The phylogenetic conundrum of Lutzia(Diptera: Culicidae: Culicini): a cautionary account of conflict and support

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Israel and Palestine- An analysis of the 2014 Israel-Gaza war from a genocidal perspective

During the 2014 Israel-Gaza War, approximately 2,251 Palestinians and 73 Israelis were killed as a result of the fifty-one day long conflict. As the deadliest and most destructive conflict since 1948, the international community has widely condemned the actions taken by Israeli and Palestinian actors throughout the conflict. Despite international condemnation, currently the International Criminal Court (ICC) is the only institution conducting a criminal investigation into the recent conflict. Upon Palestine accession into the Rome Statute in June of 2015, the ICC opened a preliminary examination regarding alleged crimes committed in the occupied territory of Palestine since June 13, 2014. Currently the ICC’s preliminary examination has identified a variety of ‘alleged’ crimes which may fall within its subject matter jurisdiction. The United Nations and various nongovernmental organizations have exclusively referred to these alleged crimes as feasibly amounting to ‘crimes against humanity’ or ‘war crimes’. Due to the religious-national differences inherent to the overall Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is reason to believe that the actions taken by Israeli and Palestinian actors were acts of genocide rather than ‘crimes against humanity’ or ‘war crimes.’ This analysis therefore seeks to determine whether the actions taken by Israeli and Palestinian actors during the 2014 Israel-Gaza War legally amount to genocide under international law

A new subgenus and species of Topomyia (Diptera: Culicidae: Sabethini) based on a remarkable male mosquito from Sabah, Malaysia

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Ixodid ticks of impala (Aepyceros melampus) in Swaziland: effect of age class, sex, body condition and management

Five species of ixodid ticks, Amhlyomma hebraeum, Boophilus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. evertsi evertsi and R. muehlensi, were commonly collected from impala (Aepyceros melampus) in the Mlawula-Mbuluzi-Simunye Nature Reserve and Protected Area complex in north-eastern Swaziland. The prevalence and apparent intensity of infestation of most tick species was greater on yearlings (13-24 months of age) and adults (> 24 months) than on lambs (≤12 months), and on adult males than on adult females. The packed cell volume and marrow dry weight were lower in impala infested with A. hebraeum, and in lambs and adults with moderate to heavy loads of R. muehlensiand/or R. appendiculatus. The age and sex patterns of tick infestation were probably determined by both body condition and host behaviour. The prevalence and apparent intensity of infestation of most tick species was greater in the unmanaged, densely populated area of the reserve than in the managed area from which impala had been culled. This trend was consistent in all months, and in all age classes

One‐Dimensional Variational Ionospheric Retrieval Using Radio Occultation Bending Angles::2. Validation

Culverwell et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003572) described a newone-dimensional variational (1D-Var) retrieval approach for ionospheric GNSS radio occultation (GNSS-RO)measurements. The approach maps a one-dimensional ionospheric electron density profile, modeled withmultiple “Vary-Chap” layers, to bending angle space. This paper improves the computational performance ofthe 1D-Var retrieval using an improved background model and validates the approach by comparing with theCOSMIC-2 profile retrievals, based on an Abel Transform inversion, and co-located (within 200 km) ionosondeobservations using all suitable data from 2020. A three or four layer Vary-Chap in the 1D-Var retrievalshows improved performance compared to COSMIC-2 retrievals in terms of percentage error for the F2 peakparameters (NmF2 and hmF2). Furthermore, skill in retrieval (compared to COSMIC-2 profiles) throughout thebottomside (∼90–300 km) has been demonstrated. With a single Vary-Chap layer the performance is similarbut this improves by approximately 40% when using four-layers

One-Dimensional Variational Ionospheric Retrieval Using Radio Occultation Bending Angles:Part 1 -Theory

A new one-dimensional variational (1D-Var) retrieval method for ionospheric GNSS radio occultation (GNSS-RO) measurements is described. The forward model implicit in the retrieval calculates the bending angles produced by a one-dimensional ionospheric electron density profile, modeled with multiple “Vary-Chap” layers. It is demonstrated that gradient based minimization techniques can be applied to this retrieval problem. The use of ionospheric bending angles is discussed. This approach circumvents the need for Differential Code Bias (DCB) estimates when using the measurements. This new, general retrieval method is applicable to both standard GNSS-RO retrieval problems, and the truncated geometry of EUMETSAT's Metop Second Generation (Metop-SG), which will provide GNSS-RO measurements up to about 600 km above the surface. The climatological a priori information used in the 1D-Var is effectively a starting point for the 1D-Var minimization, rather than a strong constraint on the final solution. In this paper the approach has been tested with 143 COSMIC-1 measurements. We find that the method converges in 135 of the cases, but around 25 of those have high “cost at convergence” values. In the companion paper (Elvidge et al., 2023), a full statistical analysis of the method, using over 10,000 COSMIC-2 measurements, has been made.Key Points• A new method of deriving ionospheric electron densities, using the difference between bending angles at two different frequencies• It is based on a 1D variational retrieval, the solution of which is the best fit to the a priori background and the observations• The forward model assumes the ionosphere to consist of several idealized “Vary-Chap” electron density layer

An exploratory study investigating irritable bowel symptoms, associated unhelpful thoughts, adult attachment, emotional distress and disordered eating

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are related to disordered eating and eating disorders. These constructs have many commonalities, including a number of psychological factors. This review examines the psychological factors associated with IBS and its associated GI symptoms; and eating pathology. A systematic search of four databases was conducted and resulted in eight studies which were quality assessed and reviewed. Parental mental health; parental alcohol misuse; parental functional gastrointestinal disorders; parental separation; neuroticism; unhelpful cognitive processes; depression; anxiety; feeling sad and confused; and somatisation were found to be related to IBS, GI symptoms (associated with IBS) and eating pathology. These findings are critically discussed alongside the studies’ methodological limitations. Clinical implications and ideas for future research are suggested

Mosquitoes and Mosquito-Associated RNA Viruses of Finland

Mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) are amongst the most socioeconomically important animals in the world, with many species being vectors of disease-causing pathogens, including bacteria, helminths, protozoa and viruses. While not subjected to the same mosquito-borne disease burden as the tropics, Finland nonetheless has three known mosquito-borne viruses which cause disease in humans. Sindbis virus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus), which causes Pogosta disease, as well as Inkoo Virus and Möhkö strains of Chatanga virus (Peribunyaviridae: Orthobunyavirus). Three insect-specific flaviviruses have also been isolated from mosquitoes in Finland, Hanko, Ilomantsi and Lammi viruses (Flaviviridae: Flavivirus) as well as one Negevirus, Mekrijärvi negevirus. Knowledge of the mosquitoes, however, had become outdated, with no significant records of mosquitoes published since 1979 when distribution maps for each of the 38 recorded species were created using historical and contemporary collections. Additionally, the viruses which have been isolated from mosquitoes in Finland have been found in pools of unidentified specimens, which means that no vector or invertebrate host species have been confirmed for five of the seven aforementioned viruses. The aims were therefore to increase the knowledge of the composition and distribution of the Finnish mosquito fauna and the viruses associated with them. Adult and immature mosquito collections were made around the country in all 19 regions (corresponding to the European NUTS-3 divisions) between 2012–2018. The main collection efforts were made in 2014–2017 along transects in Lapland, southern Finland and the mainland of the Åland Archipelago (Ahvennanmaa). All specimens were morphologically identified, where possible, and stored in one of a variety of ways suitable for either virus cell culture experiments, virus PCR experiments, DNA studies or morphological studies. Study I was the first to focus on the mosquitoes of the Åland Archipelago, which is situated between Finland and Sweden in the Baltic Sea. From the collections made on mainland (Fasta) Åland in late 2015 and across 2016, 12 new species records were observed. This included the first country record for Aedes geminus Peus and reconfirmation of Anopheles maculipennis s.s. Meigen and Ochlerotatus sticticus (Meigen) following their recent removal from the fauna of Finland. It also recorded what later became the only confirmed record of Dahliana geniculata (Olivier) in Finland. The Finnish mosquito fauna increased from 38 to 41 species. Study II used DNA sequences extracted from specimens of the Anopheles maculipennis complex to identify which species are present in Finland. This resulted in the discovery of a new country record for Anopheles daciae Linton, Nicolescu & Harbach, a sibling species of An. messeae Falleroni. The Finnish mosquito fauna increased from 41 to 42 species. Study III utilised records for all 52,466 specimens from 1,031 collections to create distribution maps for 40 of the 43 recorded species that were collected for this thesis. Specimens of Aedes rossicus Dolbeškin, Gorickaja & Mitrofanova, Culiseta subochrea (Edwards) and Ochlerotatus cyprius (Ludlow) were not collected, nor mapped, but have been recorded previously. These new collection data significantly extended the recorded distributions for several species, while other common species were still found across the country. Questions were raised about the presence of Ochlerotatus riparius, since only adult specimens were identified, which are easily confused with closely related species. This study provides a solid foundation for future studies to build upon. Study IV explored the RNA viromes of nine man-biting Ochlerotatus species collected in Finland using next generation sequencing. In total, 514 viral polymerases were sequenced, which grouped into 159 species belonging to 25 families or equivalent taxonomic groups as follows: Aliusviridae (1), Aspiviridae (1), Botybirnavirus (8), Chrysoviridae (5), Chuviridae (14), Endornaviridae (2), Flaviviridae (9), Iflaviridae (17), Negevirus (41), Partitiviridae (55), Permutotetraviridae (6), Phasmaviridae (13), Phenuiviridae (58), Picornaviridae (5), Qinviridae (7), Quenyavirus (2), Rhabdoviridae (21), Sedoreoviridae (10), Solemoviridae (15), Spinareoviridae (1), Togaviridae (1), Totiviridae (205), Virgaviridae (7), Xinmoviridae (9) and Yueviridae (1). Twelve of these species have previously been described, while 147 were novel viruses. The host-vector associations of these viruses are yet to be established. Overall, studies I–IV contribute a wealth of contemporary knowledge about the mosquitoes of Finland. More research is required to complete our understanding of mosquito distributions in the country and mosquito-virus associations and interactions, but this thesis provides a solid foundation upon which future research can now be built.Hyttyset (Diptera, Culicidae) ovat sosioekonomisesti maailman tärkeimpiä eläimiä, ja monet lajit ovat sairauksia aiheuttavien patogeenien - bakteerien, loismatojen, alkueläinten ja virusten - levittäjiä. Vaikka Suomessa ei ole samanlaista hyttysten levittämää tautitaakkaa kuin tropiikissa, Suomessa tunnetaan kuitenkin kolme hyttysten levittämää virusta, jotka ovat ihmisen taudinaiheuttajia: Sindbis-virus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus), joka aiheuttaa pogostantautia, Inkoo-virus ja Chatanga-virus (Peribunyaviridae: Orthobunyavirus). Suomessa on hyttysistä eristetty myös kolme hyönteisspesifistä flavivirusta, Hanko-, Ilomantsi- ja Lammi-virukset (Flaviviridae: Flavivirus) sekä yksi Negevirus, Mekrijärvi-negevirus. Tieto hyttysistä on kuitenkin vanhentunut, eikä merkittävää tietoa Suomen hyttyslajeista ole julkaistu sitten vuoden 1979, jolloin kunkin 38 rekisteröidyn lajin levinneisyyskartat luotiin käyttämällä historiallisia ja silloin tehtyjä keräyksiä. Lisäksi virukset on aiemmin eristetty lajitasolle tunnistamattomista hyttyspooleista, joten viidelle edellä mainitusta seitsemästä viruksesta ei ole varmistettu yhtään levittäjähyttyslajia tai selkärangatonta isäntälajia. Tämän väitöskirjan tavoitteena oli lisätä tietoa Suomen hyttyslajien kirjosta ja levinneisyydestä sekä niihin liittyvistä viruksista. Aikuisten ja kehittymättömien hyttysten keräyksiä tehtiin ympäri maata kaikissa 19 maakunnassa (vastaten Euroopan NUTS-3-jakoa) vuosina 2012–2018. Tärkeimmät keräystyöt tehtiin vuosina 2014–2017 poikkileikkaustutkimuksilla Lapissa, Etelä-Suomessa ja Ahvenanmaan saaristossa (Åland). Kaikki näytteet tunnistettiin morfologisesti, mikäli mahdollista, ja säilytettiin lisäksi virusviljelyä, virologisia PCR_tutkimuksia, sekä DNA- ja morfologisia tutkimuksia varten. Osatyö I keskittyi Ahvenanmaan saariston hyttysiin. Manner-Ahvenanmaalla (Fasta) vuoden 2015 lopulla ja vuoden 2016 aikana tehdyistä keräyksistä havaittiin 12 uutta lajimerkintää. Tämän osatyön myötä Aedes geminus Peusille havaittiin ensimmäistä kertaa Suomessa ja Anopheles maculipennis s.s. Meigen ja Ochlerotatus sticticus (Meigen), jotka oli äskettäin poistettu Suomen hyttyslajistosta, lisättiin siihen uudestaan. Tässä tutkimuksessa tehtiin myös ainoa vahvistettu havainto Dahliana geniculata (Olivier) -lajista Suomessa. Löytöjen myötä Suomen hyttyslajien hyttyslajien määrä kasvoi 38 lajista 41 lajiin. Osatyössä II käytettiin Anopheles maculipennis -kompleksin näytteiden DNA-sekvenssejä Suomessa esiintyvien lajien selvittämiseen. Tämän seurauksena löydettiin Suomessa uusi laji Anopheles daciae Linton, Nicolescu & Harbach, joka on An. messeae Falleronin sisaruslaji ja tämän myötä Suomen hyttyslajisto kasvoi 41 lajista 42 lajiin. Osatyössä III käytettiin tietueita kaikista 52 466 yksilöstä, jotka kuuluivat yhteensä 1 031 erilliseen kokoelmaan levinneisyyskarttojen luomiseksi tätä väitöskirjatyötä varten kerätyille 40:lle 43:sta Suomessa kirjatusta lajista. Aedes rossicus Dolbeškin, Gorickaja & Mitrofanova, Culiseta subochrea (Edwards) ja Ochlerotatus cyprius (Ludlow) yksilöitä ei kerätty eikä kartoitettu, mutta ne on tallennettu aiemmin. Nämä uudet keräystiedot laajensivat merkittävästi useiden lajien kirjattuja levinneisyysalueita, kun taas muita yleisiä lajeja löydettiin edelleen eri puolilla maata. Ochlerotatus riparius -lajin esiintyminen herätti kysymyksiä, koska siitä tunnistettiin vain aikuisia yksilöitä, jotka on mahdollista sekoittaa läheisiin lajeihin. Tämä osatyö antaa hyvän pohjan tuleville tutkimuksille. Osatyössä IV tutkittiin RNA-viromeja kaikkiaan yhdeksästä Suomessa ihmisiä pistävästä Ochlerotatus-lajinsta uuden sukupolven sekvensointimenetelmillä. Yhteensä sekvensoitiin 514 viruksen polymeraasigeeniä, jotka ryhmiteltiin kuuluviksi 159 lajiin, ja edelleen 25 heimoon tai vastaavaan taksonomiseen ryhmään seuraavasti: Aliusviridae (1), Aspiviridae (1), Botybirnavirus (8), Chrysoviridae (5), Chuviridae (14), Endornaviridae (2), Flaviviridae (9), Iflaviridae (17), Negevirus (41), Partitiviridae (55), Permutotetraviridae (6), Phasmaviridae (13), Phenuiviridae (58), Picornaviridae (5), (7), Quenyavirus (2), Rhabdoviridae (21), Sedoreoviridae (10), Solemoviridae (15), Spinareoviridae (1), Togaviridae (1), Totiviridae (205), Virgaviridae (7), Xinmoviridae (9) ja Yueviridae (1). Vain 12 näistä ehdotetuista lajeista on kuvattu aiemmin, ja 147 on uusia viruksia. Vielä ei täysin ymmärretä, toimivatko nämä yhdeksän lajia näiden virusten isäntinä vai vektoreina. Kaiken kaikkiaan tämän väitöskirjatyön tutkimukset tuovat runsaasti uutta tietoa Suomen hyttysistä. Lisää tutkimusta tarvitaan täydentämään ymmärrystämme hyttysten leviämisestä maassa sekä hyttysten ja virusten yhteyksistä ja vuorovaikutuksista, mutta tämä väitöskirjatyö tarjoaa vankan perustan, jolle tulevaa tutkimusta voidaan nyt rakentaa