Motivation-based Market Segmentation in Rural Tourism: the Case of Sámán, Iran

Market segmentation is a pivotal and under-investigated issue when evaluating decision-making processes and motivational factors shaping rural tourism. The present study has examined market segments of rural tourists in Iran based on their socio-demographic attributes, travel characteristics and preferred leisure activities, profiling rural tourists on the base of their motivational background. The survey results indicated that rural tourism in the study area is a heterogeneous market, whose development depends on general trends in Middle East tourism market. A comprehensive knowledge of rural tourism actors may help formulating appropriate marketing strategies for internal areas destined to tourism growth

2,3-Dimethyl-6-nitro­quinoxaline

The asymmetric unit of the title quinoxaline compound, C10H9N3O2, contains two crystallographically independent mol­ecules (A and B). The quinoxaline ring systems are essentially planar, with maximum deviations of 0.006 (1) and 0.017 (1) Å, respectively, for mol­ecules A and B. In mol­ecule A, the dihedral angle formed between the quinoxaline ring system and nitro group is 10.94 (3)° [6.31 (13)° for mol­ecule B]. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked into chains propagating along [001]: one forms zigzag chains linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, whilst the other forms ladder-like chains by way of C—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The packing is further consolidated by weak π–π inter­actions [range of centroid–centroid distances = 3.5895 (7)–3.6324 (7) Å]

Silent changes of tuberculosis in Iran (2005-2015): A joinpoint regression analysis

Introduction and Aim: Tuberculosis (TB) poses a severe risk to public health through the world but excessively distresses low-income nations. The aim of this study is to analyze silent changes of TB in Iran (2005–2015): A joinpoint regression analysis. Materials and Methods: This is a trend study conducted on all patients (n = 70) that register in control disease center of Joibar (one of coastal cities and tourism destination in Northern Iran which was recognized as an independent town since 1998) during 2005–2015. The characteristics of patients imported to the SPSS 19 and variation in incidence rate of different forms of pulmonary TB (PTB) (PTB+ or PTB–) and extra-PTB (EPTB)/year was analyzed. Variation in incidence rate of TB for male and female groups and different age groups (0–14, 15–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, and above 65 years) was analyzed, variation in trend of this diseases for different groups was compared in intended years, and also, variation in incidence rate of TB was analyzed by Joinpoint Regression Software. Results: The total number of TB was 70 cases during 2005–2015. The mean age of patients was 42.31 ± 21.26 years and median age was 40 years. About 71.4% of patients were PTB (55.7% for with PTB+ and 15.7% with PTB–) and rest of them (28.4%) were EPTB. In regard to classification of cases, 97.1% of them were new cases, 1.45% of them were relapsed cases, and 1.45% of them imported cases. In addition, history of hospitalization due to TB was observed in 44.3%. Conclusion: Despite recent developments of governmental health-care system in Iran and proper access to it and considering this fact that identification of TB cases with passive surveillance is possible. Hence, developing certain programs for sensitization of the covered population is essential

PD-L1 expression by neurons nearby tumors indicates better prognosis in glioblastoma patients

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive form of brain tumor. In general, tumor growth requires disruption of the tissue microenvironment, yet how this affects glioma progression is unknown. We studied program death-ligand (PD-L)1 in neurons and gliomas in tumors from GBM patients and associated the findings with clinical outcome. Remarkably, we found that upregulation of PD-L1 by neurons in tumor-adjacent brain tissue (TABT) associated positively with GBM patient survival, whereas lack of neuronal PD-L1 expression was associated with high PD-L1 in tumors and unfavorable prognosis. To understand the molecular mechanism of PD-L1 signaling in neurons, we investigated PD-L1 function in cerebellar and cortical neurons and its impact on gliomas. We discovered that neuronal PD-L1-induced caspase-dependent apoptosis of glioma cells. Because interferon (IFN)-β induces PD-L1 expression, we studied the functional consequences of neuronal Ifnb gene deletion on PD-L1 signaling and function. Ifnb(-/-) neurons lacked PD-L1 and were defective in inducing glioma cell death; this effect was reversed on PD-L1 gene transfection. Ifnb(-/-) mice with intracerebral isografts survived poorly. Similar to the observations in GBM patients, better survival in wild-type mice was associated with high neuronal PD-L1 in TABT and downregulation of PD-L1 in tumors, which was defective in Ifnb(-/-) mice. Our data indicated that neuronal PD-L1 signaling in brain cells was important for GBM patient survival. Reciprocal PD-L1 regulation in TABT and tumor tissue could be a prognostic biomarker for GBM. Understanding the complex interactions between tumor and adjacent stromal tissue is important in designing targeted GBM therapies

Comparative evaluation of persistence and residue of deltamethrin and cyfluthrin on different surfaces at Iranshahr area in Sistan & Baluchistan province in Iran 2004-2005

Background: Malaria is still one of the health problems in Iran. Resistance of Anopheles stephensi -the principal vector of the disease in the southeast of Iran- to insecticides such as DDT, malathion and dieldrin has been reported in south of the country. The present study was designed to estimate the persistence and residue of deltamethrin and cyfluthrin on different surfaces. Methods: After testing the surface of selected locations for previous insecticides, 4 locations were sprayed with deltamethrin (25 mg/m2) and cyfluthrin (20 mg/m2). A total of 22 conical tubes were installed and fixed on surfaces of walls and ceilings made from plaster, mud and wood. In each conical tube, 10 An. stephensi were released and after half an hour exposure these mosquitoes were transmitted to sterile cups. After 24 hours, the obtained results were recorded according to the survival and mortality rate of mosquitoes. These tests were carried out from 5 days after spraying and repeated every 15 days until the mortality rate decreased to 60-65%. Results: Persistence and residue rate of deltamethrin 5% with the scale of 25 mg/m2 of effective substance was 3 months at most. Afterwards persistence and residue effect of this insecticide decreased on absorbent and nonabsorbent surfaces. Persistence and residue rate of deltamethrin 10% with the scale of 20 mg/m2 on absorbent and nonabsorbent surfaces in Sistan & Baluchistan province climate was estimated 2.5 months. Afterwards, its persistence and residue effect decreased significantly. In the sprayed locations with deltamethrin, there was no correlation between the An. stephensi mortality and absorbent (plaster and muddy) and nonabsorbent (wooden) surfaces (P>0.05). Also, in locations sprayed with cyfluthrin there was no significant correlation between the two types of surfaces, however, the mortality rate was significantly different between plaster and muddy surfaces (P=0.007). Moreover, from the point of residual efficacy, there was a remarkable correlation between deltamethrin and cyfluthrin (P<0.0001). Conclusion: Both deltamethrin and cyfluthrin have adequate residual effect on absorbent and nonabsorbent surfaces, though deltamethrin shows a higher efficiency in comparison to cyfluthrin in control program for malaria vector

The interaction between the dietary phytochemical index and CD36 rs1761667 polymorphism on the risk factors related to metabolic syndrome

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the interaction between CD36 rs1761667 and dietary phytochemical index (DPI) on the risk factors related to MetS among apparently healthy adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 387 apparently healthy adults (20–70 years) of the recruitment phase of Yazd Health Study (YaHS). DPI was calculated using data from a validated, and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Genotyping of rs1761667 was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. All participants were categorized into two categories, based on DPI scores. The interactions were tested using logistic regression in adjusted and unadjusted models. Results: There was no significant association between CD36 gene polymorphism rs1761667 and metabolic syndrome components as well as DPI score was not associated with the components of MetS. Significant interactions were observed between DPI and rs1761667 polymorphism on the odds of metabolic syndrome (P = 0.05) and odds of abdominal obesity (P = 0.01), so that, higher adherence to this index was associated with a low risk of MetS and abdominal obesity in individuals with AG genotype. In contrast, increased adherence to the DPI was associated with higher odds of abdominal obesity among the AA genotype. Conclusion: The AG genotype appears to be a protective factor against the risk of MetS and abdominal obesity with greater adherence to DPI. However, additional research is needed to elucidate these interactions and the mechanisms behind these associations