Efficient hepatitis C virus particle formation requires diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is closely tied to the lipid metabolism of liver cells. Here we identify the triglyceride-synthesizing enzyme diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1) as a key host factor for HCV infection. DGAT1 interacts with the viral nucleocapsid core and is required for the trafficking of core to lipid droplets. Inhibition of DGAT1 activity or RNAi-mediated knockdown of DGAT1 severely impairs infectious virion production, implicating DGAT1 as a new target for antiviral therapy

Mosaic Swarm Robotics: Emulating Natural Collective Behaviors for Efficient Task Execution with Custom Mobile Robots

Mosaics, as an artistic expression, involves the meticulous arrangement of diverse tiles to form a unified composition. Drawing inspiration from this concept, the field of swarm robotics seeks to emulate nature’s collective behaviors observed in ant colonies, fish schools, and bird flocks, employing multiple agents to accomplish tasks efficiently. Our research explores the concept of mosaic swarm robotics, where numerous nodes with specialized functions are deployed across various domains, including applications for outdoor data capture and environment mapping. We utilized custom mobile robots operated by Raspberry Pi microcontrollers. By establishing an elaborate web of client-to-client communications to enable true localized swarm interactions needed to procure a robust and adaptable system that can be operated through clustering techniques and wireless sensor networking. This research aims to localize swarm navigation through ArUco markers to accurately track the position of a robot in a collaborative environment. The foundational algorithms developed will not only serve the immediate purpose but also pave the way for future applications, extending to drone systems to facilitate seamless collaboration across multiple domains

Liens entre changements de pratiques et performances pour évaluer la transition agroécologique dans les systèmes d'élevage laitiers à l'Ouest du Burkina Faso

Les producteurs de lait de l'ouest du Burkina Faso font évoluer leur système de production pour répondre à l'augmentation de la demande en lait. La transition agroécologique semble être à favoriser pour accroitre durablement la production de lait. Pour accompagner les producteurs dans une transition agroécologique et durable, il est important de comprendre au préalable les processus de changement et de tracer l'évolution des performances des ateliers laitiers au regard de l'agroécologie. Un cadre d'analyse a été développé : i) pour caractériser des trajectoires des exploitations en déterminant les changements de pratiques intervenus entre 2 périodes de 2000 à 2017, et ii) pour mesurer leurs performances au regard de l'agroécologie. La diversité des trajectoires de ces systèmes d'élevage a été analysée sur un échantillon raisonné de vingt exploitations laitières. Une Analyse en Correspondances Multiples (ACM) a été réalisée en prenant en compte 13 variables caractérisant les pratiques d'élevage. Un deuxième passage d'enquête a été fait chez 6 éleveurs pour évaluer les performances des exploitations en termes de productivité, d'efficience, d'autonomie, et de résilience. Les résultats de l'ACM montrent deux profils de trajectoire. Le premier profil de trajectoire (7n) semble correspondre à des exploitations en voie d'intensification et de spécialisation laitière. Il se caractérise par : i) par le recours accru aux aliments et par une réduction du pâturage, ii) un abandon des races locales et régionales pour des vaches de type métis, et iii) un abandon de la monte naturelle pour la synchronisation hormonale et l'insémination artificielle. Une exploitation représentative de ce profil présente entre les deux périodes étudiées : i) une augmentation de la production laitière de 389 à 3425 litres / vache / an, ii) une augmentation de la part de lait produit en saison sèche de 28 à 66 % de la production totale, iii) des coûts de production en augmentation de 12 à 645 FCFA/litre de lait. Le second profil s'inscrit davantage dans une transition agroécologique. Il correspond à des exploitations qui maintiennent un système d'élevage diversifié (n12). Ce profil se caractérise par : i) des pratiques d'allotement des vaches traites pour mieux contrôler leur alimentation, ii) par un recours accru aux aliments concentrés (tourteau de coton, son de maïs) ainsi qu'aux fourrages autoproduits et achetés, et iii) le maintien des races locales. Une exploitation représentative de ce profil a ainsi augmenté : i) la distribution d'aliment concentré de 0 à 320 kg de matière sèche(MS)/vache laitière et fourrage de 0 à 280 kgMS/vache traite/an, ii) la part de lait produit en saison sèche de 19 à 49 % de la production totale, iii) la productivité laitière globale de 354 à 392 litres de lait/vache traite/an, iv) les coûts de production de 9 à 106 FCFA/litre. La présence continue de vaches laitières dans les exploitations familiales a contribué à l'amélioration de l'intégration agriculture-élevage, en raison de leur capacité à fournir 50% des besoins de fertilisation organique des cultures. En conclusion, les profils d'exploitations présentent des situations, des évolutions, et des performances très contrastées en termes de transition agroécologique. Pour répondre à la demande en lait des laiteries en quantité et en régularité, les exploitations du profil 1 ont opté pour la spécialisation laitière et un schéma d'intensification qui les rend fortement dépendantes des intrants du marché, d'une génétique qu'il ne maitrise pas (recours à des races européennes sans schéma de sélection), une gestion des effluents souvent négligée, et le bien-être animal sacrifié (élevage hors sol ou forte concentration d'animaux en stabulation). A l'opposée, les exploitations du profil 2 présentent des systèmes d'élevages diversifiés à orientation laitière, s'appuient sur des savoirs traditionnels, des races locales, et valorisent les ressources locales. Cependant, les niveaux de production de ces systèmes d'élevage restent limités. Plusieurs schémas d'évolution des systèmes d'élevage laitiers sont à l'oeuvre, et il est important de bien comprendre leurs modalités, leurs déterminants et de tracer l'évolution de leurs performances pour accompagner ces exploitations dans la transition agroécologique

Deer Management Strategy Recommendations for the Town of Hamilton, NY

Given the data collected through our surveys of the local deer population and the Hamilton community (Baez et al. 2013, Halper et al. 2013, Jensen et al. 2013), it is clear that deer are overabundant in the Town of Hamilton, NY. In addition, deer are producing negative impacts on both the ecosystem and the Hamilton community. We used these data and our review of case studies taking place in similar areas to create the following comprehensive report of our management recommendations to reduce Hamilton’s deer population. Our first and most fundamental recommendation is the creation of a deer-focused working group that continues to monitor the population. This working group would be committed to deciding upon and implementing scientifically-based and socially-responsible deer management strategies

A Test of the Psychometric Characteristics of the BIS-Brief Among Three Groups of Youth

The current study empirically investigates the relationships between the Dark Triad personality traits and cyber-aggression among adolescents (14–18 year old). The sample consisted of 324 participants aged 14–18 (M = 16.05, SD = 1.31). Participants completed the Short Dark Triad (SD3) as a measure of the Dark Triad personality traits, the Facebook Intensity Scale and a scale to measure cyber-aggression. Structural equation modelling was applied to investigate the relationships. Results show that only Facebook intensity and psychopathy significantly predict cyber-aggression, when controlling for age and gender. Findings are discussed regarding the potential importance to further study Dark Triad traits, and psychopathy in particular, in the context of adolescent cyber-aggression

Burden of sickle cell trait and disease in the Uganda Sickle Surveillance Study (US3): a cross-sectional study

Background Sickle cell disease contributes substantially to mortality in children younger than 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, 20 000 babies per year are thought to be born with sickle cell disease, but accurate data are not available. We did the cross-sectional Uganda Sickle Surveillance Study to assess the burden of disease. Methods The primary objective of the study was to calculate prevalence of sickle cell trait and disease. We obtained punch samples from dried blood spots routinely collected from HIV-exposed infants in ten regions and 112 districts across Uganda for the national Early Infant Diagnosis programme. Haemoglobin electrophoresis by isoelectric focusing was done on all samples to identify those from babies with sickle trait or disease. Findings Between February, 2014, and March, 2015, 99 243 dried blood spots were analysed and results were available for 97 631. The overall number of children with sickle cell trait was 12 979 (13·3%) and with disease was 716 (0·7%). Sickle cell numbers ranged from 631 (4·6%) for trait and 23 (0·2%) for disease of 13 649 in the South Western region to 1306 (19·8%) for trait and 96 (1·5%) for disease of 6581 in the East Central region. Sickle cell trait was seen in all districts. The lowest prevalence was less than 3·0% in two districts. Eight districts had prevalence greater than 20·0%, with the highest being 23·9%. Sickle cell disease was less common in children older than 12 months or who were HIV positive, which is consistent with comorbidity and early mortality. Interpretation Prevalence of sickle cell trait and disease were high in Uganda, with notable variation between regions and districts. The data will help to inform national strategies for sickle cell disease, including neonatal screening

The valine and lysine residues in the conserved FxVTxK motif are important for the function of phylogenetically distant plant cellulose synthases

Cellulose synthases (CESAs) synthesize the β-1,4-glucan chains that coalesce to form cellulose microfibrils in plant cell walls. In addition to a large cytosolic (catalytic) domain, CESAs have eight predicted transmembrane helices (TMHs). However, analogous to the structure of BcsA, a bacterial cellulose synthase, predicted TMH5 in CESA may instead be an interfacial helix. This would place the conserved FxVTxK motif in the plant cell cytosol where it could function as a substrate-gating loop as occurs in BcsA. To define the functional importance of the CESA region containing FxVTxK, we tested five parallel mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana CESA1 and Physcomitrella patens CESA5 in complementation assays of the relevant cesa mutants. In both organisms, the substitution of the valine or lysine residues in FxVTxK severely affected CESA function. In Arabidopsis roots, both changes were correlated with lower cellulose anisotropy, as revealed by Pontamine Fast Scarlet. Analysis of hypocotyl inner cell wall layers by atomic force microscopy showed that two altered versions of Atcesa1 could rescue cell wall phenotypes observed in the mutant background line. Overall, the data show that the FxVTxK motif is functionally important in two phylogenetically distant plant CESAs. The results show that Physcomitrella provides an efficient model for assessing the effects of engineered CESA mutations affecting primary cell wall synthesis and that diverse testing systems can lead to nuanced insights into CESA structure/function relationships. Although CESA membrane topology needs to be experimentally determined, the results support the possibility that the FxVTxK region functions similarly in CESA and BcsA

Next Generation Very Large Array Memo No. 6, Science Working Group 1: The Cradle of Life

This paper discusses compelling science cases for a future long-baseline interferometer operating at millimeter and centimeter wavelengths, like the proposed Next Generation Vary Large Array (ngVLA). We report on the activities of the Cradle of Life science working group, which focused on the formation of low- and high-mass stars, the formation of planets and evolution of protoplanetary disks, the physical and compositional study of Solar System bodies, and the possible detection of radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. We propose 19 scientific projects based on the current specification of the ngVLA. Five of them are highlighted as possible Key Science Projects: (1) Resolving the density structure and dynamics of the youngest HII regions and high-mass protostellar jets, (2) Unveiling binary/multiple protostars at higher resolution, (3) Mapping planet formation regions in nearby disks on scales down to 1 AU, (4) Studying the formation of complex molecules, and (5) Deep atmospheric mapping of giant planets in the Solar System. For each of these projects, we discuss the scientific importance and feasibility. The results presented here should be considered as the beginning of a more in-depth analysis of the science enabled by such a facility, and are by no means complete or exhaustive.Comment: 51 pages, 12 figures, 1 table. For more information visit https://science.nrao.edu/futures/ngvl

Building a sickle cell disease screening program in the Republic of Uganda: the Uganda Sickle Surveillance Study (US3) with 3 years of follow-up screening results.

The prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) in the Republic of Uganda is higher than in the United States, but there are no accurate countrywide data and no newborn screening program has been established. The Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) program is well established to analyze dried blood spots (DBSs) collected from HIV-exposed infants (ie, those born to HIV-positive mothers). HIV-positive infants are identified and placed into specialty care. At the request of the Uganda Ministry of Health, a partnership was developed between Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Makerere University, and the Uganda Central Public Health Laboratories (CHPL) to build local laboratory capacity for testing DBSs for sickle cell trait (SCT) and SCD. The Uganda Sickle Surveillance Study (US3) was designed to identify SCT or SCD in DBSs collected throughout the national EID program. After US3, screening commenced in high-burden districts with local capacity built to provide clinical care for affected infants

Hemoglobin variants identified in the Uganda Sickle Surveillance Study

The Uganda Sickle Surveillance Study analyzed dried blood spots that were collected from almost 100 000 infants and young children from all 10 regions and 112 districts in the Republic of Uganda, with the primary objective of determining the prevalence of sickle cell trait and disease. An overall prevalence of 13.3% sickle cell trait and 0.7% sickle cell disease was recently reported. The isoelectric focusing electrophoresis technique coincidentally revealed numerous hemoglobin (Hb) variants (defined as an electrophoresis band that was not Hb A, Hb F, Hb S, or Hb C) with an overall country-wide prevalence of 0.5%, but with considerable geographic variability, being highest in the northwest regions and districts. To elucidate these Hb variants, the original isoelectric focusing (IEF) gels were reviewed to identify and locate the variant samples; corresponding dried blood spots were retrieved for further testing. Subsequent DNA-based investigation of 5 predominant isoelectric focusing patterns identified 2 α-globin variants (Hb Stanleyville II, Asn78Lys; Hb G-Pest, Asp74Asn), 1 β-globin variant (Hb O-Arab, Glu121Lys), and 2 fusion globin variants (Hb P-Nilotic, β31-δ50; Hb Kenya, Aγ81Leu-β86Ala). Compound heterozygotes containing an Hb variant plus Hb S were also identified, including both Hb S/O-Arab and HbS/Kenya. Regional differences in the types and prevalence of these hemoglobin variants likely reflect tribal ancestries and migration patterns. Algorithms are proposed to characterize these Hb variants, which will be helpful for emerging neonatal hemoglobinopathy screening programs that are under way in sub-Saharan Africa