West Azarbaijan Province Research Articles

Diplazontinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of the West Azarbaijan province with a new record for the Iranian fauna

Diplazontinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of the West Azarbaijan province with a new record for the Iranian fauna

Farmers' intention to adopt low-carbon agricultural technologies to mitigate climate change

Climate change is one of the main crises in the world primarily due to greenhouse gas emissions. The agricultural sector is a key factor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this study aims to analyze farmers' intentions to use low-carbon agricultural technologies. Based on a theoretical framework adapted from the comprehensive action determination model, data were collected through questionnaires distributed among 373 farmers in the southern region of West Azarbaijan province, Iran. Factors influencing farmers' intentions were identified using a structural equation model. The results indicated that attitude (β = 0.532), habits (β = 0.282), and objective constraints (β = 0.105) significantly influenced farmers’ intentions to adopt low-carbon agricultural technologies. The model predicted 68.4% of the variance in farmers' intentions. All predictors in the comprehensive action determination model demonstrated robustness and significant positive relationships, except for subjective constraints. Additionally, the model effectively explained normative processes, habitual processes, situational influences, and intentional processes among farmers. This research suggests policy solutions to promote the adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies by farmers in response to climate change, thereby fostering sustainable agriculture in the region. When developing future plans for climate change adaptation, planners should use the comprehensive action determination model as a fundamental guideline. This model is essential for both mitigating climate change and enhancing behavioral intentions, which are critical objectives.

Diversity of mycoparasitic Pythium sensu stricto and Globisporangium species in West Azarbaijan province of Iran

AbstractPythium sensu stricto (s.s.) and Globisporangium species are important components of the soil microbial community and exhibit diverse lifestyles, including mycoparasitism. However, a comprehensive understanding of the species diversity of these mycoparasites in the West Azarbaijan province of Iran is lacking. In this study, a total of 114 mycoparasitic Pythium s.s. and Globisporangium isolates were obtained from agricultural soils collected from six regions in the province. Through DNA barcoding, all Globisporangium isolates were identified as G. nunn, while the barcode markers were insufficient to accurately resolve species boundaries in Pythium s.s. By combining morphological and multilocus sequence data, five species within the genus Pythium s.s. were identified: P. salmasense sp. nov., a potentially new species, and three known species, P. acanthicum, P. ornamentatum, and P. periplocum. Pythium ornamentatum was the most common species and found in all regions studied, followed by G. nunn and P. acanthicum, which were both isolated from four regions. While the isolates of G. nunn showed no mycoparasitic activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, all Pythium s.s. species were capable of infecting the hyphae of this pathogen. The existence of mycoparasitic species is promising for biological control of soil‐borne fungal pathogens in the province. The widespread occurrence of P. ornamentatum, G. nunn, and P. acanthicum may suggest their adaptation to local soil and environmental conditions, indicating their potentially superior effectiveness in controlling plant diseases across different regions if used as biocontrol agents.

Anthracnose disease of Ficus benjamina caused by Colletotrichum orchidearum in Iran

Colletotrichum species cause the anthracnose disease that affects a wide variety of fruit, vegetable, and ornamental hosts. During the summer of 2018–2019, infected leaves of Ficus benjamina var. variegata with typical anthracnose symptoms were collected from several greenhouses in Miyandoab (West Azarbaijan Province) and Maraghe (East Azarbaijan Province) counties, Iran, with an incidence of 10–21%. The fungus was isolated and identified as Colletotrichum orchidearum, based on morphological features and multi-gene sequence analyses (ITS‒rDNA, GAPDH, CHS-1, HIS3, ACT and TUB2 genes). Pathogenicity assays were conducted on two-year-old potted plants with conidial suspensions under greenhouse conditions. Typical anthracnose symptoms including fungal conidiomata were developed on the inoculated leaves, while control plants remained symptomless. Re-isolation and re-identification of the inoculated fungi confirmed Koch’s postulates. This study provides the first evidence of C. orchidearum causing anthracnose disease on Ficus benjamina var. variegata in Iran and the world.

The Relationship Between Air Pollution Components and Hospitalizations Due to Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between air pollution and pulmonary embolism in patients hospitalized in Urmia city. This cross-sectional study was conducted in West Azerbaijan province, Iran. According to the daily report from the meteorology center of West Azarbaijan province, the data on the concentrations of air pollutants, including PM10, NO2, O3, CO, and PM2.5 were extracted. Moreover, the files of patients without underlying risk factors hospitalized due to pulmonary embolism were extracted. Finally, admissions from 2 days before until 2 days after the polluted days were compared to hospitalizations on clean air days of the same month. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting(s): Urmia, the capital city of the West Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran. Participants: A total of 1275 patients without underlying risk factors hospitalized due to pulmonary embolism were included. Outcome measures: Admissions from 2 days before until 2 days after the polluted days were compared to hospitalizations on clean air days of the same month. Results: Out of 1779 patients admitted due to pulmonary embolism, 1275 patients met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Based on the results, 403 patients (31.6%) were hospitalized in clean and healthy air (air quality index [AQI] of 0-50 and 50-100), 816 patients (64.1%) were hospitalized in unhealthy air (AQI: 150-101), and 56 patients (4.4%) were hospitalized in days with polluted air (AQI:151-200). According to Pearson’s correlation coefficient, there was a significant relationship between carbon monoxide (r=0.09, P=0.0001), sulfur dioxide (r=0.11, P=0.001), PM10 (r=0.28, P=0.001), and PM2.5 (r=0.45, P=0.0001) concentrations and the frequency of hospitalizations due to pulmonary embolism. Conclusions: There is a positive and significant relationship between air pollutants and the number of hospitalizations due to pulmonary embolism. Hence, preventive measures should be taken into account regarding the air pollution at the provincial and national levels.

Apple crown and collar canker and necrosis caused by Cytospora balanejica sp. nov. in Iran

Apple is the most important fruit tree in West Azarbaijan province of Iran. In a survey of apple orchards, a disease with crown and collar canker and necrosis symptoms was observed in three young apple orchards in Urmia, affecting 15% and 1% of ‘Red Delicious’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ cultivars, respectively. A fungus with typical characteristics of the asexual morph of Cytospora was regularly isolated from the diseased tissues. Morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses inferred from the combined dataset of the ITS-rDNA, parts of LSU, tef1-α, rpb2, and act1 genes revealed that the isolates represent a new species of Cytospora, described herein as Cytospora balanejica sp. nov.. The pathogenicity of all isolates was confirmed on apple cv. ‘Red Delicious’ based on Koch’s postulates. Also, the reaction of 12 other apple cultivars was assessed against five selected isolates with the highest virulence. The results showed that except for cv. ‘Braeburn’, which did not produce any symptoms of the disease, the other 11 cultivars showed characteristic disease symptoms including sunken and discolored bark and wood. The mean length of the discolored area was different among the 11 so-called susceptible cultivars, hence cvs. ‘M4’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ showed the highest and the lowest lesion length, respectively. Moreover, the aggressiveness of the five tested isolates was different, and the isolates BA 2-4 and BA 3-1 had the highest and lowest aggressiveness, respectively. Based on our observations on the potential ability of the fungus to cause disease on young and actively growing apple trees, it will be a serious threat to apple cultivation and industry.

Biocontrol of Diplodia bulgarica, the causal agent of apple canker, using Trichoderma zelobreve.

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh) is one of the most consumed and nutritious fruits. Iran is one of the main producers of the apple in the world. Diplodia bulgarica is the major causal agent of apple tree decline in Iran. Biological control is a nature-friendly approach to plant disease management. Trichoderma zelobreve was isolated from apple trees infected with Diplodia bulgarica in West Azarbaijan province of Iran. The results showed that T. zelobreve strongly inhibited the colony growth of D. bulgarica. In vivo assay on detached branches of apple tree cv. Golden Delicious using T. zelobreve mycelial plug showed that canker length/stem length (CL/SL) and canker perimeter/stem perimeter (CP/SP) indices decreased by 76 and 69%, respectively, 21days after inoculation. Additionally, wettable powder formulation (WPF) containing the antagonistic fungus "T. zelobreve" decreased CL and CP/SP by 75 and 67%, respectively, 6months after inoculation. Moreover, canker progress curves and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) supported these findings. The growth temperatures of the antagonist and pathogen were similar, indicating the adaptation of T. zelobreve for biocontrol of apple canker caused by D. bulgarica. The results also showed that T. zelobreve-based WPF stored at 25°C assure excellent shelf life at least 4months, allowing the bioproduct to be stored at room temperature, which is a great advantage and cost-effective option.

Concentration, spatial distribution, and non-carcinogenic risk assessment of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead in drinking water in rural areas of eight cities of West Azarbaijan province, Iran.

Exposure to heavy metals through drinking water can cause significant adverse health effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the concentration, spatial distribution, and assessment of non-carcinogenic risk attributed to exposure to arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in rural areas of eight cities of the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. Eighty-five water samples were taken from randomly selected drinking water wells in the rural areas, and the concentration of the heavy metals was measured by using standard methods. The concentration distribution maps were drawn, and the non-carcinogenic health risks for ingestion and dermal exposure pathways were calculated in four age groups (including infants, children, teenagers, and adults). According to the obtained results, arsenic is considered as the most worrying pollutant among the investigated heavy metals. The maximum measured concentration for arsenic was 371.9 μg/L, which is 37 times the maximum permissible limit. The results of the health risk assessment illustrate that exposure to heavy metals via dermal contact do not pose significant non-carcinogenic risks. However, the calculated non-carcinogenic risks for oral exposure to arsenic were very high and concerning. The highest hazard quotient for oral exposure to arsenic was related to rural of city G (82.64). It is recommended to take the necessary measures as soon as possible regarding the supply of safe drinking water in the studied areas.

The intention to leave among academics in Iran: an examination of their work-life quality and satisfaction

BackgroundDespite the importance of faculty retention, there is little understanding of how demographic variables, professional and institutional work-life issues, and satisfaction interact to explain faculty intentions to leave. This study aimed to investigate the intention to leave among academics and their Work-Life Quality and Satisfaction.MethodsThis is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted by 8 faculties affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences located in Urmia, West Azarbaijan province, Iran. The participants in the study were 120 faculty members from Nursing and Midwifery, Medicine, Allied health professions, and Health management and medical information faculties. The Work-Life Quality and Satisfaction scale, and the intension to leave scale were used for data collection. Uni- and multivariable linear regression analyses were employed to determine predictors of the intention to leave (P-values < 0.05).ResultsThe mean scores of all dimensions of Work-Life Quality and Satisfaction scale, and intention to leave were in an average level. There is a negative correlation between Work-Life Quality and Satisfaction subscales, along with demographic factors, and the intention to leave (P < 0.05), while multivariate analysis showed that work experience and Discipline were significant independent predictors of intention to leave (P < 0.05).ConclusionsIn order to improve education in universities, it is necessary to pay attention to the conditions of creating job satisfaction in academics. Considering the high intention to leave among Nursing lecturers, without sufficient support of nursing schools in terms of human resources, it may suffer by the lack of academic staff; eventually the quality of education will reduce in undergraduate nursing in the long term.

Determination of Active Biomarkers and the Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential of Standardized Zygophyllum spp Extract

This study aimed to identify the chemical composition, and investigation of antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Zygophyllum fabago, Zygophyllum eurypterum, Zygophyllum propinquum and Zygophyllum megacarpum extracts against human pathogenic bacterial. The samples were collected from West Azarbaijan province and were analyzed in biotechnology department of Bu Ali Sina University, Iran. The antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion assay, minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) by the serial dilution method and free radical activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) were measured. Next, the phenolic and flavonoid contents were calculated by Folin-Ciocalteu and Aluminum Chloride methods, respectively, and the presence of the phytochemical compounds including alkaloids, saponins, and tannins were tested. In addition, chemical compositions analysis was done using a GCMS. The major components including as ar-curcumene (17.18%), methyl ester (21.53%), caryophyllène (17.07%), and carvacrol (23.71%) were dominant in Z. fabago, Z. eurypterum, Z. propinquum and Z. megacarpum, respectively. The highest sensitivity was observed on S. epidermidis with MIC of 3.125% on flower extract of Z. fabago. The most potent radical scavenging activity belonged to the flower extract of Z.megacarpum. The highest phenolic and flavonoid contents were obtained in Z. fabago root extract as 301.04 mgGA/DWg and 8.04 mgQ/DWg, respectively as well as carvacrol was determined as the dominant compound. Based on the findings, Zygophyllum spp can be suggested for producing natural drugs and antimicrobial agents.

The role and position of universities in the provincial ecosystem of knowledge-based development:Theoretical framework and its application for West Azarbaijan province

National development is the result of local and provincial development. In today's era, which is known as the age of knowledge, local and provincial development takes place only within the framework of the provincial ecosystem of knowledge-based development. In many developed countries, universities are the most important actors and beneficiaries of this ecosystem. But the role and position of Iranian universities in this type of ecosystem is not very clear and it seems that they do not have a favorable role and position. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to verify this hypothesis. For this purpose, the technique of "stakeholder interaction analysis" and the study data of West Azarbaijan province have been used. The findings of the research show that the universities of West Azarbaijan province do not have a proper role and position in the knowledge-based development ecosystem of this province. In fact, such an ecosystem is very poorly formed in this province.

Aftershock Analyses of the Qotur Doublet-Earthquakes on 23 February 2020 in West-Azarbaijan Province, NW Iran

Aftershock Analyses of the Qotur Doublet-Earthquakes on 23 February 2020 in West-Azarbaijan Province, NW Iran

Application of solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography method for extraction, identification, and comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from industrial and traditional edible oils

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that have been listed as hazardous substances by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization. Edible oils are one of the important food sources of PAHs, which are created during the processes of drying oil seeds or refining edible oils. The aim of this research was to evaluate PAHs (Naphthalene, Fluorene, Phenanthrene, Anthracene, Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benzo[a]pyrene, and Benz[a]anthracene) in industrially produced edible oils (sunflower, corn, canola, olive and sesame) and traditional oils (press) (yellow animal oil, olive, sesame and sunflower oil) in Iran, and these samples were randomly prepared, sampled and analyzed from the stores of West Azarbaijan province (Urmia, Iran). PAHs were extracted from oily samples by solid phase microextraction method and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-FID. The highest concentration of PAHs (μg/L) were related to different oils as the follow: naphthalene (4.61 in animal yellow oil), Fluorene (0.75 in canola), Phenanthrene (0.21 in canola), Anthracene (0.01 in animal yellow oil), Fluoranthene (2.53 in canola), pyrene (2.67 in canola), Benz[a]anthracene (0.44 in corn) and Benzo[a]pyrene (0.45 in canola). The concentration of Benzo[a]pyrene was compared with the European Union (EU) limit value (μ&gt;2) using one-sample t-test. In industrial canola oil, with an average concentration of 2.593μg/kg, Benzo[a]pyrene was higher than the European Union standard of 2μg/kg. Some of the studied aromatic hydrocarbons could not be detected in some oils.

Laimydorus zehsaziani n. sp., a new member of the genus from northwest of Iran, with additional data on Labronema vulvapapillatum (Meyl, 1954) Loof & Grootaert, 1981 (Dorylaimida: Dorylaimidae).

A new species belonging to the genus Laimydorus, and a known species of the genus Labronema, collected from the rhizosphere of grassland plants in West Azarbaijan province, Iran, are presented. The new species is characterized by its body length (1.56-1.81 mm in females and 1.39-1.57 mm in males), lip region offset by weak constriction and wider than adjacent body (11-14 μm), odontostyle 17-20 μm long, neck length 312-434 μm, vulva longitudinal (V = 42.2-46.5), uterus well-developed and with Z-differentiations, tail long (219-237 μm, c = 6.9-8.3, c´ = 8.2-10) in females, short and convex-conoid with blunt terminus (19-22 μm, c = 68-72.5, c´= 0.77-0.84) in males, spicules 40-45 μm long, and 18-20 contiguous ventromedian supplements with hiatus. Molecular analyses, using Bayesian inference based on D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rRNA (LSU), placed the new species in a clade comprising representatives of the genera Nevadanema, Dorylaimus, Labronema, Calcaridorylaimus, Mesodorylaimus, and Prodorylaimus, which all belong to Dorylaimidae. In addition, new data (molecular, morphometrics, images, and geographic distribution) are presented for the Iranian population of Labronema vulvapapillatum.

Predicting family resilience based on family communication patterns and marital commitment with the mediation of differentiation

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between marital commitment and family communication patterns with family resilience through the mediation of self-differentiation. Method: the current research is descriptive of the correlation type; For this purpose, a random sample of 296 people was selected from the statistical population of married men and women in Shahratkab (from West Azarbaijan province). In this research, in order to collect data from McCubbin et al.'s family resilience questionnaire (1986), Koerner and Fitzpatrick's family communication patterns questionnaire (2002), Stanley and Markman's marital commitment questionnaire (1992), Drake's self-differentiation questionnaire (2011) was used. The data obtained from the research were analyzed with SPSS-23 and AMOS-23 software. Results: The results showed that there was no relationship between self-differentiation and family resilience, so self-differentiation is not a mediator between the relationship between communication patterns and marital commitment with resilience. The Pearson correlation results showed that between the communication pattern of dialogue orientation and resilience, there is a direct and meaningful relationship at the 0.05 level, and between the communication pattern of conformity orientation, there is an indirect and significant relationship at the 0.05 level, and between marital commitment and family resilience. There was a significant and direct relationship at the 0.01 level. Conclusion: The results of structural equation modeling showed that marital commitment and family communication patterns can predict family resilience.

Prediction of family resilience based on marital commitment and psychological capital in married couples of Takab city

Background and Aim: In the happiest marital relationships, people sometimes face stressful situations or problems, and yet, their relationships can remain stable. In this context, it is thought that determining which resources provide relational resilience can provide guidance for strengthening a marital relationship; Therefore, the current research was formed with the aim of predicting family resilience based on marital commitment and psychological capital. Methods: The current research is descriptive of the correlation type; For this purpose, a random sample of 296 people was selected from the statistical population of married men and women in Takab (from West Azarbaijan province). In this research, in order to collect data, McCubbin et al.'s family resilience questionnaire (1986), Stanley and Markman's Marital Commitment Questionnaire (1992), and Luthans' Psychological Capital Questionnaire (2007) were used. The data obtained from the research were analyzed with SPSS-23 software. Results: The results of multivariate regression showed that marital commitment can predict family resilience with 99% confidence and among the components of psychological capital, self-efficacy can predict family resilience with 95% confidence. Conclusion: As a result, in order to face and deal with problems and crises, it is emphasized on preserving family unity and marital commitment and psychological capital.

Ranking Iranian Provinces in Terms of Access to Healthcare Indicators with Emphasis on Yazd Province

Background: Ranking provinces in terms of access to healthcare services facilitates a more accurate planning in order to identify the potential and weaknesses and fair allocation of the budgets of the Ministry of Health. Therefore, the present study is carried out with the aim of ranking the provinces of the country and also investigating the position of Yazd province in terms of access to the indicators of the health sector.&#x0D; Methods: In terms of purpose, the present study is considered to be of an applied type with a survey-descriptive nature, and cross-sectional, in terms of time. The statistical population included all provinces of Yazd. The data which is required to access indicators of the health and treatment sector were extracted based on the information of the country's statistical yearbook in 2018. Shannon and TOPSIS entropy method and Excel 2016 and TOPSIS 2016 software were used to perform the analysis.&#x0D; Results: Entropy weighting method showed that medical diagnosis laboratory and genetic index had the highest weight and rehabilitation centers had the lowest weight.TOPSIS ranking method showed that regarding access to healthcare indicators, Yazd province was in the fourth place, and South Khorasan, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces were in the first and second places. West Azarbaijan province came in last place.&#x0D; Conclusion: Laboratory indicators of medical diagnosis and genetics, pharmacists, general practitioners, emergency centers and beds in medical institutions respectively have the highest weights and effects in the ranking of provinces from regarding access to health and treatment indicators. Therefore, it is suggested to the planners and officials of the health and treatment sector to determine the priorities according to the extent the provinces benefit the mentioned indicators. This is done in order to increase ranking and reduce the inequalities. In order to reduce imbalance, health policymakers and officials are recommended to consider the developmental rankings of the provinces while allocating resources.&#x0D;

Genetic structure of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum populations from sunflower and cabbage in West Azarbaijan province of Iran

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one of the most destructive fungal pathogens infecting a wide array of plant species worldwide. Management of this pathogen relies on the coordinated use of fungicides and resistant host cultivars with other control measures, but the effectiveness of these methods requires knowledge of the genetic variability and structure of the fungal populations. To provide insight into the genetic diversity and structure of this pathogen in West Azarbaijan province of Iran, a total of 136 isolates were collected from symptomatic sunflower and cabbage plants within fields in three regions and analysed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and intergenic spacer (IGS) region of the rRNA gene sequences. A total of 83 ISSR multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified, some of which were shared among at least two regional or host populations but in a low frequency. High genotypic diversity, low levels of clonal fraction, and random association of ISSR loci in a region indicated a low level of clonal reproduction, and possibly a high level of sexually recombining life cycle for the pathogen in the province. Marker analyses revealed that the pathogen was spatially homogeneous among fields, and thus similar control measures, such as the choice of resistant cultivars and fungicides, may effectively manage S. sclerotiorum within the region. Four IGS haplotypes (IGS1–IGS4) were detected within populations with IGS3 being the most prevalent haplotype. The low IGS haplotype diversity, the absence of spatial structure, and shared MLGs among populations may suggest a single introduction and subsequent dispersal of S. sclerotiorum within West Azarbaijan province.

Explaining the Role of Geopolitical Components Affecting spatial planning of border regions (Case Study: West Azarbaijan Province)

Explaining the Role of Geopolitical Components Affecting spatial planning of border regions (Case Study: West Azarbaijan Province)

Phylogenetic Marker Selection and Protein Sequence Analysis of the ORF5 Gene Product of Grapevine Virus A.

Grapevine virus A (GVA), the type species of the Vitivirus genus, is one of the causal agents of the Kober stem grooving disease of the rugose wood complex and one of the most frequently detected viruses in grapevine. There is little information on GVA gene(s) marker useful for phylogenetic analysis. To this aim, a total of 403 leaf samples were collected from vineyards of East and West Azarbaijan provinces in the Northwestern provinces of Iran during 2014–2016 and tested by DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR using ORF5-specific primers. GVA was detected in 56 symptomatic samples, corresponding to 14% of infection, while it was not detected in asymptomatic samples. The ORF5 (p10) protein sequence of eight Iranian isolates was compared to other vitiviruses, showing that the most conserved region resides in the N-terminus, carrying an arginine-rich motif followed by a zinc-finger motif. Next, to define a robust phylogenetic marker representative of the whole genome sequence suitable for phylogenetic and evolutionary studies, phylogenetic trees based on the full genome sequences of all the available GVA isolates and on individual genomic regions were constructed and compared. ORF1, which encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, was found to be the best phylogenetic marker for GVA classification and evolution studies. These results can be used for further research on phylogenetic analyses, evolution history, epidemiology, and etiology of rugose wood complex, and to identify control measures against GVA and other vitiviruses.