Feeding and defecation behavior of Triatoma rubida (Uhler, 1894) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under laboratory conditions, and its potential role as a vector of chagas disease in Arizona, USA

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to humans by blood-sucking triatomine insects. This disease is endemic throughout Mexico and Central and South America, but only a few autochthonous cases have been reported in the United States, despite the fact that infected insects readily invade houses and feed on humans. Competent vectors defecate during or shortly after feeding so that infective feces contact the host. We thus studied the feeding and defecation behaviors of the prevalent species in southern Arizona, Triatoma rubida. We found that whereas defecation during feeding was frequent in females (93%), it was very rare in immature stages (3%), and absent in males. Furthermore, more than half of the immature insects that exhibited multiple feeding bouts (62%) defecated during interruptions of feeding, i.e., while likely on or near the host. These results indicate that T. rubida potentially could transmit T. cruzi to humans.Fil: Reisenman, Carolina Esther. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Gregory, Teresa. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Guerenstein, Pablo Gustavo. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Hildebrand, John. University of Arizona; Estados Unido

Similar Microbial Communities Found on Two Distant Seafloor Basalts.

The oceanic crust forms two thirds of the Earth's surface and hosts a large phylogenetic and functional diversity of microorganisms. While advances have been made in the sedimentary realm, our understanding of the igneous rock portion as a microbial habitat has remained limited. We present the first comparative metagenomic microbial community analysis from ocean floor basalt environments at the Lō'ihi Seamount, Hawai'i, and the East Pacific Rise (EPR; 9°N). Phylogenetic analysis indicates the presence of a total of 43 bacterial and archaeal mono-phyletic groups, dominated by Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, as well as Thaumarchaeota. Functional gene analysis suggests that these Thaumarchaeota play an important role in ammonium oxidation on seafloor basalts. In addition to ammonium oxidation, the seafloor basalt habitat reveals a wide spectrum of other metabolic potentials, including CO2 fixation, denitrification, dissimilatory sulfate reduction, and sulfur oxidation. Basalt communities from Lō'ihi and the EPR show considerable metabolic and phylogenetic overlap down to the genus level despite geographic distance and slightly different seafloor basalt mineralogy

Exploring Community Participation in Decision-Making Processes in Lainya County, South Sudan

Community participation has no single definition, but in simple terms it can be defined as a process of empowering the community or citizens by involving them in decision-making processes at all levels of government being from County, Payam and Bomas on all issues of concern that affect them politically, socially and economically. The main aim of this study is to investigate and identify the nature of and extent to which communities are given opportunities to participate in decision-making processes for effective service delivery in Lainya County. The main objectives of the study were to identify the obstacles to community participation in decision-making processes and how communities can be encouraged to participate effectively in decision-making, to meet their needs and interests. It further examines the extent to which communities play a role in promoting effective service delivery through participating in decision-making processes in Lainya County South Sudan. In this study, interviews, focus group discussions and observations were used as the main instruments for data collection on the issue of community participation as a tool for effective service delivery in Lainya County. These instruments are used to determine the extent to which communities are involved in decision-making processes to meet their needs and interests for effective service delivery. Data was collected from County officials comprising of Administrators, Chiefs, Women Associations Youth Associations and opinion leaders using both structured and unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and observations. Emerging from the study is that community participation is an integral part of the County developmental planning process. The study findings suggest that, public meetings, hearings, community workshops and seminars were the main mechanisms for community participation being used by the administrators. The study therefore, recommended among other things that; community participation be encouraged to promote community involvement in decision-making processes for effective service delivery. It also recommended that community participation and involvement be encouraged to initiate community development as it enhances program sustainability and ownership. The study further recommended that the top-down approach to decision making be replaced by bottom-up approaches, which emphasizes seeking communities’ ideas first before any developmental plans take place or are implemented. This study will significantly contribute to effective service delivery in Lainya County in the Republic of South Sudan

Improving Simulations of the GRETINA Gamma-Ray Tracking Array

The GRETINA gamma-ray tracking array is an array of gamma-ray detectors that is being used by the nuclear structure community physicists to analyze properties of atomic nuclei. The problem is that when we compare measurements to simulations we see that the simulation is more efficient than the real array. This led us to investigate the size and shape of inactive volumes in the detectors by comparing our simulations with measurements made at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with a pencil beam of gamma rays in order to improve our model of the detectors. Upon investigating these different avenues, the aim is to improve the simulations so that they match the real data and discover more about GRETINA as a whole

EFFECTS OF FEEDING PROGRAMME ON ENROLMENT RATES AND RETENTION IN PUBLIC ECD CENTRES IN SIGOR DIVISION, CHEPALUNGU DISTRICT, BOMET COUNTY, KENYA

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of school feeding programme on enrolment and retention rates in public pre-primary schools in Sigor Division, Chepalungu District, Bomet County. Sigor division has low enrollment rates of children in pre-school; it is also evident that there are drop outs. The research was carried out in Sigor Division in Chepalungu District in the 56 public preschools amongst pre-school teachers, pre-school SMC chairpersons and head teachers. The main objectives of the study included establishing availability of feeding programme and its effects on enrolment rates and retention, finding out how management and effectiveness of school feeding programmes affects enrolment and retention rates and also to give suggestions on how the feeding programmes could be improved so as to enhance enrolment and retention rates. The study was guided by Abraham Maslow theory of hierarchy of needs, this theory postulates that SFP motivate and attract learners to enroll in preschool and be retained upto the end of the school calendar. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The target population was 560 subjects including 56 Head teachers 112 teachers and 56 SMC chairpersons. Data was collected by use of questionnaires, observation check list and interview schedule. Data collected was analyzed for descriptive statistics (percentage, means and frequencies). Pre-school teachers, parents, Ministry of Education, health sector players and other key stakeholders in early childhood development and education sector may use the information collected to enhance the effectiveness of the feeding programmes as a strategy for improving enrolment and retention rates. Data was analyzed using statistics (frequencies and percentages), the findings revealed that there are 26 pre-schools with SFP, while 30 pre-schools did not have the said programmes. There were 147 teachers and headteachers who responded and also 56 chairpersons, making total respondents 203. Most of the teachers and head teachers were male and likewise to chairpersons. The feeding modality in the schools with SFP was the school meals. Majority of teachers were of the opinion that SFP affects enrollment rates positively. It was evident that enrollment was low prior to implementation of SFP and changed to high upon implementation. Findings showed that SFP is effective in enhancing enrollment and retention rates. The biggest challenge to SFP as per findings include: - poverty, parental attitude and hardship area climatically. Chairpersons recommended education of parents as a way of enhancing SFP majority of teachers and head teacher mentioned parents and school committee as responsible for funding SFP. The study concluded that SFP exist in 26 schools out of 56. It also concluded that low enrollment rates and retention are caused by absence of SFP among other factors. It also concluded that effective management is recommended to achieve the objectives of school feeding programme. It also recommends that parents need to be educated on the importance SFP and also be empowered economically. The other recommendation is that there should be effective management of SFP for positive results. The study finally suggests further study to understand other factors affecting enrollment rates and retention.   Article visualizations

An Assessment of Performance Measures in the Transportation Development Act

"This report examines the performance measures requirements in California’s Transportation Development Act (TDA) of 1971. The TDA is an important source of funding for the state’s public transit agencies, representing approximately 18 percent of their total (2018) revenue between the TDA’s two funds (LTF and STA). Since the TDA’s passage in 1971, the transit operating environment in California has changed, in some cases dramatically. The state has nearly doubled in population (20.4 million in 1971 to 39.8 million in 2019), traffic has worsened considerably, climate change is now a central public policy focus, and many places around the state are investing heavily in making public transit a viable alternative to driving. Our research examined the TDA’s performance requirements and their effects on the state’s transit operators. We also considered alternative approaches to both transit finance and performance requirements, by studying transit funding programs in 13 other states that invest significant amounts of funding in transit. In brief, we find that the TDA’s use of performance measurements to allocate funding is unusual. The states we studied do not for the most part make funding contingent on performance, thereby avoiding the unproductive and difficult-to-implement “death penalty” (Taylor, 1995) of withholding subsidies for a much-needed public service. In several of the cases analyzed, by contrast, states guarantee specific levels or amounts of funding for transit service.To examine how the TDA’s performance measures are working, we conducted a survey of California transit professionals at agencies and at Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPAs). That California’s aspirations for transit have evolved over the years is reflected in the frequent loopholes and exemptions the legislature has added to the TDA to give struggling operators more latitude to receive funding in order to meet multiple goals and objectives while staying in compliance with a single cost-effectiveness goal. The extent and frequency with which these exemptions have occurred suggests that the larger aims for public transit, and indeed the goals for the TDA program itself, have evolved, and need to be re-thought holistically, rather than incrementally.Accordingly we offer six recommendations concerning transit performance assessment in the TDA.