leila zarei

The pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) faced numerous challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. Due to the supply chain (SC) 's vulnerabilities, it requires enhanced capabilities to address these challenges. In Iran, specific economic and political issues have intensified the vulnerabilities of the PSC.

This study investigates the issues caused by the COVID-19 crisis in the PSC, identifies and characterizes these issues, and recommends appropriate courses of action to address future SC disruptions.

This study is a qualitative-quantitative analysis conducted in Iran during the COVID-19 crisis. Qualitative thematic analysis was performed from July 2022 until May 2023. Semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 23 Iranian PSC specialists were conducted until saturation was reached. The qualitative phase was analyzed using MAXQDA 2021. The quantitative phase included a survey of 547 individuals working in pharmaceutical manufacturing in Iran, with the questionnaires analyzed using SPSS 26.

In the qualitative phase, the research identified two main themes: (1) vulnerabilities and (2) capabilities, along with 15 subthemes providing solutions to enhance the resilience of the PSC. In the quantitative phase, findings from 64 questionnaires highlighted major vulnerabilities and capabilities necessary to create a resilient SC. The median score for vulnerabilities was 5.12, while the median score for capabilities was 5.39.

According to the questionnaire results, the quantitative findings indicate that capabilities received a higher score, suggesting that this sector of the PSC demonstrated better resilience against the pandemic. This study, with its contextual focus, mixed-method approach, comprehensive analysis of vulnerabilities and capabilities, and sector-specific insights, offers a novel contribution to the understanding of SC resilience within Iranian pharmaceutical manufacturing. It also has the potential to promote further research in other sectors of the PSC.

In order to design better management for anti-diabetic medication, pharmacoepidemiological studies are required to have an update on the drug utilization. Therefore, the present study was performed with the aim of pharmacoepidemiological analysis on utilization of antidiabetic drugs based on PERSIAN cohort data. In this study, 10138 participants were included by baseline data. Use of anti-diabetic medications based on Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code A10 was provided. Quantitative and qualitative variables were illustrated using mean±standard deviation (SD) and frequency (percent). Logistic regression was employed to define associated factors with categorical outcomes. The descriptive analysis showed that 12.3% (n=1249) of the participants had diabetes, while only 5.3% (n=540) of them had utilized anti-diabetic medications. Totally, 94.7% of the participants did not take any anti-diabetic drug, 3% received monotherapy and 2% reported a combination of anti-diabetic medication therapies. Also, the higher ages showed a more chance for use of anti-diabetic medications (40-59 years: OR=3.72, 95% CI: 2.38-5.81; ≥60, OR=5.61, 95% CI: 3.41-9.22).In addition, married and employed participants were more likely to take anti-diabetic medications. Also, having cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), fatty liver and pregnancy were associated with a higher significant chance of using anti-diabetic medications. Less than half of the patients diagnosed with diabetes received anti-diabetic drugs indicating the importance of medication adherence training programs in this group of patients.

Flaxseed is an important crop that is used extensively for medicine, nutrition, and industry. Then, this research aims to investigate the effect of foliar spraying of bulk and nanoparticle forms of iron and zinc with different particle sizes on yield and its related traits of flaxseed under post-anthesis water deficit. To this end, a split-plot factorial experiment based on randomized complete blocks design in three replications was used at Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran, in two crop years (2019-2021). The experiment comprised two moisture regimes - optimal irrigation and post-anthesis water deficit, applied in the main plots. Different fertilizers (bulk and nanoparticles with varying particle sizes) and fertilizer concentrations (0, 300, and 600 mg l-1) were tested in the subplot. The results showed that under optimal moisture conditions, the highest grain and biomass yield was in the foliar treatments of iron nanoparticles 20-30 nm and 600 mg l-1 and zinc nanoparticles 10-30 nm and 300 mg l-1, with 2448 and 8432 kg ha-1, respectively and the lowest amount was obtained in the control treatment with 2028 and 7599 kg ha-1. Under post-anthesis water deficit environment, zinc nanoparticles 10-30 nm and 300 mg l-1 caused a 35% increase in grain yield compared to the control treatment (997 kg ha-1). Also, the highest oil percentage and yield were obtained in iron nanoparticles 20-30 nm and 600 mg l-1 with 35.25% and 866 kg ha-1, respectively. In general, the efficiency of iron and zinc nanoparticle fertilizers with different particle sizes was significantly higher than that of iron and zinc bulk forms and control treatment (without fertilization). Nanoparticle fertilizers significantly reduced the adverse effects of late-season water deficit on grain, oil, and biomass yield.

The tissue culture technique and in vitro propagation have many advantages and potentials compared to the classical methods of vegetative propagation of plants, the most important of which is the propagation of uniform and pathogen-free plants in a short time and on a large scale. Choosing an explant at the optimal growth stage plays a key role in the success of tissue culture in vitro. Effective propagation of plants by tissue culture can help to clone desirable genotypes and be used for commercial propagation of genotypes in the short term. Callus production through mature embryo culture allows many plants to regenerate effectively in tissue culture conditions. Selection based on an agronomic trait can be used as a suitable method to predict tissue culture results, which is costly and time-consuming. To evaluate agricultural traits, 20 durum wheat genotypes, including 19 advanced lines and the Zardak variety, were cultivated for two years based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The response to the mature embryo culture of 20 durum wheat genotypes was made in the callus induction stage in a completely randomized design with seven replicates and ten mature embryo samples in each replicate. The analysis of variance showed a significant difference between the studied genotypes regarding the percentage of callus induction and the relative speed of callus growth. The combined variance analysis table for agronomic traits measured on 20 durum wheat genotypes showed a significant difference between the studied and measured traits. The results of path analysis showed that peduncle length, number of seeds per spike, and number of spikes per plant had the most direct and positive effect, height and peduncle length had the most negative direct effect, and spike length had the least direct effect on callus induction percentage. Also, peduncle length to height ratio and spike density showed the most positive direct effect, peduncle length, and grain yield had the most direct and negative effect, and the number of spikes per plant showed the least direct effect on the relative speed of callus growth. According to the results of canonical analysis, the plants with more grains per spike have higher callus induction percentages and relative callus growth rates. Nevertheless, Mantel test results showed no significant correlation between similarity matrices obtained from tissue culture and agricultural data. These results indicate the genetic control and the possibility of direct screening of genotypes with appropriate tissue culture traits through these correlated agronomic traits that are easy and quick to select.

The interaction between the genotype and the environment creates complexity in yield prediction and is a challenge for breeding programs. The aim of this study was to investigate the genotype × environment interaction and study the grain yield stability of 21 barley genotypes using the GGE biplot model. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block designs with two replications during 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 growing seasons under rain-fed and irrigation conditions (a total of six environments). The combined analysis of variance for grain yield showed a significant difference for year, genotype, genotype × year, year × location and year × location × genotype. The results of stability analysis by GGE biplot showed that the two first components of GGE biplot explained 72.6% of total grain yield variation. The polygon view of GGE biplot showed three superior genotypes and suitable genotypes in each mega-environment. Based on the biplot patterns, the genotypes 19 was the most unstable accession, whereas genotypes 9 and 1 were identified as stable genotypes, which suggests the superiority of these genotypes compared to the other genotypes. The irrigation environment in 2014 was identified as the most distinctive and representative environment due to its proximity to the average environment.

Oat, as a dual-purpose cereal, has an important role to provide human food and animal feed and fodder regarding to its high amounts of beta-glucan, protein, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and valuable antioxidants. Oat breeding programs have been steadily decreasing compared to other cereals due to decrease in cultivated area. Therefore, identifying and studying sources of diversity in oats is critical and valuable regarding to release new cultivars with better quality and higher grain yield per unit area. Thus, this experiment was carried out with the aim of evaluating different genetic parameters and principal component analysis in order to determine the amount of genetic diversity in oat genotypes.

In this study, 361 oat genotypes of seven species belong to 50 countries from five continents which were received from Australian Grain Genebank (AGG) and kept in the genebank of the Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University were investigated. Estimation of the genetic parameters related to plant height, panicle length, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% physiological maturity, biological yield, grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, thousand seed weight, number of seeds per panicle and number of panicle per square meter of the genotypes were performed. This experiment was conducted in a simple square lattice design with two replications under normal irrigation condition, in two cropping years 2017-2019 in the research farm of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Campus, Razi University, Kermanshah.

Based on the results of the one-year variance analysis, there was a highly significant difference between genotypes regarding all the measured traits which indicates the presence of considerable genetic diversity between these genotypes. The results of mean comparison based on LSD method showed (NILE), (KENT), (LA PREVISION), (ZLATAK), SDO-185), OX87:080-2), (ACACIA), AND (DUNNART) genotypes had the highest grain yield for two years, while, Genotypes (LIGOWA), (NILE), (VENTURA), (YULAF), (NMO-712), (SDO-185), (VDO-931.1), (SLAVUGE), and (no.9278) had the highest mean for biomass in two cropping years. The results of the descriptive statistics showed the wide range of changes for the most of the investigated traits, as it was variable for grain yield from 56.30 to 789.81 g/m2 in the first year and from 39.59 to 627.28 g/m2 in the second year. Based on the results of correlation analysis, the most positive and significant phenotypic correlation was calculated between biological yield and straw yield in both years. The result of phenotypic and genotypic correlation also, showed a significant relationship between grain yield and all studied traits except plant height, panicle length, days to heading, and days to maturity in the first year. Also, it had a significant phenotypic correlation with all traits except plant height and straw yield in the second year. The traits of 1000- kernel weight, plant height, days to heading, and number of panicles per square meter had the highest genetic variance in both years. The range of general heritability in the first year was variable from 70.06 to 95.87%, respectively, for the traits of days to physiological maturity and 1000 seed weight, and in the second year, from 77.85 to 94.91% for biological yield and 1000 seed weight. Grain yield, biological yield, straw yield, number of panicles per square meter, and number of grains per panicle had a high percentage of heritability and genetic advance simultaneously. Based on the principal component analysis the first two main components explained 63.3 and 67.8 percent of the total changes in each year, respectively.

The results of variance analysis of the data obtained from this study indicated the existence of significant genetic diversity among the evaluated genotypes in terms of all measured traits, which can be attributed to the existence of different species with different geographical origins. Comparing the average data, genotypes 336, 349, 356 and 360 were introduced as the genotypes with the highest average grain yield in both years. Based on the results of Principal Component Analysis and Correlations Analysis, it can be found that the attributes of the number of panicles per square meter, the number of grains per panicle, 1000-kernel weight, and biological performance are very effective in breeding programs to achieve superior varieties. The genotypes NILE, LA PREVISION, OX87:080-2 and DUNNART were the superior genotypes in terms of the mentioned traits and grain yield. The estimation of genetic parameters showed that the selection based on the number of panicles per plot, the number of grains per panicle, and plant height plays a significant role in improving grain yield because of having a high broad heritability and significant genetic advance at the same time. According to the results of this study, it is possible to separate the superior genotypes in terms of grain yield and biological yield, and perform subsequent tests for grain and fodder genotypes, separately. Also, valuable traits for easier access to this important issue in subsequent oat improvement programs could be identified.

Wound healing and tissue regeneration have raised serious challenges for healthcare systems worldwide, affecting both aesthetic and health-related aspects of the community well-being. Wound healing is a complex sequence of physical, cellular, and molecular events involving cell recruitment, proliferation, as well as the synthesis and accumulation of the new extracellular matrix components. The present study aimed to histopathologically evaluate the application of zinc nanoparticles in conjunction with chitosan dressing for the wound healing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infected skin wounds in rats.

In this experimental investigation, 28 healthy male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, each of which including 7 rats. The wound healing process was evaluated based on histopathological studies and biochemical findings on days 7, 14, and 21.

According to the results from the two-way ANOVA analysis, the means of wound area in the study groups were statistically and significantly different on all evaluated days (P<0.001). The highest wound area was associated with group III (i.e., wound with zinc oxide) on days 6, 18, 15, 12, and 9, while the lowest wound area was observed in group IV (i.e., wound with chitosannanoparticles-zinc oxide). A statistically significant difference was also found among the study groups in terms of the mean values of hydroxyproline (P<0.001). According to the post hoc Tukey test for pairwise comparisons, a significant difference was observed among all groups regarding the hydroxyproline values (P<0.001). Additionally, the highest collagen density was detected in the chitosan-nanoparticles-zinc oxide group.

The application of biodegradable chitosan-nanoparticles-zinc oxide dressing significantly improved the histopathological and biochemical indices of the full-thickness skin wound healing. This study highlighted the effectiveness of chitosan-nanoparticleszinc oxide dressing in wound healing enhancement, indicating its potential application in wound healing.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) directly or indirectly involved in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment process may experience severe mental consequences of the pandemic. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the mental health status of HCWs in hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 503 HCWs from five hospitals in Shiraz, including one COVID-19 front-line hospital, two COVID-19 second-line hospitals, and two without COVID-19 wards. Then, to assess the levels of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among HCWs, the Persian versions of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Global Psychotrauma Screen (GPS) questionnaires were placed, respectively.

The mean age of participants was 33.94±8.26 years, and 252 (50.1%) were females. Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and moderate to high levels of PTSD were observed in 40.4%, 37.8%, 24.5%, and 71% of participants, respectively. A history of mental disorders was associated with all four outcomes (P<0.05). Females gender and living with elderly and/or children were correlated with anxiety and PTSD (P<0.05). Working at COVID-19 front- and second-line hospitals were similarly linked to higher insomnia and PTSD levels (P<0.05). Also, working in COVID-19 wards or non-clinical settings was associated with anxiety and depression (P<0.05).

Most of the HCWs in this study may experience mental difficulties. Some factors may increase their risk of experiencing these difficulties. Hence, in the crisis era, mental health monitoring and identification of groups with predisposing factors are required to provide appropriate care as quickly as feasible.

Among cereals, durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) is one of the most important protein and energy sources after bread wheat. It has a significant role in human nutrition in most countries. In this study, to identify and localization of QTLs controlling traits related to starch and Neutral detergent fiber, 118 durum wheat recombinant inbred lines obtained from the cross between the local genotype of Iran-249 originated from the west of Iran and the local cultivar of Zardak from Kermanshah were evaluated in two environments (2014 and 2015) under rainfall conditions using randomized complete block design along with parents in three replications. QTL analysis for each trait was performed using the inclusive composite interval mapping method to identify genomic regions that significantly affected the studied traits. A total of six QTLs were identified for the two traits measured, grain starch content and neutral detergent fiber. Three QTLs were identified on chromosome 7A and one QTL on chromosome 4B for the grain starch content trait. For the neutral detergent fiber trait, one QTL was localization on chromosome 6B and one QTL on chromosome 7A. Identifying and localization QTLs controlling traits related to seed quality characteristics can provide an opportunity to improve these traits through marker-assisted selection. Also, these results can create a basis for identifying candidate genes and map-based cloning and confirming QTL function.

Wild wheat species are rich sources of valuable genes, including resistance to various stresses such as drought and salt stress. Wild species influence livestock feeding by producing green fodder, preventing soil erosion and sustaining pasture production. In recent years, due to the conversion of pastures into rain-fed lands and excessive animal grazing, the amount of these valuable reserves has decreased, and considering their importance, genetic preservation and its scientific and correct application have contributed significantly to the restoration of pastures and increased fodder production. This study was conducted to investigate the diversity of Einkorn wheat in the western rangelands of Iran as the center of origin and diversity of wheat ancestors for use in breeding programs and fodder production.

In order to investigate the phenotypic diversity of einkorn wheat in terms of agromorphological characteristics, 93 einkorn genotypes from 16 populations were collected from Kermanshah, Ilam and Kurdistan provinces, along with four varieties of bread wheat and three varieties of durum wheat using an alpha lattice design in two replications over two cropping years using the Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (BLUP).The studied traits include kernel yield, biological yield, number of spikes per m2, spike weight, a thousand seed weight, spike length, peduncle length, number of seeds per spike, spike length and plant height. All multivariate analyses were performed using BLUPs.

The results of the combined analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes in terms of all the measured traits. The broad sense heritability was high in the studied traits (except spike length and number of seeds per spike). The study of genetic correlation between traits showed a positive and significant correlation between kernel yield and biological yield, spike weight, spike length and the number of seeds per spike. Number of seeds per spike had high heritability in both years. The highest genetic coefficient of variation was observed in the number of seeds per spike and the lowest in the thousand kernel weight. Cluster analysis using agromorphological data placed the genotypes in six groups, which did not agree with the genotypes' geographical origin. However, bread and durum wheat were placed in separate groups. Among the Einkorn wheat samples, the genotypes in group 4 had the highest biological yield, spike number, spike weight, plant height, peduncle length and grain yield. The principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that the first three components explained 85.47% of the total variation. Bi-plot analysis groped einkorn genotypes in three groups. Three bread wheat varieties (Karim, Kohdasht, and Urum) were placed in the fourth group and three durum wheat varieties (Behrang, Shebarang, and Dehdasht) and one bread wheat variety (Azar-2) in the fifth group. The results of grouping by bi-plot of PCA were consistent with the results of cluster analysis. 

The results indicated a high diversity of einkorn genotypes for agro-morphological traits. The high broad sense heritability in the studied traits (except spike length and the number of seeds per spike) indicated that phenotypic selection for these traits could be the most crucial breeding strategy in Eincorn wheat. The results of means comparison for most of the examined traits showed the superiority of bread and durum wheat cultivars. Regarding most of the traits, the genotypes collected from Kamiyaran-Sanandaj were superior, and genotype number 29, with the same origin, showed favorable agro-morphological traits, which were recommended for use in wheat breeding programs.

Germination is one of the most important stages of crop plant growth and proper germination in a wide range of environmental conditions is necessary for plant establishment. In this research, 20 varieties of Iranian barley and 24 varieties of European barley were used in three salinity levels (100, 200 and 300 mM sodium chloride) and a control level (distilled water) in order to investigate the tolerance of salinity stress in the germination stage, as a factorial test based on a completely randomized design with three replications in the mushroom cultivation chamber with controllable temperature and light and sterile conditions in the Nosoud agricultural service center by a protein marker in the biotechnology laboratory of the agriculture and natural resources of Razi university. The results of analysis of variance of traits related to germination showed that the effect of salinity, cultivar and salinity × cultivar were significant for all traits. By increasing the salinity level from 0 to 300 mM, all traits and indices decreased except the average germination time. The germination percentage had a positive and significant correlation with the total seedling length, shoot length, seed germination index, average germination rate and germination rate index. Stepwise regression analysis of different traits with protein markers showed that there were 13 bands associated with different traits. The most significant correlation with traits was related to the 60 kDa marker which was related four indices of seed germ, average germination speed, shoot length and cleoptile length. After the validation studies and confirmation of the results, the identified markers can be used in marker-assisted selection for related traits.

Today, diabetes is a major health problem with an increasing prevalence in men. It has been stated that high glucose leads to increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in testicular cells and causes testicular cell death and infertility. This study was conducted to investigate and determine the effect of nettle hydroalcoholic extract and endurance exercises on testicular tissue and spermatogenesis factors in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic male rats. In this experimental study, 40 albino rats weighing 200-220 grams were randomly divided into 5 groups: control-healthy (HC), nettle-diabetes (DG), exercise-diabetes (DT, nettle-exercise), diabetes (DTG), and control diabetes (DC). Endurance training was performed for 6 weeks according to the protocol. At the same time, rats of DG and DTG groups received nettle hydroalcoholic extract at a dose of 45 mg per kg of body weight. After 6 weeks, the testes were removed and stained with H&E technique. In the DTG and the DG groups, both spermatogenesis index (SI) and repopulation index (RI) were higher compared to the DT group and were close to the results of the healthy control group. Also, the histopathology of the testis in these two groups showed a higher improvement compared to the DT group and similar results were obtained with the results of the HC group. The present study showed that diabetes has destructive effects on spermatogenesis and testicular tissue and administration of nettle and endurance exercises together can protect spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubules from the harmful effects of diabetes by improving SI and RI percentages.

This study aimed to evaluate the variation in agronomic traits of 361 cultivated oat genotypes and to identify superior genotypes for oat breeding programs. The experiment was conducted as a simple square lattice design with two replications for two growing seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) in Kermanshah, Iran. There was a significant difference among oat genotypes. The highest grain yield (GY) was obtained in the “OX87:080-2” and “LA Prevision” genotypes. Furthermore, genotypes “Rubida” and “VDO-931-1” were superior regarding the biomass. Several analyses were performed using the best linear unbiased prediction estimates. The correlation coefficients showed a significant positive relationship between GY and biomass, 1000-kernel weight (TKW), and the number of panicles per plot. Biomass was positively and significantly correlated with all studied traits, except TKW. The number of grains per panicle (NGPP) and TKW had the highest positive direct effects on the GY and NPPP imposed the highest positive indirect effect through TKW. While the highest negative indirect effect was exerted by the NGPP through the TKW. The results of pseudo-F for cluster analysis grouped genotypes in five separate groups. The fifth group had the highest values ​​for GY, biomass, TKW, and NPPP. So, these genotypes could be considered as qualified parents to produce superior lines in breeding programs.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is a plant with high nutritional value and has good adaptability to different growing conditions. To investigate the effects of planting date and density on the seed quality of three quinoa genotypes (Q29, Titicaca, and Red Carina), a field experiment was conducted in 2019-2020 at the research field of Agriculture and Natural Resources Campus, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. The seeds were sown on three dates (15th March, 15th April, and 15th May) under two planting densities (40 and 60 plants/m2). The experiment was conducted as a split-plot factorial design based on the randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that both sowing date and plant density influenced the nutritional composition of the quinoa genotypes. The grain yield varied between 1642 and 2351 kg/ha, and the amino acids profile varied according to planting date and planting density. The amino acids histidine, glutamic acid, leucine, and lysine increased with delaying sowing date whereas threonine, tyrosine, arginine, methionine, glycine, proline, isoleucine, valine, serine, alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, cysteine, phenylalanine, and glutamine decreased with delaying the sowing date from 15 March to 15 May. The Titicaca genotype produced maximum grain yield under the third sowing date while in the case of the first sowing date, all studied genotypes were more responsive regarding most amino acids. Also, the most suitable plant density to result in the highest grain yield was 60 plants/m2. The mineral content of the quinoa seeds was not influenced significantly by the sowing date, plant density, genotype, and their interactions, except for calcium which was affected significantly by the genotype. The lowest saponin content was observed in Titicaca under the planting density of 40 plants/m2. These results indicated that both sowing dates and plant densities influence the nutritional composition of quinoa genotypes.

Background &  Menarche is an important stage in the development of girls which can predict the adolescent’s puberty process and fertility onset. The changes in menstrual cycle have health consequences not only in adolescence but also over the life-course. Childhood obesity as a common health problem has been observed in both developed and developing countries, and its prevalence is continuing to increase. The aim of this study was to identify menstrual patterns and related disorders and also to investigate the relationship between menarche age, menstrual disorders, and (BMI) in high school girls in Urmia.Materials &  In this cross-sectional study, 716 adolescent girls aged 14-18 years were selected with multistage sampling from high schools of Urmia (Sept 2012 to Dec 2013). Participants completed the questionnaire of menstrual pattern characteristics including age at menarche, menstrual cycle length, dysmenorrhea, and the need for pain relief. BMI percentile was calculated and obesity was determined using the CDC’s 2000 BMI-for-age growth charts. The results showed that the average of age, BMI, and menarche age were: 15.66±1.019 year, 22.05±3.91 kg/m2 and 12.87±0.98 year, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 13.7% and 8.4%, respectively. A large majority of the subjects (76.1%) had a normal, healthy weight. There was a significant association between BMI and the duration of flow, menarche age, menstruation flow, and pain severity (P<0.05). Based on the results, planning and intervention for decreasing the BMI in high school girls can help reduce menstrual disorders. Future studies are required to confirm and complete our results.

Soil is a natural environment for plant growth and due to its importance, the study of heavy metal distribution for soil contamination monitoring and environmental quality maintaining is necessary. This investigation was performed to study the spatial variability of some heavy metals in some surface soils of the Shazand City. A total of 76 soil surface samples were randomly collected from a depth of 0-30 cm in the study area. After preparation of the samples, some physico-chemical characteristics and the total amount of, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nikel (Ni), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were measured. Mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn and Cu were 31.20, 54.12, 23.11, 2.05 and 59.36 mgkg-1, respectively. Significant correlations were found between Ni with Cu (r= 0.41, p<0.01) and Zn (r= 0.5, p<0.01). Also, a significant correlation was obsrved between Cu and Zn (r= 0.4, p<0.01). The spatial variability of these variables was examined by variogram models and ordinary kriging. The results of geostatistical analysis showed that the spherical model was the best model for describing the spatial variability of all studied elements. Strong spatial dependence (the ratio of nugget to sill less than 0.25) was obtained for the lead element. According to the standard limits, Pb and Cd showed the highest pollution in rangeland and agricultural land use in the study area, respectively. It’s recommended to increasing soil quality and reduces it’s degradation from pollutants applied proper environmental proceeding.

Durum wheat production in the Mediterranean climate is limited when water shortages occur during anthesis. Breeding programs try to increase crop yield under challenging weather conditions such as water shortage. The improvement in phenotyping with the purpose of selecting key plant traits is important for increasing the efficiency of the breeding program. In this study, 125 and 119 durum recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from F7 and F8 generations, respectively, derived from the cross between the Iranian landrace “Iran_249” and the Iranian variety “Zardak” were compared in the field over two successive years (2015 and 2016) in the temperate rainfed conditions with the Mediterranean climate. The results showed that the performance of RILs was influenced by the year. Harvest index, biomass, number of spikes per plant, number of tillers per plant, straw yield, spike weight, spike density, and weight of grains per spike were positively associated with the grain yield in two years. According to path analysis in the first year, the number of spikes per plant and awn length had a positive and significant direct effect on the grain yield whilst, in the second year, the positive and significant direct effects on the grain yield belonged to the number of tillers per plant, grain filling rate, and plant height. In conclusion, based on the two-year data, the RILs with higher spike weight, the weight of grains per spike, number of tillers per plant, biomass, grain filling rate, higher plant height with longer peduncle length, and longer spikes with longer awn length may have higher yield under rainfed conditions. These traits are promising traits for the indirect selection of grain yield. RILs No. 2, 16, 29, 43, 66, 80, 100, and 118 had the highest rank in both years and were superior to their parents.

Durum wheat is considered as the 10th most important crop in the world. Drought stress is among the principal constraints to global wheat production. Improvement of new varieties having good adaptation to stressful conditions is an important goal of wheat breeding programs. In this regard, the exploitation of genetic diversity retained in landraces and wild relativesis is very important. The aim of this research was to evaluate durum wheat landraces collected from different contries for drought tolerance.

In this study 196 durum wheat landraces belong to 18 countries were evaluated for drought tolerance using several yield-based drought indices. The trials were conducted in the experimental field of dryland agricultural research institute (Sararood branch) based on alpha lattice design with two replications under rainfed and supplemental irrigation conditions during 2020-2021 cropping season.

Analysis of variance revealed significant environment, genotype, and genotype × environment interaction effects for grain yield. Based on genotype-by-index (GI) biplot analysis the drought selection indices were classified into four groups. The first group included drought response index (DRI), yield stability index (YSI), yield index (YI) and yield under rainfed condition. The second group composed of stress tolerance index (STI) and geometric mean productivity (GMP) which were able to select genotypes producing higher yield in both conditions. The third group included mean productivity (MP) and yield under irrigated condition. Fourth group composed of stress susceptible index (SSI), tolerance index (TOL), Schneider’s Stress Severity Index (SSSI) and yield reduction percentage (RI) which were able to separate genotypes having higher yield in non-stress and low yield in stress condition. Cluster analysis identified three distinct groups having different yield performance and drought tolerance.

Generally, based on the results of this research, selection for higher values of DRI, STI and GMP and lower values of SSI, TOL and RI at the same time can be considered as a appropriate strategy for identification of drought tolerant landraces. The members of first group which mostly composed from landraces belong to Iran, Japan, Turkey and Afghanistan could be considered as high-yielding drought tolerant.

The Islamic Republic of Iran provided a national action plan against antimicrobial resistance (NAP/AMR) for 2016-2021. In this study, we have dealt with the background and Iran’s efforts in this way, compare Iran’s NAP/AMR with other international programs, represent efficient policy options, and the evaluation indicators of each purpose of Iran NAP/AMR. The indicators of each group are represented through the consensus of three academic researchers. Finally, our assessment reveals that performing a constant observation is highly required for a prearranged NAP/AMR. The political parties and stakeholders should punctually receive interpretable feedbacks; also, it is very important to conduct periodical assessments with the purpose of perceiving the purpose feasibility and determining the dimensions that require advancements.

Although blood is donated rather than purchased, collecting, storing, and testing it for viral markers is expensive. During the Cost of Blood Consensus Conference (COBCON), activity-based costing (ABC) was proposed as a standard way to figure out the cost of preparing a unit of blood.

The ABC can be used by any organization that pays for blood or blood products. It was used to determine how much each unit of allogeneic blood costs in Iran, considering the limited blood sources and the importance of cost evaluation studies.

This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted at Shiraz Blood Transfusion Organization in 2020-2021 (Shiraz, Iran). We used the ABC method to determine how much each unit of allogeneic blood costs in Iran. In this study, activity centers were divided into high-level, intermediate, and final activity centers. The resources of each activity center were made up of human resources, consumables, buildings, equipment, and energy.

Direct and indirect costs of producing blood were separately investigated in the studied sub-units. The final estimated cost of preparing one blood unit was almost 13 million IRR (≈308 USD). According to our findings, indirect costs comprised a significant portion (86.45%) of the cost of producing a unit of blood, while direct costs accounted for only 13.55%.

As evidenced by the obtained results, the cost of one blood unit was far more than the national average estimated by the Iran Blood Transfusion Organization. There is a need for additional research on the cost of other blood products and indirect cost reduction strategies.

Among cereals, durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) is one of the most important protein and energy sources after bread wheat. It has a significant role in human nutrition in most countries.

In this study, in order to identify and localization of QTLs controlling traits related to flag leaf and peduncle, 118 durum wheat recombinant inbred lines obtained from the cross between the local genotype of Iran-249 originated from the west of Iran and the local cultivar of Zardak from Kermanshah were evaluated in three environments under rainfall conditions using randomized complete block design along with parents in three replications. QTL analysis for each trait was performed using the inclusive composite interval mapping method to identify genomic regions that significantly affected the studied traits.

Based on the analysis of variance, the effect of genotype (recombinant inbred line) was significant in terms of traits related to flag leaf and peduncle in three environments, which indicates the existence of appropriate levels of genetic diversity in the studied population for measured traits. The results of QTL analysis using the inclusive composite interval mapping method led to the identification of 33 QTL for the measured traits. The common and stable QTLs were located in at least two environments on chromosomes 1A, 1B.1, 2B.1 and 5A for peduncle length and diameter traits and on chromosomes 2A, 5A and 7A for flag leaf length, flag leaf width and flag leaf area. Identification of repeatable QTLs in the different environments can indicate the existence of stable genomic regions related to flag leaf and peduncle. On the other hand, a positive and significant correlation was observed between the traits, probably due to the linkage or pleiotropic effect of their controlling QTLs. Also, based on QTL analysis using the two-locus method, the additive main effect, as well as the interaction effect of the QTL× environment, was significant for all traits except for the middle and bottom peduncle diameter. In total, six gene loci with significant additive× additive epistasis effects were identified for the flag leaf area-related traits and top peduncle diameter.

Identification and localization of stable QTLs in different environments for some traits related to flag leaf and peduncle can assist in understanding better the genetic basis of these traits to be used in breeding programs, especially in MAS projects.

Peripheral nerve injuries are among the serious health problems of today's societies. These injuries cause long-term disabilities that last until the end of life. This study aimed to histologically and functionally determine the effect of alpha-tocopherol using allografts in a rat sciatic nerve repair model.

In this experimental study, 45 male rats were divided into three groups (n=15 each). Group 1 was designated as the healthy group without nerve manipulation. In group 2, as the positive control group, the rats received 10 μl of sterile normal saline buffer solution intraperitoneally for one week. In the third group, designated as the treatment group (allografts, alpha-tocopherol), alpha-tocopherol was intraperitoneally injected with the same volume at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day for one week. Subsequently, the rats underwent histological evaluation postoperatively at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks following the operation. The collected data were entered into SPSS version 17 software. After evaluating the normality of the data by the Shapiro-Wilks test, the results were reported as mean ± standard deviation, and were analised by One Way ANOVA tests and Tukey,s post HOC test under significance level of 0.05.

The results showed that the morphometric and functional indices of the sciatic nerve in the third group were significantly different from the second group (P<0.05). These indicators were improved in the third group.

Treatment with alpha-tocopherol and allografts resulted in significant differences with the control and allografts groups in terms of axon diameter, the number of nerves, and the thickness of the myelin sheath. These differences imply the beneficial effect of this drug on inflammatory cells in the spinal cord and brain.

The plant Camelina sativa (L.), a member of the Brassicaceae family, is an ancient oilseed crop. Due to its adaptation to vast areas of the world and its unique oil composition and properties, it is useful for the production of biofuels, jet fuel, bio-based products, feed, and food. The present study was performed to investigate the morphological and agro-physiological characteristics of this plant through Factor Analysis (FA). For this purpose, 136 doubled haploid line genotypes were assessed in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research field of Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. FA, based on the principal component analysis method and varimax rotation, showed that two important factors make up about 74.97% of the total variety of characters. The Eigen values of these two factors were 9.76 and 3.72, respectively. The first and second factors assigned 53.99 and 20.98 percent, respectively, of the total variation. Factor 1, which was called the biological performance, included the seed yield, number of pods per plant, number of pods per main branch plant, number of pods per lateral branch, biological yield per five plants, plant height with roots, root weight, shoots weight, pod straw weight, number of lateral branches, length of lateral branch and length of the main branch. Factor 2, which was called the seed characteristics, covered seed length, seed perimeter, seed area, the weight of 1000 seeds, and the number of seeds in the pod. Using FA, two sets of traits were identified and named in Camelina. The traits in one category that affected the attributes of the other category were selected to be studied to help Camelina breed more precisely. Entering more traits and performing FA increased the accuracy of the categories.

On 30 January 2020, the WHO declared the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 as a public health emergency. In the present study, we compared the preventative and therapeutic strategies and the success rates of Iran and Switzerland during the COVID-19 outbreak.Materialsand

This study was conducted using electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. In addition, the official documents of developed countries and WHO from 1st February until 15th May 2020 were studied. Relevant documents were reviewed in detail, and vital data were extracted.

Both countries have restriction policies to reduce the infection rate in the prevention setting. These policies, such as the recommendation to all citizens to stay home unless necessary, army participation, and non-face-to-face counseling, were surveyed by similar techniques in both countries. Some policies were implemented in both countries with different protocols. These policies, including social distancing practices, smart distancing methods, business activities, border closures, border controls, and restrictions, travel restrictions, testing and screening for infection and fever, and decreased working hours, were performed in both countries. In the treatment setting, the therapeutic strategy used in Iran consisted of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine phosphate and anti-viral drugs. Switzerland followed the guidelines of the European countries. The infection rate, recovery rate, and death rate were 0.139%, 78.73%, and 5.91% in Iran, while these rates were 0.352%, 88.81%, and 6.15% in Switzerland, respectively.

Due to the lack of special treatment for the disease, prevention must be considered the most important factor in policymaking. Importantly, observing social distance is the most effective method among the preventative strategies. The capacity of the health care systems to provide optimal services and facilities is an important factor for patients ‘recovery

 Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) a member of the Amaranthaceae family is a dicotyledon pseudocereal. Quinoa is a plant that is very resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions and shows high resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Quinoa seeds have a higher nutritional value than many cereal grains and contain higher quality protein and large amounts of carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals, which are used both in human food and for feeding animals. The high adaptability of this product to different weather conditions has increased the yield of its various types in countries outside of South America. The existence of nutritious compounds in quinoa seeds, including the combination of amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, has led to more research on the properties of this plant.

 The field experiment was conducted to study the relationship between agronomic traits (including plant height, panicle length, number of seeds per plant, plant yield, thousand seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, and harvest index) and mineral elements of quinoa seeds (including Zn, Fe, Mn, Na, Ca, K, and P). The experiment was conducted in the 2018-2019 growing season at the faculty of agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah with a randomized complete blocks design as a split-plot factorial with three replications. The experimental treatments included three planting dates (March 15, April 15, and May 15) as the main factor and the combination of planting densities (40 and 60 plants/m2) with genotypes (Q29, Titicaca, and Red Carina) as subplot factor.

 The results of the experiment showed that the seed yield (2297.5 kg/ha) on the sowing date of April was significantly higher than March and May (1484.5 and 2137.7 kg/ha) sowing dates, respectively. The effect of the studied treatments on the mineral elements of quinoa seed was insignificant. The mean comparison for plant density showed that the density of 60 plants/m2 had a higher seed yield than the density of 40 plants/m2. The results of canonical correlation analysis showed that Wilk's lambda statistic was significant at a 5% probability level in the case of the first function, indicating the existence of a significant correlation between the two groups of the studied traits.

 The results of this evaluation showed that zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) had the highest correlation with the corresponding focal function among the mineral elements. Among the agronomical traits, the highest correlation was between the traits of 1000 seed weight and panicle length with the first focal function. Therefore, the plants with higher values of 1000 seeds weight and panicle length, can be used to select seeds with higher amounts of zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P).