Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Keeping track of the enemy : Flight analyses of the host-seeking malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae s.s

Female mosquitoes can transmit pathogens to their host during blood feeding and are an important vector of human diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, filariasis and malaria. After 15 years of decline in the number of fatal malaria cases, this decline came to a halt in 2016. Growing resistance against drugs and insecticides pose a serious threat for future human health. This thesis focuses on the behaviour of host-seeking malaria mosquitoes by analysing their flight paths during their approach to different host cues. Fundamental knowledge on the role of selected host cues was acquired. In addition, studies to support successful implementation of vector control interventions were performed in both wind-tunnel settings and the semi-field in Kenya. My research demonstrates that automated tracking systems can strengthen behavioural-ecological studies on disease vectors, in addition to conventional bio-assays such as olfactometers, by providing detailed information on the approach behaviour of mosquitoes to different targets. The attraction towards the host-sensory cue CO2 was investigated in an olfactometer bioassay. Trap catches of female Anopheles gambiae s.s. were enhanced by separation of the CO2 source from the source of human skin emanations. Close-range deterrent effects of CO2 were overcome by the simultaneous presence of skin emanations. Flight path analysis of mosquitoes in a wind tunnel, showed that exposure to human odour resulted in prolonged and highly convoluted flight tracks. The combination of odour with heat was crucial to induce landings of host-seeking mosquitoes. A semi-field study in Kenya revealed that house-entering mosquitoes approached the eave of a house in a wide angle to the house at eave level, where the proportion that entered uninterruptedly (23%) spent just a few seconds around the eave area. The presence of insecticide-treated nets inside a house did not repel mosquitoes as measured by the number of house entries. At close range, in a wind tunnel, free-flight exposure of mosquitoes to deltamethrin-treated nets in combination with human odour did not reveal any (excito-) repellent effect and resulted in lower mortality rates compared to standard bioassays where contact with the treated material is enforced. The knowledge obtained on the behavioural responses of mosquitoes to host cues has indirectly affected vector control tool implementations in the field. For example, in the development of an odour-baited trap, a CO2 release pipe was included that is separated from the attractive odour plume. The role of heat was exploited in the development of a repellent bioassay and a heat source was added to another trap model. Insights in house-entry behaviour and mosquito responses to bed nets support the successful implementation of push-pull systems, installation of eave tubes or implementing house improvement operations to reduce malaria transmission. An integrated vector management approach is required to further develop existing control tools by adding and improving alternative intervention techniques.
Comparison of uniaxial and triaxial accelerometer outputs among individuals with and without Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND Using uniaxial accelerometry approach in measuring physical activity levels of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) might underestimate their energy expenditure due to the unique mediolateral walking pattern. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine and compare the relationship between two types of accelerometer outputs, uniaxial and triaxial, and energy expenditure in individuals with and without DS. METHODS Eighteen participants with DS and 19 participants without DS wore a GT3X+ accelerometer and a portable metabolic system in three different walking conditions. RESULTS Correlations between V ̇ O 2 and each of the two accelerometer outputs (uniaxial: r = 0.75, triaxial: r = 0.75) were not significantly different among individuals without DS (z = 0.14, P = 0.89); however, significant differences in the relationship between V ̇ O 2 and accelerometer outputs (uniaxial: r = 0.53, triaxial: r = 0.64) were observed among individuals with DS (z = -1.72, P < 0.046). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that when using accelerometers to measure physical activity levels for individuals with DS, triaxial outputs may better predict physical activity levels.
Role for Drug Transporters in Chemotherapy‐Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and dose‐limiting toxicity to widely used chemotherapeutics. Although the exact molecular mechanism of chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy remains elusive, there is consensus that it is caused by damage to the peripheral nervous system leading to sensory symptoms. Recently developed methodologies have provided evidence of expression of drug transporters in the peripheral nervous system. In this literature review, we explore the role for drug transporters in CIPN. First, we assessed the transport of chemotherapeutics that cause CIPN (taxanes, platins, vincristine, bortezomib, epothilones, and thalidomide). Second, we cross‐referenced the transporters implicated in genetic or functional studies with CIPN with their expression in the peripheral nervous system. Several drug transporters are involved in the transport of chemotherapeutics that cause peripheral neuropathy and particularly efflux transporters, such as ABCB1 and ABCC1, are expressed in the peripheral nervous system. Previous literature has linked genetic variants in efflux transporters to higher risk of peripheral neuropathy with the taxanes paclitaxel and docetaxel and the vinca alkaloid vincristine. We propose that this might be due to accumulation of the chemotherapeutics in the peripheral nervous system due to reduced neuronal efflux capacity. Thus, concomitant administration of efflux transporter inhibitors may lead to higher risk of adverse events of drugs that cause CIPN. This might prove valuable in drug development where screening new drugs for neurotoxicity might also require drug transporter consideration. There are ongoing efforts targeting drug transporters in the peripheral nervous system to reduce intraneuronal concentrations of chemotherapeutics that cause CIPN, which might ultimately protect against this dose‐limiting adverse event.
Psycho-social impact of malocclusion in adolescents in Kosovo.

OBJECTIVE To assess the psychosocial impact of malocclusion, establish its association with the severity of malocclusion and determine the effects of gender and age in such association. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS 400 adolescents aged between 12-15 years were randomly selected. Each participant was examined for malocclusion and categorized according to Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). The Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) was used to assess the psychosocial impact of malocclusion. RESULTS Significant differences were noted between PIDAQ subscales, and grades of malocclusion assessed by IOTN and DAI (p⟨0.05). Gender differences were noted in Dental Self Confidence (DSC), Social Impact (SI) and Psychological Impact (PI) for the same severity of malocclusion (p⟨0.05). IOTN-DHC predicted the total and subscales of PIDAQ scores. Gender and age were the independent predictive variables of the relationship between the PIDAQ scores and the IOTN-DHC grades for the DSC and AC subscales. Gender independently predicted psychological impact. CONCLUSION Severity of malocclusion, gender and age were related to impacts on the psychosocial wellbeing of participants. Overall, females and older participants experienced worse psychosocial impact.
EMMA LIGHTFOOT / PRESTON T. MIRACLE / DINKO RADIĆ / MARIO ŠLAUS / TAMSIN C. O’CONNELL STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS OF HUMAN DIETS DURING THE MESOLITHIC AND NEOLITHIC PERIODS AT VELA SPILA CAVE, KORČULA

Presented here are the results of stable isotope analyses from Vela Spila, Korčula. Forty faunal samples and four human samples were taken from the Mesolithic layers, and one infant from the Neolithic layers. The results indicate that in the Mesolithic period human diet was based largely on terrestrial resources with a small contribution from marine protein. This is in contrast to the zooarchaeological data which indicates a heavy reliance on marine resources. As the site is thought to have been seasonally occupied, however, these two datasets provide complementary information; while occupying Vela Spila people concentrated on marine resources but during the remainder of the seasonal round their subsistence must have relied upon terrestrial foodstuffs. Comparing the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, the isotope results echo the zooarchaeological analysis in that there is a decrease in the consumption of marine protein in the Neolithic.
Microtubules stabilize intercellular contractile force transmission during tissue folding

During development, forces transmitted between cells are critical for sculpting epithelial tissues. Actomyosin contractility in the middle of the cell apex (medioapical) can change cell shape (e.g., apical constriction), but can also result in force transmission between cells via attachments to adherens junctions. How actomyosin networks maintain attachments to adherens junctions under tension is poorly understood. Here, we discovered that microtubules stabilize actomyosin intercellular attachments in epithelia during Drosophila mesoderm invagination. First, we used live imaging to show a novel arrangement of the microtubule cytoskeleton during apical constriction: medioapical, non-centrosomal Patronin (CAMSAP) foci formed by actomyosin contraction organizes an apical microtubule network. Microtubules were required for mesoderm invagination but were not necessary for apical contractility or adherens junction assembly. Instead, microtubules promoted the stable connection between medioapical actomyosin and adherens junctions. These results define a role for coordination between actin and microtubule cytoskeletal systems in intercellular force transmission and tissue morphogenesis.
MICROWAVE CURING OF RTM PRODUCED POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES

The aim of this study was to reduce the curing time for glass and carbon fiber epoxy composites significantly. The curing time was reduced to only about one hour by the combination of microwave heating and resin transfer molding compared to at least 6 hours for conventional curing of the same material. No statistically significant differences between flexural strength and flexural modulus of microwave cured samples and conventionally cured samples were obtained. Microwave curing shows a high potential to improve efficiency of fiber composite processing without negatively affecting the mechanical properties.
THE THIRD DIMENSION IN URBAN GEOGRAPHY

A new methodology is presented that measures density in urban systems. By combining highly detailed height measurements with, amongst others, topographical data we are able to quantify urban volume. This new approach is tested in two separate case studies that respectively relate to the temporal and spatial dimension of the urban environment. In the first study the growth of the city of Amsterdam over the past century is studied. The urban volume indicator is used to visualise and quantify the urban extension and intensification process. To critically analyse the spatio-temporal development of Amsterdam the self-organizing map approach is applied. Special attention is given to highlighting any signs of recent polynuclear development. The second case study compares the building height frequency and spatial distribution of high-density zones in the four major Dutch cities. Additionally, the presence of built-up areas and the actual urban volume values are simultaneously explained with a Heckman selection model.
INTERACTION OF SALINITY AND BORON IN WHEAT AFFECTS PHYSIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES, GROWTH AND ACTIVITY OF ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES

Salinity is a serious problem affecting plant growth and crop yields around the globe (Esfandiari et al., 2007). Salinity affects plant growth by increasing osmotic potential of soil solution and thus decreasing water availability to plants; specific effects of some ions such as Na, Cl when present in high concentrations and oxidative stress (Yamaguchi and Blumwald, 2005). Salinity also affects physiological processes in plants such as photosynthesis by decreasing stomatal conductance (SC) and transpiration and distressing the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments (Sairam et al., 2005; Faried et al., 2016; Parveen et al., 2016). Boron is essential plant nutrient required for normal growth of plants. Boron is frequently associated with other salts and its high concentration is commonly found in irrigation water and soils of arid regions (Nable et al., 1997). The toxicity of B is an important disorder that negatively affects physiological processes in plants such as decreased root and shoot growth (Masood et al., 2012), inhibited photosynthesis (Guidi et al., 2011), reduced SC (Sheng et al., 2009), lipids peroxidation and modified activities of antioxidant enzymes (Keles et al., 2004). The photosynthetic transport of electrons is disrupted owing to salinity and B toxicity leading to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Molassiotis et al., 2006). Hot water soluble B concentration of 5 mg kg or more in soil is considered toxic for plants (Nable et al., 1997). The crop plants encounter simultaneous stresses of salinity and B toxicity when they are either irrigated with high B and salts containing water or grown in soils with naturally occurring salinity and high B. Both of these conditions usually occur in semi-arid and arid regions having low rainfall and poor drainage (Nable et al., 1997). Irrigation with high B containing saline groundwater is practiced worldwide (Wimmer et al., 2003). Salinity and B toxicity in combination, affect photosynthesis in plants by disrupting the photosynthetic pigment’s biosynthesis and also affect membrane functions (Karabal et al., 2003). Salinity and B toxicity limits growth and yield of many crops including wheat (Grieve and Poss, 2000). Boron tolerance mechanism is not clearly understood and documented particularly under saline conditions. Pak. J. Agri. Sci., Vol. 55(2), 339-347; 2018 ISSN (Print) 0552-9034, ISSN (Online) 2076-0906 DOI: 10.21162/PAKJAS/18.5549 http://www.pakjas. com.pk
Evolution and genetics of antiviral immunity in Drosophila

v Lay Summary . vii Acknowledgements . viii Chapter 1: General Introduction . 1 1.1 Antiviral immunity in Drosophila . 1 1.2 Host-virus coevolution in Drosophila . 5 1.3 DNA viruses of Drosophila . 9 1.4 Thesis Aims . 13 Chapter 2: Variation and evolution of the Glutamine-rich repeat region of Argonaute-2 . 15 2.1 Abstract . 15 2.2 Introduction . 15 2.3 Methods . 18 2.4 Results . 23 2.5 Discussion . 31 Chapter 3: Adaptive evolution of RNAi genes in invertebrates . 34 3.1 Abstract . 34 3.2 Introduction . 35 3.3 Materials and Methods . 37 3.4 Results . 51 3.5 Discussion . 62 Chapter 4: Isolation of a Drosophila DNA virus and characterization of resistance and immune responses . 67 4.1 Abstract . 67 4.2 Introduction . 68 4.3 Materials and Methods . 70 4.5 Results and Discussion . 79 Chapter 5: Induction and suppression of NF-κB signalling by a DNA virus of Drosophila . 96 5.1 Abstract . 96 5.2 Introduction . 96 5.3 Materials and Methods . 99 5.4 Results and Discussion . 105
Molecular assessment of maize inbred lines (Zea mays L.) Using microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity analysis and germplasm characterization are essential steps in plant breeding and molecular markers are proved tool to accomplish. The present study was undertaken at the Molecular Breeding Lab of Plant Breeding Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) to determine the genetic relatedness and molecular characterization of 15 maize inbred lines of BARI. In present study, genetic diversity analysis was performed by using 10 SSR primers to evaluate the polymorphisms, among them six primers showed distinct polymorphism between the maize inbred lines. The maize genotypes E81, E144, E08, E167, E102, E142 and E121 were found more diverged (0.9003) compared to other inbred lines. On the other hand, the lowest genetic distance values (0.1501) were found between the genotype E140 and genotype E80 followed by genotype E126 and genotype E140; genotype E140 and genotype E65; genotype E65 and genotype E80 values were identical (0.4502). The genotypes viz. E81, E144, E08, E167, E102, E142 and E121 were found far away from centroid of the cluster and rest of the genotypes were placed around the centroid. The Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCO) helped to visualize four major clusters and showed that seven maize inbred lines (E81, E58, E08, E167, E102, E142 and E121) were far away from the other genotypes. In conclusion, SSR markers enabled discrimination among accessions and provided valuable information for future use in improvement of these genomic resources.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 43(4): 533-542, December 2018
Personnel Management and School Productivity: Evidence from India

This paper uses new data to study school management and productivity in India. We report four main results. First, management quality in public schools is low, and ~2σ below high-income countries with comparable data. Second, private schools have higher management quality, driven by much stronger people management. Third, people management quality is correlated with both independent measures of teaching practice, as well as school productivity measured by student value added. Fourth, private school teacher pay is positively correlated with teacher effectiveness, and better managed private schools are more likely to retain more effective teachers. Neither pattern is seen in public schools.
IN VITRO EVALUATION OF THE ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF RHIZOME EXTRACTS OF CURCUMA LONGA (LINN.)

Objective: The current study was carried out to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of the rhizome extract of Curcuma longa as an alternative source of effective remedies for nematodiasis.Methods: The anthelmintic activity of the C. longa was assessed in vitro against Haemonchus spp. , a gastrointestinal (abomasum) parasite of goats. Different concentrations of the extracts (1 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, and 10 mg/mL) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were tested, and the results expressed in terms of time of paralysis (minute) and time of death (minute) of the worms. Albendazole (1 mg/mL) was used as a reference (positive control) and PBS as a control group (negative control). Results: The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract (ME) of the plant disclosed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenol, anthraquinone, and carbohydrates; whereas, the aqueous extract (AE) showed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrate, flavonoids, and saponins. Both ME and AE of the C. longa (rhizome) expressed significant efficacy (p≤0.05) in causing paralysis as well as the death of the worms within 12 h of exposure at all tested concentrations, as compared to the negative control. The rhizome extracts of C. longa showed dose-dependent efficacy in causing paralysis of the worm motility and the final progression to death. The results showed that the ME at 10 mg/mL was significantly more potent (p≤0.05) over the AE.Conclusions: This study concluded that the rhizome extract of C. longa exhibited potent anthelmintic efficacy against the nematode parasite, Haemonchus spp.
Effectiveness of an information booklet on knowledge regarding asthma management among parents of children suffering from asthma at AIIMS, Jodhpur, India

J Nurs Res Pract Vol 4 No 4 September 2020 Nursing Student, College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India; Associate Professor, College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India; Additional Professor, College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India; Lecturer, College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India; Principle, College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
A Fully Bayesian, Logistic Regression Tracking Algorithm for Mitigating Disparate Misclassification

We develop a fully Bayesian, logistic tracking algorithm with the purpose of providing classification results that are unbiased when applied uniformly to individuals with differing sensitive variable values. Here, we consider bias in the form of differences in false prediction rates between the different sensitive variable groups. Given that the method is fully Bayesian, it is well suited for situations where group parameters or logistic regression coefficients are dynamic quantities. We illustrate our method, in comparison to others, on both simulated datasets and the well-known ProPublica COMPAS dataset.
A Method for Monitoring Meteorological Drought at Daily Scale

Drought is difficult to monitor, and various indexes have been proposed to detect the drought as well as flood (e.g., Dracup et al. 1980, Wilhite and Glantz 1985, Keyantash and Dracup 2002, Redmond 2002, Svoboda et al. 2002). The index previously widely used in the United States is the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) (e.g., Palmer 1965, Karl and Knight 1985, Heddinghaus and Sabol 1991), which is based on the anomalies of the supply and demand components in the water balance equation. In addition to precipitation, the PDSI also needs to use temperature and other local hydrological quantities. It has been found that the PDSI has many significant limitations (e.g., Alley 1984, Karl and Knight 1985, Smith et al. 1993, Willeke et al. 1994, Kogan 1995, McKee et al. 1995, Guttman 1998) and is not satisfied in the operational monitoring (e.g., Hayes et al. 1999). Mo and Chelliah (2006) made some modifications to improve the PDSI.
Identification of Cyclospora and Isospora from Diarrheic Patients in the Philippines

Both Cyclospora and Isospora belongs to family Eimeridae, subphylum apicomplexa, which are closely related to cryptosporidium. Like the latter, both are implicated as etiologic agents of diarrhea in immunocompromised persons, particularly patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Cyclospora, first observed in humans in Papua New Guinea (Ashford 1979), has been isolated from humans worldwide since 1985 with increasing frequency (Marshall et al. 1997). Isospora belli was first described in 1915 (Marshall et al. 1997) and is the only species of Isospora known to infect humans. It has been reported in tropical areas of south America and southeast Asia (Wittner et al. 1993), and has also been associated with diarrhea outbreaks in mental wards and day care centers (Marshall et al. 1997).