Contribution to the knowledge of Entomobryomorpha (Hexapoda: Collembola) from Northeastern Iran with new records and a key to the species

Soil-dwelling Entomobryomorphan Collembola from the Northeast of Iran were sampled for the first time as part of a biodiversity surveying study with the aim of improving ecosystem conservation. Materials were obtained by sampling in three different ecosystems including forest, rangeland and agricultural fields between 2018 and 2019. The specimens were cleared using either Nesbitt’s fluid or lactic acid and permanent microscopic slides were prepared using Hoyer’s medium. As the result of this study, twenty-nine species belonging to twenty-two genera and five families of the order Entomobryomorpha were identified. Among them, two genera and eight species are recorded for the first time from Iran. The new records are Desoria trispinata (MacGillivray, 1896), Drepanosira hussi Neuherz, 1976, Heteromurtrella sp., Orchesella flavescens (Bourlet, 1839), Willowsia bartkei Stach, 1965, Agrenia sp., and Isotomiella gracilimucronata Rusek, 1981. Micrographs of their important features and a key to the species are also provided. © 2022, Mehrafroz Mayvan et al

An annotated catalog of Iranian Symphypleona and Neelipleona (Hexapoda: Collembola) : new records and key to species

This article provides an annotated catalog of the Symphypleona and Neelipleona (Hexapoda: Collembola) of Iran based on published literature and specimens recently collected from three different ecosystems in North Khorasan province (Forest, Rangeland, and Agricultural) of the years 2018 and 2019. Thirty-five species in seven families and 17 genera are listed. Among them, Megalothorax minimus and Bourletiella sp. are recorded for the first time from Iran. An updated key to the Iranian species and information on the biology and geographical distribution of each species is provided. © 2021 National Science Museum of Korea (NSMK) and Korea National Arboretum (KNA

DNA damage and repair proteins in cellular response to sulfur mustard in Iranian veterans more than two decades after exposure

Delayed effects of sulfur mustard (SM) exposure on the levels of five important damage/repair proteins were investigated in 40 SM-exposed veterans of Iran-Iraq war and 35 unexposed controls. A major DNA damage biomarker protein – phosphorylated H2AX – along with four DNA repair proteins in cell response to the genome damage MRE11, NBS1, RAD51, and XPA were evaluated in blood lymphocytes from the veterans and controls using western blotting. Mean levels of XPA, MRE11, RAD51 and NBS1 were lower in SM-exposed patients and the decrease in NBS1 was significant. Even though the raised level of phosphor-H2AX in SM-poisoned group compared to the controls was not significant it was consistent with DNA damage findings confirming the severity of damage to the DNA after exposure to SM. There were correlations between the values of RAD51 and NBS1 proteins as well as XPA and MRE11 proteins. More than two decades after exposure to SM, there is still evidences of DNA damage as well as impaired repair mechanisms in cells of exposed individuals. Such disorders in cellular level may contribute to long term health problems of the SM veterans

Perceptions of Employees on Psychological Factors Affecting Obesity: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Obesity has now become an epidemic in Iran and there is convincing evidence that psychological factors play an important role in obesity and overweight. Given the key role of employees, as valuable human resources, in providing services and the increasing sedentary lifestyle among them, the current study aimed to explore governmental employees’ perceptions of psychological factors that affect obesity. Method: This qualitative study was conducted through content analysis. In total, 4 focus group discussions were held with groups of 8 subjects (32 subjects). Semi-structured interviews were conducted on a diverse sample of 35 obese or overweight governmental employees between February 2014 and January 2015. All interviews were audio recorded and were analyzed using the Strauss and Corbin method. Results: As a result of data analysis, the 3 main categories of poor adaptability in stressful periods, low self-efficacy, and motivators emerged. Poor adaptability in stressful periods consisted of the 5 main subcategories of periods of university entrance exam, soldiering, career, marriage, and childbirth. Low self-efficacy was explored in the 2 main subcategories of lack of positive model and the sense of lack of control over circumstances. Motivators included the subcategories of pleasure and apprehension. Conclusion: This study showed that perceptions of employees on psychological factors influencing obesity differed. Therefore, further researches, both qualitative and quantitative, are required in this field. Keywords: Grounded theory, Obesity, Qualitative stud

Density, diversity, and seasonal fluctuations in soil Collembola in three differenmanaged ecosystems in North Khorasan, Iran

We examined the density, diversity, and seasonal fluctuation of soil inhabiting Collembola in different ecosystems: agricultural, rangeland, and forest ecosystems in the North Khorasan province of Iran from June 2018 to May 2019. The sampling program was conducted monthly on the three sites. Density was measured on the number of individuals per square meter. Species diversity was calculated using Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson’s diversity, and species richness by Rarefaction method. Fifty-three species belonging to 42 genera and 17 families were collected and identified. The density of Collembola in the forest was higher than in either rangeland or agroecosystem. Highest densities were recorded during October and April in the forest. A similar seasonal trend was observed in the rangeland and in the agroecosystem. The lowest densities in agroecosystem and rangeland were recorded during June and from forest in January. PERMANOVA analysis showed that the soil Collembola community differed between the three ecosystems. The SIMPER analysis revealed that the agriculture sites show the highest similarity (68.3), followed by pasture (51.8), and then forest (49.7). Indices of diversity and species richness values are discussed in light of land use. We found that forest harboured a higher density and diversity of Collembola compared to rangeland and agroecosystems. © TÜBİTAK

Botulism and cavernous sinus thrombosis induced by acute rhinosinusitis: A case report

Background: Botulism is an acute and rapidly progressive descending paralytic disease caused by a neurotoxin of clostridium botulinum. Case presentation: A 28-year-old woman presented with severe generalized ascending symmetrical muscle paralysis. The patient was intubated and transferred to the medical intensive care unit with several symptoms including: severe headache, dysphagia, dyspnea, ptosis, diplopia, and dry mouth. Despite being alert, pupils were bilaterally midriatic and had absent corneal reflux. Pansinusitis was seen in the paranasal sinus scan. At first, the movement of eyelids, head and neck were restored. The movement of the upper limbs (15th day) and chest wall (20th day), abdomen (25th day) and the lower extremities (32nd day) were then gradually restored. On 41st day, the patient was completely disconnected from the ventilator. Conclusions: Botulism should be a diagnosis in any patient with an acute progressive symmetrical descending paralysis. Sinus mucosal injury (acute sinusitis) can be inoculated with spores of botulinum

Clinical Presentation and Microbial Analyses of Contact Lens Keratitis; an Epidemiologic Study

Introduction: Microbial keratitis is an infective process of the cornea with a potentially and serious visual impairments. Contact lenses are a major cause of microbial keratitis in the developed countries especially among young people. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the frequency and microbiological characteristic of CLK in patients referred to the emergency department (ED) of teaching hospitals, Babol, Iran. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of all patients with contact lens induced corneal ulcers admitted to the teaching hospitals of Babol, Iran, from 2011- 2013. An ophthalmologist examined patients with the slit-lamp and clinical features of them were noted (including pain, redness, foreign body sensation, chemosis, epiphora, blurred vision, discomfort, photophobia, discharge, ocular redness and swelling). All suspected infectious corneal ulcers were scraped for microbial culture and two slides were prepared. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 18.0. Results: A total of 14 patients (17 eyes) were recruited into the study (100% female). The patients’ age ranged from 16-37 years old (mean age 21.58±7.23 years). The most prevalent observed clinical signs were pain and redness. Three samples reported as sterile. The most common isolated causative organism was pseudomonas aeroginosa (78.6%), Staphylococcus aureus 14.3%, and enterobacter 7.1%, respectively. Treatment outcome was excellent in 23.5%, good in 47.1%, and poor in 29.4% of cases. Conclusion: Improper lens wear and care as well as the lack of awareness about the importance of aftercare visits have been identified as potential risk factors for the corneal ulcer among contact lens wearers. Training and increasing the awareness of adequate lens care and disinfection practices, consulting with an ophthalmologist, and frequent replacement of contact lens storage cases would greatly help reducing the risk of microbial keratitis

Knowledge of Men and Women about Infertility Risk Factors

With technological developments, creation of new industries and changing lifestyles, infertility risk factors (IRF) increased. Therefore creation of suitable solutions in society is crucial for the prevention of infertility. Since prevention of infertility in a society is directly related to awareness about infertility, in the present study the awareness of people about infertility risk factors was assessed. In this study, a survey questionnaire containing 24 factors related to IRF was developed and 170 persons (62 men and 108 women) from Fooladshahr, Najafabad and Mobarakeh participated and data were extracted from these questionnaires and were statistically analyzed. Our study showed that average infertility awareness for men and women is 38% and 49% respectively. Also overall awareness was 44%. Also results showed that women’s awareness about mobile radiation and fast foods is significantly higher than men. On the other hand men have significantly higher awareness about adverse effects of chlorine in swimming pool on fertility. Higher women awareness may be related to their higher sensitivity for fertility. Also, generally a higher level of awareness was observed relating to mobile, air pollution, stress, fast foods, smoking and alcohol. Women have a higher level of awareness about infertility risk factors. Higher awareness about some IRFs may be results from widespread media coverage

Experimental and informational modeling study on flexural strength of eco-friendly concrete incorporating coal waste

Construction activities have been a primary cause for depleting natural resources and are associated with stern environmental impact. Developing concrete mixture designs that meet project specifications is time-consuming, costly, and requires many trial batches and destructive tests that lead to material wastage. Computational intelligence can offer an eco-friendly alternative with superior accuracy and performance. In this study, coal waste was used as a recycled additive in concrete. The flexural strength of a large number of mixture designs was evaluated to create an experimental database. A hybrid artificial neural network (ANN) coupled with response surface methodology (RSM) was trained and employed to predict the flexural strength of coal waste-treated concrete. In this process, four influential parameters including the cement content, water-to-cement ratio, volume of gravel, and coal waste replacement level were specified as independent input variables. The results show that concrete incorporating 3% recycled coal waste could be a competitive and eco-efficient alternative in construction activities while attaining a superior flexural strength of 6.7 MPa. The RSM-modified ANN achieved superior predictive accuracy with an RMSE of 0.875. Based on the experimental results and model predictions, estimating the flexural strength of concrete incorporating waste coal using the RSM-modified ANN model yielded superior accuracy and can be used in engineering practice to save the effort, cost, and material wastage associated with trial batches and destructive laboratory testing while producing mixtures with enhanced flexural strength