Assessment of CMIP6 models performance in simulation precipitation and temperature over Iran and surrounding regions.

This study investigates the performance of CMIP6 models in reproducing historical temperature and precipitation data for Iran and neighboring countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq) from 1980 to 2014. Reanalysis data from the ECMWF database (ERA5) for temperature and precipitation were utilized as a reference for the period 1980-2014. Additionally, ten Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCMs) from CMIP6 were employed to simulate temperature and precipitation data for the study region based on the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report databases. The Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) index was used to evaluate the accuracy of CMIP6 models in replicating daily temperature and precipitation. The results indicate that different CMIP6 models exhibit varying degrees of accuracy in simulating historical temperatures and precipitation, depending on the month and the country. For instance, the IPSL-CM6A-LR model demonstrated the best annual performance in estimating temperature in Azerbaijan (KGE = 0.5), while the HadGEM3-GC31-LL model showed the lowest annual performance in Pakistan (KGE = -1.4). Interestingly, the models were found to be more accurate in simulating temperatures during warm months compared to cold ones. Furthermore, the accuracy of different models in estimating annual precipitation varied significantly, ranging from -0.64 (MRI-EMS2-0 model in Afghanistan) to 0.05 (CMCC-ESM2 model in Armenia). Similar to temperature, the study found that models were generally more accurate in simulating precipitation during cold months compared to warm ones.

Beyond the obvious: A case presentation on the misdiagnosis of posterior femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment as semitendinosus muscle tear.

To underscore the importance of evaluating the entrapment of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (PFCN) in patients exhibiting symptoms in the posterior thigh region. A 42-year-old male dentist, initially diagnosed with a semitendinosus muscle tear and persistent pain and tingling in the posterior thigh, sought treatment at our outpatient clinic. Despite unsuccessful physiotherapy, a comprehensive evaluation revealed an unusual entrapment of the PFCN between the sacrotuberous ligament and the semitendinosus muscle stump. The patient was subjected to a series of specialized therapeutic interventions, including soft tissue release, kinesiology taping, and lifestyle modifications. The patient's symptoms, including pain and tingling, were completely resolved, enabling him to sit on a stool for extended periods without discomfort. This case presentation emphasizes the need for physical therapists to consider the possibility of PFCN entrapment in patients experiencing pain and tingling in the posterior thigh. These symptoms can be easily mistaken for conditions such as sciatica or a hamstring muscle tear.

Preparation and characterization of sodium caseinate-apricot tree gum/gum Arabic nanocomplex for encapsulation of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).

Nanocomplexes (NCs) were formed through electrostatic complexation theory using Na-caseinate (NaCa), gum Arabic (GA), and Prunus armeniaca L. gum exudates (PAGE), aimed to encapsulate Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Encapsulation was optimized using NaCa (0.1 %-0.5 %), GA/PAGE (0.1 %-0.9 %) and CLA (1 %-5 %), and central composite design (CCD) was employed for numerical optimization. The optimum conditions for NC containing GA (NCGA) were 0.336 %, 0.437 %, and 3.10 % and for NC containing PAGE (NCPAGE) were 0.403 %, 0.730 %, and 4.177 %, of NaCa, GA/PAGE, and CLA, respectively. EE and particle size were 92.46 % and 52.89 nm for NCGA while 88.23 % and 54.76 nm for NCPAGE, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated that CLA was physically entrapped. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the electrostatic complex formation. The elastic modulus was predominant for NCGA and NCPAGE dispersions while the complex viscosity of NCPAGE suspension was slightly higher than that of NCGA. The CLA in NCGA-CLA and NCPAGE-CLA exhibited higher oxidative stability than free CLA during 30 days of storage without a significant difference between the results of CLA oxidative stability tests obtained for NCs. Consequently, NCPAGE and NCGA could be applied for the entrapment and protection of nutraceuticals in the food industry.

Three-decade assessment of dry and wet spells change across Iran, a fingerprint of climate change.

Extended periods of hydro-climate extremes with excessive or scarce rainfall associated with high or low temperatures have resulted in an imbalanced water cycle and inefficient socio-economic systems in several regions of Iran. However, there is a lack of comprehensive investigations on short-term to long-term variations in timing, duration, and temperature of wet/dry spells. This study bridges the current gap through a comprehensive statistical analysis of historical climatic data (1959-2018). Results indicated that the negative tendency of the accumulated rainfall (- 0.16/ - 0.35 mm/year during the past 60/30 years) in 2- to 6-day wet spells had made significant contributions to the ongoing downward trend in annual rainfall (- 0.5/ - 1.5 mm/year during the past 60/30 years) owing to a warmer climate condition. Warmer wet spells are likely responsible for precipitation patterns changes in snow-dominated stations since their wet spells temperature has more than threefold growth with increasing distance to coasts. The most detected trends in climatic patterns have started in the last two decades and become more severe from 2009 to 2018. Our results confirm the alteration of precipitation features across Iran due to anthropogenic climatic change, and suggest expected increase in air temperature would likely result in further dry and warm conditions over the coming decades.

Kidney Failure in Children with Wilms Tumor: A Study Based on Urine Analysis and Ultrasound.

Background: Renal insufficiency is one of the inevitable complications in patients with Wilms tumor (WT). The purpose of this study was to assess the renal function in children with WT at baseline and every 3 months to 2 years. Materials and Methods: In a descriptive-analytical study from 2018 to 2020, 48 children with WT were included in the study. Urine creatinine (UCr), serum calcium (SCr), blood pressure (BP), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urinary protein (UPro) were evaluated at baseline and every 3 months during the study. Spot UCa/UCr and spot UPro/UCr ratio were calculated. Kidney ultrasonography was used in all patients. Independent Sample t-test and Chi-square tests were utilized to compare age and sex, respectively. Results: The mean age of patients at follow-up was 7.3 years. There was no significant difference in mean UCr, SCr, eGFR, 24-h UPro, UCa/UCr ratio, and spot UPro/UCr ratio at baseline and end of study (P baseline> 0.05, P end of study> 0.05). Analysis of kidney size showed a statistical association with tumor stage (P < 0.05). Comparison of the kidney size in patients showed that there is a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001) at baseline and end of the study. Conclusion: This study showed that as WT progressed, the size of the kidneys increases without any renal insufficiency. Therefore, it seems that urinalysis of patients with WT along with sonography is necessary to determine renal insufficiency and the use of ultrasound alone to determine kidney insufficiency is not recommended.

Regional frequency analysis of drought severity and duration in Karkheh River Basin, Iran using univariate L-moments method.

Drought is one of the natural disasters that causes a great damage to human life and natural ecosystems. The main differences are in the gradual effect of drought over a relatively long period, impossibility of accurately determining time of the beginning and end of drought, and geographical extent of the associated effects. On the other hand, lack of a universally accepted definition of drought has added to the complexity of this phenomenon. In the last decade, due to increasing frequency of drought in Iran and reduction of water resources, its consequences have become apparent and have caused problems for planners and managers. So in this research, regional frequency analysis using L-moments methods was performed to investigate severity and duration of Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Evapotranspiration Index (SEI), Standardized Runoff Index (SRI), and Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSI) and to study of meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological droughts in Karkheh River Basin in Iran. Using K-means clustering method, basin was divided into four homogeneous areas. Uncoordinated stations in each cluster were removed. The best regional distribution function was selected for each homogeneous region, and it was found that Pearson type (3) has the highest fit on the data set in the basin. Based on Hosking and Wallis heterogeneity test, Karkheh Basin with H1 < 1 was identified as acceptable homogeneous in all clusters. The results showed that hydrological drought occurs with a very short time delay in Karkheh River Basin after the meteorological drought, and two indicators show meteorological and hydrological drought conditions well. Agricultural drought occurs after meteorological and hydrological drought, respectively, and its severity and duration are less than the other indicators. Meteorological, hydrological, and agricultural droughts do not occur at the same time in all of the years. In general, the SPI drought index shows the most severe droughts compared with the other three indices. By this way, in 5- to 20-year return period with severity of 3SPI and in 20- to 100-year return period with severity of 7SPI, region IV or the western and northwestern areas of the basin has been affected by severe meteorological drought. By using the regional standardized quantities, it is possible to estimate the probability of drought in any part of the catchment that does not have sufficient data for hydrological studies.

Climate change impacts on crop production in Iran's Zayandeh-Rud River Basin.

This study evaluates climate change impacts on crop production and water productivity of four major crops (wheat, barley, rice, and corn) in Iran's Zayandeh-Rud River Basin. Multi-model ensemble scenarios are used to deal with uncertainties in climate change projections for the study period (2015-2044). On average, monthly temperature will increase by 1.1 to 1.5°C under climate change. Monthly precipitation changes may be positive or negative in different months of the year. Nevertheless, on the annual basis, precipitation will decrease by 11 to 31% with climate change. While warming can potentially shorten the crop growth period, crop production and water productivity of all crops are expected to decrease due to lower precipitation and higher water requirements under higher temperature. Out of the four studied crops, rice and corn are more vulnerable to climate change due to their high irrigation water demand. So, their continued production can be compromised under climate change. This finding is of particular importance, given the locally high economic and food value of these crops in central Iran.