Kink-band Kinematic Analysis and its Implications for Late-stage Deformation in the Internal Parts of the Zagros Collision(Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone) in West Iran

In the internal parts of the Zagros collision zone, several deformation phases have been superimposed. The early deformation phase caused the development of a penetrative foliation. The late-stage deformation phase was preferentially accommodated within shear zones and caused the generation of shear bands, implying a non-coaxial component of deformation, the end of this stage deformation was marked by the development of kink-bands. In the vicinity of Zagros suture zone, the kink angle increased from 40° to 60°, and the kink-bands was converted to chevron folds. In this region, the external(α) and internal(β) angular ratio is α/β ≠ 1 and kink angle increased, and deformation occurred with 10% to 30% volume loss. Farther from the suture zone in the east, α/β = 1;and total volume was constant or increased by 5% to 10%. Kink-bands kinematic analysis in the study area revealed this structures were sensitive to deformation conditions and components such that, with decreasing distance to the Zagros suture zone, shearing and rotation increased, a high kinematic vorticity dominated, and volume loss occurred during deformation.

Petrologic evolution of the Gysian ophiolitic serpentinites,NW Iran

The Gysian ophiolite of NW Iran is located at the intersection of the ophiolite belts of SE Turkey,NE Iraq,and Iran,and provides the opportunity to investigate the preserved subduction and obduction history of an important tectonic site that has not previously been studied.The serpentinized peridotites of the Gysian ophiolite contain the assemblagelizardite+chrysotile+spinel/Mg-spinelwith relict clinopyroxene(diopside)and very rare relict orthopyroxene and olivine.The compositions of clinopyroxenes and spinels are more consistent with the formation of the inferred protolithharzburgitesinafore-arcorsupra-subduction zone instead of an abyssal environment.The Gysian ophiolite is a remnant of the Neo-Tethyan arc-ophiolitic system and records shallow subduction(<50 km,indicated by the absence of antigorite)in the Late Cretaceous to Paleocene beforeobductionalongthrustfaultsoverthecontinental margin.We review the spatial trends of the metamorphic grade of the Neo-Tethyan ophiolites in this region and provide detailed information about the petrology and mineral chemistry of the Gysian ophiolite.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of Leishmania infantum in sandflies in Iran

Objective:To determine the overall and pooled prevalence of Leishmania(L.)infantum in sandfly vectors in Iran.Methods:The present research conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and searched regional databases such as PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science(WoS),Embase,PAHO Iris,LILACS,WHO Iris,and local databases named:SID,Magiran,Civilica,and also grey literatures.The current research included studies that were conducted in Iran and examined L.infantum in different sandfly vectors.The studies’quality assessment/risk of bias assessment was evaluated by the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for prevalence data studies,and the data were analyzed by Stata 14 software.In addition,we examined 22 primary studies to estimate the overall prevalence of L.infantum among various vectors of visceral leishmaniasis.Results:According to the meta-analysis,the pooled prevalence of Phlebotomus(Ph.)tobbi,Ph.alexandri,Ph.kandelaki,Ph.perfiliewi,Ph.major,Ph.keshishiani were 5.34%,4.36%,2.23%,1.79%,4.37%and 1.18%.Ph.tobbi has the highest infection rate(25.00%)of L.infantum among the sandfly vectors.Conclusions:Visceral leishmaniasis is widespread in Fars,Ardebil,and East-Azerbaijan provinces,which are the most important endemic regions in Iran.

Survival and risk analysis of patients with COVID-19 in Iran

Objective:To evaluate the risk factors of death caused by COVID-19 in Iran.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study from February 20,2020,to August 22,2022,in the hospitals in Isfahan,Iran.The data were collected through a researcher-made checklist.To determine the risk factors of the death,logistic regression and Cox regression models were used.For each variable,the odds ratio and 95%confidence interval were also reported.Results:1885 Patients were included.The age of deceased persons was significantly higher than that of the surviving persons.The risk of death for the age group above 60 years was about 14 times higher than that of people aged 19-35 years[95%CI:14.41(2.02-102.99),P<0.01].Hypertension[95%CI:1.92(1.47-2.5),P<0.01],diabetes[95%CI:1.62(1.23-2.13),P<0.001],and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[95%CI:1.92(1.47-2.50),P<0.01]were also risk factors of mortality.Conclusions:This study reveals that the mortality rate due to COVID-19 is associated with old age,longer hospitalization in the ICU,increased length of stay,and comorbidities of high blood pressure,diabetes,and chronic pulmonary disease.

Spatial analysis of animal bites in Iran(2015-2020):A cross-sectional study

Objective:To investigate the distribution pattern of animal bites in Mirjaveh,Iran from 2015 to 2020.Methods:The data on animal bites were collected from the Department of Infectious Diseases,the provincial health center.Monthly climatic data on precipitation and temperature during the study period were also collected.The correlation between incidence and temperature,precipitation rate,land type,and altitude was also analyzed.Results:The results showed that men were more affected by animal bites than women(76.4%,P<0.001),and the highest incidence rate occurred in the age group of 5-19 years.The incidence rate of animal bites was found to be correlated with temperature and altitude.An increase in temperature was associated with a rise in the incidence rate of animal bites.The number of animal bites increased until 2019,possibly due to an increase in the number of dogs in the area.Conclusions:Targeted interventions should be implemented to reduce the incidence of animal bites,particularly among children,housewives,and students.Improving access to appropriate treatments,increasing public awareness of the hazards of animal bites,and increasing the number of vaccinated dogs in the area are essential strategies to be considered.

Characterizing the Provenance Signatures and Geochemical Behaviors of Turquoise in Copper Deposits:Comparative Case Studies of Meiduk,Iran,and Tongling,China

Turquoise, a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum, is highly valued for its unique colour and historical significance. The similarity in colour, quality, and pattern between turquoises from different localities may lead to confusion in determining their origins. This is particularly evident in the case of turquoises from Meiduk in Iran and Tongling in China(Fig.1).In Iran, turquoise deposits are typically associated with magmatic zones, specifically in the Meiduk mine, located 85 kilometers northwest of the Sar Cheshmeh porphyry copper deposit in Kerman Province. The deposit is hosted by Eocene volcanic rocks of andesitic-basaltic composition with porphyry-type mineralization associated with two Miocene calc-alkaline intrusive phases. Five distinct zones of the hypogene alteration include potassic, potassic-phyllic, phyllic, and propylitic zones, which are rich in magnetite. Mineralization processes include stockwork, dissemination, veinlets, and veins rich in garnet, chalcopyrite, magnetite, and anhydrite. Turquoise is found in transitional, leached, and supergene zones, primarily as fracture and seam fillers. In contrast, Chinese turquoises are more often found in sedimentary rocks, with significant exceptions in places like the Tongling mine in Anhui Province, which are hosted within magmatic rocks. The turquoise from Tongling is found in the Tongling area within the Middle-lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt, an area characterized by complex tectonics and intense magmatic and metallogenic activities. The turquoise deposits are associated with iron-copper polymetallic mineralization within Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks.The turquoise from Meiduk exhibited a specific gravity range of 2.22 g/cm^(3)to 2.71 g/cm^(3), SWUV fluorescence from none to medium, and LWUV fluorescence from faint to strong, indicating diverse mineralogical compositions. SEM examination of turquoise from Meiduk reveals a variety of mineral morphologies. The turquoise displays closely packed arrays of elongated needle-like crystals, measuring 2 μm to 9 μm in length and 0.1 μm to 0.4 μm in thickness, indicating a dynamic growth environment. The density and alignment of these crystals suggest the space-constrained setting, likely influenced by rapid deposition from mineral-laden fluids, with crystals interlocked due to simultaneous nucleation events. Some crystals appear similarly elongated but are more dispersed, with greater separation between individual crystals. In other areas, the elongated turquoise crystals are tightly intergrown, creating a dense textural appearance, pointing to a stage where growth space became limited, resulting in an interlocking matrix. Additionally, some crystals radiate outward from a central point, forming a spherical pattern reaching about 18 μm. The turquoise from Tongling show a specific gravity range of 2.26 g/cm^(3)to 2.60 g/cm^(3), with consistent medium SWUV fluorescence and strong LWUV fluorescence. SEM examination reveals needle structures, plate-like structures, and spheroidal aggregates composed of needle and plate-like microcrystals. These spherical aggregates, some with diameters around 26 μm, exhibit the concentric growth structure covered by turquoise microcrystals, with crystal lengths of 8 μm. The surface needle-like microcrystals vary in size, approximately 3 μm in length, 2 μm in width, and 0.2 to 0.6 μm in thickness.Optical microscopy, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy reported the presence of quartz, gypsum, iron oxides such as jarosite and goethite, biotite, sericite, pyrite, galena, bornite, graphene oxide, malachite, and azurite as major associated minerals of Meiduk's. In contrast, the Tongling mine features minerals such as quartz, anatase, barite, sodium feldspar, illite, and malachite.Through EPMA and LA-ICP-MS results, the turquoises of Tongling exhibit similar average iron content(1.28% and 1.26% respectively), but significant differences in copper content. The turquoises of Meiduk have the average copper content of 6.97%, whereas Tongling samples show the higher content of 11.38%. Na, K, and Ca concentrations are also higher in Meiduk samples, suggesting interaction with alkali-rich fluids and potassic alteration. Trace elements such as Ti, Cr, Zn, Se, and Mo serve as tracing agents for Meiduk samples, while Be and W are associated with Tongling samples. Regarding rare earth elements(REEs), Meiduk samples show diverse δCe(0.14-4.62) and δEu(0.65-15.78) values, indicating a wide range of oxidation states and europium anomalies. The significant variability in LREE/HREE ratios(0.39-31.74) and ΣREE concentrations(0.25-240.72 ppm) suggests heterogeneous REE fractionation patterns. In contrast, Tongling samples display δCe(0.070-2.51) and δEu(0.238-4.87) ranges, with more consistent LREE/HREE ratios(0.128-10.2) and ΣREE values(0.069-4.08 ppm), indicating stable REE fractionation dynamics.This comparative study of turquoises from the Meiduk mine in Iran and the Tongling mine in China reveals significant similarities and differences in their geochemical and mineralogical characteristics. Both deposits are hosted within magmatic rocks and produce turquoise as a byproduct in open-pit copper mining operations, exhibiting comparable colors, patterns, and morphologies. However, distinct differences are noted in their mineral compositions and trace elements, with turquoise from Meiduk associated with a complex hydrothermal system rich in various sulfide and oxide minerals and higher copper, Na, K, and Ca concentrations, indicating alkali-rich fluid interactions. In contrast, the turquoise from Tongling, influenced by both volcanic and sedimentary processes, shows a higher copper content, presence of barite, and different trace elements such as Be and W. The REE patterns also highlight the contrasting geological histories and environmental conditions at each site, with Meiduk samples showing a broader range of oxidation states and europium anomalies compared to the more stable REE fractionation dynamics in Tongling samples. These differences underscore the importance of detailed geochemical and mineralogical analyses for accurate provenance determination in gemmological and archaeological contexts.

Heideggerian Thought in the Light of Iranian-Islamic Wisdom

A prominent Iranian philosopher Ahmad Fardid considered the influential German philosopher Martin Heidegger as“the only Western philosopher who understood the world and the only philosopher whose insights were congruent with the principles of the Islamic Republic”.The report aimed to present Fardid’s interpretation of Heidegger in the light of Iranian-Islamic wisdom.Iranian philosopher believes that Heidegger’s thought responds to the most important intellectual crisis of the West civilization that is nihilism and to reach the possibility of an“other beginning”of thinking that he calls“No-longer-metaphysical-thought”.Considering these two fundamental features,Fardid founds powerful religious-spiritual tendencies in Heidegger’s thinking.

The subfamily Panchaetothripinae(Thysanoptera:Thripidae) in Iran,with the first report of genus Selenothrips Karny

The subfamily Panchaetothripinae Bagnall is one of the 4 subfamilies in the family Thripidae. This subfamily includes 6 species in 5 genera in Iran. In this paper, the monobasic genus Selenothrips Kamy is recorded in Iran for the first time. A key is provided for identifying these 6 genera with comments on each genus and its species. The geographical distribution is provided for 7 species occurring in Iran.

基于IRBFNN和IRAN的非线性动态系统在线自适应建模

将资源分配网络算法(RAN)与相似隐单元合并操作、冗余隐单元删除操作和基于滑动数据窗连接权值学习相结合,形成了改进的资源分配网络(IRAN)算法。IRAN算法用于非线性动态系统的在线建模,能有效地改善模型精度和泛化能力。将改进径向基函数(RBF)神经网络(IRBFNN)和IRAN结合可以用于不确定非线性动态系统自适应建模。仿真研究表明:所提出的建模方法在模型精简、泛化和自适应等方面均具有优良的性能。

The Thrips-attacking Genus Ceranisus (Hymenoptera:Eulophidae:Entedoninae) from Iran

Three thrips-attacking parasitoids,Ceranisus menes（Walker,1839）,C.planitianus Erds,1966 and C.amanosus Doganlar et al.,2009,are recorded from Iran for the first time.This also represents the first record of the genus Ceranisus Walker,1841 for Iran.Identification of the two sibling species,C.amanosus Doganlar et al.,2009 and C.udnamtak Tryapitsin,2005,is briefly discussed.

Notes on Eight Species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Iran with a Description of one New Species

The paper reports 8 species of 7 genera of Encyrtidae, i. e. Anagyrus pseudococci, Cheiloneurus ceroplastis, Dusmetia fascipennis, Homalotylus ephippium associated with scale insects on trees, Isodromus atriventris, Isodromus collimaculatus sp. nov., Ooencyrtus kuvanae associated with lacewing insects, and Syrphophagus aeruginosus , a parasitoid of Syrphids. All specimens are deposited in the Department of Plant Protection, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Relationship Between Land Use Changes and the Production of Dust Sources in Kermanshah Province,Iran

Recognizing land use changes(LUC)and evaluating their relationship with producing dust sources are considered effective to manage the environment.Taking Kermanshah Province,Iran as study area,dusty days from 2008 to 2015 were selected and dust sources were identified applying thermal-infrared dust index(TDI),hybrid single-particle lagrangian integrated trajectory(HYSPLIT),false color composite(FCC)and true color composite(TCC)of MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)images.Afterwards,the land use change map was produced using Landsat images in 2000 and 2015.Then,the distribution and frequency of the sources in each land-use change class and important dust production areas were specified.Eventually,two non-parametric tests including Chisquare and Kruskal-Wallis were applied to examine the relationship between LUC and dust sources.Results indicated that the distribution of dust sources was not identical in the study area,and the sources were mainly generated in the areas where land-use change had occurred.In fact,different classes of LUC have different contributions to dust production,and the highest contribution refers to the deflation in gentle slope areas and lowlands where the rangeland has been converted into agriculture land.The findings from this study are useful to manage and control dust in the identified sources.

Petrology and Tectonic Setting of Volcanic Rocks in West and South West of Salafchegan, Qom, Iran

In the west and south-west part of Salafchegan near Zavarian village in Iran (in central Iranian volcano plotonic belt), there are some volcanic rocks. Based on petrography and geochemistry findings, these volcanic rocks are Basalt, Andesite, Tracky-Andesite, Trackyte, Latite, Dacite. Tectono-magmatic diagram Y versus Zr shows the magmatic arc setting and Zr/TiO2 versus Ce/P2O5 diagram contrasts post colligenal magmatic arcs. The HFSE depletion in the MORB spider diagram shows significant volcanic arc magmatism. The high enrichment of Eu, Sr, Th, Rb, Cs, K (LFS elements) and Y, Zr, Hf shows negative anomaly and subduction tectonic setting. Based on MORB, Chondrite and primitive mantle spider diagrams, LREE have enriched to HREE in this area. The results of petrography, geochemistry and tectonic setting studies in this area, indicate that neogene magmatism occurred in post colligenal tectonic setting—subduction of Neo-thetise ocean under central Iranian plate in neogen era.

Regional Stability for National Survival： Iran＇s Foreign Policy Towards the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia in the Post-Soviet Era

This paper focuses on Iran＇s foreign policy towards the Caucasus and Central Asia regions in the post-Soviet Union era, using a theoretical approach which stresses the importance of historical and geographical contextualization for the analysis of foreign policy. The article＇s main argument is that Iranian foreign policy towards these regions in the last 25 years, although the result of a complex and multi-layered decision-making process, has been led by two unifying long-term objectives： regional stability and national security. In order to demonstrate this argument, the article undertakes a factual analysis focusing on the role Iran played during the main regional conflicts that have occurred since the Soviet Union＇s collapse in Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as the diplomatic re-engagement Iran has been building with the countries of these two regions after the end of the Iran nuclear deal. Standard interpretations of Iran＇s foreign policy define it as a player with hegemonic ambitions whose foreign policy is mainly led by ideological factors. This paper assumes that foreign policy＇s analysis needs time and space contextualization. Once historical and geographical factors are taken into account----of which the most important are Iran＇s proximity to Russia and Afghanistan along with its international diplomatic isolation due to nuclear sanctions--then Iran＇s foreign policy in Central Asia and the Caucasus appears to be that of a regional power interested in maintaining the existing status quo. Stability and territorial integrity in these two regions in fact are seen by Teheran as necessary conditions for Iran＇s own territorial integrity and internal security. The paper is based on both secondary and primary sources, most of them official statements, all in the public domain.

In memory of Dr. Azar Andami, an eminent researcher and scholar at the Pasteur Institute of Iran

This paper focuses on the remarkable contributions and achievements of Dr.Azar Andami(1926–1984),a renowned physician and specialist at the Pasteur Institute of Iran.Dr.Andami conducted extensive research on infectious diseases,particularly cholera,utilizing her knowledge in medicine,bacteriology,and laboratory sciences.She played a crucial role in the mass production of the cholera vaccine at the Pasteur Institute of Iran and in controlling the spread of communicable diseases both locally and globally.This paper aims to highlight her remarkable works and accomplishments.

Epidemiological, laboratory, diagnostic and public health aspects of human brucellosis in western Iran

Objective:To determine brucellosis's epidemiologic,laboratory,diagnostic and public health features considering brucellosis is endemic in Azna County,western Iran.Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was investigated on 43 patients with brucellosis in Azna County. The subjects were the patients with symptoms correspondent with brucellosis and positive Wright and 2ME tests. A questionnaire about demographic,epidemiological and laboratory findings was filled in. Afterwards,patients were treated using usual antimicrobial drugs regimen. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16.Results:Forty-three subjects were found to be positive in laboratory tests. Incidence of Brucellosis was 59.31 per hundred thousand population. About 34.9% of patients were female and 65.1%male. Nearly 95.2% of human cases were living in rural and 4.8%in urban areas. Around 20.9%of patients had history of animal contact. The commonest transmission was unpasteurized dairy products(79.1%). The most contagious seasons were summer and spring(60.3%). The most common age group was 15-24(27.9%),and about 60.5%of the patients were between 15-44 years old. Disease was more common among housewives(30.2%) and farmers(20.9%). The majority of the patients had Wright test titre=1:320(54.1%) and 2ME test titre=1:160(56.1%) in serological titration.Doxycycline with Rifampin was used for treatment of the greatest of patients(60.4%).Conclusions:In order to control this zoonotic disease,close cooperation of health and veterinary organizations is necessary.

Spatio-temporal distribution of malaria vectors(Diptera:Culicidae) across different climatic zones of Iran

Malaria is a main vector-borne public health problem in Iran.The last studies on Iranian mosquitoes show 31 Anopheles species including different sibling species and genotypes,eight of them are reported to play role in malaria transmission.The objective of this study is to provide a reference for malaria vectors of Iran and to map their spatial and temporal distribution in different climatic zones.Shape files of administrative boundaries and climates of Iran were provided by National Cartographic Center.Data on distribution and seasonal activity of malaria vectors were obtained from different sources and a databank in district level was created in Excel 2003, inserted to the shape files and analyzed by ArcGIS 9.2 to provide the maps.Anopheles culicifacies Giles s.l.,Anopheles dthali Patton,Anopheles fluviatilis James s.L,Anopheles maculipennis Meigen s.L,Anopheles sacharovi Favre,Anopheles stephensi IJston,and Anopheles superpictus Grassi have been introduced as primary and secondary malaria vectors and Anopheles puicherrimus Theobald as a suspected vector in Iran.Temporal distribution of anopheline mosquitoes is restricted to April_December in northern Iran,however mosquitoes can be found during the year in southern region.Spatial distribution of malaria vectors is different based on species,thus six of them(except for Anopheles maculipennis s.l.and Anopheles sacharovi) are reported from endemic malarious area in southern and southeastern areas of Iran.The climate of this part is usually warm and humid,which makes it favorable for mosquito rearing and malaria transmission.Correlation between climate conditions and vector distribution can help to predict the potential range of activity for each species and preparedness for malaria epidemics.

Evaluation of deep learning algorithms for national scale landslide susceptibility mapping of Iran

The identification of landslide-prone areas is an essential step in landslide hazard assessment and mitigation of landslide-related losses.In this study,we applied two novel deep learning algorithms,the recurrent neural network(RNN)and convolutional neural network(CNN),for national-scale landslide susceptibility mapping of Iran.We prepared a dataset comprising 4069 historical landslide locations and 11 conditioning factors(altitude,slope degree,profile curvature,distance to river,aspect,plan curvature,distance to road,distance to fault,rainfall,geology and land-sue)to construct a geospatial database and divided the data into the training and the testing dataset.We then developed RNN and CNN algorithms to generate landslide susceptibility maps of Iran using the training dataset.We calculated the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and used the area under the curve(AUC)for the quantitative evaluation of the landslide susceptibility maps using the testing dataset.Better performance in both the training and testing phases was provided by the RNN algorithm(AUC=0.88)than by the CNN algorithm(AUC=0.85).Finally,we calculated areas of susceptibility for each province and found that 6%and 14%of the land area of Iran is very highly and highly susceptible to future landslide events,respectively,with the highest susceptibility in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province(33.8%).About 31%of cities of Iran are located in areas with high and very high landslide susceptibility.The results of the present study will be useful for the development of landslide hazard mitigation strategies.

Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection among the healthy population in Iran and countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region:A systematic review of prevalence and risk factors

AIM: To investigate the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection among the healthy asymptomatic population in Iran and countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Rare Earth Elements Geochemistry of Sheikh-Marut Laterite Deposit,NW Mahabad,West-Azarbaidjan Province,Iran

Laterite deposit at Sheikh-Marut （NW occurred within middle-upper Permian carbonate Mahabad, West-Azarbaidjan province, Iran） rocks. It consists of seven stratiform and/or discontinuous lenticular layers extending over 4.2 km in length and having thicknesses ranging from 3 to 14 m. Mineralogical data show that the ores contain kaolinite and hematite as major and boehmite, diaspore, halloysite, amesite, anatase, and muscovite-illite as minor mineral phases. The computed Ce anomaly values in the ores range from 0.05 to 20.84. Conservative index （e.g., Eu/Eu＊） suggests that this deposit is a product of alteration and weathering of basaltic rocks. Rhythmic increment of EREE values of the ores with approaching to the carbonate bedrocks shows an in-situ occurrence of lateritization processes. Mass change calculations of elements indicate that two competing processes namely leaching and fixation were the major regulating factors in concentration variation of REEs （La-Lu） in this deposit. The obtained results show that pH increase of weathering solutions by carbonate bedrocks, existence of organic matters, and the degree of comlexation with organic ligands played remarkable role in distribution of REEs during lateritization. Further geochemical considerations revealed that secondary phosphates, Mn-oxides and -hydroxides, diaspore, and anatase were the potential hosts for REEs in this deposit.