Urban flood susceptibility evaluation and prediction during 2010–2030 in the southern watersheds of Mashhad city, Iran

Background Urban flood susceptibility evaluation (FSE) can utilize empirical and rational procedures to focus on the urban flood evaluation using physical coefficients and land-use change ratios. The main aim of the present paper was to evaluate a flood susceptibility model in the southern watersheds of Mashhad city, in Iran, for 2010, 2020, and 2030. The construction of the model depended on the utilization of some global datasets to estimate the runoff coefficients of the watersheds, peak flood discharges, and flood susceptibility evaluations. Results and conclusions Based on the climatic precipitation and urban sprawl variation, our results revealed the mean values of the runoff coefficient (Cr) from 0.50 (2010) to 0.65 (2030), where the highest values of Cr (> 0.70) belonged to the watersheds with real estate cover, soil unit of the Mollisols, and the slope ranges over 5–15%. The averagely cumulative flood discharges were estimated from 2.04 m3/s (2010) to 5.76 m3/s (2030), revealing an increase of the flood susceptibility equal 3.2 times with at least requirement of an outlet cross-section by > 46 m2 in 2030. The ROC curves for the model validity explained AUC values averagely over 0.8, exposing the very good performance of the model and excellent sensitivity.

Analysis of Spatially Varying Relationships Between Urban Environment Factors And Land Surface Temperature In Mashhad City, Iran

Land Surface Temperature (LST), in particular for the urban environment, is a key indicator to characterize urban heat changes, urban climate, global environmental change, and human-environment interactions. However, due to differences in the local spatial variations of LST and the related influence factors, few studies have discussed the spatial non-stationarity and spatial scale effects within urban areas. Moreover, in cities such as Mashhad, which are located in a hot and dry climate, have been less studied of the relationship between LST and urban influencing factors on a neighborhood scale. In the present study, the spatial distribution of the mean LST was evaluated in association with the 16 explanatory indices at the neighborhood's level in Mashhad City, Iran, as a case study. To assess the main components contributing to the LST variations, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was employed in this study. Additionally, Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models were used to explore the spatially varying relationships and identify the model's efficiency at the neighborhood's scale. Our findings showed the five most important components contributing to LST variances, explaining 86.2% of the variability. The most negative relationship was observed between LST and the morphological features of neighborhoods (PC3). In contrast, the landscape composition of the green patches (PC2) exhibited the lowest negative impacts on LST changes. Moreover, road and traffic density characteristics of the neighborhoods (PC4) were the only effective components to alert the average LST positively. With R2= 0.678, AIC c= 2125.6, and Moran's I= 0.018, the results revealed that the GWR model had better efficiency than the corresponding non-spatial OLS model in terms of the goodness of fits. It suggests that the GWR model has more ability than the OLS one to predict LST intensities and characterize spatial non-stationary. Therefore, it can be applied to adapt more effective strategies in planning and designing the urban neighborhoods for mitigation of the adverse heat effects.

Design and development of a fuzzy credibility-based reverse logistics network with buyback offers: A case study

The ever-growing stream of waste production has become a critical issue for many metropolitan areas. An effective strategy to address this problem has been the concept of reverse logistics (RL). This paper seeks to develop an appropriate product recovery approach for electronic waste generated in an urban area. Consequently, we have proposed an integrated fuzzy RL model with buyback (BB) offers based on the condition of used-products (UPs) at the time of return. However, this strategy contains a significant challenge, which derives from unpredictability surrounding the return rate of UPs due to its dependency on multiple external factors. Hence, a novel fuzzy probability function is developed to approximate UPs’ chance of return. Besides that, the mathematical RL network’s inherent uncertainty prompted us to employ the fuzzy credibility-based method in the model. Afterward, the model’s objectives are locating and allocating collection centres to customer zones, determining flow between facilities and finding the optimal amount of gathered UPs and BB offers. Finally, we applied the model to a case study concerning product recovery in Mashhad city, Iran, and the results have proven its validity and utility.

Comparing the Lifestyle of Veteran and Non-Veteran Families

Background: Considering the role of lifestyle in promoting, maintaining, continuity health and the importance of paying attention to the veterans and their families who have suffered a lot in order to sacrifice for the homeland, the present study intends to compare the lifestyle among veterans and non-veterans in Mashhad city. Methods: This study was conducted using a survey method. The statistical population included the veteran and non-veteran families of Mashhad. A total of 360 questionnaires were filled out in this city. The research instruments were Lifestyle Questionnaire (LSQ) and All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale. The data were analyzed by SPSS v.24. Results: There is not a significant difference between the mean scores of lifestyle in the two groups of veteran and non-veteran in Mashhad (p > 0.05). The comparison of mean lifestyle scores also showed that there was no significant difference between the lifestyle scores of men and women in the non-veteran group and the mean scores of the single and married lifestyle in the veteran and non-veteran group (p > 0.05). There is a significant relationship between education level and health literacy of veteran and non-veteran families with their lifestyle, age, and employment status. They are also related to the lifestyle of their life because of the status they provide for the sacrifices. Conclusion: Comparison of the two groups in terms of lifestyle indicates that the veterans are in a less favorable position than non-veterans in terms of some aspects of lifestyle such as physical health, exercise and health, disease prevention and mental health.

Comparing the Lifestyle of Veteran and Non-Veteran Families

Background: Considering the role of lifestyle in promoting, maintaining, continuity health and the importance of paying attention to the veterans and their families who have suffered a lot in order to sacrifice for the homeland, the present study intends to compare the lifestyle among veterans and non-veterans in Mashhad city. Methods: This study was conducted using a survey method. The statistical population included the veteran and non-veteran families of Mashhad. A total of 360 questionnaires were filled out in this city. The research instruments were Lifestyle Questionnaire (LSQ) and All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale. The data were analyzed by SPSS v.24. Results: There is not a significant difference between the mean scores of lifestyle in the two groups of veteran and non-veteran in Mashhad (p > 0.05). The comparison of mean lifestyle scores also showed that there was no significant difference between the lifestyle scores of men and women in the non-veteran group and the mean scores of the single and married lifestyle in the veteran and non-veteran group (p > 0.05). There is a significant relationship between education level and health literacy of veteran and non-veteran families with their lifestyle, age, and employment status. They are also related to the lifestyle of their life because of the status they provide for the sacrifices. Conclusion: Comparison of the two groups in terms of lifestyle indicates that the veterans are in a less favorable position than non-veterans in terms of some aspects of lifestyle such as physical health, exercise and health, disease prevention and mental health.

Lead exposure through eggs in Iran: health risk assessment

Introduction. Contamination of food, including animal protein sources, with heavy metals is a major threat to humans. The aim of this research was to determine lead concentrations in eggs from different Iranian regions and assess risks to human health. Study objects and methods. In this study, lead concentrations in eggs produced at laying hen farms in Qom, Isfahan (Kashan city), and Khorasan Razavi (Mashhad city) provinces were measured by an atomic absorption device. Health risk was estimated using the Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) model. Results and discussion. The levels of lead in eggs were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) among the three regions. They were lower than the permissible limit (0.1 mg/kg) for Kashan (0.0756 mg/kg) and Mashhad (0.0633 mg/kg), but eggs from Qom contained 0.1163 mg/kg of lead. In all the three regions, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of lead was lower than the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI), indicating no health risk for lead through egg consumption among Iranian consumers. Also, no risks were detected for adults in terms of non-cancer risk, or target hazard quotients (THQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR) of lead (THQ < 1 and CR < 10–6). Conclusion. The results of this study indicated that lead health risk through egg consumption is within safe limits. However, the nutritional importance and high consumption of eggs among households necessitate a more careful monitoring of lead concentrations to meet public health requirements.