Khorasan Razavi Province Research Articles

Epidemiological analysis of pediculosis and the distribution of kdr mutation frequency in head lice populations in Torbat Heydarieh city of Khorasan Razavi Province, Northeastern Iran

Head lice infestations are the most prominent ectoparasitic infection in the world, including Iran, particularly among school children. Recently, numerous cases of infestation have been reported in various provinces of the country. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of head louse infestations and analyze kdr gene sequences in terms of resistance mutations in the Torbat-e Heydarieh, Mahvelat, and Zaveh cities of Khorasan Razavi Province, Northeast Iran. The data related to the epidemiological and demographic history of head lice populations were extracted from their medical records and analyzed in Excel software. After extracting the genomic DNA, the kdr fragment was amplified using specific primers. The sequences were also analyzed using bioinformatics software. The prevalence of head louse infestations was 1.59% and 1.7% during 2016 and 2017, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed the frequency distribution of two kdr haplotypes, I and V, in the study areas. The increase in head louse infestations in recent years and the simultaneous presence of kdr mutations indicate the need for new treatments and monitoring/controlling resistance to head louse insecticides.

An estimation of vertical transmission of Neospora caninum in dairy cattle, in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Neospora caninum is an important agent of abortion and reproductive loss in dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of vertical transmission of N.caninum in dairy cattle, KorasanRazavi province, Iran. Two dairy farms with history of Neospora abortion were selected and two hundred -eighty blood samples of dairy cattle in the third trimester of gestation were collected from January 2018 to April 2019. The serum samples of each dairy cattle were examined by an indirect ELISA. At the calving, the colostrum samples of seropositive dams with blood samples of their precolostral calves were collected and again examined by the ELISA method. The seroprevalence of Neospora infection was determined by 16.59% (41/247) in dairy farm 1 and 12.12% (4/33) in dairy farm 2 (P>0.05). In the present study, 100% of precolostral calves born of seropositive dairy cattle had antibodies against Neospora caninum before colostrum ingestion. Based on the seroprevalence of dam and daughter, the vertical transmission was estimated at the highest rate (100%). In conclusion, the results are shown the importance of vertical transmission to remain and contribute to N.caninum infection in two dairy farms.

Determination of concentration and risk assessment of toxic metals in the settled dust from school yards of Mashhad metropolis.

The present study aims to measure the values of metal pollutants in the dust of schools in Mashhad metropolis, determine the source of metal pollution, evaluate the degree of pollution, assess the health risk (carcinogenicity/non-carcinogenicity) and evaluate the potential ecological risk. For this purpose, after measuring the concentration of metals using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer, from various indices including Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Contamination Factors (CF), Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Health Risk Indices such as Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), Carcinogenic Risk (CR) were used. The average concentrations of iron, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, vanadium and zinc (Fe, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were 6361.50, 5.96, 0.59, 61.89, 37.13, 61.31, 28.93, 25.64 and 142.00µgg-1, respectively. Based on CF, PLI and Igeo indices, most of the findings for the studied elements were at the low pollution level. The results also showed that the most likely origin of the studied metals was anthropogenic sources. The results of PERI indices showed that potential ecological risk at only one of the collection sites. In contrast, a high ecological risk was obtained for Cd. Hazard Index values were below safe levels for all studied elements. CR levels for elements were also classified as negligible and acceptable or tolerable risk, although the highest CR value for Cr indicated possible harm to humans. The findings showed the need for more attention and continuous monitoring of the concentration of metals, especially chromium, to announce a possible warning and prevent their harmful effects. It should be noted that the present study is the first research with mentioned objectives in Mashhad city and also in Khorasan Razavi province.

Measuring the adaptive capacity of rangeland users under drought stress in North-easternIran: application of social network analysis

Drought events have significant impact on ecosystems and the livelihoods of rural communities in Iran. So, the purpose of this study was the analysis and evaluation of dimensions of adaptive capacity (AC) against drought in Bajestan county, Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. A questionnaire was used to collect data for social network analysis (SNA) and AC by the full network method. Then, a combined SNA-SEM model was developed to determine what was the social response of rangeland users in dealing with drought. In this study, the AC of rangeland users was compared in two groups of villages covered by the collaborative management or Carbon Sequestration Project (CSP) and uncovered by CSP. The results confirmed that the villages under CSP had higher levels of AC and social capital. Among five capitals, indicators of economic resources and information, skills and management were more effective on AC. Among the SNA indexes, effsize, constrain, indirects, density and betweenes centrality are more effective on AC of rangeland users. Results showed that identifying the key actors, who have the power and influence to determine the information flow and financial inflows in these components, can help increase the AC of rangeland users to mitigate effects of drought.

The Prevalence of Brucella Spp. in Dairy Products in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Brucellosis, a significant zoonotic disease, threatens food safety substantially, particularly in developing nations such as the Middle East. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence of Brucella spp. in Iranian milk and dairy products through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A thorough search of international and domestic databases from January 2008 to October 2023 identified 38 relevant studies encompassing 11,130 samples for meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of Brucella spp. in Iranian dairy products was 22% (95% CI: 16-28%). The highest and lowest overall prevalence of Brucella spp. in milk were found in raw goat milk 27% (95% CI: 11-42%) and raw camel milk 15% (95% CI: -0.42 to 72%), respectively. The overall prevalence of traditional cheese, ice cream, and cream is estimated to be 9% (95% CI: -16 to 35%), 2% (95% CI: -2.78 to 2.82%), and 9% (95% CI: -0.94 to 1.12%). Geographical disparities were evident, with Zanjan province reporting the highest contamination rate, 53%, while Razavi Khorasan province had the lowest, 1%. However, the prevalence of Brucella spp. in Iranian dairy products has fluctuated over time, with a significant association between the study year and sample size. Comprehensive planning, robust policy implementation, and rigorous monitoring are imperative to mitigate and ultimately eliminate Brucella contamination in dairy products effectively. Further research is essential to refine prevalence estimates and develop targeted prevention strategies to safeguard public health.

Effects of Post-Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Sanctions on Weight Gain of Pregnant Mothers, Birth Weight, and Food Security of Their Families (2017-2020)

Background: Sanctions against a country could be a shock to the country's economy for a specific period. Iran has been subject to various sanctions for the past 40 years, and these sanctions have intensified since 2011. Unprecedented sanctions were imposed on Iranians after the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement, and a disastrous economic situation was the outcome of this international issue. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of this situation on weight gain of pregnant mothers and birth weight as well as food security of their families. Methods: The data of pregnant women and newborns were extracted from Sina Electronic Health System (SinaEHR®) questionnaires. These questionnaires were completed by trained healthcare workers in comprehensive health service centers. The data of 266,182 pregnant women were collected through questionnaires from 19 comprehensive health centers related to Razavi Khorasan province and were prepared for statistical analysis. Then, data analysis was done using the statistical method of Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) by SPSS software. R

Biodiversity of Parasitengona (Acari: Prostigmata) in the northern and southern slopes of Joghtai mountain range, Razavi Khorasan province

Biodiversity of Parasitengona (Acari: Prostigmata) in the northern and southern slopes of Joghtai mountain range, Razavi Khorasan province

Investigating the Start time and duration of skin-to-skin contact in the delivery or operating room in the hospitals of Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Background. Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) plays a significant role in the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding and maintaining and improving the health of infants. The goal of this research was to study the start time and duration of SSC in the labor rooms or operating rooms of the hospitals in Khorasan Razavi province. Methods. This descriptive study has been done on 714 newborn babies in labor rooms and ORs of governmental hospitals in Khorasan Razavi province from 1399 to 1401 through convenience sampling method. A midwife who did not have any role in the delivery process kept a record of the time of the SSC and its duration after the delivery. In the next stage, probable reasons for not having SSC, the connection of the start time of SSC and its duration with the start time and duration of breastfeeding were studied. Results. Based on the results of the study, 65% of the cases had SSC after the delivery in labor rooms under study . The mean start time of the SSC was 5.06±12.30 minutes, and the mean duration of the SSC after the birth was 9.28±13.66 minutes. Non-cooperation of the mother (61.38%), the fear of non-sterile environment (8.62%) and hastening the delivery process by the professionals involved (3.79%) were the most common reasons for not having SSC. Conclusion. In 35% of cases, there was no SSC after birth. Starting the contact early after birth can increase the success rate of breastfeeding. Practical Implications. According to the results of our study, skin-to-skin contact in our maternity hospitals is not done in one-third of the cases, which is necessary after the birth of babies. Babies who received skin-to-skin contact started breastfeeding earlier and held the breast longer, indicating that skin-to-skin contact facilitates the initiation of breastfeeding and increases its duration. The non-cooperation of the mother is the most common reason for not having skin-to-skin contact. Therefore, providing the necessary information and training to mothers about the importance of skin-to-skin contact in maintaining the health of babies, facilitating the initiation of breastfeeding, and changing the attitudes and behaviors of mothers seems necessary.

The Mediating Role of Marital Intimacy in Relation with Midlife Crisis with a Tendency toward Infidelity in Middle-Aged Men

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of marital intimacy in relation between midlife crisis and the tendency to infidelity in middle-aged men. Methods: This was a correlational research with structural equation modeling method. The statistical population of this research was made up of all men aged 40 to 60 in Razavi Khorasan province, 200 of whom were selected by convenience sampling and answered the questionnaires of marital intimacy, mid-life identity crisis, and tendency to infidelity. Data analysis was done using structural equation method using SPSS and AMOS softwares. Findings: The results of this research showed that the assumed model has a good fit. Also, the results of the analysis indicated a direct relationship between the tendency to infidelity and the midlife crisis, and there was an indirect relationship between the midlife crisis through marital intimacy on the tendency to cheat. Also, marital intimacy has an inverse and significant relationship with the independent variable of the midlife crisis, as well as marital infidelity. It has a direct and significant relationship with midlife crisis, and there is an inverse and significant relationship (-0.643) between marital infidelity and marital intimacy. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that marital intimacy has been able to play a mediating role between midlife crisis and the tendency toward infidelity. So, marital intimacy and midlife crisis can play an influential role in married life and the tendency of people to commit marital infidelity. Therefore, it is necessary to provide appropriate knowledge and training to couples who are exposed to these injuries.

Reviving the forgotten legacy: Strategies for reviving qanats as sustainable solutions for agricultural water supply in arid and semi-arid regions

In semi-arid and arid regions, qanats are a vital water source for agricultural needs. However, many communities are abandoning these traditional and sustainable water supply systems in favor of modern and more productive methods. Consequently, this research aimed to identify the most effective approaches for rejuvenating qanats in the dry and semi-arid areas of Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. To accomplish this goal, a comprehensive strategy was employed by merging the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT, Best-Worst Method (BWM), and the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS).Based on interviews with experts in water resources and SWOT analysis, 27 factors affecting the restoration of qanats were identified and weighted with BWM. The results of BWM-WASPAS highlight the crucial role of a holistic approach in reviving qanats. The study findings reveal that the highest scores were obtained by the strategies reforming water governance policies to prioritize sustainable indigenous water resources (SO1) and establish an independent institution for qanat restoration (WT7). Conversely, educational (ST1), informational (SO3), and research (WO4) strategies concerning the revival of qanats were categorized as intermediate priorities. Lastly, strategies associated with farm-level support policies were assigned lower priorities. Accordingly, it is recommended that policymakers in Mashhad give priority to macro-level and institutional policies concerning qanat restoration, considering the current state of indigenous water resources. Additionally, a continued emphasis on research policies and farm-level initiatives is advised.

Heritage in Transition: Vernacular Architectural Patterns in Rural Iran

The transition from vernacular architectural patterns to current architecture in rural Iran has led to various socio-cultural and environmental problems in the last decade. This study explores the nature of this transition, which has been overlooked in the studies of vernacular architecture in Iran. Furthermore, this article contributes to the ongoing academic debate on the decline and transformation of vernacular architectural patterns in the context of modernization. It analyzes the forces behind the decline and rise of vernacular settlements in a case study area, the Salami region of the Khaf district in Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province, by exploring how it is possible to reinterpret vernacular architectural patterns in the context of current architecture to utilize the new developments in rural Iran not as an obstacle but as an opportunity for improvement. To this end, this article explores vernacular architectural patterns in a case study area in Iran, supported by socio-cultural aspects and the environmental conditions of the region. This study conducts architectural and anthropological fieldwork on three vernacular houses in a case study area and uses participant observation and informal interview methods to understand the people and their interaction with their built environment. The findings of this article thus contradict previous studies on learning from vernacular architecture by shedding light on vernacular architecture in Iran as a system by demonstrating the inextricable links between different vernacular architectural patterns. Therefore, this study argues that to draw lessons from vernacular architectural patterns for current architecture in rural Iran, it is necessary to limit its communication concerning people’s contemporary needs but not to neglect this communication completely.

Feasibility of sustainability separation of drinking water network by groundwater desalination Bajestan urban catchment, Iran

Fresh water supply in arid land is facing many challenges that require proper management of water resources, especially in drinking water. Management of water projects depends on the conditions of each country or region. Bajestan is located in Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. The certain resource of drinking water supply is desalinated of high salinity groundwater from Playa. Government has implemented the project “Separation of Drinking and sanitary water networks by groundwater desalination” since of 2014, by creating “Government Drinking Water Withdrawal Smart Stations (GDWWSS)" in this city. This study evaluates the feasibility of different methods of separation drinking water from sanitary water by considering sustainability dimensions these methods. These methods including of Home Water Desalination Machines, Mobile Packaged Water, GDWWSS (with new design), Private Drinking Water Withdrawal Stations (PDWWS) and Dual Drinking Water Distribution Network (DDWDN). Findings showed, that if just the economic dimension is considered in the drinking water separation project, PDWWS would be the best method but since the social dimension is an integral part of a sustainable project, the most compatible method is DDWDN. The environmental evaluation showed that production of salt water and salt (NaCl) is the most common adverse effect of all the proposed methods, but the DDWDN will produce more salt wastewater. On the other hand, Mobile packaged water method will produce 17,000 tons of PET annually, which will cause biological problems if it is not recycled. Therefore, the best way is to use the water resources of the plain and not use the desalination of salt groundwater resources. Also, to increase people's satisfaction and reduce water consumption with good quality water, DDWDN is suggested.

Deep learning-based predictive models of land subsidence and collapsed pipes in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran

Deep learning-based predictive models of land subsidence and collapsed pipes in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran

Investigating the knowledge, attitude and practice of people in Khorasan Razavi province toward the COVID 19 vaccines in 2021

Investigating the knowledge, attitude and practice of people in Khorasan Razavi province toward the COVID 19 vaccines in 2021

Susceptibility Status of Several Field-Collected German Cockroaches (Blattella germanica) to a Pyrethroid Insecticide and Molecular Detection of Knockdown Resistance (kdr).

High frequency of insecticide used to control German cockroaches may lead to insecticide resistance development. We aimed to compare the level of insecticide resistance and heterogeneity in insecticide resistance of field-collected German cockroaches in eight selected zones of Mashhad City, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. The present study was conducted from October 2019 to May 2021. Adult and nymphs of German cockroaches were collected from infested restaurants or hotels in eight zones of Mashhad City and then colonized in an insectarium. The cockroaches were subjected to bioassay against cypermethrin insecticide. In addition, the genomic DNA of each cockroach population was analyzed in the region where the kdr mutations reside in the German cockroach. The LT50 values against cypermethrin in the susceptible strain (SS) and eight field-collected strains so varied from 17.52 to 95.36 min. The resistance ratio of the strains was also different in response to the insecticide. The similarity of multiple sequence alignments at the amino acid level was 97.5%-100%. An exon 20 transversion mutation and a nonsynonymous substitution were found. The L1014F substitution was detected in 83.4% of the cockroach samples. The field-collected strains were resistant to cypermethrin at different levels. Furthermore, the molecular study confirms the heterogeneity in the level of resistance among eight strains. Therefore, eight strains might have a different history of insecticide treatment.

Data Integration by Fuzzy Logic for Mineral Prospectivity Mapping in Ferdows–Gonabad–Bajestan Belt, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Data Integration by Fuzzy Logic for Mineral Prospectivity Mapping in Ferdows–Gonabad–Bajestan Belt, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Comparison of Two Methods, Gradient Boosting and Extreme Gradient Boosting to Pre- dict Survival in Covid-19 Data

Introduction: The present study discusses the importance of having a predictive method to determine the prognosis of patients with diseases like Covid-19. This method can assist physicians in making treatment decisions that improve survival rates and avoid unnecessary treatments. This research also highlights the importance of calibration, which is often overlooked in model evaluation. Without proper calibration, incorrect decisions can be made in disease treatment and preventive care. Therefore, the current study compares two highly accurate machine learning algorithms, Gradient boosting and Extreme gradient boosting, not only in terms of prediction accuracy but also in terms of model calibration and speed. Methods: This study involved analyzing data from Covid-19 patients who were admitted to two hospitals in Mashhad city, Razavi Khorasan province, over a span of 18 months. The k-fold cross-validation method was employed on the training dataset (K=5) to conduct the study. The accuracy and calibration of two methods (Gradient boosting and Extreme gradient boosting) in predicting survival were compared using the Concordance Index and calibration. Results: The Concordance Index values obtained for gradient boosting and Extreme gradient boosting models were 0.734 and 0.736, in the imbalanced and In the balanced data, the Concordance Index values were 0.893 for gradient boosting and 0.894 for Extreme gradient boosting. The surv.calib_beta index, the gradient boosting model had an estimated value of 0.59 in the imbalanced data and 0.66 in the balanced data. The Extreme gradient boosting model had an estimated value of 0.86 in the balanced data and 0.853 in the imbalanced data. The Extreme gradient boosting model was faster in the learning process compared to the gradient boosting model. Conclusion: The Gradient boosting and Extreme gradient boosting models exhibited similar prediction accuracy and discrimination power, but the Extreme gradient boosting model demonstrated relatively good calibration compare to Gradient boosting model.

Community responses during early phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in the Razavi Khorasan province of Iran: a cross-sectional study

Community responses during early phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in the Razavi Khorasan province of Iran: a cross-sectional study

Investigating the Relationship of Childhood Traumas and Sexual Guilt with Sexual Addiction in Iranian Prostitutes.

Prostitution is a social phenomenon, and its underlying factors require more scholarly attention. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of childhood traumas and sexual guilt with sexual addiction in Iranian prostitutes. This was a cross-sectional study conducted on prostitutes who visited a health promotion center in Khorasan Razavi province, Iran in 2020. A total of 100 women agreed to participate in the study. Data collection tools included the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST), Mosher Sex-Guilt Scale, and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. The age of the participants ranged from 23 to 42, with a mean age of 33.54±8.9 years. About 40% of the participants were divorced, 13% were married, 27% were single, and 10% were widows. The findings indicated that 84% of the prostitutes met the criteria for sexual addiction according to SAST. Emotional abuse (r=0.41, P<0.001), physical abuse (r=0.32, P<0.001), sexual abuse (r=0.33, P<0.001), emotional neglect (r=0.52, P<0.001), and physical neglect (r=0.37, P<0.001) had a positive and significant relationship with sexual addiction in prostitutes. There was no correlation between sexual guilt and sexual addiction (r=0.13, P=0.09). Furthermore, the linear regression results showed that emotional neglect was the only variable positively associated with sexual addiction (β=0.5, P<0.001). The findings of this study suggested that childhood traumas can predict sexual addiction in female prostitutes.

Soil pollution indices and health risk assessment of metal(loid)s in the agricultural soil of pistachio orchards

Elevated levels of metal(loid)s in soil may pose potential threats to the ecosystem and can be harmful for human health. The concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cr and Ni were determined in agricultural soil collected from 45 pistachio orchards around Feizabad city, Khorasan Razavi province, Iran using ICP-OES. Also, soil pollution indices including contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) were evaluated. In addition, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk indices were estimated. The mean concentrations of metal(loid)s were in the order of Ni = 466.256 > Cr = 120.848 > Pb = 12.009 > As = 5.486 > Cd = 0.394 mg/kg. Concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in the soil samples were within their respective permissible limits set by World Health Organization (WHO). But concentrations of Cr and Ni in 84.4 and 100% of the samples, respectively exceeded the WHO allowable limits. The CF, PLI and Igeo showed that soil of some of the pistachio orchards was contaminated with some metals. The possible sources of the metals in the soil are application of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, manures as well as irrigation water. Hazard quotient (HQ) ad Hazard index (HI) values from soil of all the orchards were found to be well below the respective threshold limit (1), suggesting that there is no immediate non-cancer threat arising from the contamination at all the orchards with metal(loid)s for children and adults. The highest cancer risk values (1.13E-02 for children and 1.25E-03 for adults) were estimated for Ni in the soil. Collectively, this study provides valuable information to improve the soil in the pistachio orchards to reduce metal(loid)s contamination and minimize the associated health risks to the population in the area.