Ticks are important ectoparasites in equids which causes economic losses in animal husbandry of Iran and worldwide. This study was aimed to determine frequency and species diversity of hard ticks in equids in Turkman sahra, Iran. 240 equids were randomly selected and examined from 2018-2019. Ixodid ticks were collected from body surface of examined animals and identified. Of all examined equids, 37.91% horses, and 4.16% donkeys were infested with a total number of 357 ixodid ticks. Tick indices (tick number per animal) were 3.53.  The highest prevalence of hard ticks was found in ≥3 years-old equids in the region. There was significant difference between prevalence and different age groups of infested animals. Of all examined ticks (357), three genera including Hyalomma spp., Rhipicephalus spp. and Dermacentor spp. with four species. i.e. Hyalomma anatolicum (65.26%), H. marginatum (10.64%), Rhipicephalus bursa (22.12%) and Dermacentor marginatus (1.96%) were identified. Ixodid ticks’ infestations occured throughout the year with the highest prevalence in spring. There was significant difference between prevalence of hard ticks and seasons in this study. The results revealed that species diversity and ixodid ticks’ infestations were prevalent in the equids of Turkman sahra, Iran.

Background & Objectives: The human living environment has some extent of ionizing radiation that depends on the latitude and altitude of the region.Identifying the amount of this radiation can determine the suitable healthy living environment. In this study, for the first time, the outdoor radiation dose rate in the city of Bojnurd (North Khorasan Province, center latitude and longitude 27.37 and 2.57 degrees and elevation 1070 m above sea level), has been measured by survey meter.Materials and methods: In order to determine the amount of outdoor gamma radiation dose rate, in Bojnurd, a survey meter was used. Measurements for 30 points and four seasons of the year were done. Detector was placed on tripods and at a height of 1 m from the surface of the earth and each time, the dose rate was read at the desired location for 50 minutes.Results: Absorbed dose rate in different parts of the city and for the seasons of spring 133.5 nGy/h, summer 140.0 nGy/h, autumn 135.2 nGy/h and winter 126.3 nGy/h were measured. According to these values, the annual average absorbed dose rate 133.7 nGy/h, and the outdoor annual effective dose absorbed by the residents of the city was estimated to be an average of 0.16 mSv.Conclusions: The annual effective dose caused by natural gamma for residents of Bojnurd is more than the double of world average value (0.07 mSv, UNSCEAR- 2000).

There are different terms in use for different typs of medical study designs and trials.Translating these terms in to Farsi, needs special care avoiding misinterpretations This article asks medical investigators attention to focus on the real features of different concepts.The main study designs such as surveys, case-control, cohort and interventional trials are discussed briefly. At the end suggestions are made in choosing the right analysis for each design appropriately. Their major strengths and weaknesses are also mentioned.

The question is how the complementary and alternative methods can be used while preserving the capabilities and benefits of the survey and polling research, given the relatively limited range of these methods. To find the right answer to this question, and after reviewing methodological explanations and reviews, as well as the various experiences gained, a more efficient model has been suggested for applying this type of research by comparing the features of other methods and taking advantage of the possibilities of other methods to compensate for deficiencies that may arise in information gathering, information analysis, interpretations and final conclusions. As a complementary approach, it is recommended to use a focused group discussion in each of the stages of the survey research. As alternative approaches, it has been attempted to show that by excluding any of the features of survey research, which of the proposed alternative methods, namely ethnography, participatory practical research, case study, and content analysis, can be used.

To keep up with increasing organizational complexities, the best survey and survey practices have evolved. This is evidenced by the continuous listening strategy, which entails conducting surveys and developing plans more frequently than in a single static event, such as biennial, annual, or short period surveys to provide consistent feedback, data, and insights. The flow of the continuous listening in organizations has steered the focus of psychometric specialists towards the continuous survey or pulse survey model. The objective of this research was to study the current and future status of employee surveys in organizations in Iran, including public and private entities, from the perspective of their Human Resources specialists. For this purpose, a survey was conducted for two months between July and September of 2022. The study targeted organizations in Iran that conducted official activities during 2022. The purposeful stratified sampling method was applied to collect data from organizations and companies of varying sizes & industry sectors. The findings demonstrate that advancements in all facets of the Pulse Survey Cycle, from design to reporting and analysis to providing more timely and relevant data, have motivated organizations to move away from traditional surveying strategies and align with the advancements of newer technologies through Pulse Surveys. Despite the slow evolution of surveys among Iranian organizations and companies, it is evident that they are making gradual advancements, which align with the progress of scientific resources and popular media coverage.

Background: There is an international emphasis on providing timely and high quality data to monitor progress of countries toward Millennium Development Goals. Iran’s Multiple Indicator Demographic and Health Survey (IrMIDHS) aimed to provide valid information on population and health outcomes to monitor progress in achieving national priorities and health programs and to assist policy makers to design effective strategies for improving health outcomes and equity in access to care.Methods: A cross-sectional multi-stage stratified cluster-random survey is conducted through face-to-face household interviews. The sampling frame is developed using Iran’s 2006 population and housing census. Provincial samples ranging are from a minimum of 400 households per province to 6400 households in Tehran province. Cluster size is 10 households. The target sample includes 3096 clusters: 2187 clusters in urban and 909 clusters in rural areas. IrMIDHS instruments include three questionnaires: Household questionnaire, women aged 15-54 questionnaire, children under five questionnaire, supervision and quality assessment checklists and data collection sheets and standard weight and height measurement tools for under-five children. A cascading decentralized training method is used for training data collection and supervision teams. Quality assurance procedures are defined for the five steps of conducting the survey including: Sampling, training data collection and training teams, survey implementation, data entry and analysis. A multi-layer supervision and monitoring procedure is established. All the questionnaires are double entered.Conclusions: IrMIDHS will provide valuable data for policymakers in Iran. Designing and implementation of the study involve contributions from academics as well as program managers and policy makers. The collaborative nature of the study may facilitate better usage of its results.

Background: Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is a serious and common complication of diabetes. There is a need to develop a simple instrument to measure autonomic symptoms in patients with neuropathy and to test the validity of the instrument. Using the survey of autonomic symptoms (SAS) questionnaire for screening diabetic autonomic neuropathy is a new procedure. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) is a method for the study of autonomic nervous system. Given the importance of diabetes and its autonomic complications, in this study, data obtained from the SAS questionnaire was compared with the SSR to know whether it can be used for these patients.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the patients with a diagnosis of diabetes with at least one symptom of autonomic dysfunction, referred to the clinic of Neurology and Clinical Endocrinology, after obtaining written informed consent were enrolled. For each patient, the SAS questionnaire was completed and SSR was assessed via electromyography (EMG) recording. The SAS questionnaire consists of 11 items in women and 12 in men.Each item is rated by an impact score ranging from 1 (least severe) to 5 (most severe).Findings: The SAS was tested in 135 patients with neuropathy and diabetes. The mean score of SAS was 16.82±12.62, that was not significantly related to age and gender.60 patients (44.4%) had positive and 75 patients (55.6%) had a negative SSR response. Independent t-test showed a significant association between the response of SSR and the score of SAS (P<0.001). In receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) analysis, the numeric value of the SAS score equal to 9.5 with a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 70% was obtained as a cut-point for SSR response.Conclusion: The SAS is a new, valid, and easily administered instrument to measure autonomic symptoms in early diabetic neuropathy and would be of value in assessing neuropathic autonomic symptoms in clinical trials and epidemiologic studies.