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Conjunctive management of surface–groundwater resources systems by means of mathematical optimization–simulation techniques becomes an important issue for sustainable water resources development, namely in water-scarce regions. In this study, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method has been coupled with a hybrid wavelet/ANFIS–fuzzy C-means (FCM) simulation model to determine the optimal agricultural irrigation water allocation in the Miandarband plain, western Iran. Firstly, the optimal amount of conveyed water (CW) from the Gavoshan Dam into the plain is determined by constrained PSO. The constraints are the long-term minimum monthly exceedance streamflows that are estimated for different exceedance probabilities—with a 70% value found to best reflect the average annual river inflow of 3.4 m 3 /s into the dam—using the two-parameter Weibull distribution as well as the classical Weibull nonparametric plotting position method. Then, based on the politically prioritized proportions of the dam’s allocated water for domestic, environmental and agricultural uses, as well as the share of the plain devoted to  agriculture, the optimal monthly CW available for the plain (= 112 MCM/a) is obtained. However, the subsequent estimation of the irrigation water request (IWR) (= 265.8 MCM/a), calculated by the FAO-56 method and using empirical crop coefficients of the present agricultural pattern in the plain, indicates that there is an irrigation water deficit of 153.1 MCM/a that must be made up by groundwater withdrawal (GW), in a way that neither waterlogging nor severe drop conditions in groundwater levels (GL) will occur. The latter are then calculated by the hybrid wavelet/ANFIS (FCM) model, wherefore good performance indicators R 2 and RMSE, equal to 0.98 and 0.21 m and 0.94 and 0.31 m in the training and testing phases, respectively, are obtained. Finally, PSO and the hybrid model are coupled to simulate the GL fluctuations—with the above GL constraints—under conjunctive use of the optimal surface (CW) and groundwater resources (GW) in the Miandarband plain. In conclusion, the innovative coupled simulation/optimization model turns out to be a very useful tool for optimal and sustainable conjunctive management of surface–groundwater resources in an irrigation area.

Climate change presents both potential benefits and drawbacks for crop production in Canada. An assessment and mapping of future climate change impacts on spring wheat yield in Saskatchewan is crucial because the province largely accounts for Canada’s share of the global wheat market. We applied ten climate change scenarios (high-resolution (0.22°) regional simulations) to the CERES-Wheat module of the Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT) model using a historical baseline period (1975–2004) and three 30-year future periods: near (2010–2039), middle (2040–2069), and far (2070–2099). The model showed high accuracy with d-values always higher than 0.75 for the calibration (d-value = 0.84) and the validation (d-value = 0.82) periods. Furthermore, the model showed a remarkable similarity between the observed and simulated spring wheat yields. Results indicate a median yield increase of 16.1% in the near future, 27.5% in the middle future, and 10.9% in the far future. While there is a general rise in the annual wheat yield under future climate conditions and elevated CO 2 , yield in the far future exhibits a notable decline, particularly in the extreme southern and southwestern areas of Saskatchewan which is exposed to increased aridity under higher temperatures. Conversely, the northern regions are expected to experience significantly higher yields, primarily due to a shift towards wetter conditions and longer growing season. Whereas DSSAT is a commonly used model, the current research is novel by extending the analysis at high-resolution over a large area representing more than 40% of Canada’s crop land.

The Golgohar iron ore mine in southern Iran is a large open pit that operates below the groundwater table. Dewatering operations and mining activities could be responsible for generating metal contamination in the groundwater of the area. In order to assess this, groundwater, soil, solid waste and rock samples were collected and analyzed for heavy metals. Evaluation was done by comparing the results with the “heavy metal pollution index”, the “heavy metal evaluation index” and the “degree of contamination” (C d). The only mean concentrations of elements in water samples above the WHO maximum admissible concentration values for drinking water are Al (97 % of water samples), As (46 %) and Mn (34 %). Despite exceeding the concentration of these elements above the permissible levels, the indices show that most of the water samples are low and moderately contaminated and overall contamination levels are not dangerous. The low concentration of the heavy metals in the groundwater of the area is mainly due to the limited presence of sulfide minerals in the ore, combined with the presence of calcite (CaCO₃) in the area, which neutralizes any acid generated from sulfide oxidation.

Background While home is frequently expressed as the favorite place of death (PoD) among terminally ill cancer patients, various factors affect the fulfillment of this wish. The determinants of the PoD of cancer patients in countries without healthcare system-integrated palliative and supportive care have not been studied before. This study aimed at identifying the predictors of the PoD of patients who suffer from advanced cancer by developing a reliable predictive model among who received home-based palliative care in Iran as a representative of the countries with isolated provision of palliative care services. Methods In a cross-sectional study, electronic records of 4083 advanced cancer patients enrolled in the Iranian Cancer Control Center (MACSA) palliative homecare program, who died between February 2018 and February 2020 were retrieved. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis as well as subgroup analyses (location, sex, marital status, and tumor topography) was performed to identify the predictors of PoD. Results Of the 2398 cases included (mean age (SD) = 64.17 (14.45) year, 1269 (%52.9) male), 1216 (50.7%) patients died at home. Older age, presence and intensity of medical homecare in the last two weeks and registration in the Tehran site of the program were associated with dying at home ( P  < 0.05). Gynecological or hematological cancers, presence and intensity of the calls received from the remote palliative care unit in the last two weeks were predictors of death at the hospital ( p  < 0.05). The model was internally and externally validated (AUC = 0.723 (95% CI = 0.702–0.745; P  < 0.001) and AUC = 0.697 (95% CI = 0.631–0.763; P  < 0.001) respectively). Conclusion Our model highlights the demographic, illness-related and environmental determinants of the PoD in communities with patchy provision of palliative care. It also urges policymakers and service providers to identify and take the local determinant of the place of death into account to match the goals of palliative and supportive services with the patient preferences.

Background Workplace dignity is defined as a person’s perception of respect and trust, equal and fair treatment, valuing the person, independence, freedom of expression, and decision-making enjoyed by the employee in the workplace. Therefore, this study aimed to develop the Workplace Dignity Scale (WDS) and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods In this methodological study, WDS was translated based on Beaton et al. Guideline. After assessing face and content validity (using CVI, CVR, modified kappa, and item impact), 250 nurses were selected by random sampling from Kashan hospitals in 2023. Then, WDS was assessed through expletory factor analysis (EFA), known-groups comparison, internal consistency, and stability. The ceiling and floor effects were also examined. Data were analyzed using SPSS v16 by Kruskal–Wallis test, Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s Omega, interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimum detectable changes (MDC). Results The scale’s CVI, CVR, and modified kappa were above 0.79. Item impact was higher than 1.5. EFA extracted three factors, including “general dignity, respect, and indignity”, that could explain 70.6% of the total variance in scale. WDS could differentiate between the three groups in terms of occupation satisfaction status. Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s Omega, ICC, SEM, and STC of scale were 0.949, 0.950, 0.970, 2.793, and 7.742, respectively. Conclusion The Persian version of the WDS has shown validity and reliability for measuring workplace dignity among nurses in the Iranian context.

Background Social frailty is a holistic concept encompassing various social determinants of health. Considering its importance and impact on health-related outcomes in older adults, the present study was conducted to cross-culturally adapt and psychometrically evaluate the Social Frailty Scale in Iranian older adults in 2023. Methods This was a methodological study. The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Social Frailty Scale 8-item (SFS-8) was conducted according to Wild’s guideline. Content and face validity were assessed using qualitative and quantitative methods. Then, 250 older adults covered by comprehensive health centers were selected using multistage random sampling. Participants completed the demographic questionnaire, the Abbreviated Mental Test score, the SFS-8, and the Lubben Social Network Scale. Construct validity was assessed by principal component analysis (PCA) and known-group comparisons. The Mann‒Whitney U test was used to compare social frailty scores between the isolated and non-isolated older adults. Internal consistency, equivalence, and stability were assessed using the Kuder-Richardson method, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of measurement (SEM), and the minimum detectable change (MDC). The ceiling and floor effects were also assessed. The data were analyzed using JASP 0.17.3. Results The ratio and index of content validity and the modified kappa coefficient of all the items were 1.00. The impact score of the items was greater than 4.6. PCA identified the scale as a single component by removing two questions that could explain 52.9% of the total variance in the scale score. The Persian version of the Social Frailty Scale could distinguish between isolated and non-isolated older adults ( p  < 0.001). The Kuder–Richardson coefficient, ICC, SEM, and MDC were 0.606, 0.904, 0.129, and 0.358, respectively. The relative frequencies of the minimum and maximum scores obtained from the scale were 34.8 and 1.2, respectively. Conclusions The Persian version of the Social Frailty Scale (P-SFS) can be used as a valid and reliable scale to assess social frailty in Iranian older adults.

In the present investigation, statistical characterization of strain bursts observed during the load-controlled deformation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which arise within the crystalline phase during plastic deformation, was carried out via high-resolution nanoindentation creep experiments. Discrete deformation processes occurred during the nanoindentation creep tests, which indicated that they arose from the break-off of dislocation avalanches, i.e., dislocation climb is a possible mechanism for indentation creep deformation. Characterization of the strain bursts, in terms of the associated height and number, demonstrated that these quantities followed a Gaussian distribution depending on the load and loading rate. This analysis enabled the accurate measurement of creep activation energy. Our method used nanoindentation tests to measure the creep activation energy of HDPE within both the crystalline and amorphous phases. The activation energy of the creep process within the crystalline phase was evaluated using two methods. The frequency of jumps within the crystalline phase, as a function of the strain rate, showed two peaks related to the 5 nm and 10 nm jump sizes that corresponded to the block size within the crystalline lamellae. The results indicated that the intervals coincided with the mean free path of dislocations and the block grain boundaries acted as dislocation barriers. From the dependence of burst frequency on the strain rate and temperature, the activation energy and thermally activated length of the dislocation segment for the plastic slip activation were determined to be 0.66 eV and 20 nm, respectively. Both numbers fit well to the Peterson’s model for the nucleation and motion of thermally activated dislocation segments. A similar activation energy resulted from the differential mechanical analysis of the literature for the αI—transition, which occurred near room temperature in polyethylene. The transition was described as the generation of screw dislocation and its motion along a block grain boundary; therefore, this process is suggested to be the basic mechanism underlying the strain bursts observed in this study.

Climate change is expected to have significant effects on crop yield in the Canadian Prairies. The objective of this study was to investigate these possible effects on spring wheat, barley and canola production using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) modelling platform. We applied 21 climate change scenarios from high-resolution (0.22°) regional simulations to three modules, DSSAT-CERES-Wheat, DSSAT-CERES-Barley and CSM-CROPGRO-Canola, using a historical baseline period (1985–2014) and three future periods: near (2015–2040), middle (2041–2070), and far (2071–2100). These simulations are part of CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6) and have been processed using statistical downscaling and bias correction by the NASA Earth Exchange 26 Global Daily Downscaled Projections project, referred to as NEX-GDDP-CMIP6. The calibration and validation results surpassed the thresholds for a high level of accuracy. Simulated yield changes indicate that climate change has a positive effect on spring wheat and barley yields with median model increases of 7% and 11.6% in the near future, and 5.5% and 9.2% in the middle future, respectively. However, in the far future, barley production shows a modest increase of 4.4%, while spring wheat yields decline significantly by 17%. Conversely, simulated canola yields demonstrate a substantial decrease over time, with reductions of 25.9%, 46.3%, and 62.8% from the near to the far future, respectively. Agroclimatic indices, such as Number of Frost-Free Days (NFFD), Heating Degree-Days (HDD), Length of Growing Season (GSL), Crop Heat Units (CHU), and Effective Growing Degree Days (EGDD), exhibit significant correlations with spring wheat. Conversely, precipitation indices, such as very wet days and annual 5- and 10-day maximum precipitation, have a stronger correlation with canola yield changes when compared with temperature indices. The results provide key guidance for policymakers to design adaptation strategies and sustain regional food security and economic resilience, particularly for canola production, which is at significant risk under projected climate change scenarios across the Canadian Prairies.

The failure of spatial inversion symmetry in noncentrosymmetric materials introduces two different types of spin-independent and spin-dependent electron hopping. The spin-dependent term can be translated into a quasi-spin–orbit coupling and may affect the electronic structure. In the locally noncentrosymmetric crystals, the presence of a sublattice degree of freedom generates a distinction between the inter- and intra-sublattice hopping integrals. The spin-dependent part of the former (latter), which is even (odd) under parity, is called symmetric (antisymmetric) quasi-spin–orbit coupling. Here, we show the consequences of such quasi-spin–orbit couplings on the electronic band structure, and study their characteristic features via the quasiparticle interference method. We extend our discussions to a realistic class of materials, known as transition metal oxides. Graphic abstract

Given the high prevalence of depression in elderly people, appropriate interventions are essential. This study aimed to assess the effects of auriculotherapy on depression among elderly people. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2021. Fifty-two elderly were conveniently selected and randomly allocated to the sham (n = 26) and intervention (n = 26) groups through block randomization. The intervention group was subjected to four weeks of auriculotherapy at the Shen-Men, zero, heart, antidepressant, and master cerebral points using Vaccaria seeds fixed with adhesive tape. In the sham group, adhesive tapes were attached to the points with neither seeds nor compression. The elderly and data collector were blinded. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depression before, immediately after, and four weeks after the intervention (T1–T3). The statistical methods used were repeated measures analysis of variance and covariance. Groups significantly differed concerning participants' gender, education, and employment (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding effects, the time-group interaction significantly affected the mean depression score (p < 0.0001, effect size = 0.54). There was no significant difference between the depression score in the sham and intervention groups at T1 (9.6 ± 2.5 vs 9.5 ± 2.5, p = 0.263); however, this difference was found to be significant at T2 (8.6 ± 2 vs 4.2 ± 1.2, p < 0.0001, effect size = 0.68) and T3 (9.3 ± 2.3 vs 4.3 ± 1.3, p < 0.0001, effect size = 0.65). Within-group analysis revealed significant differences in the depression scores of the intervention group at T1 compared with those at T2 and T3 (p < 0.05). In contrast, the mean depression score in the sham group at T2 was significantly lower than that at T1 (p = 0.003) and greater than that at T3 (p = 0.049). Auriculotherapy alleviates depression and can be used as a complementary therapy for elderly people with depression. •The study used a randomized controlled clinical trial with a sham group to assess the effects of auriculotherapy.•The intervention group received four weeks of auriculotherapy on specific points with vaccaria seeds fixed with adhesive tape.•The sham group had adhesive tape without seed or compression.•The study found significant differences in depression scores between the intervention and sham groups.•Auriculotherapy can be used as a non-invasive complementary therapy for older people with depression.