The present study is focused on the Species belonging to the genus Maiestas Distant, 1917 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae, Deltocephalini) in Iran, based on some specimens collected during 2016 to 2019 from Southeast Iran and Species that have been previously reported: M. horvathi (Then, 1896), M. pruthii (Metcalf, 1967), M. schmidtgeni (Wagner, 1939), and M. trifasciata (Lindberg, 1954). M. pruthii, previously known from the Oriental region (India and Pakistan), is recorded for the first time in the Palaearctic region from Southeast Iran and M. horvathi is a new record for the fauna of Sistan and Baluchestan Province. An Identification key and distribution maps for the Iranian Maiestas Species are provided.

In this paper, an alternative approach in operational modal analysis is presented, utilizing image processing technique and transmissibility functions. Imaging sensors do not impose additional mass on the structure due to their non-contact nature, while transmissibility functions, independent of excitation type, can directly extract mode shapes. The innovation of this research lies in combining these two techniques to record dynamic responses and identify modal properties. To capture the temporal response history from video signals, the block-matching method with sub-pixel accuracy was employed. Validation was conducted by recording the response of the tip of a cantilevered steel beam subjected to impact excitation, using a high-speed camera and a laser vibrometer, simultaneously. The RMSE plots in the time domain and the PSD in the frequency domain indicate high accuracy of this method. Using this approach, the displacement time histories of various points on the structure were extracted from the video signals, and the modal properties, including natural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes, were identified using the transmissibility matrix method. The results obtained from the proposed method were compared with the stochastic subspace Identification (SSI) method and analytical solutions. The findings reveal the accuracy of the modal Identification approach introduced in this article. The highest relative error in estimating the natural frequencies of the first and second modes, compared to the values from the laser method, are 0.19% and 0.13%, respectively, and in comparison to the analytical values, they are 0.34% and 1.5%, respectively.

Identifying the constraining factors of production and yield gap is very important. Therefore; this research was performed to identify the production constraining factors of local rice cultivars. All management practices from nursery preparation to harvesting stages for 100 paddy fields of local rice cultivars were recorded through field studies, in Sari, from 2015-2016. In the CPA, the actual and calculated potential yield were 4495 and 5703 kg/ha, respectively and the gap was 1221 kg/ha. The yield gap caused by number of top-dressing variables was 324 kg/ha, equal to 27% of the total yield gap. The yield gap related to previous year of legumes cultivation was 218 kg ha-1, equal to 18% of the total yield variation. Among the 10 variables entered in the CPA model, the effects of top-dress fertilizer application and its application frequency and foliar application were remarkable, which could compensate a significant part of the yield gap (444 kg/ha, 37% of total) in the farmers’ fields by managing these variables. According to boundary line analysis (BLA) finding, actual yield mean on the basis of optimal limit related to 12 variables under study was 5369 kg/ha, with 881 kg/ha yield gap . Mean relative yield and relative yield gap for 12 variables (transplanting date, seedling age, number of seedlings per hill, planting density, nitrogen and phosphorous per hectare, nitrogen before transplanting, harvesting date, lodging problem, pest problem, diseases problem and weeds problem) were 83.64 and 16.35 kg/ha, respectively. Based on the finding, it can be stated that the model precision is appropriate and can be applied for both estimation of the quantity of yield gap and determining the portion of each restricting yield variables.

Macro-fungi from different places of   Mazandaran and Tehran provinces, collected since 1982-2000, identified. An account of 16 Coprinus Species, namely, Coprinus picaceus, C. cinereus, C. lagopus, C. lagopides, C. macrocephalus, C. brunneofibrillosus, C. subimpatiens, C. angulatus, C. niveus, C. ephemeroides, C. comatus, C. flocculosus, C. scobicola, C. disseminatus, C. plicatilis and C. patouillardii, were collected around Noor, Babulsar and Tehran and identified. Nine Species, namely, Coprinus lagopus, C. comatus, C. flocculosus, C. scobicola, C. disseminatus, C. plicatilis, C. picaceus, C. macrocephalus and C. niveus, were previously recorded from Iran but other 7 Species, namely, C. lagopides, C. macrocephalus, C. brunneofibrillosus, C. subimpatiens, C. angulatus, C. ephemeroides and C. cinereus are new to Iran along with C. lagopus, C. niveus, C. picaceus and C. macrocephalus are described and illustrated in detail.

Background and Purpose: The predominant cause of candidiasis was Candida albicans which has recently changed to non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) (i. e., Candida spp. other than the C. albicans). The NCAC spp., earlier considered non-pathogenic or minimally virulent, are now considered a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Given the NCAC spp. has become more common in clinical cases, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of NCAC spp. in different clinical specimens and assess a few of their virulence factors. Materials and Methods: Routine samples for bacterial culture and sensitivity that showed colony characteristics, like Candida on Blood Agar and microscopic features resembling Candida spp., were processed further. Candida isolates underwent tests for chlamydospore formation and biochemical tests, including sugar fermentation and sugar assimilation tests. These were grown at 42oC, and their colony color was identified using HiCrome™ Candida Differential Agar (HiMedia Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India), HiCandidaTM Identification Kit (HiMedia Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India), and VITEK-2® Compact (Biomé rieux, France). Virulence factors, such as adherence to buccal epithelial cells (ABEC), biofilm formation, hemolytic activity, and production of coagulase enzyme were also tested. Results: Mean age of the patients was 38. 46 years with a male-female ratio of 1. 36: 1. In total, 137 Candida isolates were recovered; 45. 3%, 19. 7%, and 13. 9% of the isolates were isolated from urine, vaginal swabs, and oropharyngeal swabs, respectively. Moreover, 55 (40. 1%) isolates were those of C. albicans and 82 (59. 9%) isolates belonged to NCAC spp., with C. tropicalis (23. 4%) contributing highest among NCAC Species. Furthermore, C. albicans (3; 50%) was the most common spp. in cases of candidemia. Haemolysin production (85. 5%) and ABEC (78. 2%) were the major virulence factors in C. albicans. C. tropicalis (59. 4%) and C. dubliniensis (50%) showed maximum ABEC. Biofilm forming capacity was higher in C. tropicalis (78. 1%) than C. albicans (67%). Conclusion: Results of this study suggest varied prevalence and virulence based on geographical locations, even within a subcontinent. It clearly indicates the emergence of the NCAC spp. and their predominance in different body fluids. Identification of Candida to the spp. level should become a routine in all laboratories.

Five taxa of Lepiota, namely, L. anthomyces, L. serena, L. metulaespora, L. roseoalba and L. cristata were collected from different localities are described in details. Microscopic and macroscopic descriptions along with drawings are given for all the five Species. Of these L. anthomyces, L. serena, L. metulaespora and L. roseoalba, are newly recorded for Iranian fungus flora.

Background and Objective: Fascioliasis is an important zoonotic disease that causes several health problems and economical losses in different parts of Iran including Zanjan. Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica are recognized as causative agents of the disease. The differential diagnosis between these two Species is very important for planning and control of infection. This study was designed to identify the Fasciola Species by molecular methods in Zanjan (Iran).Methods and Materials: A number of 535 adult Fasciola worms were collected from the natural infected livers of cattles and sheep in local slaughterhouse. Living flukes were washed extensively in PBS at 37 oC and then anterior half of adult worms were stored at -20 oC in 70% ethanol. Total genomic DNA was extracted from individual flukes by modified phenol-chloroform method. Nucleotide polymorphism of ITS2 fragment of rDNA was investigated using PCR-RFLP assay and sequencing technique.Results: The results of PCR-RFLP and comparison of ITS2 sequences with the BLAST GenBank database clarified that all specimens were F. hepatica. The obtained sequences are available in the GenBank, with accession numbers EU391412 to EU391424. Conclusion: The results of this study showed no evidence of F. gigantica infection in sheep and cattles in Zanjan as all of the isolates were found to be F. hepatica.

Candida exists as a normal flora on skin and mucosa. The prevalence of Candida -induced infections specially mucosal and vaginal infections have been raised in the world in last decade due to increase in predisposing factors. C.albicans is the major etiological agent of candidiasis, but infections due to other Species have been increasing. The aim of this study was to determine Candida Species by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patient with oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis that referred to clinics of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. Sixty clinical samples were collected from mouth (no=29) and vagina (no=31). Identification of Candida Species was done by using a combination of conventional and PCR methods. Germ tube and vesicle (chlamidoconidia) were seen in 43 (71.67%) and 42 (75%) of Candida isolates, respectively. Assimilation of sugars and Gel electrophoresis of PCR products showed that 78.34% and 75% of isolates were C.albicans, respectively, followed by C.parapsilosis, C.guilliermondii, C.tropicalis and C.glabrata. According to our results, C.albicans was the major causative agent in mouth, and also in vulvovaginal candidiasis. We concluded that Candida spp. is prevalent in mouth and vagina, indicating the necessity for preventing candidiasis by using some antifungal drugs.