A preliminary checklist of saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera) in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran, with distributional data

Saproxylic beetles play a vital role in conservation as indicators of the status of unmanaged forests. In light of the concern regarding the adverse impact of anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity, an essential step in forest conserva-tion strategy is the identification of saproxylic beetles. The Hyrcanian forests are a unique remnant of natural broadleaf temperate forests, with an evolutionary history that can be traced to the Tertiary and a high diversity tree species. Here we present the first checklist of saproxylic beetles in the Hyrcanian forests, including 398 species of saproxylic beetles, belonging to 207 genera and 46 families, identified by us. Based on our results and literature data, at least 670 saproxylic beetles occur in the Hyrcanian forests. The bias in our results towards some families supports the view that the detection of additional species can be expected, particularly from the forests with a greater diversity of tree species

Role of managers’ communication skills and leadership style on organizational effectiveness: Path analysis

Background: Managers’ communication skills and leadership style have influential effect on organizational effectiveness. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of communication skills and type of leadership style among managers and its association with organizational effectiveness from the viewpoints of employees working in hospitals affiliated by Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd. Methods: This analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 400 employees working in three training hospitals of Yazd who have been selected using a randomized clustered method in 2016. Three standard questionnaires including communication skills by Burton, leadership style, Burdens and Metzcus and organizational effectiveness were used by Parsons used to collect data. Findings: Study findings revealed a significant reverse relationship between managers’ leadership style and their communication skills (P=0.001, r=-0.682) and a direct significant relationship between organizational effectiveness and the latter (P=0.001, r=0.913). Results also confirmed a reverse association between leadership style and organizational effectiveness which was not statistically significant (P=0.669, r=-0.032). Furthermore, the direct influence of communication skills on organizational effectiveness was much more severe than indirect influence of communication skills on organizational effectiveness with a moderating role of leadership style. Conclusion: Developing effective communication and influencing interaction among managers and organizational employees are mentioned as an important strategy for successful organizations to achieve their determined goals in an appropriate manner. Keywords: Communication skill, Leadership style, Organizational effectiveness, Structural equation modelin

Evaluation of Non-Medical Services’ Responsiveness Using a National Model: Patients’ Viewpoint

Background: Responsiveness is the main indicator of high performance in every health system. This study was conducted to assess non-medical services’ responsiveness from patients’ viewpoint through applying a localized responsiveness model in Iran. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study, conducted in three hospitals of Yazd province in 2015. To collect data, a standardized questionnaire was used and data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software package, through applying descriptive statistical tests, T-test, correlation and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The study findings revealed that a mean score for responsiveness from patients’ viewpoint was 2.48 ± 0.26 at a public hospital, 2.14 ± 0.26 at a private and 2 ± 0.27 at a charity hospital representing an average level for hospitals under study. The highest and lowest mean scores among different aspects of responsiveness belonged to dignity (2.5 ± 0.36) and informed choice (1.9 ± 0.43). Conclusions: Given that responsiveness was evaluated at an average level, appropriate policy interventions and necessary reforms are proposed to increase its status in under study hospitals. Keywords: Patient, Non-Medical Support Services, Responsiveness, Viewpoin

Effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract and aerobic exercise on the attitude of postmenopausal women to menopause

Introduction: Menopause is associated with complications that can affect women's attitudes. Women's attitudes toward menopause can help to improve their performance and reduce the severity of its complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra (G. glabra) plant and exercise on the attitude of menopausal women. Materials and methods: This clinical experimental fourth group was conducted between October and March 2015 in Arak, Iran. 120 menopausal women were randomly selected and divided into four groups each containing 30 women. The first group had three G. glabra tablets daily for one month, the second group had a regular exercise program three times a week for 30-45 minutes for one month and the third group simultaneously took G. glabra like Group1 and followed exercise programs like Group 2 and the fourth group received no intervention. Before and one month after the intervention attitudes of women were compared with a researcher-made questionnaire. ANOVA, Chi-square and Paired t tests were used to analysis the data. Results: The results showed no significant difference between four groups in demographic characteristic. ANOVA results showed no significant difference between four groups in the attitude score of women before the intervention (P=0.937), but after the intervention there were significant differences between the groups (P=0.0001). Conclusion: According to the results, G. glabra consumption and exercise program were effective in controlling the symptoms of menopause attitude of menopausal woman. Therefore, it may proposed as one of the main strategies for health and education interventions

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus Presenting as Upper Eyelid Edema and Erythema

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE) is an autoimmune disorder that usually occurs on sun exposed areas of head and neck. Infrequently it could be presented by palpebral involvement and rarely unilateral upper eye lid edema and erythema have been reported as the sole manifestation of DLE. We describe a 38-year-old woman with chronic left upper eye lid edema and erythema from one year ago which was induced by steroid injection for left eyebrow alopecia. Histopathologic and direct immunofluorescent studies were made on palpebral skin tissue and confirmed DLE diagnosis. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer was 1/160 with speckled pattern. She was treated by oral hydroxychloroquine (400 mg daily) with moderate improvement after three months. We should think about DLE in cases with chronic upper eye lid edema and erythema. The aim of this case report is to emphasize that ophthalmologist and dermatologists should be aware of different presentations of DLE in the periorbital area to prevent misdiagnosis

Restoration of degraded forest using native and exotic species: Investigation on soil productivity and stand quality (Case study: Chamestan-Mazandaran province)

After 20 years, the effects of five plantations of Acer velutinum Boiss., Cryptomaria japonica D. Don., Cupressus sempervirens L. var. horizontalis (Mill.) Gord., Pinus taeda L.and mixed stand on soil fertility and quality of the stands were investigated and compared with natural forest to determine the appropriate species for planting in low land of Hyrcanian forests. Five 400 m2 plots were selected randomly- systematic in each stand. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics were recorded. Also, within each plot soil in 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm depths were sampled. The results showed significant effect of reforestation on pH, EC, bulk density, organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon sequestration in the soil. According to the result, P. taedahas the highest pH (4/6) while A. velutinum has the lowest pH (5.5), natural forest stand has the highest (18/0 ds/m) whereas C. japonica has the lowest (06/0 ds/m) EC. Pinus taeda has the highest organic carbon content (1.29%) and total nitrogen (0.36%) but the natural forest has the lowest amount of organic carbon (1.03%) and total nitrogen (0.08%). The mixed stand has the highest phosphorus (1.9 g/kg) and C. japonica has the lowest one (1.8 g/kg). The A. velutinum has the greatest (292830 Mg/ha) while the natural forest has the lowest (223920 Mg/ha) amount of carbon sequestration. The results showed the conifer stands have been more successful in terms of tree quality characteristic while broadleaf stands were more successful in the quantitative characteristic. Finally, it can be claimed that broadleaves stands were more successful in compare with conifer stands

A Comparison of the Formation Rates and Composition of Tree-Related Microhabitats in Beech-Dominated Primeval Carpathian and Hyrcanian Forests

Primeval forests in the temperate zone exist only as a few remnants, but theses serve as important reference areas for conservation. As key habitats, tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) are of intense interest to forest ecologists, but little is known about their natural composition and dynamics in different tree species. Beech forms a major part of the temperate forests that extend from Europe, home to European beech Fagus sylvatica L. (Fs), eastward to Iran, where Oriental beech Fagus orientalis Lipsky (Fo) is the dominant species. In this study, we compared TreMs in primeval forests of both species, using data from Fo growing in 25 inventory plots throughout the Hyrcanian forest belt in Iran and from Fs growing in a 9 ha permanent plot in the Uholka Forest of Ukraine. TreMs based on 47 types and 11 subgroups were recorded. Beech trees in the Hyrcanian forest had a higher mean diameter at breast height (dbh) than beech trees in Uholka and contained twice as many TreMs per hectare. Although the mean richness of TreMs per TreM bearing tree was similar in the two species, on the basis of the comparison single trees in two groups (n = 405 vs. 2251), the composition of the TreMs clearly differed, as the proportions of rot holes, root-buttress concavities, and crown deadwood were higher in the Hyrcanian Forest, and those of bark losses, exposed heartwood, and burrs and cankers higher in Uholka Forest. Estimates of TreMs dynamics based on dbh and using Weibull models showed a significantly faster cumulative increase of TreMs in Fo, in which saturation occurred already in trees with a dbh of 70–80 cm. By contrast, the increase in TreMs in Fs was continuous. In both species, the probability density was highest at a dbh of about 30 cm, but was twice as high in Fo. Because of limitations of our study design, the reason behind observed differences of TreM formation and composition between regions remains unclear, as it could be either result of the tree species or the environment, or their interaction. However, the observed differences were more likely the result of differences in the environment than in the two tree species. Nevertheless, our findings demonstrate that the Hyrcanian Forest, recently designated as a natural heritage site in Iran, is unique, not only as a tertiary relict or due to its endemic trees, herbs and arthropods, but also because of its TreMs, which form a distinct and rich habitat for associated taxa, including endemic saproxylic species