The potential range of west Asian apple species Malus orientalis Uglitzk. under climate change.

The wild relatives of cultivated apples would be an ideal source of diversity for breeding new varieties, which could potentially grow in diverse habitats shaped by climate change. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the potential distribution of these species. The aim of the presented work was the understand the impacts of climate change on the potential distribution and habitat fragmentation of Caucasian crab apple (Malus orientalis Uglitzk.) and the designation of areas of high interest according to climatic conditions. We used the MaxEnt models and Morphological-Spatial Analysis (MSPA) to evaluate the potential distribution, suitability changes, habitat fragmentation, and connectivity throughout the species range in Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Iran. The results revealed that the potentially suitable range of M. orientalis encompasses 858,877 km², 635,279 km² and 456,795 km² under the present, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenario, respectively. The range fragmentation analysis demonstrated a notable shift in the edge/core ratio, which increased from 50.95% in the current scenario to even 67.70% in the future. The northern part of the range (Armenia, northern Georgia, southern Russia), as well as the central and western parts of Hyrcania will be a core of the species range with suitable habitats and a high connectivity between M. orientalis populations and could work as major refugia for the studied species. However, in the Zagros and central Turkey, the potential range will shrink due to the lack of suitable climatic conditions, and the edge/core ratio will grow. In the southern part of the range, a decline of M. orientalis habitats is expected due to changing climatic conditions. The future outlook suggests that the Hyrcanian forest and the Caucasus region could serve as important refuges for M. orientalis. This study helps to understand spatial changes in species' range in response to climate change and can help develop conservation strategies. This is all the more important given the species' potential use in future breeding programs aimed at enriching the gene pool of cultivated apple varieties.

Letter re: Regulatory toxicology approaches in workplaces of Iran.

The objective of establishing occupational exposure limits (OELs) is to utilize them as a risk management tool, ensuring the protection of workers' health and well-being from hazardous substances present in the workplace. To regulate and develop an OEL, it is essential to conduct toxicological studies on both animals and humans, to determine the dose-response relationship for each chemical compound, and to determine whether the dose-response relationship is linear or non-linear. Because the OELs suggested by different organizations or countries are just the result of their scientific methods, knowledge, and judgment, this does not confirm the applicability in other countries. Therefore, it is not scientific and logical to imitate the permissible limits recommended in Western countries. In most Western Asian nations, there is a significant difference in the suggested OEL levels between the reference organizations, and in assessing and managing a specific situation's risk, using any of the proposed OELs can lead to contradictory results. Suggestions for the development and improvement of the basics of determining the OELs for chemical pollution in West Asian countries have been made.

Elevated dust depositions in West Asia linked to ocean-atmosphere shifts during North Atlantic cold events.

Rapid North Atlantic cooling events during the last deglaciation caused atmospheric reorganizations on global and regional scales. Their impact on Asian climate has been investigated for monsoonal domains, but remains largely unknown in westerly wind-dominated semiarid regions. Here we generate a dust record from southeastern Iran spanning the period 19 to 7 cal. ka B.P. We find a direct link between frequent occurrences of dust plumes originating from the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa and rapid southward shifts of the westerlies associated with changes of the winter stationary waves during Heinrich Stadial 1, the Younger Dryas, the Preboreal Oscillation, and the 8.2-ka event. Dust input rises and falls abruptly at the transitions into and out of these cooling events, which we attribute to changes in the ocean circulation strength that are modulated by the North Atlantic winter sea-ice cover. Our findings reveal that waxing and waning of North American ice sheets have a stronger influence than those of European ice sheets on the winter climate over West Asia.

Genetic diversity and evolutionary analyses of potyviruses infecting narcissus in Iran.

Potyviruses are among the most important pathogens of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous ornamentals and crop plants. In this study, leaf samples were collected from symptomatic narcissus plants and weeds in Fars and Tehran provinces of Iran. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using broad-spectrum potyvirus antibodies gave a positive reaction with 38 out of 61 narcissus samples tested (62.3%); the results were confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction using universal NIb primers, and for thirty samples, by sequencing and phylogenetic studies. The results suggested the infection of almost all positive samples with narcissus yellow stripe virus (NYSV); only one sample seemed to be infected with narcissus late season yellows virus (NLSYV). The 3'-end of the genome of the NLSYV isolate and six NYSV isolates, encompassing the complete coat protein gene, was amplified and sequenced using species-specific and universal potyvirus primers. Sequence analysis indicated the presence of NLSYV and NYSV, not previously identified from Western Asia. No evidence of recombination was found in Iranian isolates. Based on phylogenetic analyses, isolates of NLSYV and NYSV clustered into five and three phylogroups, respectively, where all the Iranian isolates fell into distinct subpopulations in groups NLSYV-I and NYSV-II. Multiple sequence alignments showed some phylogroup-specific amino acid substitutions for both viruses. Phylogroup IV and II populations had higher nucleotide diversities as compared with other populations of NLSYV and NYSV, respectively. Our findings revealed the presence of negative selection in the populations of both viruses. Almost no statistically significant gene flow was found between populations of these viruses. Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42161-021-00985-0.

Clinical and dermatoscopic characteristics of lichen planus-like keratosis in a West-Asian population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The clinical and dermatoscopic features of lichen planus-like keratosis have been described but the characteristics of this entity in a West-Asian population are not known. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 82 histopathologically verified cases of lichen planus-like keratosis from 81 patients from Iran and Turkey. RESULTS: The majority of lichen planus-like keratoses were macules (61% n = 50), clinically pigmented (67.1% n = 55) and dermatoscopically multi-coloured (91.5% n = 75). The majority (63.4%) had a single dermatoscopic pattern, most frequently: structureless (35.4%), dots (14.6%) and angulated lines (8.5%). Of the lesions with more than one pattern (n = 30), the majority (n = 21) had asymmetry of pattern, the most common combinations being structureless plus dots (n = 8) and structureless plus angulated lines (n = 5). The most common structure was pigmented dots, most frequently grey and present in 70.7% of cases. Vessels were seen in 30.5% of lesions, being significantly more prevalent in non-pigmented, than pigmented, lichen planus-like keratoses (83.3% vs. 21.4% P < 0.001). When we compared lichen planus-like keratosis in the current study to that entity in a large North American study, the statistically significant differences in a West-Asian population included a greater frequency of pigmented variants, a lower incidence in females and a lower prevalence on the torso, in favour of the face. CONCLUSIONS: Lichen planus-like keratosis in a West-Asian population has clinical and dermatoscopic similarities to that entity in another studied population. The significant differences in gender association and anatomical site may be secondary to cultural factors.

Positive selection in admixed populations from Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: In the process of adaptation of humans to their environment, positive or adaptive selection has played a main role. Positive selection has, however, been under-studied in African populations, despite their diversity and importance for understanding human history. RESULTS: Here, we have used 119 available whole-genome sequences from five Ethiopian populations (Amhara, Oromo, Somali, Wolayta and Gumuz) to investigate the modes and targets of positive selection in this part of the world. The site frequency spectrum-based test SFselect was applied to idfentify a wide range of events of selection (old and recent), and the haplotype-based statistic integrated haplotype score to detect more recent events, in each case with evaluation of the significance of candidate signals by extensive simulations. Additional insights were provided by considering admixture proportions and functional categories of genes. We identified both individual loci that are likely targets of classic sweeps and groups of genes that may have experienced polygenic adaptation. We found population-specific as well as shared signals of selection, with folate metabolism and the related ultraviolet response and skin pigmentation standing out as a shared pathway, perhaps as a response to the high levels of ultraviolet irradiation, and in addition strong signals in genes such as IFNA, MRC1, immunoglobulins and T-cell receptors which contribute to defend against pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Signals of positive selection were detected in Ethiopian populations revealing novel adaptations in East Africa, and abundant targets for functional follow-up.

Alkhurma Hemorrhagic Fever Virus RNA in Hyalomma rufipes Ticks Infesting Migratory Birds, Europe and Asia Minor.

Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus RNA was detected in immature Hyalomma rufipes ticks infesting northward migratory birds caught in the North Mediterranean Basin. This finding suggests a role for birds in the ecology of the Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus and a potential mechanism for dissemination to novel regions. Increased surveillance is warranted.

The HLA-net GENE[RATE] pipeline for effective HLA data analysis and its application to 145 population samples from Europe and neighbouring areas.

In this review, we present for the first time an integrated version of the Gene[rate] computer tools which have been developed during the last 5 years to analyse human leukocyte antigen (HLA) data in human populations, as well as the results of their application to a large dataset of 145 HLA-typed population samples from Europe and its two neighbouring areas, North Africa and West Asia, now forming part of the Gene[va] database. All these computer tools and genetic data are, from now, publicly available through a newly designed bioinformatics platform, HLA-net, here presented as a main achievement of the HLA-NET scientific programme. The Gene[rate] pipeline offers user-friendly computer tools to estimate allele and haplotype frequencies, to test Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), selective neutrality and linkage disequilibrium, to recode HLA data, to convert file formats, to display population frequencies of chosen alleles and haplotypes in selected geographic regions, and to perform genetic comparisons among chosen sets of population samples, including new data provided by the user. Both numerical and graphical outputs are generated, the latter being highly explicit and of publication quality. All these analyses can be performed on the pipeline after scrupulous validation of the population sample's characterisation and HLA typing reporting according to HLA-NET recommendations. The Gene[va] database offers direct access to the HLA-A, -B, -C, -DQA1, -DQB1, -DRB1 and -DPB1 frequencies and summary statistics of 145 population samples having successfully passed these HLA-NET 'filters', and representing three European subregions (South-East, North-East and Central-West Europe) and two neighbouring areas (North Africa, as far as Sudan, and West Asia, as far as South India). The analysis of these data, summarized in this review, shows a substantial genetic variation at the regional level in this continental area. These results have main implications for population genetics, transplantation and epidemiological studies.

Distribution of bat species in Western Asia: Occurrence records from the Western Asia Bat Research Network (WAB-Net) project.

Background: Western Asia represents a mixing pot of diverse bat species with distributions spanning across other geographic regions. Yet, relative to other regions, there is a significant gap in coordinated bat research in Western Asia, thereby resulting in a relatively limited number of curated occurrence records. New information: The Western Asia Bat Research Network (WAB-Net) project was created to strengthen research capacity and knowledge of the diversity and distribution of bat species in a little-studied region, as well as to collect data to characterise the diversity and prevalence of coronaviruses in diverse bat species. Over a four-year period (2018-2022), we documented 4,278 individual records for 41 bat species using a cross-sectional survey approach at 50 sites in seven Western Asian countries, specifically Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan and Turkiye. At each site, we captured, on average, 90 individual bats (range: 9-131) over multiple consecutive nights and used standardised methods to collect demographic and morphological data from captured individuals. We additionally completed a systematic evaluation of environmental characterisation and human-bat interactions at all 50 sites. Here, we report individual occurrence records and site conditions from this multi-country, multi-year sampling effort.

Exotic Animal Practice in West Asia/Middle East.

Middle East is a diverse and developing exotic animal market. Undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional development (CPD) education are noticeably absent except in few countries. Avian species are the most commonly kept due to traditional falconry or aviculture. Small mammal and reptile pet numbers are increasing. Endangered wildlife is still illegally kept and trafficked. Common diseases are similar to other continents related heavily with poor diet and husbandry due to uneducated, financially restrained, and prejudiced owners. There is a significant lack of board-certified specialists, teaching facilities, or dedicated private practitioners who thirst for CPD. Clinical research is absent except falcons.

Alcohol use, alcohol use disorder and heavy episodic drinking in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AMS: Despite the evident public health impact, the extent and patterns of alcohol use in the Eastern Mediterranean countries remain understudied. The latest estimation for the last 12-month use of alcohol in the region was 2.9% in 2016 by the World Health Organization. We reviewed the main indicators for alcohol consumption in the region since 2010. METHODS: We systematically searched on-line databases until September 2023, together with other global and regional sources for studies on the adult general population (aged ≥ 15 years) and young general populations (aged < 18 years) and studies on the treatment-seeking individuals with substance use in Eastern Mediterranean countries. Studies were included from 22 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. RESULTS: A total of 148 were included (n = 95 on the prevalence of alcohol use, n = 46 on the prevalence of alcohol use disorder, regular use and heavy episodic drinking, n = 35 on alcohol use pattern among people who use substances and one report on alcohol per capita consumption, n = 29 had data for more than one category). The pooled prevalence of the last 12-month alcohol use in the adult general population was 9.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 6.4-13.7] among males, 2.8% (95% CI = 1.3-5.5\) among females and 6.2% (95% CI = 3.9-9.6) in both sexes in the region, with notable subregional variations. Data on the prevalence of alcohol use disorder and heavy drinking were limited to several countries, with heterogeneous indicators. The pooled estimate of alcohol as the primary substance of use among treatment-seeking people who used substances was 16.9% (95% CI = 8.8-26.9). CONCLUSIONS: More than 30 million adults in the Eastern Mediterranean region used alcohol in the last 12 months, with a prevalence of 6.2%. This is far fewer than the global estimate of 43% of the population aged 15 years and above, but is approximately two times more than the previous estimate (2.9%), reported by the World Health Organization in 2016, which might show an increasing trend.

Vaccine research and development capacity in Central and West Asia: A path toward sustainable vaccine R&D programs.

The ability to support a comprehensive vaccine research and development (R&D) portfolio from a health security perspective has taken on enhanced significance over the past 3 years whereby countries that had existing vaccine R&D infrastructure (G7, Russia and China) have been at the forefront of global efforts to combat COVID-19. Few countries outside of these key players have the infrastructure necessary to develop national vaccine programs, though this is beginning to change with investment across many low- and middle-income countries. These same opportunities exist for countries in Central and West Asia, and in this perspective, we highlight the existing infrastructure and expertise across seven countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) and propose opportunities for enhanced collaboration along with a bold proposal for establishing a new-build, regional vaccine translational research institute to facilitate the development of a robust, regional vaccine R&D environment to combat existing and future health challenges.

Origins of East Caucasus Gene Pool: Contributions of Autochthonous Bronze Age Populations and Migrations from West Asia Estimated from Y-Chromosome Data.

The gene pool of the East Caucasus, encompassing modern-day Azerbaijan and Dagestan populations, was studied alongside adjacent populations using 83 Y-chromosome SNP markers. The analysis of genetic distances among 18 populations (N = 2216) representing Nakh-Dagestani, Altaic, and Indo-European language families revealed the presence of three components (Steppe, Iranian, and Dagestani) that emerged in different historical periods. The Steppe component occurs only in Karanogais, indicating a recent medieval migration of Turkic-speaking nomads from the Eurasian steppe. The Iranian component is observed in Azerbaijanis, Dagestani Tabasarans, and all Iranian-speaking peoples of the Caucasus. The Dagestani component predominates in Dagestani-speaking populations, except for Tabasarans, and in Turkic-speaking Kumyks. Each component is associated with distinct Y-chromosome haplogroup complexes: the Steppe includes C-M217, N-LLY22g, R1b-M73, and R1a-M198; the Iranian includes J2-M172(×M67, M12) and R1b-M269; the Dagestani includes J1-Y3495 lineages. We propose J1-Y3495 haplogroup's most common lineage originated in an autochthonous ancestral population in central Dagestan and splits up ~6 kya into J1-ZS3114 (Dargins, Laks, Lezgi-speaking populations) and J1-CTS1460 (Avar-Andi-Tsez linguistic group). Based on the archeological finds and DNA data, the analysis of J1-Y3495 phylogeography suggests the growth of the population in the territory of modern-day Dagestan that started in the Bronze Age, its further dispersal, and the microevolution of the diverged population.

Disjunction and Vicariance Between East and West Asia: A Case Study on Euonymus sect. Uniloculares Based on Plastid Genome Analysis.

Scientists have long been captivated by biogeographic disjunctions, and disjunctions between East Asia and North America have been particularly well-studied at the genus and family levels. By contrast, disjunctions between eastern and western Asia have received less attention. Euonymus L. is taxonomically divided into two sections based on the number of cells in anthers as follows: E. sect. Uniloculares has one-celled anthers and occurs mainly in Asia, whereas E. sect. Biloculares has two-celled anthers and is distributed globally. We used Illumina sequencing to investigate the genomes of four species in sect. Uniloculares. The chloroplast (cp) genomes are highly conserved (157,290-158,094 bp). Pseudogenisation of ndhF and intron loss in rps16 was detected. Based on the cp genomes of the four species of E. sect. Uniloculares, we propose a novel hypothesis of disjunction between eastern and western Asia. Biogeographic reconstruction and molecular dating revealed that sect. Uniloculares separated from its sect. Biloculares forebears 4.0 Mya during the Pliocene era. The radial diversification of sect. Uniloculares from East Asia and the establishment of the western Asian clade during the Pleistocene era (1.9 Mya) were the results of both dispersal and vicariance, making the section the youngest diverged clade conforming to age estimation. The centre of origin of sect. Uniloculares was determined to be in East Asia. Disjunctions and diversification between eastern and western Asia in sect. Uniloculares are thought to have been caused by changes in monsoon patterns, temperature variations, and the emergence of the Gobi Desert.

A Journey to the West: The Ancient Dispersal of Rice Out of East Asia.

Rice is one of the most culturally valued and widely grown crops in the world today, and extensive research over the past decade has clarified much of the narrative of its domestication and early spread across East and South Asia. However, the timing and routes of its dispersal into West Asia and Europe, through which rice eventually became an important ingredient in global cuisines, has remained less clear. In this article, we discuss the piecemeal, but growing, archaeobotanical data for rice in West Asia. We also integrate written sources, linguistic data, and ethnohistoric analogies, in order to better understand the adoption of rice outside its regions of origin. The human-mediated westward spread of rice proceeded gradually, while its social standing and culinary uses repeatedly changing over time and place. Rice was present in West Asia and Europe by the tail end of the first millennium BC, but did not become a significant crop in West Asia until the past few centuries. Complementary historical, linguistic, and archaeobotanical data illustrate two separate and roughly contemporaneous routes of westward dispersal, one along the South Asian coast and the other through Silk Road trade. By better understanding the adoption of this water-demanding crop in the arid regions of West Asia, we explore an important chapter in human adaptation and agricultural decision making.

Post-Stroke Psychiatric and Cognitive Symptoms in West Asia, South Asia and Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Recent research has shown that the prevalence of stroke incidents and the number of survivors in developing countries surpass those from developed countries. This study aimed to enumerate the prevalence of post-stroke psychiatric and cognitive symptoms among stroke survivors from West and South Asia and Africa through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data from each country was systematically acquired from five major databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar (for any missing articles and grey literature)). Meta-analytic techniques were then used to estimate the prevalence of various post-stoke psychiatric and cognitive symptoms. A total of 36 articles were accrued from 11 countries, of which 25 were evaluated as part of the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of post-stroke depression as per the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ranged from 28.00 to 50.24%. Pooled prevalence of post-stroke anxiety based on the HADS and SCAN was 44.19% and 10.96%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of post-stroke cognitive impairment as per the Mini-Mental Status Examination was 16.76%. This present review has suggested that both psychiatric and cognitive symptoms are common among stroke survivors. Concerted efforts are needed to institute robust studies using culturally sensitive measures to contemplate mechanisms that address the unmet needs of this vulnerable population.

Geophilomorpha from Alborz Mountains and a checklist of Chilopoda from Iran.

This study presents an updated checklist of centipedes (Chilopoda) from Iran based on a review of the literature and recently examined specimens of Geophilomorpha collected from many sites in the Alborz Mountains. The centipedes of Iran comprise 48 species, of which 17 species have so far only been reported from Iran. Many species are known from a single locality, and only from specimens of a single sex. Species of the geophilomorph genera Clinopodes and Strigamia are here reported from Iran for the first time. The checklist includes all published geographical distribution data from Iran and a comparison with the centipede fauna of neighboring countries using the Jaccard index. The Iranian centipede fauna is still scantily known and further investigations are expected to contribute substantially, especially because of the diverse physiography of the country.

Vertagopus (Collembola, Isotomidae) of Iran and Caucasus.

The materials on the genus Vertagopus Börner from the Caucasus and Iran are revised. Two new species, V. persicus sp. nov. and V. nunataki sp. nov., are described and fauna of the genus in the Western Asia is commented.

Dynamics of prevalence and distribution pattern of avian Plasmodium species and its vectors in diverse zoogeographical areas - A review.

Avian Plasmodium is of special interest to health care scientists and veterinarians due to the potency of causing avian malaria in non-adapted birds and their evolutionary phylogenetic relationship with human malaria species. This article aimed to provide a comprehensive list of the common avian Plasmodium parasites in the birds and mosquitoes, to specify the common Plasmodium species and lineages in the selected regions of West of Asia, East of Europe, and North of Africa/Middle East, and to determine the contribution of generalist and host-specific Plasmodium species and lineages. The final list of published infected birds includes 146 species, among which Passer domesticus was the most prevalent in the studied areas. The species of Acrocephalus arundinaceus and Sylvia atricapilla were reported as common infected hosts in the examined regions of three continents. The highest numbers of common species of infected birds between continent pairs were from Asia and Europe, and no common record was found from Europe and Africa. The species of Milvus migrans and Upupa epops were recorded as common species from Asia and Africa. The lineage of GRW11 and species of P. relictum were the most prevalent parasites among all the infection records in birds. The most prevalent genus of vectors of avian malaria belonged to Culex and species of Cx. pipiens. The lineage SGS1 with the highest number of occurrence has been found in various vectors comprising Cx. pipiens, Cx. modestus, Cx. theileri, Cx. sasai, Cx. perexiguus, Lutzia vorax, and Culicoides alazanicus. A total of 31 Plasmodium species and 59 Plasmodium lineages were recorded from these regions. SGS1, GRW04, and GRW11, and P. relictum and P. vaughani are specified as common generalist avian malaria parasites from these three geographic areas. The presence of avian Plasmodium parasites in distant geographic areas and various hosts may be explained by the movement of the infected birds through the migration routes. Although most recorded lineages were from Asia, investigating the distribution of lineages in some of the countries has not been done. Thus, the most important outcome of this review is the determination of the distribution pattern of parasite and vector species that shed light on gaps requiring further studies on the monitoring of avian Plasmodium and common vectors extension. This task could be achieved through scientific field and laboratory networking, performing active surveillance and designing regional/continental control programs of birds' malaria and other zoonotic diseases.

Current Malaria Situation in Asia-Oceania.

Asia-Oceania is a diverse region that comprises roughly 65% of the global population at risk for malaria. In 2016 WHO estimated the number of malaria cases across the Asia-Oceania to be 17 million, which is only a small part (8%) of the total global malaria burden, and the number of cases is shrinking rapidly. Most countries have brought their cases down to the point where elimination is in sight. Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) is becoming the dominant malaria species in many of those countries, where malaria occurs in hot spots of transmission frequently along international borders. The challenge is now to concentrate on those areas. This chapter reviews the situation in various areas of the Region and focuses on a number of important issues, including the prevalence of P. vivax and drug-resistant malaria.