Qom Province Research Articles

Factors Affecting the Early Diagnosis of Smear-positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Patients in Qom Province, Iran

Background and Objectives: According to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), almost one-third of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis (TB). The delay in TB diagnosis, in addition to increasing mortality, can increase the duration of disease transmission. This study aims to identify the factors affecting the early detection of smear-positive pulmonary TB in Patients in Qom Province, Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, 120 patients with smear-positive pulmonary TB (60 with a diagnosis delayed for more than three months and 60 with a timely diagnosis) diagnosed from 2018 to 2021 in Qom Province participated. To determine the factors effective in early diagnosis of pulmonary TB, the odds ratio of each factor was calculated, and logistic regression analysis was used for data analysis. Results: The prescription of the sputum test at the first visit had the most significant effect on the early diagnosis of pulmonary TB (odds ratio=161, P<0.001). The TB in patients who visited the clinics and those visited by general practitioners was diagnosed with a higher delay. The lack of knowledge of existing TB diagnosis and treatment services in health centers had increased the diagnosis delay by 2.3. Occupation, gender, and place of residence were not found to be effective factors. Conclusion: It seems that most doctors in Iran neglect to prescribe a sputum test for patients suspected of pulmonary TB and only prescribe chest x-rays. Training and informing doctors, private medical centers, and pharmacies in referring patients suspected of pulmonary TB to the health centers where the patients live can cause timely diagnosis of pulmonary TB.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Office Employees in Qom, Iran Regarding Dental Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic Based on the Health Belief Model

Background and Objectives: COVID-19 can spread from human to human primarily through respiratory secretions. In this regard, dental procedures can pose a high risk of COVID-19 transmission. This study aims to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of office employees in Qom, Iran regarding dental treatment during COVID-19 pandemic based on health belief model (HBM). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 510 office employees in Qom Province. Data collection tools included a demographic form and a KAP questionnaire based on the HBM constructs. Results: The mean age of participants was 36.7±9.1 and 252(52%) were female. The practice variable had a statistically significant relationship with perceived susceptibility (P<0.001), perceived barriers (P<0.001), history of vaccination (P<0.001), and history of chronic diseases (P<0.001). Age had a significant relationship with perceived severity (P<0.001) and perceived benefits (P<0.001). Gender had a significant relationship only with perceived severity (P<0.001). Marital status had a significant relationship with knowledge (P<0.001), perceived severity (P<0.001) and perceived barriers (P=0.03). Educational level had a significant relationship with knowledge (P=0.01), perceived severity (P<0.001), perceived benefits (P<0.001), perceived barriers (P<0.001). History of vaccination had a significant relationship with knowledge (P<0.001), perceived susceptibility (P<0.001), perceived severity (P=0.02), and perceived benefits (P=0.02). History of chronic disease had a significant relationship with perceived susceptibility (P<0.001), perceived severity (P<0.001), perceived benefits (P<0.001), and perceived barriers (P<0.001). Conclusion: knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and perceived barriers of office employees in Qom regarding dental treatment during COVID-19 pandemic are at moderate level. Their perceived susceptibility and severity have a positive relationship with visiting dental clinics.

Investigating the Effect of Educational Intervention on Postpartum Health Attitudes and Behaviors in Women Referring to Health Centers in Qom Province, Iran

Background and Objectives: Postpartum is one of the most critical and dangerous periods in the life of a mother and a newborn. The health behaviors of mothers are influenced by their attitudes. Some attitudes act like dams against receiving health care. The health behaviors of mothers can be improved through education, increasing public awareness, and correcting attitudes. The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of educational intervention on the attitudes and behaviors of mothers referring to health and treatment centers in Qom Province, Iran. Methods: This qualitative study investigates the attitudes and behaviors of mothers during the postpartum period. It is an educational intervention conducted on 110 mothers during their postpartum period. The mothers were selected by available sampling from the health and treatment centers of Qom Province and were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention took four months, and the education was conducted in four sessions using educational clips, lectures, posters, and pamphlets. The follow-up feedback was accomplished until 42 days after delivery. Results: After the educational intervention, significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups in the components of health attitudes and behaviors, including maternal behaviors, nutritional behaviors, and infant-related behaviors of mothers in the postpartum period (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that multimedia educational intervention, along with individual counseling and continuous communication with mothers, has a positive effect on their health attitudes and behaviors in the postpartum period.

The isolation and serotyping of foot-and-mouth disease virus in Iran during 2019-2022.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a significant transboundary animal disease that has a considerable economic impact on livestock systems worldwide. In order to determine the presence and type of FMD virus in Iran, a total of 90 samples of vesicular fluid and epithelial tissue were collected from the tongues, tooth pads, and hooves of clinically suspect cattle on 40 vaccinatedfarms in 9 provinces of Iran. These samples were collected duringfour years, from January 2019 to December 2022, and the vaccine was a locally produced polyvalent inactivated vaccine. The collected samples were analyzed using ELISA and isolation methods to identify and characterize the FMD virus. The results of the ELISA tests revealed that 66.66% of the samples were positive for FMD, and the serotypes of the virus were determined. Considering ELISA reslut, 62% of the samples were assigned to serotype O, 33% to serotype A, and 5% to serotype Asia-1. Furthermore, 90% of the positive samples were inoculated onto monolayer cultures of pig kidneys (IB-RS2) for isolation and antigen detection by serotype-specific ELISA kit. The great majority of detected serotype Oviruses were from Esfahan province, while the most detectedserotype Aand serotype Asia-1 viruses were from Qom and Tehran provinces, respectively. These findings indicate that the ELISA and isolation methods are suitable for identifying and typing FMD viruses. The vaccination program in Iran, which includes three serotypes (O, A, and Asia-1), appears to be effective in controlling the spread of the disease. However, the continued circulation of these serotypes in most provinces suggests that ongoing surveillance and vaccination efforts are necessary.

Lead and Barium strata-bound deposits in eocene carbonate ramps of Iran: Implications for the influence of sedimentary environment characteristics on the distribution of Ore reserves

In the case of ore deposits that are formed in marine environments, including kuroko deposits, the effect of paleo-sedimentary environment parameters and microfacies changes is very important, but it is often neglected in economic geological research. These factors determine the dispersion and concentration of ore horizons in an ore deposit area, and recognition them leads us to the localization of high concentration ore horizons.In this regard, lead and barite ore deposit area in the southeastern of Tafresh city (the border of Markazi and Qom provinces, Iran) was investigated. This ore deposit is of the kuroko type and is of the early to middle Eocene epoch (Ypresian-Lutetian ages) and was formed in a relatively deep ancient carbonate ramp. Investigating the concentration of different minerals and ore minerals in the mentioned ore deposit area using by remote sensing techniques indicates that the distribution of minerals and ore minerals is non-uniform with a noteworthy correlation unto the carbonate ramp microfacies in the southeastern of Tafresh. The scrutiny of microfacies characteristics and paleo-sedimentary environment showed that the distance from hydrothermal smokers, the action of different seawaves, sedimentological changes, structural features and initial morphology of microfacies have a remarkable impressiveness in the dispersion of ore reserves and the formation of horizons with a high concentration of ore.

The effects of drought and salinity on KS and RAW managerial coefficients in the efficient water management in maize farms

This study aimed to investigate the simultaneous effects of drought and salinity on irrigation management coefficients in maize farms. A three-year field research was conducted in the form of a 3 × 3 factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design and three replications from 2020 to 2022 in a maize farm, in Aliabad Fashafoye, Qom province, Iran. The applied treatments included three levels of salinity (S0 = 1.8, S1 = 5.2, and S2 = 8.6 dS/m) and three levels of irrigation (W0 = 100%, W1 = 75%, and W2 = 50% of field capacity). Evapotranspiration stress coefficient (KS) due to W0S1 and W0S2 treatments was (0.975 and 0.934), (0.974 and 0.932), and (0.962 and 0.935) in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. According to the results, KS decreased by increasing the salinity level of irrigation water, so a 1-unit increase in salinity level above the tolerance threshold of the crop to salinity decreased KS by 0.78 and 1.76% for S1 and S2, respectively. Moreover, each percent of volumetric moisture decrease from field capacity decreased KS by 5.9 and 13.3% in W1 and W2, respectively. Also, with the increase in the intensity of the stresses, the readily available water (RAW) of treatments decreased. The sole application of salinity stress decreased the decreasing slope of RAW by 3.2%, while the application of both stresses resulted in the decreasing slopes of 4.9, 5.7, and 7.8% at the salinity levels of S0, S1, and S2, respectively, compared to the control. The findings of this study show that the accurate estimation of crop evapotranspiration and RAW can help to improve the irrigation schedule, and the amount of irrigation water used is less than in non-stress conditions due to the reduction of total evapotranspiration and less water uptake in environmental stresses in maize farms.

Health Risk Assessment of Synthetic Tartrazine Dye in some Food Products in Qom Province (Iran)

Background:: There is extensive evidence of tartrazine dye being used in foodstuff of Qom markets in Iran. Objective:: This study evaluates the synthetic tartrazine dye in some food products and the health risks caused by tartrazine consumption in Qom province. Methods:: The study has two stages: First, 125 food product samples, including confectionary products (e.g., candy (Nabat), Poolaky, Charkhandi, cream, and non-cream sweets) and restaurant products (barbecued chicken), were tested. In the second stage, the risk of exposure to tartrazine was evaluated. Results:: The results showed that 36.8% of samples in confectionery products (15.8 ± 5.1 mg/kg) and 41.3% of samples in restaurant food (41.5±7.9) were colored with tartrazine dye. Based on the obtained results, all values of tartrazine levels in the food samples had not exceeded the maximum tartrazine limit (mg/kg) in food products. Also, the results of exposure estimation and hazard quotient of tartrazine in age groups revealed that the HQ for age groups was smaller than 1. Therefore, they show no considerable risk for tartrazine dye intake according to the food samples in Iran’s market. The probability of total risk (95%) was calculated using Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, the mean risk calculated for childhood (5 -12) and adult years (36-55) were determined as 9.35 E-5 and 9.24 E-5, respectively. Conclusion:: This study showed the nonsignificant health risk of exposure to tartrazine in all study groups according to the amount and frequency of exposure. However, it is recommended to raise awareness among people concerning the health risks of artificial dye (especially tartrazine in food), conduct more research for risk assessment of tartrazine, and monitor related data.

Designing a Career Networking Model with an Interpretative Structural Approach

Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify and determine the level of factors affecting career networking behavior. Methods: This research is mixed research with a qualitative-quantitative approach. Library search was used to examine the theoretical foundations, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, and questionnaires were used to collect the ideas of academic experts. Theme analysis was used to identify factors. In the qualitative part, 15 people were selected from the managers of government organizations in Qom province with the purposeful sampling method in order to identify the factors. In the qualitative part, 14 people were selected from the professors of Farabi Campus and Qom University with the snowball sampling method in order to validate the factors and also compare the factors two by two. Results: Based on the findings of the present research, 31 codes were categorized into 8 factors. The validity of all the factors was confirmed with the Lawshe’s coefficient and the interpretive structural modeling method was used in order to level 8 factors. Finally, 8 factors were prioritized in 5 levels; Customized appointments and mendacious personal branding on the first level, creating toxic communication networks on the second level, distrust of employees to mechanisms on the third level, decision-making by advocacy groups on the fourth level, inefficient supervision, unclear rules and regulations and senior management style were placed at the fifth level. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the research, each of the factors related to career networking can lead to the success of employees in career promotion. Therefore, it is necessary for the managers of the organization to maintain effective human resources by using appropriate mechanisms in order to improve the growth and development of competent employees.

Barriers to Documenting Experiences in the Public Libraries of Qom Province

Barriers to Documenting Experiences in the Public Libraries of Qom Province

Molecular Identification of the Gag and Tax Gene of Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) in Women with Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world particularly among Iranian women. Although the mortality rate decreased in developed countries, there were increased changes in breast cancer incidences. The study aimed at evaluating the correlation between BLV infection and breast cancer in Iran. Methods: In the cross-sectional study, a total of 85 breast cancer tissue samples and adjacent tumor samples (normal tissue) were collected during the year 2022 from women referred to general hospitals in Qom Province, Iran. The nested PCR technique was performed to determine the presence of tax and gag genes of BLV in the collected samples. To confirm the presence of the tax gene of BLV, PCR products of some BLV-positive samples were subjected to direct sequencing. Results: Based on nested PCR technique, tax and gag genes of BLV were detected in 12.9% (11.85) and 3.4% (3.85) of breast cancer tissue samples, respectively. Also, the tax gene was present in 4.7% of the control samples, but the presence of the gag gene was not observed. Most malignant samples of BLV were III grade. The constructed phylogenetic trees for the tax gene of BLV showed most BLV isolates had similar sequences to Iranian isolates. Conclusion: The results of the study by using nested PCR technique, demonstrate a possible relationship between human breast cancer and bovine leukemia virus infection in women of Iran. BLV is one of the main risk factors for breast cancer.

Fulvic acid foliar application: a novel approach enhancing antioxidant capacity and nutritional quality of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.)

BackgroundThe global growth of pistachio production has prompted exploration into sustainable agricultural practices, on the application of humic substances such as fulvic acid in enhancing the quality of horticultural crops. The present study was carried out in Qom province, Iran, on 20 years old pistachio (Pistacia vera L. cv. Kaleh-Ghoochi) trees and investigated the impact of foliar spraying of fulvic acid at varying concentrations (1.5, 3, and 4.5 g L− 1) on the antioxidant and quality properties of pistachio. The different concentrations of fulvic acid were applied at two key stages: at the initiation of pistachio kernel formation (late June) and the development stage of pistachio kernel (late August), as well as at both time points. Following harvest at the horticulturally mature phase, various parameters, including total phenols, flavonoids, soluble proteins, soluble carbohydrate content, antioxidant capacity, and antioxidant enzyme activity, were assessed.ResultsResults indicated that foliar application of fulvic acid, particularly at 1.5 g L− 1 during both late June and August, effectively increased phenolic compounds (31.8%) and flavonoid content (24.53%). Additionally, this treatment also augmented antioxidant capacity and heightened the activity of catalase (CAT) (37.56%), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (63.86%), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (76.45%). Conversely, peroxidase (POX) (41.54%) activity was reduced in fulvic acid-treated nuts compared with controls. Moreover, the content of chlorophyll (45%) and carotenoids (46.7%) was enhanced using this organic fertilizer. In terms of mineral elements, the increment was observed in zinc (Zn) (58.23%) and potassium (K) (28.12%) amounts in treated nuts. Additionally, foliar application of fulvic acid led to elevated levels of soluble carbohydrates and proteins in treated nuts.ConclusionsIn the present study, application of fulvic acid resulted in enhancement of antioxidant activity and quality traits of pistachio nut through an increase in total phenol, flavonoids, chlorophyll, carotenoids, K, Zn, and also activity of antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, use of fulvic acid emerges as a promising strategy to enhance the quality and nutritional attributes of pistachios, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and improved crop outcomes.

Evaluation of Mex A' Mex B Efflux Pump Gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Milk in Qom Province, Iran

Background:: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen protected from antibiotics' harmful effects by various mechanisms. One of the most important mechanisms is the activation of exudation systems. Therefore, identifying such targets in food contaminating bacteria can help us target them and eliminate bacteria resistant to several drugs, making food safe. Therefore, the present study aimed to trace Mex A and Mex B efflux pump genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from dairy products in Qom City, Iran. Methods:: 300 samples of raw milk, 30 samples of pasteurized milk, and 30 samples of local cream were collected. After a 24-hour culture on nutrient agar and blood agar and performing warm staining, confirmatory biochemical tests were performed to identify bacteria. The disk method was used according to CLSI guidelines to determine the antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Then Mex A and Mex B efflux pump genes were detected using specific primers with PCR technique. Results:: 117 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from 300 raw milk samples, and 7 strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Out of 117 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, 51 isolates (43.5%) had Mex A gene and 10 isolates (8.5%) had Mex B gene. Three isolates had both Mex A and Mex B genes. Among the strains with resistance to ciprofloxacin (7 isolates), 4 isolates did not have any of the genes. One isolate had Mex A and Mex B genes; 2 isolates were Mex A positive and Mex B negative, and Mex B positive and Mex A negative isolates were not observed. Conclusions:: Based on the results, among the studied isolates, the Mex A gene was more abundant. In addition, no significant relationship was found between the existence of Mex A and Mex B genes and ciprofloxacin resistance.

Comparing the Bacterial Flora of Insectary and Filed Strains of Supella longipalpa (Blattaria: Ectobiidae) and Their Antibiotic Resistant Pattern in Qom Province, Central Iran.

Cockroaches play a role in the mechanical transmission of microbial pathogens. This study was designed to determine the isolated bacteria and their susceptibility to conventional antibiotics from brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa, in Qom province, central Iran. In this cross-sectional study, brown-banded cockroaches were bred in an insectary and caught from hospitals of Qom. The samples were taken from the surface and alimentary canal and then cultured on microbial culture media; next, grown specimens were identified using differential culture media. Finally, after performing diagnostic tests and identifying the bacteria species, their susceptibility to various antibiotics was evaluated. A total of 120 adult cockroaches from the insectary and hospitals were included in the study. Ten bacterial genera were found; nine were Gram-negative and one was Gram-positive. The genus Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Staphylococcus, Citrobacter and Hafnia were isolated only from the hospital strain. On the other hand, Pseudomonas and Escherichia from both groups and other species such as Salmonella, Proteus and Shigella were isolated only from laboratory strains. The highest antibiotic resistance among Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli were 100.0% and 98.1% for ampicillin and Ceftazidime, respectively. The results of this study showed that various pathogenic bacteria harbored by brown-banded cockroaches. Moreover, it was found that most of these bacteria belong to the Enterobacteriaceae family, which can be pathogenic and thus threaten human health.

Assessing the components of water governance in Qom province within the framework of sustainable development.

One of the most important issues and challenges for Iran, particularly in hot and arid regions such as Qom province, is the current water crisis. Research has shown that good governance is directly linked to sustainable rural development. Therefore, the present study aims to design a water governance model in rural communities of Qom province to achieve sustainable rural development. The research population comprised 163 water experts from the Agricultural Engineering Organization of Qom province and 130 experts from the Water Organization of Qom province. Based on Cochran's formula and considering the population size, a sample size of 170 individuals was calculated and selected using simple random sampling. A questionnaire was used as the main research tool for data collection, which had been validated and confirmed for its reliability. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (partial least squares method) and confirmatory factor analysis. According to the results, it was determined that in the research model for measuring sustainable development in Qom province, three factors, namely government effectiveness, participation, and technical factors, are recognized as components of sustainable development. Additionally, for measuring the factors influencing water governance, technical, economic, social, institutional, legal, and customary factors are recognized as identified factors. Previous studies have not considered the role of water governance in rural development. This study, however, has placed greater emphasis on the role of water governance in sustainable rural development through a review of various theories and perspectives on this matter.

Energetic and exergetic assessment of a ground source heat pump system using low temperature resources in a tropical climate

The energy crisis is a global issue which all nations are involved with it. To this purpose, scientists are developing new energy sources that have less downsides than traditional energy sources. In the current investigation, a ground source cooling system is built in a 234 m2 office building at the gas company bureau in Qom province, Iran, which has a tropical environment. In this climate, which the ground temperature is almost 21 °C, some closed vertical type ground coil with about 170 m depth is constructed for the system, and then some measurements are recorded. The system has been evaluated using the extracteddata and energy and exergy evaluations have been conducted. The outputs show a great sensitivity of the coefficient of performance to the outlet ground coil temperature and the exergy analysis demonstrates that the exergy loss of the ground coil is slightly increased over the workday and the heat pump with exergy dissipation and exergy loss coefficient of 6.4 kW and 0.22 has higher rate of irreversibility compared to other components. Moreover, the average values of Coefficient of Performance (COP) and outlet temperature of ground coil during a workday were obtained as 4.43, 27.43C respectively.

Design and implementation of a TaqMan® real-time PCR method for detection and quantification of bovine leukemia virus.

The bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is an important infectious agent transmitted from cattle to humans. It is considered one of the oncogenic viruses in breast cancer, so an accurate detection of this virus is important. The study aimed to design a specific and sensitive method based on TaqMan® real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for BLV detection. Probes and primers were designed using bioinformatics software for a 108 pairs region of the BLV tax gene. Criteria employed for determining analytical sensitivity were prepared using in-vitro RNA transcriptions. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) databases various viral panels and genomic samples from healthy individuals (Qom Province, Iran in 2023) were used to verify analytical specificity and clinical specificity, respectively. This method can measure a minimum of 10 copies of DNA and RNA mL-1. Moreover, the assay is linear in the range of 100 - 109 copies mL-1. By testing negative specimens, the method specificity was 100%. The reproducibility results of the reaction were examined at the intra- and inter-assay comparison. In fact, 10 technical replicates of each concentration of the control sample were analyzed in each working reaction. Due to the locally made kit, exact sensitivity and specificity, rapid analysis, and relatively low cost, as compared to commercial kits of other countries, the method introduced in the present study could be suitable for accurate detection of the BLV. Also, the TaqMan® real-time PCR method could be detected in cattle and human and before malignant changes of breast cancer which could reduce infection and breast cancer.

Validation of the Customer Experience Model of Iran Telecommunication Company from Commercial Sales Towards their Retention

Objective: The purpose of this research is to validate the customer experience model of Iran Telecommunication Company in commercial sales towards their retention. Methodology: This study was applied in objective and quantitative in execution with a structural modeling approach. The population in this part of the research included all commercial sales customers of the Telecommunications of Qom province, numbering 1700 individuals. The sample size was determined to be 315 individuals using Morgan's table and was selected through convenience sampling. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire's questions and statements were developed using the research literature, theoretical foundations, and the results of the qualitative study, whose face and content validity was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was obtained with a Cronbach's alpha method of 0.961. The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling method in SMART PLS software. Findings: The findings of this research showed that the evolutionary organizational structural model has 19 sub-components within seven prerequisite components of customer experience management, measurement and analysis of customer experiences, service experience, value creation, marketing mix, brand image, and support activities, all of which fit well and all variables obtained can be considered in designing the final model. The effectiveness of each variable was discussed and analyzed in terms of their existence. The results indicated that the prerequisites of customer experience management, measurement and analysis of customer experiences, service experience, value creation, marketing mix, brand image, and support activities were significant in the research model. Conclusion: The results showed that the customer experience model of Iran Telecommunication Company in commercial sales towards their retention is valid.

Determination of natural radioactivity using gamma spectrometry in used soils as construction materials in Qom province, Iran

The concentrations determination of natural radionuclides as radiation sources has an important role in reducing radiation risk and evaluating of non-nuclear activities impact. In this research, the concentrations of natural radionuclides 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th in the soil samples collected from 13 different locations in the Qom province (Delijan Cement Mine area) were measured by means of gamma-ray spectrometry using a shielded NaI (Tl) detector. For this purpose, the Nuclide master plus simulation program was used to evaluate the efficiency, and then the acquired data was validated. The activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th varied within the ranges of 23.19 ± 1.95 to 287.19 ± 2.38, 3.04 ± 0.47 to 13.43 ± 0.56, 2.26 ± 0.37 to 4.63 ± 0.38 Bq.kg−1 with the mean values of 75.78, 8.69, and 3.30 Bq.kg−1, respectively. Radium equivalent activity, internal and external hazard indices were determined to assess radiological hazards. The mean Raeq was measured 19.26 Bq.kg−1 and Hex and Hin were calculated 0.052 and 0.075 which these quantities were lower than the world average. The results revealed that radiological risk due to natural radionuclides in this area was negligible and extracted soil samples as construction materials (cement) are safe.

Satellite-Based Monitoring of Growing Agricultural Water Consumption in Hyper-Arid Regions

Land-use change has a key role in hydrologic processes and biodiversity. Although many satellite-based studies have been conducted to reveal the interaction between land-use changes in hydrological processes worldwide, the land-use change impact on agricultural water consumption in hyper-arid regions is poorly understood. Here, we investigate increased agricultural water consumption in the Qom province, a hyper-arid region in Iran, using derived imageries from Landsat 5 Tm and Landsat 8 OLI during the last three decades. We used maximum likelihood classification (MLC) and decision tree classification (DTC) to analyze the satellite images. The MLC method showed that croplands have increased from 30,547 ha in 1989 to 39,255 ha in 2019 (i.e., a 29% increase). In this period, the total orchard area increased from 3904 ha to 6307 ha, revealing a growth of 61%. In the DTC method, the increases in the cropland and orchard areas were, respectively, 34% and 60%. Although both MLC and DTC satisfied the accuracy criteria, the former was more consistent than the latter concerning ground data and documented statistics. Satellite-based and MLC results showed an increase in agricultural water consumption from 152 million cubic meters (MCM) in 1989 to 209 MCM in 2019, showing a 38% increase (i.e., 1.27% annually). Our findings send an alarming message for policymakers to reduce the water demand through sustainable agricultural practices in the Qom province, where the agricultural sector uses approximately 90% of annual water demand.

Effectiveness of DIR/Floor Time Play Therapy in Social Skills and Emotion Regulation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families need to use rehabilitation services to improve their functions in social interactions and communication skills. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of DIR/floor time play therapy in the social skills and emotion regulation of children with ASD. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental with a pretest/posttest design. The statistical population included all the autistic children visiting Golhay-e Behesht Autism Center in Qom, Qom Province, Iran. The convenience sampling method was employed to select 30 participants, who were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group received the DIR/floor time play therapy intervention for 23 twenty-minute sessions. The research instrument included Bellini’s Social Skills Profile Questionnaire and Emotion Regulation Checklist. Descriptive statistics and the repeated measures ANOVA were adopted for data analysis in SPSS 22. Results: According to the results, the DIR/floor time play therapy method improved emotion regulation components (i.e., instability/negativity and emotion regulation) and the indices of social skills (i.e., social interaction, social participation, and detrimental behavior). The results lasted until the follow-up step (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The DIR/floor time play therapy method caused positive changes to emotion regulation and social skills in autistic children. Therefore, it can be an effective intervention in children with ASD.