Factors Behind Tourists’ Travel Motivation: The Case of the Gilan Region, Iran

This research aims to identify the pull and push factors that are effective for tourists travelling to Gilan province and classifying their motivations into key factors. Data were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 20 motives, including 11 push factors and 9 pull factors, were investigated. The sample size of the study was 390 people. For data analysis, single-sample t-test and factor analysis were used. The results showed that the average total pull motive was greater than the push motive. Motives were divided into three main factors: ‘nature-based tourism and spiritual regeneration’, ‘place dependency and the purchase of agricultural products’ and ‘lifestyle’. It should be noted that the ‘nature-based tourism and spiritual regeneration’ was found to be the most important factor for travelling to Gilan province.

Accomplishment of water safety plan using quality assurance tool in 2020-2021: A case study in a western city of Gilan province, Iran

Background: Water safety plan is a systematic approach to ensure the quality of water delivered to consumers from catchment to consumption. Methods: This study was conducted on the groundwater system of Talesh, Gilan, in 2020-2021. A Water Safety Plan (WSP) consists of 5 phases and 12 steps. In the implementation of this plan, all modules were reviewed. Software checklists were prepared and based on the background information in Talesh Water and Wastewater Company, interviews with experts and field visits were performed, and then, entered into WSP QA TOOL software. Results: Out of 440 raw scores, 222 points were obtained, indicating 50.45% compliance with WSP. The description system with the highest score (100%) and the management procedures with the lowest score (50%) were in line with this plan. The stages of development and supporting program and review of WSP cannot be evaluated due to the incomplete implementation of water safety plan in Talesh. Between different parts of the water supply system, more attention has been paid to production sources and points of use. Conclusion: This study identifies the inefficiency in dependence on the final tests and the necessary items in updating the supply system of Talesh. According to the study of the different stages of WSP, the system has a moderate level of safety.

Investigating GJB2 Mutation in 31 Individuals With Non-syndromic Hearing Loss

Background and Aim: Non-syndromic hearing loss is a genetically heterogeneous disorder. Mutation in the GJB2 gene is a major cause of non-syndromic hearing loss in numerous countries. This study aimed to evaluate GJB2 mutations in 31 individuals with non-syndromic hearing loss Methods & Materials: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the required blood samples were collected from 31 individuals with non-syndromic hearing loss in Rasht and Bandar Anzali Cities, Gilan Province, Iran. After DNA isolation, the GJB2 gene was amplified by the PCR method and underwent sequencing. Ethical Considerations:This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch (Code: IR.IAU.MSHD.REC.1398.027). Results: In this study, 3 mutations were determined in 18 individuals with hearing loss. Accordingly, 35delG mutation had the highest frequency (48.38%) in individuals with hearing loss as homozygote (n=14) and heterozygote (n=2). A patient with heterozygosity in V153I mutation and a patient with compound heterozygosity in 35delG/G200R mutation was determined. Conclusion: It appears that 35delG mutation is a common mutation in the GJB2 gene in individuals with non-syndromic hearing loss in Guilan Province.

Lesson learned from a Pilot Project in Rudsar city in Gilan province for Breast Cancer Screening in Iran

The article's abstract is not available.

The impact of COVID-19 on air pollution in Iran in the first and second waves with emphasis on the city of Tehran

Introduction: Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems that has gradually spread since the industrial revolution with the consumption of fossil fuels. This situation is more visible in the capitals of industrialized and densely populated countries and towns. In late 2019, with the outbreak of the Coronavirus from China around the world, governments imposed strict restrictions on traffic and transportation to combat the epidemic. With the reduction of consumption of petroleum products in the industry and transportation system, air pollution has decreased in many cities in the world. Materials and methods: In this study, air pollution in the provinces of Iran has been collected and analyzed more than 4500 data. Data on 40 days of quarantine from 1 March to 9 April 2020 were examined. Results: The results of this study show that the concentrations of pollutants CO, NO2 , PM10, and PM2.5 decreased by 11, 15, 10, and 6%, respectively, during the lockdown period; but, the SO2 and O3 concentration increased by 15 and 12%. The highest decrease in air pollution is related to Gilan province (-66) and the highest increase in pollution is related to Isfahan province (+37) percent. Calculations show that the AQI has decreased by 6%, but in the second wave of the disease decreased by 75% compared to the lockdown period. Conclusion: The Coronavirus crisis has shown that air pollution can be addressed through the proper implementation of environmental policies.

New and little-known species of the longicorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from Iran and adjacent regions

Three new species are described from Iran: Cortodera kukinae Danilevsky et Skrylnik, sp. n. (Tehran province), Dorcadion (Cribridorcadion) olegpaki Danilevsky et Skrylnik, sp. n. (Tehran province), and Phytoecia (Musaria) plyushchi Danilevsky et Skrylnik, sp. n. (Gilan province). The illustrated redescription of Dorcadion (C.) cingulatum Ganglbauer, 1884 is given. New synonyms are proposed: D. cingulatum Ganglbauer, 1884 = D. ursulaheinzi Bernhauer, 2015, syn. n. Dorcadion (C.) invicinum Pic, 1902, stat. resurr. is considered as a distinct species distributed in Turkey and North Iran. The holotypes of the new species are deposited in the collection of A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.

Efficiency of Red Crescent Society Units in Gilan Province and Their Ranking using Data Envelopment Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Efficiency is one of the basic measures of organizational performance, and in general, refers to the degree or quality of the achievement of the desired goals. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of Red Crescent population branches in Gilan province and rank them based on the data envelopment analysis model. METHODS: This research was applied in terms of purpose and documentary in terms of implementation. For the purposes of the study, 16 branches of the Red Crescent Society in Gilan province were analyzed with GAMS software (version 24) in 2018. In this research, the input-oriented Banker, Charnes, and Cooper model was used as one of the basic models of data envelopment analysis to measure the relative efficiency of 16 branches of the Red Crescent Society in Gilan province. Afterward, the Anderson-Peterson super-efficiency model was used to rank the efficient units. FINDINGS: Based on the findings, six branches, namely Astara, Rasht, Bandar Anzali, Tallish, Lahijan, and Sowme’eh Sara, had an efficiency score of one. In other words, they were recognized as efficient branches and could provide solutions and models as reference branches for inefficient branches to help them reach the efficiency limit. Afterward, the Anderson-Peterson super-efficiency model was used to rank the efficient units. According to this model, the efficiency scores of the studied units were more than one and the Rasht branch had the highest efficiency. CONCLUSION: The results provide researchers as well as branch managers and staff with suggestions that can help them make better decisions. An important point to keep in mind is that in order to increase the efficiency of a branch, it is necessary to reduce input costs and increase outputs based on reference branches. Due to the fact that this research uses an input-oriented approach, its purpose is to increase the indicators that enhance the efficiency of branches.

Changes in particle sizes and geochemistry of Siyah Keshim lagoon sediment of Gilan province to determine origin and tectonic position of sediment

Useful information was obtained about the environmental condition of this region such as energy, sediment location, origin, sediment carrying path, pond evolutionary process, and tectonic conditions and origins of sediments by studying physical and geochemical sediment changes processes in place and time, distribution of sediments and elements in lagoon bed, and also identification the effective factors on sediment distribution model. In this regard, 59 sediment samples were taken from Siyah Keshim lagoon and were analyzed chemically and aggregation by XRF and ICP-MS technic. Adaptation of data by Folk diagrams showed that this region is placed in a range of sand, muddy sand, sand with a little gravel, muddy sand with a little gravel, and silty sand. Weak to medium sorting and negative tilting shows sediment in a coastal area. Geochemical evidence shows that SiO2/Al2O3 ratio in these sediments is 2.6-3.7. In addition, Na2O value shows relatively low sediment investigation for sediments of this lagoon. Moreover, determination of the weathering effect in origin place by the chemical index of alteration (CIA) and chemical weathering index (CWI) shows intensive chemical alternation on sediments. Index of combined variety was averagely 1.54 in the studied sediments and show that sediments resulted from the first cycle sediment. Using tectonic separating diagrams based on the primary and secondary oxidants percentage show the sediment in the active continent margin (ACM), continent-island arc (CIA), and oceanic island arc (OIA) and shows that the studied sediments are related to subduction margin.