Expectation-Maximization Binary Clustering for Behavioural Annotation

We present a variant of the well sounded Expectation-Maximization Clustering algorithm that is constrained to generate partitions of the input space into high and low values. The motivation of splitting input variables into high and low values is to favour the semantic interpretation of the final clustering. The Expectation-Maximization binary Clustering is specially useful when a bimodal conditional distribution of the variables is expected or at least when a binary discretization of the input space is deemed meaningful. Furthermore, the algorithm deals with the reliability of the input data such that the larger their uncertainty the less their role in the final clustering. We show here its suitability for behavioural annotation of movement trajectories. However, it can be considered as a general purpose algorithm for the clustering or segmentation of multivariate data or temporal series.Comment: 34 pages main text including 11 (full page) figure

Mosquito alert: leveraging citizen science to create a GBIF mosquito occurrence dataset

The Mosquito Alert dataset includes occurrence records of adult mosquitoes collected worldwide in 2014-2020 through Mosquito Alert, a citizen science system for investigating and managing disease-carrying mosquitoes. Records are linked to citizen science-submitted photographs and validated by entomologists to determine the presence of five targeted European mosquito vectors: Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. japonicus, Ae. koreicus, and Culex pipiens. Most records are from Spain, reflecting Spanish national and regional funding, but since autumn 2020 substantial records from other European countries are included, thanks to volunteer entomologists coordinated by the AIM-COST Action, and to technological developments to increase scalability. Among other applications, the Mosquito Alert dataset will help develop citizen science-based early warning systems for mosquito-borne disease risk. It can also be reused for modelling vector exposure risk, or to train machine-learning detection and classification routines on the linked images, to assist with data validation and establishing automated alert systems

Primera cita de mosquito tigre, Aedes albopictus (Diptera, Culicidae), para Andalucía y primera corroboración de los datos de la aplicación Tigatrapp

A partir de los datos proporcionados por los ciudadanos sobre la posible presencia de mosquito tigre a través de la innovadora apli- cación Tigatrapp del proyecto AtrapaelTigre.com, se ratifica la pre- sencia de esta especie invasora en el municipio de Alhaurín de la Torre (Málaga). Este trabajo representa la primera cita del vector potencial Aedes albopictus para la Comunidad Autónoma de Anda- lucía. Aparte de las molestias que causa como insecto fuertemente antropófilo y agresivo, esta especie invasora es un importante vec- tor epidémico de chikungunya, dengue y Zika virus. Mediante su dispersión y establecimiento, aparece el riesgo real de transmisión autóctona a partir de casos importados de estas enfermedades desde zonas endémicas

Multiple invasions, Wolbachia and human‑aided transport drive the genetic variability of Aedes albopictus in the Iberian Peninsula

Este artículo contiene 15 páginas, 7 figuras, 1 tabla.The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is one of the most invasive species in the world. Native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, over the past 30 years it has rapidly spread throughout tropical and temperate regions of the world. Its dramatic expansion has resulted in public health concerns as a consequence of its vector competence for at least 16 viruses. Previous studies showed that Ae. albopictus spread has been facilitated by human-mediated transportation, but much remains unknown about how this has affected its genetic attributes. Here we examined the factors that contributed to shaping the current genetic constitution of Ae. albopictus in the Iberian Peninsula, where the species was first found in 2004, by combining population genetics and Bayesian modelling. We found that both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers showed a lack of genetic structure and the presence of worldwide dominant haplotypes, suggesting regular introductions from abroad. Mitochondrial DNA showed little genetic diversity compared to nuclear DNA, likely explained by infection with maternally transmitted bacteria of the genus Wolbachia. Multilevel models revealed that greater mosquito fluxes (estimated from commuting patterns and tiger mosquito population distribution) and spatial proximity between sampling sites were associated with lower nuclear genetic distance, suggesting that rapid short- and medium-distance dispersal is facilitated by humans through vehicular traffic. This study highlights the significant role of human transportation in shaping the genetic attributes of Ae. albopictus and promoting regional gene flow, and underscores the need for a territorially integrated surveillance across scales of this disease-carrying mosquito.The research leading to these results has received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO, Plan Estatal I+D+I CGL2013-43139-R), “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434) under agreement HR18-00336, and the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 853271).Peer reviewe

AtrapaelTigre.com: enlisting citizen-scientists in the war on tiger mosquitoes

This chapter describes AtrapaelTigre.com, a citizen science project focusing on the Asian tiger mosquito in Spain. Commonly known for its aggressive biting during the day, the tiger mosquito represents a global environmental problem. It is an invasive species and a vector for dengue, chikungunya and other diseases, making it a serious public health risk. It is also an everyday nuisance and a threat to tourism and related industries. The management of invasive species, and particularly disease vectors, requires integrated programs that combine public communication and education with research, surveillance and control. AtrapaelTigre.com aims at achieving this by engaging citizen scientists to raise awareness and collect data on tiger mosquito adults and their breeding sites with a smartphone app (Tigatrapp) and a multi-proxy data validation system that combines expert, crowd, and app-user input. Lessons learned during the first year of implementation in Spain, in 2014, have guided our current strategies with respect to both tiger mosquitoes and the formal integration of citizen science into the research, surveillance and control of invasive species and disease vectors generally. We address the challenges of implementing such frameworks and discuss their fitness for use in public health systems. The goal of AtrapaelTigre.com is not only to enhance participation and raise awareness, but also to promote novel research and a more informed and cost-effective management of the tiger mosquito across Spain.Peer reviewe

Breve guía sobre Ciencia Ciudadana CSIC

48 pages, figuresLos proyectos de ciencia ciudadana reciben cada vez mayor atención y despiertan el interés de gestores y entidades públicas, de la comunidad científica y de las agencias financiadoras internacionales. No se trata de una moda pasajera, sino de una realidad bastante consolidada. Desde comienzos del siglo XXI no solo han ido creciendo el número, la diversidad y la complejidad de los proyectos, sino que su puesta en marcha ha ido en paralelo a un importante trabajo de reflexión. Son muchos los esfuerzos que se han realizado para definir y enfocar la ciencia ciudadana hacia una ciencia y una cultura científica de calidad. En este contexto, el Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) no se ha quedado al margen. Efectivamente, la ciencia ciudadana es una metodología científica y de fomento de la cultura científica con un importante arraigo en el CSIC. Basta mirar el mapa de proyectos que se dan en la institución para darse cuenta de la diversidad y amplitud de esta estrategia de trabajo. Precisamente la palabra diversidad es clave para describir la ciencia ciudadana en general y en el CSIC en particular. Temáticas, acciones, presupuestos, modos de implicar a la ciudadanía, impactos, propuestas complementarias, etc., son tan ricos en variedad como lo es la investigación del CSIC. La consulta lanzada en marzo de 2022 a institutos y centros de investigación del CSIC muestra que actualmente la institución participa en, al menos, 70 proyectos de ciencia ciudadana desarrollados por más de 300 personas del CSIC. Estos se inscriben en diversas áreas del conocimiento y tienen distintos modos de implicar a la ciudadanía. Cerca del 40 % de los proyectos, un porcentaje nada desdeñable, se consideran observatorios de ciencia ciudadana,1 uno de los campos donde el CSIC destaca internacionalmente. [...]Peer reviewe

Citizen Science: A Gateway for Innovation in Disease-Carrying Mosquito Management?

Este artículo contiene 3 páginas, 1 figura.Traditional methodsfortracking disease-carrying mosquitoesare hitting budgetconstraintsasthe scales overwhichtheymustbe implemented growexponentially. Citizen scienceoffersanovelsolu- tion tothisproblembutrequires new modelsofinnovationinthe public healthsector.We acknowledgetheworkoftheMosquitoAlertteam and alltheanonymouscitizenswhohavevolunteered their timeandenergytoparticipateinMosquitoAlert. Mosquito Alertiscurrentlypromotedbythe ‘la Caixa' Banking FoundationandtheDiputacióndeSaludde Girona (Dipsalut)andsponsoredbythecompany Lokimica S.A.FBalsowishestothankthesupport from MINECO2014–2017 (GrantCGL2013-43139- R) andtheSpanishScienceandTechnologyFoun- dation (GrantsFCT-13-7019,FCT-15-9515).Peer reviewe

Sea level rise flood hazard mapping in the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean)

This study represents the first regional assessment of the potential permanent flooding due to sea level rise (SLR) in the Catalan coast (Spain, NW Mediterranean). It includes the delimitation, using GIS techniques and spatial datasets, of areas prone to be flooded under two SLR scenarios (i.e. scenario 1, 0.18 and scenario 2, 0.59 m), and the potential impact to coastal land covers. Results showed large differences in the inundation extent between scenarios (scenario 1, 49 km2 and scenario 2, 187 km2). Flooding was mainly found in coastal lowlands with high environmental values and particularly in the Ebro Delta. Although agricultural land was the most flooded land cover in absolute terms under the highest SLR scenario, results showed a large potential impact to low-lying coastal habitats (e.g. beaches, wetlands). Results from this study indicate that SLR can negatively affect important environmental and socio-economic aspects of the Catalan coast, especially coastal tourism, due to the current limited capacity of coastal adaptation to SLR-flooding in many coastal areas

Engaging citizens for social good: Drawing on behavioural models from social influence technologies to improve disease vector reporting by citizen scientists

First International ECSA Conference 2016. Citizen Science - Innovation in Open Science, Society and Policy, 19-21 May 2016, Berlin.-- 1 pagePeer Reviewe