Guilan Research Articles

Epidemiology of Ocular Trauma in Patients Referred to a Tertiary Center in Northern Iran

Background: Ocular trauma is a debilitating condition and one of the most important and leading causes of visual impairments that have high socioeconomic consequences. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the epidemiology of ocular trauma in patients referred to a tertiary center in northern Iran. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 476 patients with ocular trauma referred to the eye emergency department of a teaching hospital in Guilan Province, north of Iran, in 2020-21. Personal and trauma-related information was extracted from the patient’s medical records using a checklist. Results: Most patients were in the 31-40 age group (28.8%), with a mean age of 41.5±17.4 years. Most of the injuries occurred at home (57.1%). Few of the patients had used eye safety glasses (5.3%). Most of the patients were living in the city. Closed globe injuries were the common types of traumas (96%), and the prevalence of open globe injuries was at a very low level (4%). Conclusion: Closed globe injuries are the most common types of ocular traumas in northern Iran. Most of the ocular traumas are preventable using eye protection equipment.

Investigation of Correlation between Communication Skills and Self-Reported Elder Mistreatment in Family Abuse

Abstract Introduction In today's world, old age has become an important global phenomenon following the increase in life expectancy and the decrease in birth rates. Communication skills are an important requirement in old age. Changing role of the family and existing tensions, mental pressures, and modern life undermine the social position of the elderly and lead to abuse of the elderly by family members. The goal of the present study is to determine the relationship between communication skills and family self-reported domestic abuse among older adult in Iran. Materials and Methods For this cross-sectional-analytical study, 153 elderly adult people admitted in hospitals of the Guilan province were randomly selected. The research instruments were the following questionnaires: demographic characteristics, abbreviated mental test (AMT), the Persian version of Domestic Elder Abuse Questionnaire, family mistreatment of the elderly (Heravy), and Queendom Communication Skill Test–Revise (QCSTR). The data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22) using descriptive (frequency distribution tables, mean, and standard deviation [SD]) and analytical statistics (Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis, and Spearman's correlation tests) considering the significance level of 0.05. Results A majority of the elderly were men (51%), were in the age group of 60 to 69 years (72.5%) and married (75.5%), did not hold high school diploma (88.8%), had four to five children (41.2%) with low income (75.9%), and suffered from chronic diseases (68.6%). The mean score of communication skills was 129.09 ± 12.60. The mean score of domestic elder abuse was 2.89 ± 3.97. Communication skills have a significant relationship with age and marital status, but not with sex, education level, income, and chronic disease. There is an inverse correlation between communication skills and domestic elder_abuse (p < 0.001, r = −0.468). Conclusion Communication skills are one of the influential factors of domestic violence. Therefore, to prevent or reduce the amount of violence, it is recommended that family members increase the communication skills of the elderly.

Assessment of Root-Shoot Ratio, Biomass, and Carbon Sequestration of Chestnut-leaved Oak Seedling (Quercus castaneifolia C. A. Mey)

One of the most important ways to reduce atmospheric carbon is the carbon sequestration by trees. Chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia C. A. Mey) is one of the most important native oaks of Iran distributed in the Hyrcanian Forests. The pure and mixed stands of it cover about 6.5% of these forests. In this study, carbon sequestration of chestnut-leaved oak seedlings was evaluated by using some morphological characteristics of the root and shoot. For this purpose, one hundred seedlings were sampled by method of Systematic-Random from the sowing bed on March 2022 in the Pylambra nursery at Guilan province. Seedlings are divided to three grades small, medium and large according to Root Collar Diameter (RCD). The biomass and carbon sequestration of chestnut-leaved oak seedling were calculated according to the basic density of its root and shoot. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for correlation detection between variables. The one-way analysis variance test at the 95% confidence level was used to recognize difference among biomass and carbon sequestration of three group of the oak seedlings. The results of correlation analysis showed that the root collar diameter (RCD) had the strongest correlation with other morphological characteristics. The amount of the basic density for the root and shoot of the oak seedling was obtained about 0.57 g/cm3 which is the same for both of them. The amount of the biomass and carbon sequestration of the root was obtained more than shoot at the small and medium seedlings, whereas in large seedling was the same. In general, by increasing the size of seedling the biomass and carbon sequestration increased.

Complementary description of Lasioseius thermophilus Willmann, 1942 (Acari: Blattisociidae) based on the material collected from Iran

Lasioseius thermophilus Willmann, (Acari: Blattisociidae) was first described by Willmann in 1942 and then by Westeborer in 1963 based on one female specimen from Poland. Both descriptions are only based on female specimens and are not complete since they lack complete measurements of the setae, details of ventral shields, leg chaetotaxy and spermathecal apparatus. Therefore, the male specimen of this species is described and its female specimen is redescribed based on the materials collected from Guilan province, Iran.

Social life cycle assessment of the olive oil industry: a case study in Guilan Province, Iran

AbstractOlive oil production has severe environmental consequences, including resource depletion, land degradation, carbon emissions, and waste generation. As a result, for over two decades, environmental life cycle assessment (ELCA) has been applied to the olive oil industry to identify environmental issues and reduce the environmental effects. However, little is known regarding the social sustainability of this industry. Social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) has been established as one of the most effective methodologies for assessing the social implications of products throughout their life cycles. Accordingly, based on the S-LCA approach, this study aims to assess the social impacts of the olive oil extraction industry in Roudbar County in Guilan Province in Iran, the major producer of olives and olive oil. The S-LCA model adopted in this paper is built in four major phases (UNEP/SETAC in Guidelines for social life cycle assessment of products, 2009): (1) Definition of Goal and Scope: outlines the intended use and the goal pursued and specifies the scope of the research. The research will then be defined to fulfill that purpose within any constraints. (2) Life Cycle Inventory analysis: is the phase at which data are collected, systems are modeled, and LCI results are generated. (3) Life Cycle Impact Assessment: a collection of steps to obtain data categorization, aggregation, and characterization based on performance reference points. (4) Life Cycle Interpretation: considers all important aspects of the research when drawing results, offering recommendations, and reporting. The findings suggested that the social conditions governing the olive oil extraction cycle in the study area are almost adequate. However, other categories of social impacts, such as cultural heritage, community development, and working conditions, were rated unsatisfactory by olive orchard workers and need improvement. Adopting the cause-and-effect chain in this study favors identifying specific indicators based on social issues in the study location. On the other hand, a scale-based assessment may result in the subjectivity of the results, which adds to the uncertainty. An impact-based assessment may be applied to analyze social impacts such as occupational health and safety, employment, pay, and benefits to get more credible social impact data. Consequently, integrating the scale-based approach with an efficient path-based method may improve its effectiveness.

Expression of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) and Astacin Genes of Strongyloides stercoralis as well as HSP70 and HSP17.1 Genes of S. ratti in Adult and Larval Stages of S. stercoralis.

Uncovering the roles and characteristics of pathogenesis-related molecules can help us develop novel management methods in parasitology. In this study, we studied the expression levels of Strongyloides stercoralis heat shock protein70 (HSP70) (Sst-hsp-70) and astacin (Sst-ast) as pathogenesis-related genes as well as the expression of S. ratti HSP70 and HSP17.1 (Sra-hsp-70, Sra-hsp-17.1) in the larvae and adult stages of S. stercoralis. A hyperinfection isolate of S. stercoralis from Gilan Province, northern Iran was cultivated on nutrient agar. After a couple of days, parasites in different stages of life were collected, and total RNA was extracted. The expression levels of astacin and HSP genes were compared by real-time PCR. Statistically higher expression levels of Sst-ast, Sst-hsp-70, and Sra-hsp-70 genes in L3 larvae than in adults were observed. However, the expression level of Sra-hsp-17.1 was non-significantly lower in the larval stage than in adult worms. Higher expression levels of Sst-ast, Sst-hsp-70, and Sra-hsp-70 genes in the larval stages of S. stercoralis suggest the potential role of these enzymes in parasite cutaneous invasion and pathogenesis. However, higher expression of Srahsp-17.1 in adult forms is probably involved in resistance and survival mechanisms. The similarity in gene expression between S. stercoralis and S. ratti can provide helpful hints to better understand strongyloidiasis from various perspectives, including pathogenesis, proper diagnosis, and targeted treatment.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) Clinical Presentation, Laboratory Findings, Treatment Options and Outcome.

Black disease, also known as visceral leishmaniasis (VL), is a parasitic illness caused by various Leishmania species. The risk of morbidity and mortality increases with delayed diagnosis and treatment. Early VL diagnosis and fast appropriate treatment are critical issues in endemic areas. This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study to investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic course of patients admitted with the diagnosis of VL in the Children's Medical Center (CMC) Hospital, Tehran, Iran. All cases of VL in patients under the age of 18 hospitalized between the years 2012 to 2022 were enrolled. Twenty-seven patients were enrolled with an average age of 28.13 months with the majority of females (51.8%). Common clinical signs were fever (96.2%) and splenomegaly (92.59%). However, lymphadenopathy was rare. The largest number of patients was from Tehran Province, followed by Ardabil, Khuzestan, Gilan, and Alborz provinces. The most common hematological abnormalities were anemia (85.1%) and thrombocytopenia (44.4%). In accordance with the treatment strategy, liposomal amphotericin B and amphotericin B deoxycholate were given to 11 and 5 patients, respectively. Eleven of them received glucantime. The average length of hospitalization for liposomal amphotericin B was 15.36 ± 12.49 days. In comparison with glucantime (18.38 ±10.26 days) and amphotericin B deoxycholate (20.20± 6.18 days), liposomal amphotericin B group hospitalization was shorter than others were. VL should be included in the differential diagnosis of any child who presents with fever, splenomegaly, and anemia. Concerning the treatment strategy in this study, liposomal amphotericin B had more efficiency and shorter hospitalization duration.

Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Oocytes in Soil Samples from Guilan Province, Northern Iran.

Soil is an appropriate substrate for the storage and transmission of oocytes of Toxoplasma gondii. Ingestion of soil contaminated with T. gondii oocysts is a major transmission route of human and animal toxoplasmosis. The present study was carried out to investigate soil contamination with T. gondii oocysts in urban and rural areas of Guilan Province, northern Iran. Overall, 208 soil samples were collected from 16 cities and villages in Guilan Province, northern Iran from Oct 2020 to Nov 2021. Soil samples were investigated using modified sucrose flotation technique. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect presence of T. gondii DNAs in the samples. Positive samples were further analyzed using nested polymerase chain reaction for GRA6 gene. Moreover, six selected positive samples were used for amplifying and sequencing of the GRA6 gene. Overall, 31 samples were positive for T. gondii with frequency of 14.9% and ranging from 10.9% in rural areas to 16.3% in urban areas. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the seasons (P=0.003). The phylogenetic analysis illustrated that our six sequences were similar and closely related to Type I strain of T. gondii. Results showed relatively high levels (14.9%) of T. gondii oocytes in soil samples of Guilan Province, northern Iran, which provided essential data for the effective prevention and control of toxoplasmosis in the region.

Self-reported cycling behavior and previous history of traffic accidents of cyclists

BackgroundCyclists are vulnerable traffic users and studying the cycling behavior of professional and elite cyclists, their previous history of traffic accidents combined with the current knowledge on high-risk behaviors of this group can be a useful basis for further studies on ordinary cyclists. This study aimed to determine the relationship between cycling behavior and the previous history of traffic accidents among members of the Cycling Federation of Guilan province in 2022.MethodsA descriptive-analytical study was performed in which the Bicycle Rider Behavior Questionnaire (BRBQ) constructed in the Porsline platform was distributed using the WhatsApp social network. All participants were asked to self-report their cycling behavior. The final analysis was performed by using STATA software (version 14).ResultsThe study subjects included a total of 109 cyclists with a mean age of 38.62 ± 10.94 years and a mean cycling experience of 13.75 ± 11.08 years. Using the logistic regression model, the relationship between gender (P = 0.039), years of cycling experience (P = 0.000), and education level (P ≤ 0.00), with previous traffic accidents, was found significant. There was also a significant relationship between stunts and distractions (P = 0.005), signaling violation (P = 0.000), and control error (P = 0.011) with previous traffic accidents. A significant association existed between stunts and distractions (P = 0.001) and signaling violation (P = 0.001) with a previous history of traffic injury within the last 3 years.ConclusionsThe findings of this study can be used to establish cyclist safety and preventative planning in society. In behavior change intervention programs, it is best to target male cyclists with higher-level education. In addition, the behavior of the cyclists whose predominant term of signaling violations must be corrected should be targeted. It is necessary to shape information campaigns and educational programs aimed for cyclists with common high-risk behaviors, especially signaling violations.

Application of Nested-qPCR-High Resolution Melting (HRM) Technology on Strongyloides stercoralis Isolates from Iran.

Strongyloides stercoralis is a parasite with special characteristics presenting it as a unique nematode. Iran is an endemic area for S. stercoralis. In this study, nested-qPCR-high resolution melting (HRM) technology was applied on some human isolates of S. stercoralis from this country by focusing on evolutionary genetics analysis. Twelve human isolates of S. stercoralis were collected from four endemic provinces of Iran. Genomic DNA was extracted from a single filariform larva for every isolate. Using specific primers targeting partial regions in cox1 gene, nested-qPCR-HRM was performed and melting-curve profiles were analyzed alongside the evaluation of genetic proximity and phylogenetic analysis using MEGA7 and DnaSP5 software. The melting temperature (Tm) values of the isolates were 77.9°C-78.3°C. All isolates from Guilan, Mazandaran, and Khouzestan Provinces shared Tm values of 78.2°C to 78.3°C, while the isolates from Hormozgan Province showed Tm values of 77.9°C, 78.0°C, and 78.1°C. The phylogenetic tree illustrated that thesequences of the current study included nine haplotypes. Tajima's D index analyses showed that cox1 gene in S. stercoralis isolates was negative (Tajima's D = - 0.27). The isolates were divided into five temperature groups. Although HRM assay compared to PCR sequencing identified more limited genetic changes, it revealed that the mean of Tm of the isolates from Hormozgan Province was lower than those of other provinces and represented specific haplotypes for this geographical region on the phylogenetic tree.

Disability-adjusted Life Years of Hepatitis B in Iran during 2009–2019: An Analysis Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background and Purpose Hepatitis B virus infection is currently among the ten leading causes of death from infectious diseases in the world. The aim of the current study is spatial analysis related to life years adjusted by hepatitis B disability in Iran from 2009 to 2019. Materials and Methods The study is ecological. Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), cause-specific mortality served as the basis for estimating disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Time trend analysis of DALYs attributed to hepatitis B from 2009 to 2019 and spatial pattern analysis and identification of high-risk and low-risk clusters of DALYs attributed to hepatitis B in Iranian provinces were performed. Time trend changes were evaluated using joinpoint regression analysis. Results The most likely high-risk cluster with LLR=238.59 in the West of Iran includes the western provinces of the country (Lorestan, Kermanshah, Hamedan, Markazi, Khuzestan, and Ilam) (relative risk of occurrence 2.31). The three provinces of Lorestan (RR=2.22), Sistan and Baluchistan (RR=1.73), Golestan (RR=1.46) have the highest relative Khazar, and the three provinces of Gilan (RR=0.41), Mazandaran (CIR=0.48) and Kurdistan (CIR=0.51) had the lowest relative risk. During the years 2009 to 2019, the total DALYs decreased by 1.5% annually (p<0.05). Conclusion According to the results of the disease control and prevention programs, it can be effective in reducing the disease burden in the country by giving priority to the provinces that are among the high-risk disease clusters.

A taxonomic study on Damsel bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Nabidae, Nabinae) of Guilan province and adjacent areas in Iran, with an illustrated key to the genera and species

A taxonomic study on Damsel bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Nabidae, Nabinae) of Guilan province and adjacent areas in Iran, with an illustrated key to the genera and species

Estimation and modeling of the biomass and carbon storage in the stump and root of Populus deltoides

Carbon storage in plant biomass is the simplest and most economically viable way to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide carbon dioxide concentration. The objective of this study was to estimate and model the biomass and carbon storage of the stump and root in Populus deltoides trees in afforestation, Guilan Province of Iran. For this purpose, 93 trees with 25 years old were selected from different diameter classes and after cutting and removing the sections, an excavator was used to unearth the stumps and roots of the trees from the soil. In order to estimate the biomass and carbon storage of tree stumps and roots, samples of these components were isolated and weighed, and after drying in the oven, the dry weight of the samples was measured. The carbon content of stumps and roots of the trees were calculated after burning the dried samples in an electric furnace. The results showed that the biomass of stumps and roots was 7.99 and 65.5 kg per tree, respectively, and the carbon content of stumps and roots was estimated to be 3.92 and 32.32 kg per tree, respectively. The results of allometric equations showed that the models for estimating biomass and carbon storage of stumps and roots using the tree stump diameter variable had a high coefficient of determination, but the model using the stump height had no acceptable coefficient of determination. The evaluation results of different models also showed that the power model was more accurate than other models. In general, the results showed that the carbon stored in stumps and roots was 1.568 and 12.928 tons per hectare, respectively.

The Relationship Between Occupational Burnout and Negative Affective Responses of Nurses During the Public Health Crisis

Background: Long-term exposure of nurses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the lack of necessary and sufficient facilities to deal with the disease have had significant negative effects on their occupational and mental health. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the association between occupational burnout and negative affective responses, including depression, anxiety, and stress, in nurses during the recent pandemic. Methods: A total of 270 nurses who worked at Razi hospital, one of the principal referral hospitals for COVID-19 patients in the northern province of Guilan, Iran, throughout 2021 - 2022, were included in this study. These nurses were selected using convenience sampling and were assigned to one of three wards: COVID-19 (n = 43), emergency (n = 55), or other wards (n = 172). In addition to providing their sociodemographic information, the participants completed two assessments: The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-42 (DASS-42). Results: The correlation matrix showed that all MBI-HSS and DASS-42 scores, except in one case, had a positive correlation with each other (P < 0.0001). In the multiple analysis of variance, gender (P = 0.17), education (P = 0.005), hospital ward (P = 0.048), social support (P = 0.001), family support (P < 0.0001), financial support (P = 0.01), occupational satisfaction (P = 0.044), social respect (P < 0.0001), history of death in the family (P = 0.006) and relatives (P = 0.043), and having a child in primary school age (P = 0.04) created a significant difference in MBI-HSS and DASS-42 scores. Conclusions: In general, nurses tend to be considerably affected by the negative effects of the recent public health crisis, especially occupational burnout, and it is necessary to make arrangements to improve their mental health and reduce the level of occupational burnout in them.

Exploring fungal endophytes as biocontrol agents against rice blast disease

The rice blast disease caused by <i>Pyricularia oryzae</i> Cavara is among the most severe plant diseases in the world. The utilization of natural antagonists, such as fungal endophytes, can be a good method to control the spread of this disease. In the present study, 68 fungal isolates were obtained from 160 rice samples collected in Guilan province fields, Iran. Morphological and molecular characteristics were used for the identification of these fungi. According to the results, the fungal isolates were <i>Alternaria citri</i> (Penz.) Mussat, <i>Alternaria infectoria</i> Simmons, <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Fresen, <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i> (Sacc.) Nirenberg, <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> Rifai, <i>Trichoderma virens</i> (Mill., Giddens & Foster) Arx, <i>Trichoderma viride</i> Pers., <i>Ulocladium consortiale</i> (Thum) Simmons, and <i>Pyricularia oryzae</i> . Eight isolates that did not cause any plant disease were selected for biocontrol studies <i>in vitro</i> . The dual culture, culture filtrate, slide culture, and volatile metabolites methods were used in search of natural endophytic antagonists of <i>Pyricularia oryzae</i>. It was found that <i>T. harzianum, T. virens, T. viride, A. fumigatus</i>, and <i>A. citri</i> isolates caused the highest percentage of mycelial growth inhibition of <i>P. oryzae in vitro</i>. In the greenhouse experiments, all of the studied isolates reduced the <i>P. oryzae</i> disease rating, with <i>T. harzianum</i> isolate being the most effective antagonist (27.36% reduction in the disease rating), followed by <i>T. virens, T. viride</i>, and <i>A. fumigatus</i> (20.75%, 17.92%, and 16.98%, respectively). Furthermore, in greenhouse conditions, these antagonistic fungi increased the height, fresh weight, and dry weight of plants. The results of this research showed that there are various fungi in the natural flora of rice plants that possess potential biological properties against rice blast disease that can be implemented into practice.

Presenting an evolutionary model of entrepreneurial intelligence components in women: approaches to opportunity discovery and creation

PurposeA better understanding of the characteristics and capabilities of women entrepreneurs can significantly improve their chances of success. Therefore, three studies were conducted for this exploratory paper. We have discovered the characteristics of entrepreneurial intelligence among female entrepreneurs through semi-structured interviews based on conventional content analysis. According to the second study, qualitative meta-synthesis was utilized to identify characteristics of women's entrepreneurial intelligence at the international level. As a third study, we examined the evolutionary relationships of entrepreneurs' intelligence components following the discovery and creation of opportunities.Design/methodology/approachThe present paper was based on three studies. In the first study, 15 female entrepreneurs were interviewed using purposive sampling in the Guilan province of Iran to identify the characteristics of entrepreneurial intelligence at the national level. An inductive content analysis was performed on the data collected through interviews. Using Shannon entropy and qualitative validation, their validity was assessed. In the second study, using a qualitative meta-synthesis, the characteristics of women's entrepreneurial intelligence were identified. Then the results of these two studies were compared with each other. In the third study, according to the results obtained from the first and second studies, the emergence, priority and evolution of entrepreneurial intelligence components in two approaches to discovering and creating entrepreneurial opportunities were determined. For this purpose, interviews were conducted with 12 selected experts using the purposeful sampling method using the fuzzy total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) method.FindingsIn the first research, this article identified the components of entrepreneurial intelligence of women entrepreneurs in six categories: entrepreneurial insights, cognitive intelligence, social intelligence, intuitive intelligence, presumptuous intelligence and provocative intelligence. In the second study, the components of entrepreneurial intelligence were compared according to the study at the national level and international literature. Finally, in the third study, the evolution of the components of entrepreneurial intelligence was determined. In the first level, social intelligence, presumptuous intelligence and provocative intelligence are formed first and social intelligence and provocative intelligence have an interactive relationship. In the second level, entrepreneurial insight and cognitive intelligence appear, which, in addition to their interactive relationship, take precedence over the entrepreneur's intuitive intelligence in discovering entrepreneurial opportunities. With the evolution of the components of entrepreneurial intelligence in the opportunity creation approach, it is clear that intuitive intelligence is formed first at the first level and takes precedence. At the second level, there is cognitive intelligence is created. At the third level, motivational intelligence and finally, at the last level, entrepreneurial insight, social intelligence and bold intelligence.Originality/valueThis study has the potential to discover credible and robust approaches for further examining the contextualization of women's entrepreneurial intelligence at both national and international levels, thereby advancing new insights. By conceptualizing various components of entrepreneurial intelligence for the first time and exploring how contextual factors differ across nations and internationally for women's entrepreneurship, this paper challenges the assumption that the characteristics of women's entrepreneurial intelligence are uniform worldwide. It also depicts the evolution of the components of entrepreneurial intelligence.

Toward recognizing characteristics of women’s entrepreneurial intelligence: a comparative study

PurposeRecognizing women’s potential and directing their talents to realize these potentials can be of great benefit. Accordingly, this paper aims to identify the characteristics of entrepreneurial intelligence in female entrepreneurs, drawing on a national-level study and the international literature on this topic.Design/methodology/approachThe present paper conducted two studies. First, 15 female entrepreneurs in the Guilan province of Iran, who were selected using purposive sampling, were interviewed to identify the characteristics of entrepreneurial intelligence nationally. The data gathered by interviews were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Then, their validity was tested using qualitative validation and analyzed using Shannon entropy. In the second study, the characteristics of female entrepreneurial intelligence were identified through a qualitative metasynthesis. The results of the two studies were compared together.FindingsThis categorized entrepreneurial intelligence into six categories, namely, entrepreneurial insights, cognitive intelligence, social intelligence, intuitive intelligence, presumptuous intelligence and provocative intelligence. Ultimately the characteristics of women’s entrepreneurial intelligence in each category were compared according to the national-level study and the international literature.Originality/valueThis study has the potential to discover credible and robust approaches for further examining the contextualization of women’s entrepreneurial intelligence at both national and international levels, thereby advancing new insights. By conceptualizing various dimensions of entrepreneurial intelligence for the first time and exploring how contextual factors differ across nations and internationally for women’s entrepreneurship, this paper challenges the assumption that the characteristics of women’s entrepreneurial intelligence are uniform across the world.

Investigation regarding assessment of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) contamination risk in Rasht city with emphasis on the two rivers, Goharroud and Zarjoub, Gilan province, Iran

Investigation regarding assessment of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) contamination risk in Rasht city with emphasis on the two rivers, Goharroud and Zarjoub, Gilan province, Iran

Land leveling and cover cropping impacts on chemical and biological properties of paddy soil

Aim of study: To examine the impact of solitary land leveling and its combination with cover cropping on the chemical and biological characteristics of paddy soil. Area of study: This research focused on paddy fields located in Guilan Province, situated in northern Iran. Specifically, two sites were chosen for investigation, where land leveling had been conducted 5 years and 2 years prior to this study, respectively. Furthermore, cover cropping was implemented during the second year after the latter area's land leveling. Material and methods: A total of 80 composite soil samples were collected, with 20 samples gathered from both leveled and unleveled plots at the designated study sites. Various soil chemical and biological properties such as organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, microbial respiration, and biomass carbon were quantified. Subsequently, a paired t-test was employed to analyze the impact of land leveling and the combined effects of land leveling with cover cropping on soil attributes. Main results: The study revealed that five years after land leveling, there was a significant decrease in organic carbon, total nitrogen, microbial respiration, and biomass carbon. In contrast, the area leveled and cover cropped for two years exhibited higher levels of these attributes compared to adjacent unleveled parcels. Research highlights: This study highlights the distinct effects that solitary land leveling and land leveling combined with sustainable practices like cover cropping have on soil attributes.

Multi-scale habitat modeling framework for predicting the potential distribution of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes across Iran’s three distinct climatic zones: a MaxEnt machine-learning algorithm

Ecological niche models (ENMs) serve as valuable tools in assessing the potential species distribution, identifying crucial habitat components for species associations, and facilitating conservation efforts. The current study aimed to investigate the gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) infection in sheep, predict and analyze their ecological niches and ranges, and identify the key bioclimatic variables influencing their distribution across three distinct climatic regions in Iran. In a cross-sectional study, a total of 2140 fecal samples were collected from semi-arid (n = 800), arid (n = 500), and humid-subtropical (n = 840) climates in East Azerbaijan, Kerman, and Guilan provinces, respectively. The flotation method was employed to assess stool samples, whereby the fecal egg count (the number of parasite eggs per gram [EPG]) was ascertained for each individual specimen. Employing a presence-only approach, the multi-scale maximum entropy (MaxEnt) method was used to model GINs' habitat suitability using 93 selected points/locations. The findings revealed that Guilan (34.2%) and East Azerbaijan (19.62%) exhibited the utmost proportion of Strongyle-type eggs. East Azerbaijan province also displayed the highest proportion of Marshallagia and Nematodirus, respectively (approximately 40% and 27%), followed by Guilan and Kerman provinces, while Kerman province had the highest proportion of Trichuris (approximately 15%). Ecological niche modeling revealed that the precipitation of the driest quarter (Bio17) exerted the most significant influence on Marshallagia, Nematodirus, Trichuris, and ُSُُُtrongyle-type eggs' presence in East Azerbaijan and Kerman provinces. For Guilan province, the most influential factor defining habitat suitability for Strongyle-type eggs, Marshallagia, and Nematodirus was increasing slope. Additionally, the distribution of Trichuris was most affected by the variable Bio2 in Guilan province. The study highlights the response of GINs to climate drivers in highly suitable regions, providing insights into ecologically favorable areas for GINs. In conclusion, this study provides a better understanding of GINs and the environmental factors influencing their transmission dynamics.