The Method of Fundamental Solutions for Solving the Inverse Problem of Magma Source Characterization

Volcano is one of the geodynamic phenomena causing irreparable damages. As lava accumulates in reservoir and then comes to the surface, geometry of the source can be used to predict volcanic eruptions. In this study, using the inverse method of fundamental solutions (MFS) and taking into account the effect of topography, the geometry of the source including shape, depth and centre position of the magma tank is estimated. The MFS is a numerical method for solving boundary value problems with known partial differential equations. The displacement field calculated in the previous studies using InSAR for deflation mode of Cerro Blanco volcano was utilized in this study. It was estimated that the magma source of the volcano is a sphere with a radius of 1 km located at a horizontal position of () km and the depth of about 10 km from the summit with respect to the defined coordinate system. This finding is consistent with that of recent studies in which inversion of InSAR data was used to analyse the geometry of the magma source. The RMSE between the deformation fields of the magma source calculated in the previous studies and that of the study herein via MFS was approximately 3 mm

Colonization and Antibiotic Resistance of Nasal Staphylococcus Aureus among Healthcare Workers in Southwestern Iran: Occurrence of OS-MRSA

Background & Objectives: Staphylococcus spp. is a resident flora of the skin and mucosa of humans that can colonize the anterior nares of individuals. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the rate and antibiotic resistance pattern of nasal Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) carriers among the staff of Fasa hospital, southern Iran. Materials & Methods: Nasal swab samples were collected from 117 hospital staff working in 12 wards. Microbiological culture method was applied for S. aureus identification. The isolates were confirmed by tuf gene identification using PCR assay. Five isolates were randomly sequenced and phylogenetically analysed  using MEGA software. The antimicrobial resistance pattern of the isolates was evaluated using the disc diffusion assay and the amplification of the methicillin resistance (mecA) gene. Results: The prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriers included 10.26% (n=12). The nasal carriers were identified in the wards of surgery ICU, gynecologic surgery, NICU, pediatric, internal surgery, and emergency. Among them, gynecologic surgery staff had the highest rate of nasal colonization (33.33%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that of five isolates, four had high similarities with each other. Also, the highest rate of resistance was related to penicillin (83.3%), followed by cefazolin (75%), and cephalexin (75%). However, the highest level of susceptibility (100%) was found for vancomycin, cefoxitin, and oxacillin. Furthermore, the methicillin resistance gene (mecA) was highly detected (75%) from the isolates, elucidating oxacillin-susceptible or cefoxitin-susceptible mecA-positive S. aureus (OS-MRSA). Conclusions: The high rates of OS-MRSA can lead to antibiotic resistance among health care workers tremendously. Moreover, the high similarity probability in phylogenetic analysis shows the possibility of cross-infection between these health care workers, warning to exert effective strategies to control infection spread, especially in the surgery ward

Bonding Social Capital of Rural Women in Southwest Iran: Application of Social Network Analysis*

peer reviewedThe establishment of local communal organizations is a unique strategy of rural communities to build resilience against economic challenges. Shirvareh is traditionally recognized as an important communal organization of women in Southwestern Iran for managing dairy production and securing their livelihood. Preserving this vital social institution and its associated indigenous knowledge was the main motivation of this study to examine factors influencing Shirvareh’s performance. Given that relevant studies on the performance of this social organization in Iran are rare, the current study was an attempt to fill this gap through an empirical study using a social network analysis (SNA) approach. The general goal of this study was to investigate the networks of trusting relationships of rural women involved in the Shirvareh organization in Ghasr-e-Yaghoub village located in Fars province, Southwestern Iran. The results revealed that possible in-group trust ties were maximum whereas out-group trust ties were moderate to high, meaning that bonding social capital at individual, sub-group, and network level are generally high. High in-group and out-group ties enable community members to cope with disturbances, initiate social innovation, and act collectively, which in this case, assures the sustainability of their efficient traditional organization and protects them against poverty

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Migraine in Medical Students at BandarAbbas, Southern Iran, in 2012

Background: Migraine is one of the most common etiologies for headache. This very common neurological disorder has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the prevalence of migraine among medical students in the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences (HUMS). Methods: A total of 350 medical students were enrolled in our descriptive study. Data were collected using the standard questionnaire of the International Headache Association. The data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 software using descriptive statistics, Chi-Square, and Independent Samples T-Test. A P-value of ≥0.05 was considered statistically significant, since most public health professionals use this value as a standard. Results: Among the medical students in our study, 24.6% had experienced frequent, severe headaches. The underlying causes of the headaches were diagnosed in 19.8% of the students. The prevalence of migraine in our study was 16.3% (mean age=21.28±2.71years). The prevalence varied by gender, and it was greater among male students. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that there was a high prevalence of migraine among the medical students in our study, and these findings were consistent with those of previous studies in Iran and other countries