraquat (PQ) is highly fatal. In this study; demographic and clinical characteristics of a series of patients with acute PQ poisoning treated at two university hospitals in Shiraz, Iran are presented and predictive factors for mortality are analyzed. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study on consecutive PQ poisoned patients admitted to Shoushtari and Ali Asghar hospitals in Shiraz, Iran during 21st March 2012 to 20th March 2013. To find out predictive factors for mortality, independent variables were compared between death and survival using Fisher’s exact test. To determine the factors that had the strongest impact on mortality, logistic regression analysis was done. Results: Fifty-two patients (73.1% men) were included with mean age of 28.2 ± 10.3 years. The most common clinical findings were nausea and vomiting (88.5%), pharyngeal congestion (82.7%), epigastric pain (80.8%), increased creatinine (57.7%), increased liver enzymes (53.8%) and metabolic acidosis (53.8%). The volume of poison ingested was significantly higher in deceased compared to survived patients (P < 0.001). Death was significantly higher in patients with pharyngeal congestion (P = 0.001), respiratory distress (P < 0.001), loss of consciousness (P = 0.025), increased creatinine (P < 0.001), increased liver enzymes (P < 0.001), metabolic acidosis (P < 0.001), increased bilirubin (P < 0.001), respiratory acidosis (P = 0.001), increased INR (P = 0.023), suicidal intention (P < 0.001), and oral exposure (P = 0.047). After putting these factors to logistic regression model, only respiratory distress, increased bilirubin, increased liver enzymes and increased creatinine continued to be significantly associated with mortality. Conlcusion: PQ poisoning is associated with high mortality requiring an immediate assessment of patients and prediction of prognosis. Renal and hepatic failure in addition to respiratory distress can be the strongest risk factors for poor prognosis in acute PQ poisoning.

Introduction: Trauma has been recognized as one of the leading causes of death in many countries for decades. Reduction in mortality and morbidity rate of trauma cases is one of the most important attitudes in this field. Evaluation of different risk factors have been considered as the main goal of some studies. The purpose of this study was determining potential risk factors of death in trauma patients. Method: In a retrograde study, data of 740 patients admitted during three years (2009-2011) were studied. Demographic data (sex and age), clinical factors (blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, Glasgow coma scale (GCS)), trauma characteristics (location, type of injury, etc.), as well as outcome of patients were evaluated. Data analyses was done using SPSS 18.0. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis was used for recognition of independent predictive factors of death in multiple trauma patients. Results: Of those admitted, majority of patients were male (81.4%), 68% between 18 to 60 years, and 11.2% of them died during the course of treatment. Age; type of trauma; abnormal respiration rate, pulse rate, blood pressure; total GCS ≤8; abnormal pupil size; and head and neck; vertebral, and extremities fractures were obtained as significant predictive factor of death. GCS≤8, head and neck fracture, and abnormal pulse rate were independent death predictors. Conclusion: We identified GCS≤8, head and neck fracture, and abnormal pulse rate as predictive factors of mortality after trauma, which remained independent in the presence of all other factors and potentially treatable.

Introduction: Emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) may serve as the last survival chance for patients who arrive at hospital in extremis. It is considered as an effective tool for improvement of traumatic patients’ outcome. The present study was done with the goal of assessing the outcome of patients who underwent EDT and its predictive factors. Methods: In the present study, medical charts of 50 retrospective and 8 prospective cases underwent emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) were reviewed during November 2011 to June 2013. Comparisons between survived and died patients were performed by Mann-Whitney U test and the predictive factors of EDT outcome were measured using multivariate logistic regression analysis. P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Fifty eight cases of EDT were enrolled (86.2% male). The mean age of patients was 43.27±19.85 years with the range of 18-85. The mean time duration of CPR was recorded as 37.12±12.49 minutes. Eleven cases (19%) were alive to be transported to OR (defined as ED survived). The mean time of survival in ED survived patients was 223.5±450.8 hours. More than 24 hours survival rate (late survived) was 6.9% (4 cases). Only one case (1.7%) survived to discharge from hospital (mortality rate=98.3%). There were only a significant relation between ED survival and SBP, GCS, CPR duration, and chest trauma (p=0.04). The results demonstrated that initial SBP lower than 80 mmHg (OR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.001-1.05, p=0.04) and presence of chest trauma (OR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.75-3.16, p=0.02) were independent predictive factors of EDT mortality. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that the survival rate of trauma patients underwent EDT was 1.7%. In addition, it was defined that falling systolic blood pressure below 80 mmHg and blunt trauma of chest are independent factors that along with poor outcome.

Objective: To explore the pros and cons of early versus delayed intervention when dealing with severe blunt liver injury with significant hemoperitoneum and hemodynamic instability.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed at the Nemazi hospital, Shiraz, Southern Iran, level I trauma Center affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The study population comprised of all patients who were operated with the impression of blunt abdominal trauma and confirmed diagnosis of liver trauma during an 8-year period. All data were extracted from patients’ hospital medical records during the study period. The patients’ outcome was compared between those who underwent perihepatic packing or primary surgical repair.Results: Medical records of 76 patients with blunt abdominal liver trauma who underwent surgical intervention were evaluated. Perihepatic packing was performed more in patients who have been transferred to operation room due to unstable hemodynamics (p

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of sonography in diagnosing acute appendicitis in patients with Alvarado score 4–7.Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study being performed in Namazee hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical sciences during a one year period from 9/2007 to 9/2008. We evaluated all patients with Alvarado score 4-7 and divided them in two groups: those with Ultrasound study prior to surgery and those without any imaging modalities for diagnosis of AA. The demographic information, histopathology, physical examination, laboratory data, sonography report and histopathological reports of patients were gathered. Results: A total of 238 patients had Alvarado scores 4-7 including 160 males and 78 females. 110 patients did not have any imaging and 128 had undergone sonography before operation. Ultrasound had overall sensitivity of 75 %, specificity 69.2 %, PPV 88 %, NPV 46.1% and accuracy of 73.6 %. Negative appendectomy rate was20.9 % and 23.4 % in those without sonography and inpatients with sonography respectively, with a higher rate in females.Conclusion: Ultrasound is more useful when the patient is female and the result of sonography is positive; however, it is not reliable when the result is negative and maybe other diagnostic modalities such as CT scan can help us in better diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis.

Multiple risk factors are introduced for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Recent studies have suggested a possible correlation between vitamin D deficiency and an increase risk of MS. This study was therefore undertaken to compare vitamin D levels in new cases of MS and their relatives as healthy controls. Seventy five new diagnosed MS patients and 100 matched healthy controls among their relatives were enrolled in this study. Two groups were matched for gender, age, season in which serum level of vitamin D was checked and region and diet. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D was measured, recorded and analyzed. Seventy five patients (57 female and 18 male) and 100 healthy subjects (75 female and 25 male) were enrolled in this study. The mean serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in case and control groups were 11.31 and 17.9 ng/ml, respectively (P=0.003). Compared to the healthy subject, serum levels of vitamin D were significantly lower in patients with MS. This difference was only significant in women. Observed difference of vitamin D levels of both groups were significant in summer. This study continues to support the role of vitamin D deficiency in MS.

Introduction: Second National Medical Sciences Olympiad was done in Shiraz in August 2010 with aim of indentifying scientifically talented individuals, motivating students and orienting extracurricular activities. This Olympiad was done in 3 areas, basic sciences, clinical sciences and management. In clinical sciences, we used TOSCE (Team Objective Structured Clinical Examination). In this article we report the details of this exam and participants′ satisfaction. Materials and Methods: This Olympiad in Clinical Medical Sciences was held in 2 levels: Individual and team. In the team stage, 9 teams from 9 universities participated. We used TOSCE for measuring clinical competency of teams. Each team consisted of 3 students. We designed 12 stations based on emergency medicine in medical and surgical fields. The time considered for each station was 15 min, after doing this exam the view of students was measured using a valid and reliable questionnaire. Results: Most of the students believed that TOSCE was a useful examination for measuring competency. More than 50% of students reported that success in this exam needs clinical competency, team work and problem solving ability. Nearly, half (48.1%) of students believed that 15 min is not enough for each station and they need more time. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that this kind of exam is useful for measuring clinical competency from students′ viewpoint .

Multiple risk factors are introduced for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Recent studies have suggested a possible correlation between vitamin D deficiency and an increase risk of MS. This study was therefore undertaken to compare vitamin D levels in new cases of MS and their relatives as healthy controls. Seventy five new diagnosed MS patients and 100 matched healthy controls among their relatives were enrolled in this study. Two groups were matched for gender, age, season in which serum level of vitamin D was checked and region and diet. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D was measured, recorded and analyzed. Seventy five patients (57 female and 18 male) and 100 healthy subjects (75 female and 25 male) were enrolled in this study. The mean serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in case and control groups were 11.31 and 17.9 ng/ml, respectively (P=0.003). Compared to the healthy subject, serum levels of vitamin D were significantly lower in patients with MS. This difference was only significant in women. Observed difference of vitamin D levels of both groups were significant in summer. This study continues to support the role of vitamin D deficiency in MS.

The application of Supply Chain Management (SCM) principles has gained considerable attention across various industries to enhance operational efficiency and business performance. In the construction sector, SCM can guide managers in strategic planning and foster collaboration with suppliers, leading to more effective project execution. Despite its importance, limited research has focused on designing sustainable supply chains for construction materials under uncertain conditions. This study aims to bridge this gap by introducing a robust optimization framework that incorporates sustainable development criteria, specifically the minimization of harmful environmental effects and the reduction of worker unemployment. Additionally, the research introduces an innovative concept of horizontal transfers between downstream members, which not only reduces supply deficiencies but also indirectly increases profitability for these members. This article is a part of a Doctoral dissertation. It follows a two-step approach. First, suppliers of construction materials are ranked based on sustainable development criteria using a multi-criteria decision-making method. The best-ranked supplier is then integrated into a mathematical model for optimizing the supply chain design. Given the NP-hard nature of the problem, the CPLEX 12.1 solver with the epsilon constraint method is used to solve small-scale models. For larger-scale problems, three meta-heuristic algorithms are developed: multi-objective ant-lion, multi-objective gray wolf, and multi-objective dragonfly. The results show that while both the ant-lion and gray wolf algorithms deliver comparable average performance, the gray wolf algorithm excels in terms of solution time, making it more effective for real-time problem-solving. This makes the gray wolf algorithm the most efficient choice for addressing large-scale, multi-objective supply chain challenges. This research introduces a novel framework for designing sustainable construction supply chains under uncertain conditions. By focusing on criteria such as minimizing harmful environmental effects and reducing worker unemployment, this study addresses key aspects of sustainable development. Additionally, the innovative horizontal transfer mechanism and the insights into algorithmic performance provide valuable contributions to the field, especially for real-world applications in the construction industry.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catastrophic event that has affected all aspects of human life worldwide. Due to the high genetic mutations of the virus, there has been a prolonged search for definitive therapeutic discovery, leading to extended periods of home quarantine. As a result, homes have become multipurpose spaces for work, education, sports, and other daily activities. Given the importance of residential buildings as the first line of defense against possible future pandemics, a model has been proposed to assess their readiness to handle pandemics using a sustainable development approach. This study investigates the most crucial criteria for evaluating residential buildings and applies them in a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) process. The final evaluation model is presented using the SWARA and COCOSO methods, along with a set of criteria selected and weighted by experts. The study shows that the criteria related to health and safety are more critical than other sectors. Buildings that meet the standards of this group better are likely to have a higher score.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative force in the construction industry, gaining traction within the hydropower sector. This study critically examines the adoption and application of BIM throughout the entire lifecycle of hydropower projects, addressing a notable gap in existing research, to encompass a holistic approach to the management and resilience of these critical infrastructures. The objective is to delineate the comprehensive range of BIM applications, use cases, and adoption, integrating technologies including Digital Twin, UAV, GIS, and simulation tools, across components of hydropower projects. Employing a systematic search paired with a critical review of the selected literature, this study meticulously evaluates significant contributions in this domain. Through thematic analysis, the multifaceted utility of BIM in hydropower structures, including an in-depth evaluation of its current adoption within the industry, is presented. This encompasses an analysis of both benefits and challenges inherent in BIM implementation for hydropower infrastructures. This study is a significant contribution to understanding how BIM can be leveraged to enhance the resilience of hydropower infrastructures. It provides a comprehensive view of BIM’s applications, challenges, and future potential, guiding stakeholders in adopting strategies that ensure these structures withstand, adapt, and recover from disruptions while maintaining sustainable and efficient operations.

In order to choose the method of project implementation in the form of partnership or conventional method, various factors in the formation of the concept of value for money creation in each project are evaluated to be the basis for decision making. Many countries use Public Sector Comparators (PSC) to reach this decision. In this research, the correct calculation of PSC and simulation of risks to achieve a negotiable price range in water and wastewater projects in Iran has been done. The data collection tool in this study was to review various articles to identify the types of risks and distribute questionnaires and interviews with experts in the water and wastewater industry in order to determine the main and effective risks and then, the occurrence and severity of the effects of each risk. The price range was determined using the Monte Carlo simulation. After determining the main risks on PSC, using Monte Carlo method and risk distribution functions, the minimum and maximum amount of each risk and the total risk were determined for 70%, 80% and 90% confidence coefficients. According to the obtained model, to determine the price range, the price presented in the case study should be 500% to 550% in the minimum case and 750% to 850% increase in the maximum case for different reliability coefficients. As a result of this study, inflation risks, exchange rate fluctuations, regional political instability, public and private sector corruption have had the greatest impact on the PSC and price range determination.

The greater parts of Iranian roads are of the asphaltic kind. The real reason behind making this type of road lies in the abundance of bitumen and the cheaper price of the substance in past years. The upward spiraling price of oil at the global level and the liberalization of subsidies were responsible for rocketing prices of asphalt pavement. As a result, a motivation was created to investigate an alternative method called concrete pavements. The construction cost of concrete and asphalt pavement hinges on specifications of the project, but one of the main concerns was about the likelihood of fluctuations in spending during the construction phase. According to the importance of price changes, this paper intends to find which type of concrete and asphalt pavements have lower price changes in Iran. To answer this question, the Monte Carlo simulation is applied. Since the Monte Carlo simulation needs a prediction model and the data used for developing the model hinges on historical data, the authors applied regression and time series methods. The results show that firstly, the regression method has better performance than the time series model and the second, the implementation of concrete pavement has less economic risks in Iranian freeways and highways.