The application of remote sensing to identify and measure sealed soil and vegetated surfaces in urban environments

Soil is an important non-renewable source. Its protection and allocation is critical to sustainable development goals. Urban development presents an important drive of soil loss due to sealing over by buildings, pavements and transport infrastructure. Monitoring sealed soil surfaces in urban environments is gaining increasing interest not only for scientific research studies but also for local planning and national authorities. The aim of this research was to investigate the extent to which automated classification methods can detect soil sealing in UK urban environments, by remote sensing. The objectives include development of object-based classification methods, using two types of earth observation data, and evaluation by comparison with manual aerial photo interpretation techniques. Four sample areas within the city of Cambridge were used for the development of an object-based classification model. The acquired data was a true-colour aerial photography (0.125 m resolution) and a QuickBird satellite imagery (2.8 multi-spectral resolution). The classification scheme included the following land cover classes: sealed surfaces, vegetated surfaces, trees, bare soil and rail tracks. Shadowed areas were also identified as an initial class and attempts were made to reclassify them into the actual land cover type. The accuracy of the thematic maps was determined by comparison with polygons derived from manual air-photo interpretation; the average overall accuracy was 84%. The creation of simple binary maps of sealed vs. vegetated surfaces resulted in a statistically significant accuracy increase to 92%. The integration of ancillary data (OS MasterMap) into the object-based model did not improve the performance of the model (overall accuracy of 91%). The use of satellite data in the object-based model gave an overall accuracy of 80%, a 7% decrease compared to the aerial photography. Future investigation will explore whether the integration of elevation data will aid to discriminate features such as trees from other vegetation types. The use of colour infrared aerial photography should also be tested. Finally, the application of the object- based classification model into a different study area would test its transferability

Functional genomics of a symbiotic community : shared traits in the olive fruit fly gut microbiota

The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae is a major pest of olives worldwide and houses a specialized gut microbiota dominated by the obligate symbiont “Candidatus Erwinia dacicola”. Ca. E. dacicola is thought to supplement dietary nitrogen to the host, with only indirect evidence for this hypothesis so far. Here, we sought to investigate the contribution of the symbiosis to insect fitness and explore the ecology of the insect gut. For this purpose, we examined the composition of bacterial communities associated with Cretan olive fruit fly populations, and inspected several genomes and one transcriptome assembly. We identified, and reconstructed the genome of, a novel component of the gut microbiota, Tatumella sp. TA1, which is stably associated with Mediterranean olive fruit fly populations. We also reconstructed a number of pathways related to nitrogen assimilation and interactions with the host. The results show that, despite variation in taxa composition of the gut microbial community, core functions related to the symbiosis are maintained. Functional redundancy between different microbial taxa was observed for genes involved in urea hydrolysis. The latter is encoded in the obligate symbiont genome by a conserved urease operon, likely acquired by horizontal gene transfer, based on phylogenetic evidence. A potential underlying mechanism is the action of mobile elements, especially abundant in the Ca. E. dacicola genome. This finding, along with the identification, in the studied genomes, of extracellular surface structure components that may mediate interactions within the gut community, suggest that ongoing and past genetic exchanges between microbes may have shaped the symbiosis

The influence of age, vitamin K and genetics on anticoagulation outcomes in adults and children

PhD ThesisThe aim of this PhD was to identify the influence of factors that affect anticoagulation response to warfarin and NOACs on clinical response with the aim to further optimise treatment safety and patient management. In a randomised controlled trial, 181 patients with INR >6.0 were randomly allocated to receive orally either a tailored dose based upon index INR and BSA, or a fixed-dose (1 or 2mg) of vitamin K. The tailored dose resulted in a greater proportion of patients returning to within target INR range (68.9% v 52.8%; p=0.026), whilst a smaller proportion of patients remained above target INR range (p<0.001). Studies have confirmed that variant CYP2C9 and VKORC1 allele carriers require more time to achieve stable dosing and have a higher risk of supra-therapeutic INR and serious bleeding risk during initiation. In a retrospective cohort study, neither VKORC1, CYP2C9 genotype, nor their total variant allele count was associated with TTR% during warfarin maintenance or induction phase (p>0.05). A study in children on chronic warfarin therapy showed low levels of plasma vitamin K which are associated with CYP4F2 genotype with the patients with low plasma vitamin K being more likely to carry one or two variant alleles (76.2% vs 45.4%; p=0.011). Chronic low levels of vitamin K, influenced by CYP4F2 genotype, might affect bone development and vascular health in children on warfarin. The link between warfarin treatment and vascular calcification was further explored in the same cohort of children, by assessing plasma uc-MGP concentration, a sensitive biological marker of vascular calcification. No association was found between plasma uc-MGP concentration and either anticoagulation intensity, duration of warfarin therapy, or warfarin daily dose. Patients on warfarin scheduled for surgery have to withdraw treatment for 5 days to avoid peri-operative bleeding. A previously developed algorithm that included genetic, demographic and clinical data was validated using an independent cohort of patients (n=117) who completed a short course of warfarin. There was a strong and highly significant correlation between the observed and predicted INR values by the algorithm (r=0.949, p<0.001). In an ex-vivo study, rivaroxaban in elderly subjects produced a greater prolongation of PT (p<0.05) and modified PT (p<0.001) and a greater suppression in the rate and amount of thrombin generation compared to young subjects, suggesting an age-related increase in sensitivity to the dru

Επιπολασμός και χαρακτηριστικά νεογνών με διαταραχή βάρους γέννησης

Εισαγωγή: Τα νεογνά με διαταραχές βάρους γέννησης («Μικρά για την Ηλικία Κύησης – ΜικρΗΚ» ή/και νεογνά με «Ενδομήτρια Υπολειπόμενη Αύξηση - ΕΥΑ» και «Μεγάλα για την Ηλικία Κύησης – ΜεγλΗΚ») βρίσκονται σε αυξημένο κίνδυνο νοσηρότητας (άμεσα αλλά και μακροπρόθεσμα) και θνησιμότητας και χρήζουν ιδιαίτερης παρακολούθησης και αντιμετώπισης. Η πολυφωνία των ορισμών και η ποικιλομορφία των πληθυσμών δεν επιτρέπουν την υιοθέτηση ενός καθολικού ποσοστού επιπολασμού. Ανάμεσα στους προδιαθεσικούς παράγοντες περιλαμβάνονται μητρικά και νεογνικά χαρακτηριστικά που η αναγνώρισή τους μπορεί να βοηθήσει στην αναγνώριση και την διαχείριση αυτών των νεογνών. Σκοπός: Ανάδειξη του επιπολασμού των ΜικρΗΚ- ΕΥΑ καθώς και των ΜεγλΗΚ νεογνών και καταγραφή των μητρικών και νεογνικών χαρακτηριστικών που σχετίζονται με τις διαταραχές βάρους γέννησης. Μεθοδολογία: Ο τύπος της μελέτης που διεξήχθη ήταν μελέτη ασθενών – μαρτύρων και πραγματοποιήθηκε μέσω αναδρομικής καταγραφής. Το δείγμα της μελέτης αποτέλεσαν το σύνολο των νεογνών που γεννήθηκαν στην Β&apos; Μαιευτική - Γυναικολογική Κλινική στο Αρεταίειο Νοσοκομείο και νοσηλεύτηκαν στην Νεογνολογική Κλινική στο ομώνυμο Νοσοκομείο για το χρονικό διάστημα 1/1/16 - 31/12/16 και ταξινομήθηκαν κάτω από τη 10η Εκατοστιαία Θέση (ΕΘ) ως προς το βάρος γέννησης (ΒΓ) και προσδιορίζονται ως ΜικρΗΚ-ΕΥΑ νεογνά και πάνω από τη 90η ΕΘ και προσδιορίζονται ως ΜεγλΗΚ νεογνά. Την ομάδα των μαρτύρων αποτελούν νεογνά που έχουν γεννηθεί κατά το ίδιο χρονικό διάστημα και ταξινομούνται από τη 10η ΕΘ έως και την 90η ΕΘ ως προς το ΒΓ, δηλαδή ως «Κατάλληλα για την Ηλικία Κύησης – ΚΗΚ» νεογνά. Αποτελέσματα: Τον πληθυσμό της μελέτης αποτέλεσαν 214 νεογνά, εκ των οποίων 68 ΜικρΗΚ-ΕΥΑ, 39 ΜεγλΗΚ νεογνά και 107 ΚΗΚ. Ο επιπολασμός των ΜικρΗΚ-ΕΥΑ νεογνών εκτιμήθηκε στο 8,2% ενώ των ΜεγλΗΚ στο 4,7%.Οι παράγοντες κινδύνου που αναδείχθηκαν αφορούν το βάρος της μητέρας στον τοκετό, τη διακύμανση του βάρους της κατά τη διάρκεια της κύησης, την Εθνικότητα, την δίδυμη κύηση και τη λοίμωξη από κυτταρομεγαλοϊό (CMV) και Gardnerella vaginalis. Η επιπλέον νοσηρότητα που προκύπτει από τη διαταραχή του βάρους γέννησης συνίσταται στην ύπαρξη προκεφαλής, επίπεδου αιμαγγειώματος ινίου, ανάγκη παραμονής σε θερμοκοιτίδα και μεγαλύτερη τιμή χολερυθρίνης εξόδου. Τέλος, οι επιπλέον πράξεις που διενεργήθηκαν συχνότερα στα νεογνά των υπό διερεύνηση ομάδων ήταν μεγαλύτερη ανάγκη τοποθέτησης περιφερικής φλεβικής γραμμής ή κεντρικών αγγείων, καλλιέργεια στοιχείων πυοδέρματος και παρακολούθηση σακχάρου. Συμπεράσματα: Η νοσηρότητα των ΜικρΗΚ-ΕΥΑ και των ΜεγλΗΚ νεογνών είναι σχετικά περιορισμένη και ο επιπολασμός αυτών των καταστάσεων μετριέται σε χαμηλά πλαίσια. Οι παράγοντες κινδύνου που αναδείχθηκαν ήταν στην πλειοψηφία τους τροποποιήσιμοι. Παρά τις μικρές επιμέρους διαφορές που παρουσιάζουν οι διερευνώμενες ομάδες, όσον αφορά τα άμεσα περιγεννητικά συμβάματα που αξιολογήθηκαν, διασφαλίζεται η ομαλή μετάβαση στην εξωμήτριο ζωή.Background: Newborns with Birth Weight Disorders (&quot;Small for Gestational Age - SGA &quot; and / or newborn with &quot; Intrauterine Growth Restriction – IUGR &quot; and &quot; Large for Gestational Age - LGA &quot; newborns) are at increased risk of perinatal morbidity (long-term and short-term) and mortality and thus require special monitoring and treatment. The plurality of definitions and the diversity of populations do not allow the adoption of a universal prevalence rate. Among the predisposing factors are maternal and neonatal characteristics whose recognition can help identify and manage these neonates. Objectives: : The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of SGA or/and IUGR and LGA newborns and display the maternal and neonatal characteristics associated with birth weight disorders. Methods: The type of study was case – control and had been performed by retrospective recording. The sample of the study consisted of all the newborns born in the 2nd Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at Aretaio Hospital and were hospitalized at the Neonatology Clinic at the homonymous Hospital for the period 1/1/16 - 31/12/16 and were classified for birth weight under the under the 10th percentile defined as SGA or/and IUGR and above 90th percentile and defined as LGA neonates. The group of controls are neonates born at the same time and classified from the 10th percentile to the 90th percentile, defined as &quot;Appropriate for Gestational Age - AGA newborns&quot;. Results: The study population consisted of 214 newborns, of which 68 SGA or/and IUGR, 39 LGA neonates and 107 AGA. The prevalence of SGA or/and IUGR newborns was estimated at 8.2%, and LGA at 4.7%. The risk factors that has been emerged was maternal weight in labor, weight gain during pregnancy, Ethnicity, twin pregnancy and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Gardnerella vaginalis infection. The additional morbidity resulting from birth weight disorders consists in the presence of Caput Succedaneum, Cephalohematoma at occipital area, need to stay in an incubator, and a higher bilirubin levels at the exit. Finally, the additional actions needed to be performed most frequently in the newborns of these groups, were a greater need for peripheral venous line or central vessel placement, pyoderma cell culture and glucose monitoring. Conclutions: The morbidity of SGA or/and IUGR and LGA neonates is relatively limited and the prevalence of these conditions is estimated at low levels. The risk factors that emerged were mostly modifiable. Despite the small differences between the investigated groups when it comes to the individual complications that this study evaluates, a smooth transition to the extrauterine life is succeeded

Transcriptomic responses of the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae and its symbiont Candidatus Erwinia dacicola to olive feeding

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, is the most destructive pest of olive orchards worldwide. The monophagous larva has the unique capability of feeding on olive mesocarp, coping with high levels of phenolic compounds and utilizing non-hydrolyzed proteins present, particularly in the unripe, green olives. On the molecular level, the interaction between B. oleae and olives has not been investigated as yet. Nevertheless, it has been associated with the gut obligate symbiotic bacterium Candidatus Erwinia dacicola. Here, we used a B. oleae microarray to analyze the gene expression of larvae during their development in artificial diet, unripe (green) and ripe (black) olives. The expression profiles of Ca. E. dacicola were analyzed in parallel, using the Illumina platform. Several genes were found overexpressed in the olive fly larvae when feeding in green olives. Among these, a number of genes encoding detoxification and digestive enzymes, indicating a potential association with the ability of B. oleae to cope with green olives. In addition, a number of biological processes seem to be activated in Ca. E. dacicola during the development of larvae in olives, with the most notable being the activation of amino-acid metabolism

Ποιότητα ζωής παιδιών και νεαρών ενηλίκων που υποβάλλονται σε αιμοκάθαρση

Εισαγωγή: Η αιμοκάθαρση είναι η θεραπευτική επιλογή για την νεφρική αντικατάσταση σε ασθενείς με νεφρική νόσο τελικού σταδίου. Σε ορισμένες περιπτώσεις αιφνίδιας ή οξείας νεφρικής ανεπάρκειας, η αιμοκάθαρση μπορεί να χρειαστεί μόνο για μικρό χρονικό διάστημα έως ότου η νεφρική λειτουργία αποκατασταθεί ή βελτιωθεί. Τα παιδιά, οι έφηβοι και οι νεαροί ενήλικες με τελικού σταδίου νεφρική νόσο αποτελούν μια ομάδα ασθενών με μοναδικές νοσηρότητες. Η χρόνια αιμοκάθαρση είναι τεχνικά εφικτή σε παιδιά όλων των ηλικιών, ακόμη και σε πολύ μικρά νεογνά Σκοπός: Σκοπός της εργασίας ήταν η συστηματική ανασκόπηση των παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν την ποιότητα ζωής των παιδιών και των νεαρών ενηλίκων που υποβάλλονται σε χρόνια αιμοκάθαρση. Μεθοδολογία: H παρούσα εργασία ήταν μια συστηματική ανασκόπησή και βασίζεται στην μελέτη σύγχρονης επιστημονικής αρθρογραφίας και έρευνας. Πραγματοποιήθηκαν αναζητήσεις στις μηχανές αναζήτησης PubMed, και G gle s lar, την περίοδο Νοέμβριου και Δεκεμβρίου 2017. Η αναζήτηση συμπεριλάμβανε συνδυασμό των διάφορων όρων (λέξεις κλειδιά) καθώς και συνδυασμός των όρων αυτών στην ελληνική και αγγλική γλώσσα, ώστε να αναγνωριστούν και να εμφανιστούν άρθρα που θα πλησίαζαν όσο το δυνατό περισσότερο το θέμα της έρευνας. Αποτελέσματα: Προέκυψαν 125 άρθρα. 50 από αυτά κρίθηκαν ως επιλέξιμες πηγές από τον τίτλο και την περίληψη που παρουσιάζονταν για την άντληση γενικών πληροφοριών ενώ 10 από αυτά επιλέχθηκαν για να συμπεριληφθούν στην βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση. Τα παιδιά και οι έφηβοι με ΧΝΝ έχουν μειωμένη ΠΖ σε φυσικούς και ψυχοκοινωνικούς τομείς λειτουργίας σε σύγκριση με τους υγιείς συνομήλικους τους. Παρουσιάζουν χειρότερη σχολική απόδοση, χαμηλή αυτοεκτίμηση και δυσκολία να δημιουργήσουν σχέσεις με τους συνομηλίκους τους. Τα παιδιά που υποβάλλονται σε αιμοκάθαρση έχουν θετικές αντιλήψεις για την ΣΥΠΖ, αρνητική αντίληψη για την φυσική τους λειτουργία και το σχολείο και δείχνουν υψηλότερη συχνότητα κατάθλιψης σε σύγκριση με τους άλλους παιδιατρικούς ασθενείς άλλων χρόνιων παθήσεων. Ο τύπος της θεραπείας στην οποία υποβάλλονται, το φύλο και ο περιορισμένης κινητικότητας τρόπο ζωής, είναι σημαντικοί παράγοντες μείωσης της ΠΖ, αν και ο παράγοντας που επηρεάζει περισσότερο την ΠΖ αυτών των παιδιατρικών ασθενών είναι οι διατροφικοί περιορισμοί, οι περιορισμοί πρόσληψης νερού και η υπέρταση η οποία φαίνεται να επηρεάζει τη γνωστική λειτουργία σε αυτά τα παιδιά. Συμπεράσματα: Η υποβολή σε αιμοκάθαρση επηρεάζει σημαντικά την σχετιζόμενη με την υγεία ποιότητα ζωής των παιδιατρικών ασθενών και των οικογενειών τους. Από τα αποτελέσματα συμπεραίνεται ότι το κοινωνικοοικονομικό επίπεδο, η ψυχολογία, η ακαδημαϊκή απόδοση και η κοινωνικές σχέσεις είναι οι πτυχές της ζωής που επηρεάζουν την ποιότητα ζωής σε αυτά τα παιδιά και τις οικογένειες τους. Γι’ αυτό χρειάζεται συνεχής αξιολόγηση των αναγκών τους καθώς και συνεχιζόμενη εκπαίδευση του νοσηλευτικού προσωπικού.[76] Abstract Introduction: Hemodialysis is the therapeutic option for renal replacement in patients with end-stage renal disease. In some cases of sudden or acute renal insufficiency, hemodialysis may only be needed for a short period of time until renal function is restored or improved. Children, adolescents and young adults with end-stage renal disease are a group of patients with unique morbidity. Chronic hemodialysis is technically feasible in children of all ages, even in very young infants. Aims &amp; Objectives: Its main purpose is to clarify the factors that affect the health relates quality of life of children and young adults undergoing chronic dialysis. A secondary objective is the creation of scientifically substantiated proposals and guidelines for the implementation of interventions to improve the quality of life of pediatric patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials &amp; Methods: The present study was a literature review of the current scientific research evidence. Online searches were carried out in the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines, in November and December 2017. The search included various terms (keywords) and a combination of these terms in Greek and English to identify and display articles which would be as close as possible to the research subject. Results: Children and adolescents with CKD have reduced QoL in physical and psychosocial functioning than their healthy peers. They show worse school performance, low self-esteem and difficulty in establishing relationships with their peers. Children undergoing hemodialysis have positive perceptions of HR-QoL, a negative perception of their physical functioning and school performance, and show a higher incidence of depression than other pediatric patients with other chronic conditions. The type of treatment they undergo, sex and the limited mobility of lifestyle, are important factors that reduce QoL, although the factor that most affects the QoL of these pediatric patients is dietary restrictions, water intake limitations and hypertension which appears to affect cognitive function in these children Conclusions: Hemodialysis significantly affects the health-related quality of life of pediatric patients and their families. The results conclude that socio-economic status, psychology, academic performance and social relationships are the aspects of life that are degraded for these children and their families

The application of remote sensing to identify and measure sealed soil and vegetated surfaces in urban environments

Soil is an important non-renewable source. Its protection and allocation is critical to sustainable development goals. Urban development presents an important drive of soil loss due to sealing over by buildings, pavements and transport infrastructure. Monitoring sealed soil surfaces in urban environments is gaining increasing interest not only for scientific research studies but also for local planning and national authorities. The aim of this research was to investigate the extent to which automated classification methods can detect soil sealing in UK urban environments, by remote sensing. The objectives include development of object-based classification methods, using two types of earth observation data, and evaluation by comparison with manual aerial photo interpretation techniques. Four sample areas within the city of Cambridge were used for the development of an object-based classification model. The acquired data was a true-colour aerial photography (0.125 m resolution) and a QuickBird satellite imagery (2.8 multi-spectral resolution). The classification scheme included the following land cover classes: sealed surfaces, vegetated surfaces, trees, bare soil and rail tracks. Shadowed areas were also identified as an initial class and attempts were made to reclassify them into the actual land cover type. The accuracy of the thematic maps was determined by comparison with polygons derived from manual air-photo interpretation; the average overall accuracy was 84%. The creation of simple binary maps of sealed vs. vegetated surfaces resulted in a statistically significant accuracy increase to 92%. The integration of ancillary data (OS MasterMap) into the object-based model did not improve the performance of the model (overall accuracy of 91%). The use of satellite data in the object-based model gave an overall accuracy of 80%, a 7% decrease compared to the aerial photography. Future investigation will explore whether the integration of elevation data will aid to discriminate features such as trees from other vegetation types. The use of colour infrared aerial photography should also be tested. Finally, the application of the object- based classification model into a different study area would test its transferability.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Cytochrome P450associated with insecticide resistance catalyzes cuticular hydrocarbon production in Anopheles gambiae.

The role of cuticle changes in insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector Anopheles gambiae was assessed. The rate of internalization of 14C deltamethrin was significantly slower in a resistant strain than in a susceptible strain. Topical application of an acetone insecticide formulation to circumvent lipid-based uptake barriers decreased the resistance ratio by ∼50%. Cuticle analysis by electron microscopy and characterization of lipid extracts indicated that resistant mosquitoes had a thicker epicuticular layer and a significant increase in cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) content (∼29%). However, the CHC profile and relative distribution were similar in resistant and susceptible insects. The cellular localization and in vitro activity of two P450 enzymes, CYP4G16 and CYP4G17, whose genes are frequently overexpressed in resistant Anopheles mosquitoes, were analyzed. These enzymes are potential orthologs of the CYP4G1/2 enzymes that catalyze the final step of CHC biosynthesis in Drosophila and Musca domestica, respectively. Immunostaining indicated that both CYP4G16 and CYP4G17 are highly abundant in oenocytes, the insect cell type thought to secrete hydrocarbons. However, an intriguing difference was indicated; CYP4G17 occurs throughout the cell, as expected for a microsomal P450, but CYP4G16 localizes to the periphery of the cell and lies on the cytoplasmic side of the cell membrane, a unique position for a P450 enzyme. CYP4G16 and CYP4G17 were functionally expressed in insect cells. CYP4G16 produced hydrocarbons from a C18 aldehyde substrate and thus has bona fide decarbonylase activity similar to that of dmCYP4G1/2. The data support the hypothesis that the coevolution of multiple mechanisms, including cuticular barriers, has occurred in highly pyrethroid-resistant An. gambiae.Fil: Balabanidou, Vasileia. Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas; Grecia. Universidad de Creta; GreciaFil: Kampouraki, Anastasia. Universidad de Creta; GreciaFil: Mac Lean, Marina. University of Nevada; Estados UnidosFil: Blomquist, Gary J.. University of Nevada; Estados UnidosFil: Tittiger, Claus. University of Nevada; Estados UnidosFil: Juarez, Marta Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata ; ArgentinaFil: Mijailovsky, Sergio Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata ; ArgentinaFil: Chalepakis, George. Universidad de Creta; GreciaFil: Anthousi, Amalia. Universidad de Creta; GreciaFil: Lynd, Amy. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Reino UnidoFil: Antoine, Sanou. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Reino UnidoFil: Hemingway, Janet. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Reino UnidoFil: Ranson, Hilary. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Reino UnidoFil: Lycett, Gareth J.. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Reino UnidoFil: Vontas, John. Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas; Grecia. Agricultural University of Athens; Greci

The application of remote sensing to identify and measure sealed soil and vegetated surfaces in urban environments

Soil is an important non-renewable source. Its protection and allocation is critical to sustainable development goals. Urban development presents an important drive of soil loss due to sealing over by buildings, pavements and transport infrastructure. Monitoring sealed soil surfaces in urban environments is gaining increasing interest not only for scientific research studies but also for local planning and national authorities. The aim of this research was to investigate the extent to which automated classification methods can detect soil sealing in UK urban environments, by remote sensing. The objectives include development of object-based classification methods, using two types of earth observation data, and evaluation by comparison with manual aerial photo interpretation techniques. Four sample areas within the city of Cambridge were used for the development of an object-based classification model. The acquired data was a true-colour aerial photography (0.125 m resolution) and a QuickBird satellite imagery (2.8 multi-spectral resolution). The classification scheme included the following land cover classes: sealed surfaces, vegetated surfaces, trees, bare soil and rail tracks. Shadowed areas were also identified as an initial class and attempts were made to reclassify them into the actual land cover type. The accuracy of the thematic maps was determined by comparison with polygons derived from manual air-photo interpretation; the average overall accuracy was 84%. The creation of simple binary maps of sealed vs. vegetated surfaces resulted in a statistically significant accuracy increase to 92%. The integration of ancillary data (OS MasterMap) into the object-based model did not improve the performance of the model (overall accuracy of 91%). The use of satellite data in the object-based model gave an overall accuracy of 80%, a 7% decrease compared to the aerial photography. Future investigation will explore whether the integration of elevation data will aid to discriminate features such as trees from other vegetation types. The use of colour infrared aerial photography should also be tested. Finally, the application of the object- based classification model into a different study area would test its transferability.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Mosquitoes cloak their legs to resist insecticides

Malaria incidence has halved since the year 2000, with 80% of the reduction attributable to the use of insecticides. However, insecticide resistance is now widespread, is rapidly increasing in spectrum and intensity across Africa, and may be contributing to the increase of malaria incidence in 2018. The role of detoxification enzymes and target site mutations has been documented in the major malaria vector Anopheles gambiae; however, the emergence of striking resistant phenotypes suggests the occurrence of additional mechanisms. By comparing legs, the most relevant insect tissue for insecticide uptake, we show that resistant mosquitoes largely remodel their leg cuticles via enhanced deposition of cuticular proteins and chitin, corroborating a leg-thickening phenotype. Moreover, we show that resistant female mosquitoes seal their leg cuticles with higher total and different relative amounts of cuticular hydrocarbons, compared with susceptible ones. The structural and functional alterations in Anopheles female mosquito legs are associated with a reduced uptake of insecticides, substantially contributing to the resistance phenotype.Fil: Balabanidou, Vasileia. Institute of Molecular Biology And Biotechnology. Foundation For Research And Technology; GreciaFil: Kefi, Mary. University of Crete; Grecia. Institute Of Molecular Biology And Biotechnology, Foundation For Research And Technology; GreciaFil: Aivaliotis, Michalis. Institute Of Molecular Biology And Biotechnology, Foundation For Research And Technology; Grecia. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; GreciaFil: Koidou, Venetia. Institute Of Molecular Biology And Biotechnology, Foundation For Research And Technology; Grecia. University of Crete; GreciaFil: Girotti, Juan Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner"; ArgentinaFil: Mijailovsky, Sergio Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner"; ArgentinaFil: Patricia Juárez, M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner"; ArgentinaFil: Papadogiorgaki, Eva. University of Crete; GreciaFil: Chalepakis, George. University of Crete; GreciaFil: Kampouraki, Anastasia. Institute Of Molecular Biology And Biotechnology, Foundation For Research And Technology; Grecia. Agricultural University of Athens; GreciaFil: Nikolaou, Christoforos. Institute Of Molecular Biology And Biotechnology, Foundation For Research And Technology; Grecia. University of Crete; GreciaFil: Ranson, Hilary. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Reino UnidoFil: Vontas, John. Institute Of Molecular Biology And Biotechnology, Foundation For Research And Technology; Grecia. Agricultural University of Athens; Greci