Background: To determine the seroprevalence of human cystic echinococcosis/hydatidosis which is one of the most important zoonotic diseases by ELISA using native antigen B in Semnan and Sorkheh, Semnan province, Iran, where no significant information about human infection exists. Methods: Overall, 957 human serum samples were randomly prepared from Semnan, Sorkheh, and its 13 surrounding villages in different seasons from 2017 to 2018. Antigen B was prepared from native hydatid cyst fluid of domestic sheep. All serum samples were evaluated by ELISA while the suspected cases were rechecked. The cut-off was calculated as the X̄, ±, 2SD. Results: Overall, 48(5%) out of 957 (422 males and 535 females) were positive for hydatidosis. The seropositivity based on sex showed 20(2. 1%) out of 422 in males and 28(2. 9%) out of 535 in females. The distribution of seropositive samples based on residence area showed 41 (4. 3) out of 882 in urban and 7 (0. 7) out of 75 in rural areas. The highest seroprevalence cases was among housewives (2. 1%) followed by employers (1. 5%). Based on education, source of drinking water, and age groups the highest seropositivity was observed in high school and less, in the plumping water consumers, and 50 to 59 yr old age group, respectively. There was a significant difference between seropositivity with occupation, literacy, and age group (P<0. 05). Semnan with 4% seropositivity had the highest prevalence followed by Sorkheh, county. Conclusion: High prevalence of the disease in this area emphasizes the importance of increasing people's awareness about hydatidosis.

Background & aim: Despite the success of family planning programs in Iran in the recent decades, considerable proportions of pregnancies are still unintended and can be a cause of poor mental and physical health of the mother and child. The aim of this study was to investigate some important factors affecting uplanned pregnancies among married women in Semnan province, one of the developed provinces of Iran with below replacement fertility level.Methods: The data for this study were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Semnan province in 2014. A total of 363 married women within the age range of 15-49 years who were pregnant or had the history of at least one delivery were considered. The study sample was selected using multi-stage stratified sampling method. The data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire with 90 items and Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.88. Data analysis was performed in SPSS (version 20) using Crammer’s V coefficients and Chi-square tests. Logistic regression analysis was also applied to model the risk of unintended pregnancies based on selected covariates.Results: According to the results, around 18.2% of the pregnancies were unplanned, 7.7% and 10.5% of which were mistimed and unwanted, respectively. Based on the logistic regression analysis, birth cohort, number of children ever born, and contraceptive methods had significant effects on the risk of unintended pregnancies. Furthermore, about 48% of the women experiencing unintended pregnancy were using a traditional contraceptive method before or at the time of the conception.Conclusion: As the findings indicated, the women who used contraceptive method, as well as those with higher number of children and younger birth cohorts had higher risk of unplanned pregnancies. It should be noted that the majority of unplanned pregnancies among the women in younger birth cohort were mistimed pregnancies. So it is recommended to continue offering family planning and health services to these women in order to prevent unplanned pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and many chronic diseases.

Natural establishment and distribution of rangeland plants depend on environmental conditions and the plants characteristics, especially plant genetic. Artemisia species are distributed in arid and semi - arid regions.They have economic value and protect soils from erosions in harsh coditions. The effect of environmental conditions on distribution, morphology and anatomy of five species of Artemisia sieberi, A. aucheri, A. diffuse, A. santalina and A. deserti were studied. The plant height, canopy cover, canopy diameter and plant density in each plant type were estimated. Soil samples for measurments of soil texture pH, EC. Organic mater, organic carbon and calcic were taken. The plants leaf area, leaf thickness, specific leaf area and the water tissue of the plants were measured. Stomata density in upper and lower leaf area, paranchyma, xylem and phloem, epiderm and cuticle of the leaves were observed. The results showed that A. sieberi was distributed more areas than the other species. This species have been grown from altitude of 900m to 1900m sea level and in loame - sandy of soils. Distribution of A. aucheri was depended on topography and soil texture, especially the amount of silt - clay and loame - clay soils. A. deserti had the heighest while A. aucheri and A. diffusa the lowest height. Leaf area of A. santalina and leaf thickness of A. deserti was more than other species respectively. Canopy cover and canopy and canopy diameter of A. santa/ona and A. deserti was mare than A. diffusa, A. sieberi and A. aucheri. There were differences between stomata number in upper and lower leaf area.

Reptiles are important components of natural ecosystems but because of limited dispersal ability they are sensitive to habitat destruction, road development and climate change. However, very little is known about their diversity and distribution in protected areas of Iran. In this study, reptiles of Touran Biosphere Reserve were collected, photographed and identified from 2014 to 2021. Results showed that 36 reptile species including 20 lizards, 15 snakes and 1 tortoise are living in the Touran Biosphere Reserve. Families Agamidae and Gekkonidae where the most diverse families among the lizard species and family Colubridae was the most diverse family among the snake species. Testudo horsfieldii and Varanus griseus are species with conservation concern thus they need special conservation programs.

Objective(s): To determining of sodium nitrite in susage and compasion with amount of standard and change of nitrite in the course of time. Methods: For sampling, took action in thirty different time production (P<0.05) from every one of eleven factory products that enter meat products to Semnan Province and samples transferred to laboratory. For determining of nitrite was used from standard number 923 that has been given by Iran standard office. After the determining of nitrite concentration in samples was taken action respect estimation of confidence space mean with P<0.05 in total samples and was analyzed meanings with amount of standard. Results: In examination of nitrite in products gave in susags A 54.5 and 55.16, in B 33 and 26.33, in C 7.9 and 7.73, in D 32.1 and 31.33, in E 23.47 and 19.23, in F 54.9 and 48.77 and in C (Tehran) 36.17 and 25.7, in H 19.3 and 13.57, in L 20.43 and 22.9, in K 39.8 and 34, in M 36.6 and 14.63 milligram in kilogram that amounts of theirs with P<0.05 had very meaning different with amount of standard. In examination A products for determining of time effect amount of nitrite gave in first, seventh, tenth, fourteenth day in manner 50, 43, 42, 39 and in F products in first, seventh, fourteenth in manner 52, 51, 42 milligram in kilogram. Conclusion: In products of A, D, F, B, E, G, C, H, K, L, M, amount of nitrite was lower than standard and was not problem in this products. Also with examination one sample of products two factories in different times was distinguished that amount of nitrite decreases in meat products in the course of time.

Hoverflies (Dip: Syrphidae) are one of the most important natural enemies of aphids. Their larvae are predators of aphids and play an important role in ensuring biological balance. In order to identify hoverfly fauna, some specimens of adults were collected during 2005 and 2006 using a sweeping net in Damghan in the center of Semnan Province. The data were analyzed using the Margalov (Dmg) and Shanon-Winer (H') indices. The maximum diversity and abundance of species in Damghan was recorded in fourth week of Khordad month (mid-June) (Dmg=28.861, H'=0.933). The results showed that 2-, species belonging to 14 genera were identified and that all of them are recorded for the first time from Semnan Province.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing a human pandemic disease named COVID-19 has become a major global health concern. Iran as one of the most affected countries needs unprecedented effort for monitoring and evaluation of COVID-19. To determine the seroprevalancer of COVID-19 in Semnan province North-East of Iran. Methods: Six hundred people were randomly selected using the “ SIB database” . From 1 to 30 June 2020, 153 participants of Semnan population were enrolled. Blood, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples were obtained. Prevalence of IgM and IgG antibodies were ascertained using ELISA and Real-time PCR was conducted to evaluate viral load. Estimates of prevalence were standardized by age and sex, based on the 2015 national census of Semnan province. Results: Seroprevalence showed no difference between females and males and no significant association between age and seropositivity. Among total participants, the age and sex-adjusted prevalence of SARS-CoV2 infection was 19. 3% (95% CI, 14. 0-26. 7 per 100 persons). Approximately 10% of participants had detectable antibodies but showed a negative-PCR result. However, approximately 80% of participants did not show evidence of infection. Conclusion: The majority of the population in Semnan province has no detectable levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, Semnan is considered a SARS-CoV-2 susceptible area. These results emphasize the need for maintaining public health measures to tackle the new epidemic wave.

Introduction: Health equity means having fair access to needed healthcare services, paying healthcare costs according to payment capacity, and enjoying the highest achievable standard of health. Equitable distribution of hospital beds increases people’ s access to health services, which in turn improves their health status. This study aimed to examine the equity in the distribution of hospital beds in Semnan Province, Iran. Methods: Data for this descriptive and cross-sectional study were obtained from the Ministry of Health and the Iranian Statistics Center. The study population consisted of all Semnan Province hospitals in 2016. The equity in the distribution of hospital beds was evaluated using the Lorenz curve and the Gini coefficient. Excel software was used for data analysis. Results: The population of Semnan province was 702, 360 in 2016. There were 11 hospitals with 1, 485 beds in this province in 2016. There were 1. 6 hospitals per 100, 000 population and 2. 1 hospital beds per 1000 population in the Province. Shahroud, Semnan, and Damghan cities have had the highest hospital beds per 1000 population. About 36% of hospitals and 51% of hospital beds were in the city of Shahroud. The Gini coefficient for hospital bed distribution in the Semnan province was 0. 28. Conclusion: The distribution of hospital beds in Semnan Province was fair. Equitable allocation of hospital beds, particularly in less developed cities, is necessary for achieving fairness in population health. Health policymakers and managers should take measures to improve equity in access to hospital beds.

Due to the importance of culture in a creative city, urban planners must adapt a cultural approach in their planning and use cultural resources for the development of the city. In this regard, the aim of this article is to evaluate the cities of Semnan province based on cultural factors affecting urban creativity. This research has been conducted by a descriptive-analytic method. This study introduces cultural factors affecting urban creativity by using the model of vikor to measurement and evaluation in the cities of Semnan province. The results obtained from the model of vikor indicate that there is a considerable difference between large cities and small cities of Semnan province in terms of these cultural factors. In this context, the three cities of Semnan, Shahroud and Damghan have most cultural resources with more than 72 percent of the total urban population of Semnan province and naturally they have much higher potential for the realization of creative city and in contrast, 17 other cities with 28 percent of the total urban population of the province, have not much cultural resources at their disposal and have little potential to become a creative city.

Studying on the species diversity and evaluating the variation of it during different years has had very important role in identifying the changes and weak wildlife management. In this survey we did a study on species diversity and population variation of terrestrial bird of Parvar Protected Area in Semnan province during a year. Parvar Protected Area is one of the critical habitats which have the capability of promoting a higher level of Iran protected areas category as a national park. Climate variation has led to species diversity and we could identify more than one fourth of the bird species existing in the whole country. North and northwest forests of Parvar which are the borders of Iranian Hircanian forests and Irano-touranian climate in the east and southeast where have resulted in the high species richness. We identified 161 bird species belonging to 13 orders. The most known bird species are related to the summer with 2063 pieces. 47 species are native, 21 species were identified in nesting season, 18 species were identified in winter and others were passing species. Passeriformes were dominant by 68% and Falconiformes were about 13%. We could identify only one water bird, Common Teal, and two shore birds during the study period.