mohammadhassan ehrampoush

Modeling energy demand in different energy consuming sectors is a crucial measure for effective management of the energy sector and appropriate policies to increase productivity. The rising importance of energy resources in economic development is evident. Sustainable energy use is crucial for environmental protection and social progress. Understanding the factors affecting energy consumption is essential for effective energy management. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to investigate the impact of environmental factors on household electricity consumption in Yazd city.

In the present research, various environmental factors affecting electricity consumption, including air pollution, air temperature in homes, ground surface temperature, and green space were investigated. The effects of these factors on electricity consumption of subscribers were investigated with ANN and  apriori methods.

Among the environmental factors, the distance to the regional park, the area of the park, and the amount of vegetation at a distance of 300m have the greatest impact, respectively, and the average summer air temperature, the amount of vegetation at a radius of 500 m, the distance from the local park, and the average summer NDVI have had the smallest effect. Unlike neural network methods, apriori presents relationships between parameters affecting electricity consumption transparently in the form of rules.

It's used to identify the most frequently occurring elements and meaningful associations in a dataset. Greenspace can be a mitigation strateegy for reduction of energy consumption.

Ecological conditions can change infection routes and increase the risks of outbreaks. The aim of this study is risk assessment of foodborne disease outbreaks based on dispersed regional climatic and demographic variables in Yazd Province, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, data of temporal climatic parameters and regional demographic factors linked to bacterial foodborne diseases were addressed. A multi-level regression analysis model was used to detect associations between the risk of outbreaks and ecological risk factors; the relationships were verified using (P<0.05).

Significant associations were observed between the outbreaks and age )P<0.001(, community type (P<0.001), temperature (P=0.04), rainfall (P=0.03) and dust pollution (P<0.001) in scattered parts of the province. The maximum rate of outbreaks was seen in spring, while the frequency of the outbreaks increased during April and October, compared to other months of the year (2012–2016).

Consequences have revealed interventions of the environmental exposures in transmissions of microbial agents by complex ecological processes that caused the outbreaks.

The present research was conducted with the aim of explaining the views of teenagers-the adults and their parents regarding the prevention of drug addiction based on the mixed elements of the marketing model (audience needs, access to services, cost, and communication).

This research was conducted based on a qualitative research method using an exploratory method. 14 teenagers-adults and 10 parents, 24 participants were selected through targeted sampling, from the marginal neighborhoods of Yazd in 2019; the neighborhoods included Maryam Abad, Hassan Abad, and Skan. In  total, 2 semi-structured in-depth interviews with parents and 3 focused group discussions were conducted with the presence of teenagers and young people in the neighborhood. In this study, the information, including demographic characteristics, and the results of market analysis were obtained with elements of Communication for Behavioral Impact (COMBI) social marketing model; they were investigated using focus group discussions (FGD) and semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed based on the content analysis method.

The qualitative study resulted in 63 codes, 26 subcategories, 4 categories, product, location, cost, and promotion according to the COMBI model structures. Product category or behavioral characteristics, having peace of mind, and seeking independence were mentioned by both groups of parents and the youth as the factors of addiction tendency. But, regarding the cost of addiction, while teenagers and the young people considered the social side effects of drug use, such as losing friends, more important, parents were more concerned about the physical side effects of drugs. Location or environmental and social conditions were important for both groups of parents and the youth.

The results showed that although both groups of teenagers-the youth and their parents pointed to the social, environmental, and individual factors of addiction, their intended examples were different in many areas. Parents considered the most important factor in the tendency to drugs addiction to be the structure of the audience's need, having peace of mind, compensating for the sense of deficiencies and the need for independence, and the youth suggested the use of virtual space and creating motivation and awareness campaign to prevent addiction as a suitable method. Perceived costs according to the young people were loss of friends, feeling of rejection, loss of self-confidence, and negative view of others towards addiction. One of the reasons for the tendency towards addiction was mentioned by the young people as the location and easy access to drugs, and the parents said that the suitable place for the tendency towards addiction was having a risky and inappropriate family.

Managing the challenges of healthcare waste produced after the earthquake is a vital issue. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive management plan for healthcare waste in Kermanshah and Varzaqan-Ahar earthquakes using two models: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) and Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM).

The present qualitative study was conducted through a content analysis approach using semi-structured interviews and a purposive selection of 16 experienced experts and managers in the field of healthcare waste management in an earthquake in 2021-2022. After recording and transcribing data, data analysis was done in MAXQDA software (version 18). Lincoln and Goba criteria were used to check the reliability of the data. The statements (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of waste management) were summarized for each main category in the SWOT classification. Strategies for improving healthcare waste management were presented by comparing internal and external factors. Finally, the attractiveness table was compiled and weighted using the QSPM method for prioritizing strategies.

The study found 18 strengths, 24 weaknesses, 18 opportunities, and 19 threats. The final scores for internal and external factors of healthcare waste management in earthquakes were 2.38 and 2.3, respectively. A total of 12 strategies were developed based on the findings. Finally, the strategy of "optimal use of the opinions provided by managers, researchers, and experts interested in the field of waste management for the development of guidelines and national regulations for the management of healthcare waste in an earthquake" was prioritized to be implemented based on the QSPM matrix.

The strategic priorities identified in this study are important steps towards achieving sustainable development goals and protecting public health and the environment in disaster situations. Moreover, using QSPM and SWOT models helps to provide appropriate solutions for improving the management of healthcare waste in earthquakes.

The two main causes of indoor air pollution (IAP) are cooking and smoking. Toxic substances, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), recognized as human carcinogens, are present in cooking and tobacco smoke. This study aims to determine the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of PAHs collected from the indoor air of coffee shops on human cell line (KB/C152) in vitro approach.

Sampling pumps at a 2 l/min flow rate for 5 hours were applied to collect indoor air samples. Next, KB cells in cell culture medium were exposed to different concentrations of extracted PAHs using Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium (MTT) test. Finally, terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) test and cell cycle assessments were both examined using flow cytometry.

The MTT test revealed a significant cytotoxic effect on KB cells depending on the PAHs concentrationas compared to the control cell line. The lethal concentration 50 (LC50) value against KB cells was 100 ± 3.09 µg/ml. Accordingly, exposure to extracted PAHs resulted in an arrest in the cell cycle at the sub-G1 checkpoint. The extracted PAHs suppressed the cell cycle in the sub-G1 phase, damaged DNA, and arrested KB cells from proliferating. Additionally, a statistically significant increase in DNA cleavage percentages (p ≤ 0.05) was seen in the TUNEL test, which also showed a dose-dependent increase in DNA damage.

Extracted PAHs caused DNA damage and arrested in the cell cycle in epidermoid carcinoma of the mouth cells (KB/C152) in vitro mechanisms. This evaluation highlights mechanisms of exposure to extracted PAHs and their detrimental health effects.

Droughts and precipitation imbalances in various parts of the world have underscored the significance of alternative water resources. In recent years, recycled water has emerged as a viable alternative, with wastewater being treated to a safe level for diverse purposes. However, the public acceptance of water reuse plays a pivotal role in determining the success of recycling initiatives. This study aims to identify the barriers and facilitators influencing public acceptance of water reuse in Yazd, Iran, during 2020.

A cross-sectional study involving 384 individuals in Yazd city during 2020 was conducted. Participants were selected using the stratified sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson correlation test in SPSS software version 23.

The most crucial facilitator for acceptance was the concept of segregating drinking water and recycled water networks. The primary barrier to acceptance was the perceived risk of recycled water contamination and potential health hazards. Water reuse was most widely accepted for construction purposes, followed by toilet flush tanks and irrigation of green spaces in parks and sports fields. A positive correlation (r = 0.416) existed between facilitators and acceptance of water reuse, indicating that enhancing facilitators positively affected acceptance.

To successfully implement water reuse projects, it is essential to consider key facilitators such as segregated water systems for different household uses, raising public awareness about the benefits of water reuse, and building public trust in recycled water safety.

The present study examines the association between ambient air pollution and harmful consequences at birth in Yazd, Iran during 2017-2020.

This time series study by the autoregressive (AR) and moving average (MA) or ARMA model was conducted in Yazd, Iran. Birth information including fetal sex, birth weight, birth height, and head circumference as well as preterm birth (PTB) and abortion was collected from mother and birth cohort databases. Data on air pollutants concentrations in the corresponding gestational period were obtained from fixed air monitors of Yazd Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center. The time series model statistical test was performed to find the relation between ambient air pollution and harmful consequences at birth.

2131 singleton live births were monitored for 3 years. In ARMA models, the ratio of girl births to total births (Coef: 7.943, 95% CI: 2.797, 13.089), preterm delivery (Coef: 2.915, 95% CI: 0.224, 5.606), and spontaneous abortion (Coef: 44.751, 95% CI: 26.872, 62.629) was associated with NO2 exposure. Distributed mismatch models also suggested associations between the Air Quality Index (AQI) in pregnant women with a sex-premature birth relationship (Coef: 0.001, 95% CI: 0.000, 0.001).

Exposure to air pollution, even at low levels, may increase the risk of sex ratio in singletons, premature birth, and spontaneous abortion. However, the results of the present study could not definitively show the relationship between air quality and other birth problems. More research studies are required to investigate the present findings.

Bread is one of the most important components of the diet all over the world. Failure to obtain the unique properties of gluten protein has made it difficult to obtain the desired properties of gluten-free bakery products. Inulin is one of the soluble nutritional fibers widely used in the food industry.

Textural, physicochemical, sensory and shelf life characteristics of inulin in gluten-free bread samples based on rice-acorn flour (70:30) enriched with 10% w/w-1 prebiotic inulin with different degrees of polymerization (less than 10, more from 23 and 60-2) and the conditions of mixed fermentation based on sourdough [MF-SD] were investigated.

Results indicated that MF-SD and using long-chain inulin was able to form a structure able to hold the gases produced during the fermentation and expanded through cooking process and improve the textural characteristics, which seems to be due to its potential ability to form a gel. Additionally, highest inulin stability is also observed at this sample. So that the optimized technological characteristics and lowest inulin loss ration (31% w/w-1) is found at gluten-free bread samples containing 30% w/w-1 of acorn flour and long-chain inulin fermented by MF-SD (A30R70SL).

The use of long-chain inulin is recommended to achieve desirable technological characteristics and high nutritional value in the formulation of gluten-free bread.

One of the most important and influential pollutants in the water is heavy metals, which exceeds its permissible levels causing various diseases, including cancer. The aim of this study was to review the relationship between the amount of heavy metals in drinking water and cancer and provide a more effective solution.

This was a systematic review using the PRISMA protocol to search literatures in international (PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct) and national (SID, Magiran, and MedLib) databases. According to the PICOS strategy, all published papers were retrieved in English and Persian languages until February 2020 using different combinations of keywords such as water, heavy metals and cancer and the Persian equivalent keywords. Final selected papers were critically appraised with the PRISMA checklist.

Results of review studies showed that the presence of heavy metals in water has many effects on human carcinogenic risk. In some studies, analyzes of water samples have shown a significant relationship between the amount of heavy metals and the incidence of cancer. Calculation of various index such as Carcinogenic Risk (CR), Total Carcinogenic Risk (TCR), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) index, Health Risk Assessment index (HRAEPA) on the carcinogenic effects of heavy metals and its comparison with standards in various studies show that most heavy metals, especially Arsenic, lead, cadmium and chromium have a high potential for carcinogenicity in humans through drinking water.

Some studies have emphasized the relationship between amount of heavy metals in water to cancer. Increasing the concentration of heavy metals and their compounds from the maximum acceptable concentration in drinking water has adverse effects on human health and leads to mutagenicity or carcinogenesis. To prevent the harmful effects of heavy metals in water, the first step is to control man-made pollutant sources, and continuous monitoring and pre-treatment treatment becomes more important and necessary.

Wastewater contains a large number of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms that can become bioaerosols during the treatment processes in different units of the treatment plant, and pose a risk to workers and nearby residents. In this study, the release of bioaerosols from a wastewater treatment plant of Morche Khort Industrial Town was investigated.

Sampling was actively performed according to EPA standard, in two seasons of spring and summer in 2018-2019, by an environmental sampling pump with a flow rate of 15 l/min and a single-stage impactor. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 2020.

The study results showed that the mean number of bacteria in the aeration tank was significantly higher than other points. The mean number of fungi in the aeration pond with 144 CFU/m3 had the highest concentration, and no fungal bioaerosol was observed 500 m downstream. Regarding the emission of H2S, CH4, and VOC gases, the anaerobic tank had the highest emission of these gases.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with activated sludge treatment technology and an aeration system can lead to an increase in the concentration of bacterial and fungal aerosols around the units and in surrounding areas.

Because of the growing population and increasing freshwater consumption, treatment and reuse of greywater have been widely considered. The application of a new and environmentally friendly treatment method for synthetic and real greywater (RGW) is of utmost importance. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the combination of ozonation, biological activated carbon, and ultrafiltration (O3/BAC/UF) in the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) from synthetic greywater and RGW.

Bacillus Subtilis, Acinetobacter radioresistens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ochrobactrum oryzae were selected from nine pure bacterial species and transferred to granular activated carbon (GAC), then, mineral culture medium was added to the reactor for the growth and establishment of bacterial consortium. The SEM method was employed to ensure the formation of a microbial layer on GAC. Then, the continuous flow of synthetic greywater (for six months) at a low: 6.1, medium: 12.2, and high: 18.3 gCOD/L.d organic loading rates as well as RGW (for two weeks) entered the treatment system.

The percentages of COD removal in low, medium, and high organic loads of synthetic greywater and RGW were 85.12%, 79.05%, 85.3%, and 98.65%, respectively. Moreover, the percentages of BOD5 removal were 87%, 82%, 51%, and 92%, respectively. Furthermore, the percentages of turbidity removal were 93.5%, 97%, 96.69%, 73.33%, and the percentages of LAS removal were 91.4%, 88.1%, 84.8%, and 93.7%, respectively.

The treatment system has a remarkable ability to remove pollutants from greywater and can be used as a new method of greywater treatment in Iran.

Today, entrepreneurship development, as an important engine of economic growth, requires a high spirit of entrepreneurship. In universities, students are the mainstay of entrepreneurship. In this way, the present study has measured the entrepreneurial traits of graduate students in Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2020. Authors selected 235 graduate students based on quota sampling and used Cochran's formula. The research tool was a standardized questionnaire to measure entrepreneurial spirit. Data were entered into SPSS 21 statistical software and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. This included independent t-test, ANOVA, and regression.

The total score of entrepreneurial spirit was evaluated as good with an average of 62.50 %. Among all the dimensions, the achievement seeking dimension got the highest score with an average of 75.50 %, and the independence sought dimension received the lowest score with an average of 50.50 %. There was a significant relationship between the total score of entrepreneurial spirit and marital status (p = 0.046), gender (p = 0.033), father's job (p = 0.020), and mother's job (p = 0.001). The regression model also showed that gender, age, and mother's employment are effective factors regarding the entrepreneurial spirit of students (p < 0.05).

Planning with a focus on male and older students can strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit in the university. Of course, considering the increase in the number of female students in universities, it is vital to improve their entrepreneurial characteristics and motivate them for self-employment.

Strategic management of the wastage produced due to earthquakes has faced many challenges over the recent decade. Thus, the present study seeks to identify and explain the challenges in earthquake wastage strategic management.

The present qualitative study has been steered through a content analysis approach and conducted using semi‑structured interviews and a purposive selection of 17 professors, experts, and managers experienced in the field of waste management in Kermanshah and Varzaghan‑Ahar earthquakes over 2020‑2021. Besides, the interviews were initially categorized using MAXQDA18 software.

Analysis of the experiences and perception regarding the changes in strategic management of wastage produced due to Kermanshah and Varzaghan‑Ahar earthquakes revealed 418 codes, 97 subcategories, 33 categories, and 8 main categories including management and leadership, organizational culture, planning, organizational learning, employee management, rules and regulations, resource management, and procedure management.

Strategic waste management has not been implemented in a coherent, integrated, and well‑planned manner in the cases of the Kermanshah and Varzaghan‑Ahar earthquakes. The challenges of strategic waste management turned out to be due to various reasons which will result in many issues in achieving the goals and selecting the suitable method for resource and procedure management should they not be managed well. Hence, policymakers, managers, and executors in the field of crisis management and waste management in disasters ‑specifically earthquakes‑ must take the necessary measures to remove these barriers.

The water crisis in different parts of the world forces people to manage water resources. Greywater can be used to reduce water stress. The annual rainfall average in Iran is hardly one-third of the world. In this study, the treatment of synthetic greywater at low, medium, and high organic load and real greywater (RGW) by a combined process of ozonation/granular activated carbon (GAC)/ultrafiltration (UF) have been investigated.

This study aimed to find a greywater treatment method that is effective, new, environment-friendly, and cost-effective.

Chemicals and commercial compounds were used to prepare synthetic greywater, and the research pilot was developed. After several preparation steps, the GAC was transferred to a GAC reactor. A continuous flow of synthetic greywater entered the treatment system with low: 6.1, medium: 12.2, and high: 18.3 gCOD/L.d organic loading rates for 6 months. Next, the RGW samples from a residential complex in Shiraz, Iran, entered the treatment system for two weeks. After chemical analysis, an analysis of variance was carried out to compare the removal efficiency of parameters: [chemical oxygen demand (COD), five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), turbidity, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS)] at various organic loads (low, medium, and high) of synthetic greywater and RGW.

We found the average COD removal in low, medium, and high organic loads of synthetic greywater and RGW as approximately 79.3%, 86.1%, 77.3%, and 97.3%, respectively. Moreover, the average BOD5 removal in the mentioned groups was about 69.6%, 48.9%, 42.7%, and 86.8%, respectively. The average of turbidity removal was 95.6%, 98.3%, 97.4%, and 97.9%, and average LAS removal was 90.1%, 88.9%, 88.3%, and 91.9%, respectively.

This treatment method is remarkable for real and synthetic greywater treatment. It can effectively remove COD, BOD5, turbidity, and LAS. In addition, it is a relatively low-cost and environment-friendly system. Therefore, it can be recommended as a greywater treatment method, especially in countries with inadequate water supplies, such as Iran.

 The role of environmental determinants in the community's resilience in flood, as a predominant hydrological disaster, has not been investigated.

 This systematic review aimed to discuss the role of environmental determinants on communities' resilience in floods using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol.

 A total of 50 relevant papers were extracted, including those on the subject of water resource planning (n=32), soil-plant systems (n=8), and air and climatic factors (n=10).

 The results revealed that although most studies have investigated climatic factors, biological effects, surface water flooding, and groundwater contamination, the researchers did not have a comprehensive approach to environmental determinants. This study highlighted the role of water, soil, and air, as the main environmental determinants. In addition, the related subdeterminants should simultaneously be considered in flood risk management and community resilience.

 Eventually, a conceptual model is presented for analyzing the effects of environmental factors on the communities' resilience against floods.
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One of the tools used in periodic (continuous) assessment of learners is the Logbook. One of the standards of the GMC in the United Kingdom in 1992 was the need to inform learners of learning objectives, which has led colleges to use logbooks. The purpose of this study was to design and implement a continuous evaluation program in the specialized doctorate of environmental health and to help improvement the quality of education.Materials &

 The present study is a developmental study that was conducted during the years 2017 to 2019. The design of the logbook was done using a text review based on the latest changes made to the curriculum. Expert opinions were also used. The booklet consisted of three sections: demographic information, educational and research activities. The logbook developed as a pilot was provided to PhD students in environmental health. Evaluation was performed using Elo&Kyngas method.

 After evaluating and giving feedback on the filled logbook forms at the end of the first semester, it was found that the students were not aware of the course curriculum. Also, after filling out the forms at the end of the first semester, the students stated that in some area they had doubled their activity and while in other cases they still needed to gain more ability, the shortcomings at the end of the second semester were considerable.

The results of this study showed that the designed logbook has been satisfied by students and its psychometrics has been done well. The design and implementation of the logbook made the field of students 'activities wider and therefore had a great impact on students' attitudes in this field, which can also beconsidered as a great achievement for this field.

The production of high wastewater is one of the problems of recycling paper industry, it is essential to provide appropriate economic and environmental solutions for proper management and treatment. So in this research, the purpose was of optimization the treatment of wastewater products from the paper recycling industry with using magnesium chloride in combination with cationic and anionic polyacrylamides.

This was an applied researchwhich was done on a laboratory scale. The different pH (4-12) values at a fixed concentration of magnesium chloride to determine the optimum pH was investigated. Then optimization of concentration for magnesium chloride (200-700 mg/L) and polyacrylamides (0.5-3 mg/L) was performed. At each stage of optimization, the parameters of TSS and COD were measured. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for analysis of data and significance level was 0.05.

According to the results, pH=10 as optimal pH and concentrations of 500 and 1.5 mg / L were selected as optimal concentrations for magnesium chloride and cationic polyacrylamide, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the efficiency of removing TSS and COD was 96% and 83.07%, respectively.

The results showed that magnesium chloride combined with cationic polyacrylamide, can be used as an appropriate option for wastewater treatment of paper recycling industries.

Traffic accidents are a major problem in the field of transportation in Iran. To address this problem, detailed studies are needed especially over the impact of human risk factors. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of identifying and recognizing the human characteristics associated with the occurrence of traffic accidents resulting in injury or death in the city of Yazd.

In this cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study, Yazd traffic accident data were collected using simple sampling method. The data were collected on the basis of COM form 114 by traffic experts present at the accident scenes. After data collection, the data were entered into SPSS software version 20 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Mann-Whitney tests.

A total of 2082 cases were studied in traffic accidents (pedestrians=8.8%, passengers=15.4%, and drivers=75.8%). The average age of injured and deceased persons in traffic accidents were 35.08±13.89 and 45.37±17.12 years, respectively. The most common human factors involved in traffic accidents were rush and acceleration (96.8%). Moreover, nonconformity of priority right was 98.9%. A statistically significant relationship was found between human factors and traffic accidents leading to death or injury (p-value=0.04).

  According to the findings, controlling human risk factors can reduce the risk of death and injuries in traffic accidents. Officials, policymakers, and planners can also plan on the most influential factor by carefully analyzing human errors in the event of a traffic accident.

Dust particles are one of the most important environmental problems that are threatening many countries, and patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a vulnerable group in this respect. The present study was conducted to examine the protective strategies among patients with CVDs against exposure to dust phenomenon based on the protection motivation theory (PMT).
This cross-sectional study was performed on 183 patients with CVDs who referred to health care centers in Ahvaz city, Khuzestan province, southwest of Iran. Participants were selected from patients with CVDs recruited for routine national Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease (IRA PEN) through random cluster sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire based on the PMT. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests such as Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regressions by SPSS version 22.
The mean scores of the constructs of perceived response efficacy (4.06 ± 20.06) and sensitivity (19.89 ± 4.30) were higher than those of other constructs. Correlation coefficient test showed a significant positive correlation between risk behaviors of exposure to dust phenomenon and self-efficacy, response efficacy and protection motivation, but negatively correlated with cost response. Also, self-efficacy variable, type of health insurance, and protection motivation were the predictive indicators of behavior.
The constructs of the PMT explained the risk reduction behaviors of exposure to dust phenomenon in patients with CVDs. Therefore, this theory can be used as a framework for designing educational programs to increase the motivation of patients with CVDs to adopt risk reduction behaviors for exposure to dust.

 This study was aimed to discriminate ion aflatoxin B1(AFB1) contamination of pistachio kernels after/E-beam irradiation. 

 Pistachios were inoculated with known concentrations of Aspergillus flavus. Then pistachio samples were exposed to E-beam at five different doses (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 kGy) and in various storage times (0, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days) at ambient temperature. Then, sensorial characteristics, fungal, and AFB1 contamination of pistachio kernels were investigated. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software version 22. by using descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and Kruskal–Wallis tests. 

 The mean percentage reduction of aflatoxin in the treated samples at doses of 1, 3, 5, and 7 kGy on different days of storage with two replicates was 38.84%, 48.79%, 53.50%, and 77.17%, respectively. The dose of 1 kGy was found to be appropriate in reducing the number of mold in pistachios without having any change in their organoleptic properties. The organoleptic properties, including color, texture, and overall palatability of pistachios, significantly changed after a dose of 5 kGy. 

 Electron-beam (E-beam) efficiency against A. flavus and aflatoxin degradation increased with increasing radiation dose. Due to the sensitivity of A. flavus to radiation, this method can be used to improve the quality of pistachio products.

Dust phenomenon is a major environmental problem in world that threatens the middle-east countries specifically. In order to develop a need-based policy and regulate the supporting health program to reduce dust effects requires a proper understanding of the public beliefs about threats posed by this issue. The purpose of this study was to explain the threat appraisal patients with cardiovascular diseases regarding exposure to dust phenomena.

This qualitative content-analysis study was conducted from January to June 2018. The participants included 28 cardiovascular patients who referred to the healthcare centers in Ahvaz City. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with open-ended questions and inspiration from threat appraisal process constructs were used to collect data. All data were gathered, transcribed, and analyzed using MAXQDA-10 software and in-depth analysis.

Perceived threat constructs were used and 4 categories and 9 subcategories were extracted: perceived likelihood of exposure to dust (perceived likelihood of increased non-respiratory problems, perceived likelihood of increased respiratory problems), belief in seriousness and danger of exposure to dust (understanding the severity of physical complications, understanding the severity of mental and psychological complications, understanding the severity of economic complications), external reward of exposure to dust (improving personal and social relationships, improving financial problems), internal reward of exposure to dust (pleasant feeling).

This study provided a clearer and deeper understanding of the threat posed by exposure to dust among cardiovascular patients. Based on the results, the authorities can design more targeted and more effective protective plans to raise awareness among community members, especially cardiovascular patients about the negative effects of exposure to dust and the ways to reduce its exposure.

Obesity is considered as the greatest cause of chronic diseases worldwide. The prevalence rate of obesity and overweight should be recognized in the community for planning and prioritizing health problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity and overweight and its related factors among residents of Yazd city, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 790 participants aged 20-70 years. Participants were selected through multi-stage systematic sampling in 2018. The individuals' demographic data, and anthropometric measurements such as height and weight were measured. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi-square, and correlation coefficients.

The mean age of participants was 45.10 ± 14.56 years. According to the results, 170 (21.51%) and 280 (35.44%) participants were obese and overweight, respectively. Overweight was also associated with demographic variables of mobility, age, and income. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between weight status and demographic variables of mobility, age, and income. Based on the results, a significant and positive correlation was observed between body mass index and age (R = 0.75, P = 0.03).

Obesity and overweight is a major public health problem in Yazd, especially among women, older age, and low-income groups in Yazd. Therefore, appropriate plans should be designed to reduce this health problem.

 Nosocomial infections have become increasingly a major health concern in many hospitals. Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), including Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella have emerged among the most problematic microorganisms in hospital settings, which can cause a variety of nosocomial infections, especially in susceptible individuals. Biofilm formation allows these waterborne agents to persist in hospital water systems for extended periods. Since the transmission is the initial step in disease occurrence, effective prevention of nosocomial infections requires a better knowledge about waterborne bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of presence of GNB in hospital water systems by a rapid and reliable assay. 

 A total of 33 water samples were collected from 11 hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran and analyzed for the presence of GNB by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with the application of specific primer sets. 

 From the 11 hospitals surveyed, 91% (10 of 11) were positive for at least one of the types of GNB. GNB were detected in 58% (19 of 33) of water samples. 45% (15 of 33) of samples were positive for legionella. A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa were detected in 18% (6 of 33) of water samples. The mean concentration of heterotrophic bacteria was 36 CFU/ml. 

 Detection of GNB in hospital water systems with a relatively high frequency revealed that hospital water may act as an important route for transmission of nosocomial infections. The results emphasize the importance of rapid microbiological monitoring and the implementation of strict control measures in hospital water systems.

Human ecology examines the interactions between humans and the environment. Investigation of the human happiness and health requires a systematic study of the human life and ecosystem, which includes the physical and social environment of the human species.  Ecosystem is the basis of changes that occur in the biological, psychological, and social systems, because they happen in the context of environment. The urban areas can also be considered as an ecosystem that can affect biological, psychological, and social aspects of the inhabitants. As a result, ecosystem is associated with the inhabitants' happiness and the health.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted over 145 individuals with 15 years of age living in Pardisan district of Qom. To collect data randomly, two questionnaires were administered: a questionnaire to assess the residents' ecological satisfaction (environmental, economic, and social) from urban quality of life and a general health questionnaire. In order to investigate the differences between quantitative variables, two groups of ecological components of urban quality of life and general health as a whole and their subsets were considered. T-test and ANOVA  were aplied to analyze the collected data.   Pearson correlation test was used to determine the relationship between quantitative variables (satisfaction with ecological components of the urban quality of life and general health and related subsets).

The results of this study indicated a significant correlation between all environmental, social, and economic components, physical scales, anxiety, social function, and depression, except for the ecological component and social function. In other words, decreased satisfaction from the ecological urban quality of life increased the scores of general health, which indicated an increase in the disease symptoms in the general health questionnaire.

Considering the relationship between the ecological components of urban quality of life and health, the residents' views and their basic problems should be investigated in order to create the appropriate conditions for improving their quality of urban life.

Due to water scarcity and increased water consumption during the past years, the importance of water in terms of transmission of diseases, as well as Iran's climate, groundwater aquifers are known as the most important resources of drinking water supply. Using the Water Quality Index (WQI) is considered as strong managerial tool for decision making in water resource management. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of groundwater in Ardakan for drinking purpose using WQI. Spatial analysis was conducted with the geographic information system (GIS).
This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study to investigate the quality of groundwater in Ardakan for drinking purpose. Information on total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), bicarbonate (HCO3-), chlorine (CL-), sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) of 24 wells was obtained from Ardakan Health Center. The characteristics of the stations were determined using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and transmitted to the map prepared in the GIS environment. The calculated values of the WQI were zoned in the GIS environment by Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) method.
Based on the WQI, well no.5 has the best quality water (17.61), which has the lowest WQI, and the highest value of WQI was obtained for well no. 20 (156.86).
The results of the study showed that none of wells have drinkable water, 13 wells had good quality water, and 11 wells had poor quality and should be treated for drinking.