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Drought is a climatic phenomenon that almost happens in every climate situation, because Iran country is located in the arid belt of earth, the importance of drought and analyzing it in the past and future is important for us to programming and managing the water resources. In this research which was done in the study area of the watershed region of Kashfrud, the effect of climatic changes in the climatic precipitation parameter under two scenarios of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 in the study period (19987- 2016) was analyzed and surveyed. To analyze drought in the study region by using Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) and surface water supply index (SWSI), the occurrence and time of climatic and hydrological drought were analyzed. For predicting the future period precipitation by atmospheric general circulation model of MIROC5 and by using small scale (Delta) method under release scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, the future precipitation data were achieved, then standard precipitation index in the next 30 years' period (2019-2048) was calculated. Using the implemented calculations in standard precipitation index and analyzing the results in the next 30 years, the number of dry and very dry months; means index number less than - 1.5, in the study area was achieved. Based on the achieved results from the standard precipitation index (SPI) in the annual scale in Mashhad and Golmakan station, the first decades of the study period (1987-1996) and future periods (2019-2028) are the driest periods. Also, the results of hydrologic drought index in annual scale in Mashhad station indicates 19 dry years and in Golmakan station indicates 16 dry years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exact 1-step dominating set in a graph G is a subset S of vertices of G such that |N(v)⋂S| =1 for every vertex v ∈V (G) . A graph is an exact 1-step domination graph if it contains an exact 1-step dominating set. In this paper, we obtain new upper bounds on the size of exact 1-step domination graphs. We also present an upper bound on the total domination number of an exact 1-step domination tree and characterize trees achieving equality for this bound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, at first we define the concepts of response function and accessible states of a complete residuated lattice-valued (for simplicity we write L-valued) tree automaton with a threshold c. Then, related to these concepts, we prove some lemmas and theorems that are applied in considering some decision problems such as finiteness-value and emptiness-value of recognizable tree languages. Moreover, we propose a reduction algorithm for L-valued tree automata with a threshold c. The goal of reducing an L-valued tree automaton is to obtain an L-valued tree automaton with reduced number of states %that all of its states are accessible all of which are accessible, in addition it recognizes the same language as the first one given. We compare our algorithm with some other algorithms in the literature. Finally, utilizing the obtained results, we consider some fundamental decision problems for L-valued tree automata including the membership-value, the emptiness-value, the finiteness-value, the intersection-value and the equivalence-value problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two different ways of introducing alternation for lattice-valued (referred to as {L}valued) regular tree grammars and {L}valued top-down tree automata are compared. One is the way which defines the alternating regular tree grammar, i.e., alternation is governed by the non-terminals of the grammar and the other is the way which combines state with alternation. The first way is taken over to prove a main theorem: the class of languages generated by an {L}valued alternating regular tree grammar {LAG}) is equal to the class of languages accepted by an {L}valued alternating top-down tree automaton {LAA}). The second way is taken over to define a new type of automaton by combining the {L}valued alternating top-down tree automaton with stack, called {L}-valued alternating stack tree automaton {LASA} and the generative power of it is compared to some well-known language classes, especially to {LAA} and to {LAG} Also, we have derived a characterization of the state alternating regular tree grammar {LSAG}) in terms of {LASA}. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study were to determine normal value of glycated hemoglobin in Persian cats and to investigate its relation to fasting plasma glucose. Blood samples were collected from 67 clinically healthy adult Persian cats (32 males and 35 females). After separation and washing of red blood cells, hemolysate was prepared and subjected to weak cation exchange chromatography for determination of glycosylated hemoglobin. Glucose was measured in fasting plasma samples (after 10-12 h of fasting) using glucose oxidase method. Glycosylated hemoglobin % in the studied cats was 1.56 ± 0.47 in males and 1.61 ± 0.52 in females. Fasting plasma glucoses were 88.3 ± 10.2 and 90.8 ± 11.5 mg/dl in males and females, respectively. Glycosylated hemoglobin % and plasma glucose strongly correlated together ( r = 0.79, p < 0.001). Three cats with persistent high fasting plasma glucose showing glycosylated hemoglobin percentage of 2.6, 2.8, and 2.9 % which exceeded the upper limit of the normal value obtained in this study were found. We concluded that glycosylated hemoglobin % is a good indicator of fasting plasma glucose, and its determination can be considered as a method for diabetes screening in Persian cats. Considering three cats with persistent high fasting plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin percent, we concluded that glycosylated hemoglobin percent could be a good biochemical test for screening or diagnosis diabetes in cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Papilloma DNA viruses are one of the viruses that cause skin lesions in ruminants., Objectives: The clinical, histopathological and molecular characteristics of cutaneous papilloma in ruminants in Iran are to be investigated in this study., Methods: Samples were collected from 19 small ruminants (5 sheep and 14 goats) with various papillomatosis lesions. The samples taken were studied with histopathological and molecular techniques., Results: In clinical terms, the lesions appeared in different sizes, ranging from 0.5 to 11 cm, and the cauliflower exophytic masses appeared in other parts of the animal's body. In the limbs, most papilloma lesions have been seen (42.1%). In histopathological examination, perinuclear vacuolation epidermal granule layer with various degrees of hypergranulosis, hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, orthokeratosis and parakeratosis were seen. Moreover, all the suspected samples were positive for papillomavirus using the polymerase chain reaction technique., Conclusions: Although the prevalence of papillomaviruses in Iranian sheep and goats is low, it seems necessary to distinguish them from other viral skin diseases, such as cutaneous contagious ecthyma, using molecular techniques and histopathology., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The pattern of coronavirus spread at different geographical scales verifies that travel or shipment by air, sea or road are potential to transmit viruses from one location to somewhere far away in a very short time. Simulation and analysis of such a situation requires the development of models that support long distance transmission of viruses. Cellular Automata (CA) are a family of spatiotemporal computational models frequently employed in analysis of biomedical systems. A CA consists of a topological combination of units called cells as well as a transition function that propagates the configuration of cells locally and step by step. In this paper, we first present some patterns that show the local interaction between CA cells is not sufficient for virus spread modeling, especially at large spatial scales. Then, we generalize the concept of CA by providing a symbiosis between the neighborhood relationship of cells and the transmission channels represented by a dynamic weighted multigraph. Furthermore, we characterize the capabilities of the proposed modeling tool in simulation of the virus spread, and estimating the risk control during the movement restrictions and related health protocols. Finally, we simulate the coronavirus outbreak in the five study areas including three states and two countries. Our experiments using the proposed model verify that the proposed model is capable of formulating different ways of virus transmission, including long-distance transmission, and supports high-precision simulation of the pandemic., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The primary cause of contagious ecthyma is the orf virus, the parapoxvirus prototype. It is a viral problem observed in goat and sheep flocks in Iran, causing economic loss. Orf is a zoonosis with little epidemiological investigation present in Iran. The current research aims at determining the status of this virus, and a PCR was used as a confirmatory instrument. We sampled 668 goats and sheep and various breeding systems. Besides, the orf prevalence was studied, and vaccination efficacy was determined. Moreover, the potential risk factors surveyed for infection with ecthyma were identified. Samples were taken from goat and sheep flocks in the present cross-sectional research, and PCR was used for testing orf DNA. A checklist including animals' general information was completed. Data were analyzed using univariate tests (chi-square and t-tests) and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. Three hundred one (45%) goats and sheep detected orf DNA. The age of 70% of positive cases was below one month. Ecthyma infection was significantly higher in imported breeds (87.3%) than indigenous (39.3%). Ninety-six percent of infected goats and sheep in the present work were not vaccinated against ecthyma. The high prevalence of the orf virus was confirmed among goat and sheep flocks in Iran. It is necessary to train ranchers regarding sanitary actions, quarantine, and application of orf vaccination plans., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Amphistomiasis, a neglected trematode infection of ruminants, has recently come up as an important reason for economic losses. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bovine amphistomiasis and associated risk factors such as: age, gender, breed, season, water source, pastureland and grazing system. Between January 2016 and 2017, a total of 1,000 faecal samples and 1,000 rumens of cattle were collected from slaughterhouse of Zabol, Iran ante-mortem and post-mortem, respectively, and examined. The overall prevalence was 34.6% and 19.5% in terms of amphistome adults and eggs respectively. The identified amphistome species and their prevalence were Paramphistomumcervi (13.3%), Cotylophoroncotylophorum (19.5%), Gastrothylaxcrumenifer (5.9%) and Carmyeriusspatiosus (2.7%). The correlation between prevalence and season, age, breed, water source, pastureland and grazing system was significant (p < .0001). The presented information about the prevalence of amphistomes of cattle and individual and management risk factors can be used to design appropriate control measures., (© 2020 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

At least 18 viruses have been reported in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.). However, severe diseases in honey bees are mainly caused by six viruses, and these are the most important in beekeeping. These viruses include: deformed wing virus (DWV), acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), sacbrood virus (SBV), kashmir bee virus (KBV), and black queen cell virus (BQCV). In this study, we evaluated 89 Iranian honey bee apiaries (during the period 2015-2016) suffering from symptoms of depopulation, sudden collapse, paralysis, or dark coloring, by employing reverse transcription-PCR. Samples were collected from four regions (Mazandaran, Hormozgan, Kurdistan, and Khorasan Razavi) of Iran. Of the 89 apiaries examined, 16 (17.97%), three (3.37%), and three (3.37%) were infected by DWV, ABPV, and CBPV, respectively. The study results for the other viruses (SBV, KBV, and BQCV) were negative. The present study evaluated the presence of the six most important honey bee viruses in bee colonies with suspected infections, and identified remarkable differences in the distribution patterns of the viruses in different geographic regions of Iran.

Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) is an unclassified polymorphic single-stranded RNA virus. Among the viruses infecting honeybees, CBPV is known to induce significant losses in honeybee colonies. In this study, a total number of eighty-nine suspected apiaries from four regions of Iran (including Mazandaran, Khorasan Razavi, Hormozgan, and Kurdistan) were sampled and submitted for molecular identification. Three positive samples were detected by RT-PCR. All positive samples were confirmed by sequencing. The phylogenetic tree which displays the molecular relationship between the viruses of different Iranian geographic regions and references isolates was constructed. The Iranian isolates formed two distinct phylogenetic groups (Group 1 and Group 2). The IR-CPV-GMG-1, IR-CPV-GMG-2, IR-CPV-GMG-4, and IR-CPV-GMG-6 formed Group 1 and IR-CPV-GMG-3, IR-CPV-GMG-5, and IR-CPV-GMG-7 were in Group 2 as a distinct group. Iranian isolates in group 1 were similar to European and East Asian CBPVs. This research was the first phylogenetic analysis of CBPV in Iran. Further researches are needed to study the other aspects of this virus-like genetic characteristics and pathogenesis in Iran.

Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), a member of family Rhabdoviridae and genus Novirhabdoviridae, causes mortality in numerous marine and freshwater hosts located in northern hemisphere. To evaluate the genetic diversity of VHSV from the North and South West of Iran, the sequences of a 1483bp nt region of the glycoprotein gene were determined for four Iranian isolates. These sequences were analysed to evaluate their genetic relatedness with 86 worldwide isolates representing the four known genogroups of VHSV. Phylogenetic analysis by nucleotide sequences showed that all the VHSV isolates studied were closest related to the 19 fresh water strains from Germany grouped within the European genogroup Ia-2. This finding indicates that Iranian VHSV most likely was introduced to Iran by the movement of contaminated fish fry from a source in Europe., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus types Ι and ΙΙ (HTLV-Ι and HTLV-II) are deltaretroviruses which may cause leukemia, lymphoma and HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). In addition, HTLV-1 may be related to thalassemia and hemophilia cases after blood transfusion., Objectives: The aim of this study was evaluation of the prevalence of HTLVs in patients with hematological disorders (leukemia, thalassemia, lymphoma and hemophilia)., Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during April to October 2012. A total of 101 serum samples were collected from patients and were stored at -20ºC. DNA was extracted from serum by an extraction kit. The extracted DNA was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of HTLV-Ι and HTLV-II pol and tax gene sequences, respectively. Samples were collected from 67 (66.33%), 20 (19.80%), 4 (3.96%), and 10 (9.90%) patients with thalassemia, leukemia, lymphoma and hemophilia, respectively., Results: One thalassemia sample was HTLV-Ι positive, but none of the samples contained the genome of HTLV-II. The prevalence of HTLV-Ι in this study in patients with hematological disorders was 0.99%., Conclusions: The prevalence of HTLV-Ι in hematological disorders was similar to that of other parts of Iran. The present study revealed that HTLV-Ι screening should be performed before blood transfusion to reduce the risk of virus transmission in patients with hematological disorders. More study should be performed to detect these viruses in blood donors.