Standardising Visual Control Devices for Tsetse Flies: Central and West African Species <i>Glossina palpalis palpalis</i>

Background: Glossina palpalis palpalis (G. p. palpalis) is one of the principal vectors of sleeping sickness and nagana in Africa with a geographical range stretching from Liberia in West Africa to Angola in Central Africa. It inhabits tropical rain forest but has also adapted to urban settlements. We set out to standardize a long-lasting, practical and cost-effective visually attractive device that would induce the strongest landing response by G. p. palpalis for future use as an insecticide impregnated tool in area-wide population suppression of this fly across its range. Methodology/Principal Findings: Trials were conducted in wet and dry seasons in the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola to measure the performance of traps (biconical, monoconical and pyramidal) and targets of different sizes and colours, with and without chemical baits, at different population densities and under different environmental conditions. Adhesive film was used as a practical enumerator at these remote locations to compare landing efficiencies of devices. Independent of season and country, both phthalogen blue-black and blue-black-blue 1 m2 targets covered with adhesive film proved to be as good as traps in phthalogen blue or turquoise blue for capturing G. p. palpalis. Trap efficiency varied (8–51%). There was no difference between the performance of blue-black and blue-blackblue 1 m2 targets. Baiting with chemicals augmented the overall performance of targets relative to traps. Landings on smaller phthalogen blue-black 0.25 m2 square targets were not significantly different from either 1 m2 blue-black-blue or blue-black square targets. Three times more flies were captured per unit area on the smaller device. Conclusions/Significance:Blue-black 0.25 m2 cloth targets show promise as simple cost effective devices for management of G. p. palpalis as they can be used for both control when impregnated with insecticide and for population sampling when covered with adhesive film

Genome-wide identification of Ago2 binding sites from mouse embryonic stem cells with and without mature microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 19–22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate mRNA targets. We have identified endogenous miRNA binding sites in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), by performing photo-cross-linking immunoprecipitation using antibodies to Argonaute (Ago2) followed by deep sequencing of RNAs (CLIP-seq). We also performed CLIP-seq in Dicer[superscript −/−] mESCs that lack mature miRNAs, allowing us to define whether the association of Ago2 with the identified sites was miRNA dependent. A significantly enriched motif, GCACUU, was identified only in wild-type mESCs in 3′ untranslated and coding regions. This motif matches the seed of a miRNA family that constitutes ~68% of the mESC miRNA population. Unexpectedly, a G-rich motif was enriched in sequences cross-linked to Ago2 in both the presence and absence of miRNAs. Expression analysis and reporter assays confirmed that the seed-related motif confers miRNA-directed regulation on host mRNAs and that the G-rich motif can modulate this regulation.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of AmericaUnited States. Public Health Service (Grant R01-GM34277)United States. Public Health Service (Grant R01-CA133404)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Grant P01-CA42063)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) Cancer Center Support (Grant P30-CA14051

Twenty years of stereotype threat research: A review of psychological mediators

This systematic literature review appraises critically the mediating variables of stereotype threat. A bibliographic search was conducted across electronic databases between 1995 and 2015. The search identified 45 experiments from 38 articles and 17 unique proposed mediators that were categorized into affective/subjective (n = 6), cognitive (n = 7) and motivational mechanisms (n = 4). Empirical support was accrued for mediators such as anxiety, negative thinking, and mind-wandering, which are suggested to co-opt working memory resources under stereotype threat. Other research points to the assertion that stereotype threatened individuals may be motivated to disconfirm negative stereotypes, which can have a paradoxical effect of hampering performance. However, stereotype threat appears to affect diverse social groups in different ways, with no one mediator providing unequivocal empirical support. Underpinned by the multi-threat framework, the discussion postulates that different forms of stereotype threat may be mediated by distinct mechanisms

Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries

Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18–30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental-leave policies and women’s political representation partially explained cross-national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross-national variations in women’s (rather than men’s) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to men’s higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, men’s leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed

Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries

Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18–30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental-leave policies and women’s political representation partially explained cross-national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross-national variations in women’s (rather than men’s) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to men’s higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, men’s leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed.Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 CountriespublishedVersio

Effect of wood smoke exposure on vascular function and thrombus formation in healthy fire fighters

Background: Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in fire fighters and has been linked with exposure to air pollution and fire suppression duties. We therefore investigated the effects of wood smoke exposure on vascular vasomotor and fibrinolytic function, and thrombus formation in healthy fire fighters. Methods: In a double-blind randomized cross-over study, 16 healthy male fire fighters were exposed to wood smoke (~1 mg/m3 particulate matter concentration) or filtered air for one hour during intermittent exercise. Arterial pressure and stiffness were measured before and immediately after exposure, and forearm blood flow was measured during intra-brachial infusion of endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators 4–6 hours after exposure. Thrombus formation was assessed using the ex vivo Badimon chamber at 2 hours, and platelet activation was measured using flow cytometry for up to 24 hours after the exposure. Results: Compared to filtered air, exposure to wood smoke increased blood carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations (1.3% versus 0.8%; P &lt; 0.001), but had no effect on arterial pressure, augmentation index or pulse wave velocity (P &gt; 0.05 for all). Whilst there was a dose-dependent increase in forearm blood flow with each vasodilator (P &lt; 0.01 for all), there were no differences in blood flow responses to acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside or verapamil between exposures (P &gt; 0.05 for all). Following exposure to wood smoke, vasodilatation to bradykinin increased (P = 0.003), but there was no effect on bradykinin-induced tissue-plasminogen activator release, thrombus area or markers of platelet activation (P &gt; 0.05 for all). Conclusions: Wood smoke exposure does not impair vascular vasomotor or fibrinolytic function, or increase thrombus formation in fire fighters. Acute cardiovascular events following fire suppression may be precipitated by exposure to other air pollutants or through other mechanisms, such as strenuous physical exertion and dehydration.Originally included in thesis in manuscript form.</p

Psychometric Properties and Correlates of Precarious Manhood Beliefs in 62 Nations

Precarious manhood beliefs portray manhood, relative to womanhood, as a social status that is hard to earn, easy to lose, and proven via public action. Here, we present cross-cultural data on a brief measure of precarious manhood beliefs (the Precarious Manhood Beliefs scale [PMB]) that covaries meaningfully with other cross-culturally validated gender ideologies and with country-level indices of gender equality and human development. Using data from university samples in 62 countries across 13 world regions (N = 33,417), we demonstrate: (1) the psychometric isomorphism of the PMB (i.e., its comparability in meaning and statistical properties across the individual and country levels); (2) the PMB’s distinctness from, and associations with, ambivalent sexism and ambivalence toward men; and (3) associations of the PMB with nation-level gender equality and human development. Findings are discussed in terms of their statistical and theoretical implications for understanding widely-held beliefs about the precariousness of the male gender role

Modulation of Ago-miRNA regulatory networks by cis-sequence elements and target competition

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biology, 2014.Vita. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references.regulators of gene expression in a wide range of organisms and biological processes. Each miRNA guides Argonaute (Ago) protein complexes to target and repress hundreds of genes in a sequence-dependent manner. To identify all targets of miRNA regulation, we performed UV crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP) of Ago complexes in mouse embryonic (ESC) and mesenchymal (MSC) stem cell lines. We also captured the genome-wide miRNA-independent binding footprint of Ago by performing CLIP in cells that lack Dicer, an enzyme required for mature miRNA biogenesis. We surprisingly found that Ago bound a similar set of genes in the absence of Dicer, and this overlap in target genes was due partially to residual, unprocessed miRNAs in the Dicer KO cells. Other potential sites of miRNA-independent Ago interactions, such as histone transcripts and poly-A cleavage and polyadenylation sites, were also identified. One Ago CLIP dataset revealed the enrichment for a G-rich sequence motif at Ago target sites. We later demonstrated that the G-motif is not directly bound to Ago but rather is enriched near miRNA-guided Ago binding sites. Its presence near miRNA target sites is associated with stronger repression of Ago-miRNA targets. Fortuitously, the original Ago CLIP dataset that identified the G-motif was later shown to likely contain target sites of another co-immunoprecipitating RNA binding protein (RBP). Using mass spectroscopy of Ago antibody immunoprecipitations from Ago KO cells, we identified a list of interacting RBPs that could potentially augment Ago-miRNA activity through the G-motif. To investigate target competition in miRNA networks, we related our CLIP analysis of genome-wide, quantitative Ago binding to measurements of absolute miRNA and target RNA concentrations. We found that all miRNAs other than the miR-290 family in ESCs and let-7 family in MSCs were expressed at concentrations below their total target pool. However, 8-12 miRNA families were expressed at near or greater than equimolar ratios with their pool of high affinity targets, and this affinity-partitioned stoichiometry led to significant Ago accumulation and repression of high affinity target sites despite little consequential binding at low affinity sites. Single-cell reporter assays demonstrated that high expressed miRNAs are not susceptible to physiological inductions of competing target transcripts but targets of lower expressed miRNAs are derepressed in a weakly threshold-like manner upon increased target pool levels. In summary, we identify a network of confidently bound targets of miRNA regulation in ESCs and MSCs, reveal the extent of miRNA-independent binding in these two cell types, provide a list of potential miRNA enhancer RBPs, and create a quantitative context for evaluating target competition in miRNA networks.by Andrew D. Bosson.Ph. D

Defining ‘forced migration’ in Burma

Most Burmese people fleeing their homes do so for a combination of reasons. The root causes for leaving, however,determine which ‘category’ they belong to: ‘internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) or ‘economic migrants’. There issome discussion as to whether people leaving their homes due to exhaustion of livelihoods options are IDPsaccording to the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement1 – or not. Ashley South and Andrew Bosson presenttheir views below.By analogy, this debate can be extended to Burmese people in exile. Are Burmese people outside refugee camps‘economic migrants’ or ‘self-settled refugees’? The article ‘Invisible in Thailand’ (pp31-33) sheds more light on this

Project-based learning as a model for the normalized use of digital technologies: facilitating practical, meaningful, and learner-centered online teaching and learning

The COVID-19 global health crisis of 2020 forced the physical closure of Turkish educational institutions. This case study describes how a 12-week English preparatory course used project-based learning (PBL) in an Istanbul-based university. It describes how a midcourse switch from classroom-based face-to-face course delivery to online delivery became an example of an adaptive educational solution turning the negative impacts of the pandemic into educational opportunities facilitated through the normalized, realistic use of digital technologies. The study explores the original educational context in which the course was offered and, also, the guiding principles of the course design, the educational, emotional, logistical, and technological challenges posed by this transition, and the response to these challenges. The study concludes, using data collected from course instructors and students, with an analysis of the learning impact of the course and a discussion of implications and possibilities arising for future iterations and potential application to other online teaching and learning situations