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Abstract Selection of mosquito collection methods is of crucial importance to evaluate the impact of vector control tools on entomological outcomes. During a cluster randomised control trial evaluating the relative efficacy of two dual-active ingredient (a.i.) long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) compared to pyrethroid-only LLINs, we assessed the performance of different mosquito collection methods: Human landing catches (HLC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps, and pyrethrum spray catches (PSC). Anopheles mosquitoes were collected using three collection methods in 4 houses, in each of the 60 trial clusters at baseline and every quarter for 24 months using PSCs and HLCs, while CDC light traps were performed during two quarters only. Mean density of vectors collected per method per night was the highest with HLCs (15.9), followed by CDC light traps (6.8); with PSCs (1.1) collecting 10 times less mosquitoes than HLCs. All three collection methods collected fewer mosquitoes in the Interceptor G2® dual a.i. arm, compared to the other trial arms, although only HLCs and PSCs demonstrated strong evidence of this due to a greater number of collection rounds undertaken, than CDC light traps. The broadly similar results regarding the differential impact of the two dual a.i. LLINs showed by the three collection methods suggest that the more ethically acceptable, cheaper, and logistically simpler methods such as CDC light traps could be prioritised for use in large community trials for measuring the efficacy of vector control tools.

In the Philippines, 180 out of 421 rivers are heavily polluted and may soon be declared biologically dead. In the province of Bataan, industrial activities lead to contamination and water quality degradation. This makes the Talisay River in Balanga, Bataan, prone to the effects of establishments activities such as sewage from commercial and residential areas. The researchers aim to utilize the Granulated Filtering Media (GFM) as an adsorbent made up of fly ash, gypsum powder, coco peat, and cement for wastewater treatment of the polluted creek at Balanga City, Bataan. This GFM was subjected to seven-day water quality monitoring and tests to obtain its pollutant-reduction capability on the study site when incorporated into gabion mattresses. Study's water quality assessment tests revealed peak reductions showing that the gabion mattresses with GFM installed significantly reduced pollutant parameters like nutrients such as phosphate (79 %), nitrate (41 %), and ammonia (65 %) as well as water quality parameters such as chemical oxygen demand (42 %), turbidity (18 %), total dissolved solids (64 %), electric conductivity (51 %), and peak increases in DO (56 %), and pH level (3 %). The significant relationships of all the pollutant parameters observed were validated through Principal Component Analysis, extracted from 2D Loadings’ variance explained of 71.2 %, with 57.6 % attributed to the first principal component and 13.6 % to the second, and a 3D Biplot that explained 82.7 % of the variance, with 57.6 % from the first component, 13.6 % from second and 11.5 % from the third component.

Global urbanization has contributed to heightened carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions due to extensive cement production for construction purposes. This research explores the viability of biochar as a means of sequestering CO2. Biochar, a solid material derived from the thermochemical conversion of biomass in a low-oxygen environment, exhibits promising carbon capture capabilities. The primary objective of this study is to develop a concrete mixture design incorporating chemically-activated bamboo biochar as a partial replacement for cement and to assess its capability in capturing and sequestering CO2. Bamboo biochar was produced at 300 °C and activated using sodium hydroxide. Cement replacement levels of 2 %, 5 %, and 8 % by weight were employed. Cylindrical concrete samples were subjected to compressive testing at 7 and 28 days, while the ability of biochar concrete to adsorb CO2 was evaluated using an MQ135 gas sensor test. The carbonation depth was determined after subjecting the specimens to a one-month exposure to CO2. The compressive strength test results confirmed that the 7-day strength of biochar-incorporated concrete was minimally below the standard strength while the 28-day strength was significantly higher. Meanwhile, the gas sensor test affirmed the effectiveness of biochar concrete in adsorbing CO2, as evidenced by the increase in carbonation depth. These results indicate the potential of bamboo biochar as partial cement replacement in concrete to sequester CO2 without majorly affecting its compressive strength.

This experimental study investigates the impact of banana peel powder (BPP) and orange peel powder (OPP) as partial replacements on cement's physicomechanical properties. The testing of dried and powdered fruit peels is conducted in accordance with the standards ASTM C150 and ASTM C109. BPP exhibits strong pozzolanic binding characteristics, enhancing compressive strength when used at replacement percentages of 4 %, 6 %, and 8 %. Conversely, the addition of OPP to cement negatively affects compressive strength, falling below the required standard. These findings demonstrate the potential of BPP in producing high-quality cement while suggesting that OPP may not be suitable as a direct substitute in its current form. Utilizing banana peels in cement improves its structural properties, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for various construction applications.

The coastal areas face imminent threats from rising sea levels, which are further exacerbated by storm surges, leading to the relocation of communities. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the potential hazards posed by sea level rise in Balanga City, Bataan, Philippines. A physical vulnerability index was developed considering factors such as geomorphology, elevation, and projected sea level rise. The socioeconomic vulnerability index assessed variables such as household density, education, household monthly income, and housing materials. The study employed Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Fuzzy Logic, and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate socioeconomic, physical, and total vulnerability indices. The study used World Bank Group's projected sea level rise data for different scenarios, surveyed 321 households, obtained elevation data from the University of the Philippines-LiPad's Digital Terrain Model, and classified the area's geomorphology with Landsat 8-9 OLI/TIRS imagery. The PVI analysis indicated that in barangay Tortugas, around 20 % had very high vulnerability, and 19.9 % had very low vulnerability. In Puerto Rivas Ibaba, about 22 % displayed very high vulnerability, and approximately 34 % were classified as very low vulnerability. For SVI, Tortugas had roughly 20 % very high vulnerability and 20 % very low vulnerability. Puerto Rivas Ibaba showed about 20 % very high vulnerability and 19.9 % very low vulnerability. Regarding TVI, Tortugas had 20 % very high vulnerability and 19.9 % very low vulnerability, while Puerto Rivas Ibaba had 20 % very high vulnerability and 20% very low vulnerability. The analysis revealed varying levels of vulnerability in the barangays of Tortugas and Puerto Rivas Ibaba, ranging from very high vulnerability to very low vulnerability. This research serves as a valuable resource for informing and reforming future strategies and policies aimed at mitigating the impacts of sea level rise and safeguarding vulnerable coastal communities.

The Philippines, located in the western Pacific region, ranked first on the list of global disaster hotpots out of 192 countries in the World Risk Index Report in 2022. The Philippines was also identified as one of the most vulnerable to disasters caused by extreme natural events that include storms and flooding. Digitalization and emerging technologies that enable advanced warning and create responsive systems are the tools to prepare affected communities for natural events. This project develops an advanced system that enhances community preparedness and aids decision-making during extreme weather conditions like heavy rainfall, gusty winds, flooding, and extreme heat. The system can sense several parameters that include wind speed, wind direction, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, precipitation, solar irradiance, ultraviolet rays’ intensity, and flood water level. The sensing components transmit the readings to an attached microprocessor board that translates and sends the data to the cloud for storage, processing, and analysis. The processed data are fed into a web application that is built to disseminate precise weather information to the community and to the authorities to help them make informed decisions during hazardous weather conditions. The project employs three-dimensional (3D) modeling and printing, and standardized testing of system components for prototyping. The operation of each component of the weather and hydrologic monitoring system was validated through comparison with calibrated weather parameter measuring devices. Results reveal that the developed system provides weather data with an accuracy of 98.54 % to 99.71 % against calibrated weather parameter measuring devices. The monitoring system is also designed to accommodate artificial intelligence to enable precise localized weather forecasting.

The escalating global demand for sustainable energy has spurred interest in solar energy as an eco-friendly solution. Determining suitable sites for solar installations requires evaluation of geographical, economic, and technological aspects. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as powerful tools for evaluating spatial data in such analyses, enabling the integration of diverse geospatial information to support informed decision-making. Yet, prevailing research predominantly focuses on large-scale installations, largely due to data constraints concerning rooftop installations. This study seeks to address this gap by employing empirical formulas to estimate parameters relevant to characterizing and predicting solar energy output from rooftop installation sites. More specifically, this study aims to cite potential solar energy installation areas on the main campus of Bataan Peninsula State University. Using pre-processed Himawari-8 satellite data and Digital Surface Model, the total Potential PV Output of the University roof was calculated.

The efficacy of a vector control tool in reducing mosquito biting is crucial for its acceptability. The present study compared the vector density of Culex spp. And Mansonia spp. across clusters, which received two dual-active ingredient (a.i.) long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and a standard pyrethroid-only LLIN, and assessed the seasonality of these mosquito genera. A total of 85,723 Culex spp. and 144,025 Mansonia spp. were caught over the study period. The density of Culex and Mansonia was reduced in all three arms over the study period. There was no evidence of a significant reduction in the indoor or outdoor density of Culex spp. in either dual-a.i. LLIN arm as compared to the standard pyrethroid-only net arm. A similar trend was observed with Mansonia spp. A high density of Culex spp. was found both in rainy and dry seasons, while for Mansonia spp., this was mainly observed during the rainy season. These results suggest that the novel insecticides in the dual-a.i. LLINs did not have an additional impact on these species and that pyrethroids might still be effective on them. Further work is required to determine whether these species of mosquitoes have resistance to the insecticides tested in this trial.

Abstract Background Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are currently the primary method of malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa and have contributed to a significant reduction in malaria burden over the past 15 years. However, this progress is threatened by the wide-scale selection of insecticide-resistant malaria vectors. It is, therefore, important to accelerate the generation of evidence for new classes of LLINs. Methods This protocol presents a three-arm superiority, single-blinded, cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of 2 novel dual-active ingredient LLINs on epidemiological and entomological outcomes in Benin, a malaria-endemic area with highly pyrethroid-resistant vector populations. The study arms consist of (i) Royal Guard® LLIN, a net combining a pyrethroid (alpha-cypermethrin) plus an insect growth regulator (pyriproxyfen), which in the adult female is known to disrupt reproduction and egg fertility; (ii) Interceptor G2® LLIN, a net incorporating two adulticides (alpha-cypermethrin and chlorfenapyr) with different modes of action; and (iii) the control arm, Interceptor® LLIN, a pyrethroid (alpha-cypermethrin) only LLIN. In all arms, one net for every 2 people will be distributed to each household. Sixty clusters were identified and randomised 1:1:1 to each study arm. The primary outcome is malaria case incidence measured over 24 months through active case detection in a cohort of 25 children aged 6 months to 10 years, randomly selected from each cluster. Secondary outcomes include 1) malaria infection prevalence (all ages) and prevalence of moderate to severe anaemia in children under 5 years old, measured at 6 and 18 months post-intervention; 2) entomological indices measured every 3 months using human landing catches over 24 months. Insecticide resistance intensity will also be monitored over the study period. Discussion This study is the second cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of these next-generation LLINs to control malaria transmitted by insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. The results of this study will form part of the WHO evidence-based review to support potential public health recommendations of these nets and shape malaria control strategies of sub-Saharan Africa for the next decade. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03931473 , registered on 30 April 2019.

Abstract Background State afterschool networks across the US are engaged in system-building efforts to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-focused afterschool programming. This study examined national trends in STEM program quality, youth outcomes, and the connections between these two data sources. Methods One thousand five hundred ninety-nine youths (grades 4–12) enrolled in 158 STEM-focused afterschool programs across 11 state networks completed a retrospective self-assessment measuring STEM attitudes and social-emotional learning (SEL)/twenty-first-century skills. Two hundred fifty standardized observations of STEM activities were performed to measure STEM program quality. Results (1) Most youth (65–85%) reported increases in STEM engagement, identity, career interest, career knowledge, relationships, critical thinking, and perseverance, with the largest gains reported by those engaging with STEM activities for 4 weeks or more; (2) there were significant, strong correlations between STEM and SEL/twenty-first-century outcomes reported by youth; and (3) youth participating in higher-quality STEM programming reported more growth than peers participating in lower-quality programs. Conclusion This effort demonstrates how investments in STEM program quality yield high returns for programs and youth and how collaborations between research and practice can track successes and challenges, determine investments in program management, and expand advocacy and policy efforts. Additionally, this study supports a growing body of literature that suggests a synergy between youth development and STEM learning approaches that can improve outcomes for youth.

Abstract Background In recognition of the threat of insecticide resistance in vectors of malaria, the WHO Global Malaria Programme recommends the development of an appropriate and comprehensive response to insecticide resistance. In principle, good resistance management practice requires the application of multiple insecticides of different modes of action, for example, in rotations and mixtures. Insecticides recommended by the World Health Organization for indoor residual spraying and long-lasting insecticide nets are limited. It is, therefore, judicious to prevent the rapid spread of insecticide resistance by evaluating new insecticides formulations with different modes of action and long residual effect. Methods Fludora® Fusion, a new neonicotinoid IRS formulation (a mixture of 500 g/kg clothianidin and 62.5 g/kg deltamethrin applied 200 mg ai/sqm + 25 mg ai/sqm, respectively) was tested. Small scale field evaluation of this product was conducted in the district of Dangbo in Benin, to compare its efficacy and residual effect on cement and mud walls against those of clothianidin 200 mg ai/sqm (WG 70) alone, and of deltamethrin 25 mg ai/sqm (WG 250) alone. WHO wall cone bioassays were conducted monthly with laboratory susceptible Anopheles “Kisumu” and wild Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) population from Dangbo. The induced mortality by each treatment per wall substrate for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post exposure were recorded every month and analysed. Results Fludora® Fusion and clothianidin WG 70 showed mortality rates over 80% WHO bio-efficacy threshold on cement walls either with susceptible or resistant An. gambiae s.s. over a period of 10 and 9 months, respectively. Treatment with Fludora® Fusion and clothianidin WG 70 on the mud walls showed residual effect for 6 months and 5 months respectively against both susceptible and resistant mosquitoes. During the whole evaluation period, deltamethrin WG 250 showed mortality rates below 80% against resistant Anopheles population. Furthermore, the knock down rates observed with the Fludora® Fusion combination were significantly higher (p

BackgroundThis study provides detailed characteristics of vector populations in preparation for a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) aiming to compare the community impact of dual active-ingredient (AI) long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) that combine two novel insecticide classes-chlorfenapyr or pyriproxifen-with alpha-cypermethrin to improve the prevention of malaria transmitted by insecticide-resistant vectors compared to standard pyrethroid LLINs.MethodsThe study was carried out in 60 villages across Cove, Zangnanando and Ouinhi districts, southern Benin. Mosquito collections were performed using human landing catches (HLCs). After morphological identification, a sub-sample of Anopheles gambiae s.l. were dissected for parity, analyzed by PCR for species and presence of L1014F kdr mutation and by ELISA-CSP to identify Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite infection. WHO susceptibility tube tests were performed by exposing adult An. gambiae s.l., collected as larvae from each district, to 0.05% alphacypermethrin, 0.75% permethrin, 0.1% bendiocarb and 0.25% pirimiphos-methyl. Synergist assays were also conducted with exposure first to 4% PBO followed by alpha-cypermethrin.ResultsAn. gambiae s.l. (n = 10807) was the main malaria vector complex found followed by Anopheles funestus s.l. (n = 397) and Anopheles nili (n = 82). An. gambiae s.l. was comprised of An. coluzzii (53.9%) and An. gambiae s.s. (46.1%), both displaying a frequency of the L1014F kdr mutation >80%. Although more than 80% of people slept under standard LLIN, human biting rate (HBR) in An. gambiae s.l. was higher indoors [26.5 bite/person/night (95% CI: 25.2-27.9)] than outdoors [18.5 b/p/n (95% CI: 17.4-19.6)], as were the trends for sporozoite rate (SR) [2.9% (95% CI: 1.7-4.8) vs 1.8% (95% CI: 0.6-3.8)] and entomological inoculation rate (EIR) [21.6 infected bites/person/month (95% CI: 20.4-22.8) vs 5.4 (95% CI: 4.8-6.0)]. Parous rate was 81.6% (95%CI: 75.4-88.4). An. gambiae s.l. was resistant to alpha-cypermethrin and permethrin but, fully susceptible to bendiocarb and pirimiphos-methyl. PBO pre-exposure followed by alpha-cypermethrin treatment induced a higher 24 hours mortality compared to alphacypermethrin alone but not exceeding 40%.ConclusionsDespite a high usage of standard pyrethroid LLINs, the study area is characterized by intense malaria transmission. The main vectors An. coluzzii and An. gambiae s.s. were both highly resistant to pyrethroids and displayed multiple resistance mechanisms, L1014F kdr mutation and mixed function oxidases. These conditions of the study area make it an appropriate site to conduct the trial that aims to assess the effect of novel dual-AI LLINs on malaria transmitted by insecticide-resistant vectors.

Artificial compartments have been expressed in prokaryotes and yeast, but similar capabilities have been missing for mammalian cell engineering. Here the authors use bacterial encapsulins to engineer genetically controlled multifunctional orthogonal compartments in mammalian cells.

Abstract Background Scale-up of the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying with insecticides over the last decade have contributed to the considerable decrease of malaria morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to the increasing pyrethroid resistance intensity and the spread of carbamate resistance in Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) mosquitoes and the limited number of insecticides recommended by the WHO for vector control, alternative insecticide formulations for IRS with long-lasting residual activity are required to sustain the gains obtained in most malaria-endemic countries. Methods SumiShield 50WG (clothianidin 300 mg ai/m2) developed by Sumitomo Chemical was evaluated alongside deltamethrin 25 mg ai/m2 (K-Othrine 250 WG) against a pyrethroid resistant Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) population in experimental huts in Covè, Benin. Residual activity was also tested in cone bioassays with the susceptible An. gambiae “Kisumu” strain and the local wild resistant population. Results The results showed very low toxicity from deltamethrin (mortality rates ranged between 1–40%) against host-seeking resistant Anopheles populations. SumiShield in contrast gave an overall mean mortality of 91.7% at the 120 h observation across the eight- month observation period following spraying. The residual activity measured using cone tests was over the 80% WHO threshold for 24 weeks for resistant wild Anopheles population and 32 weeks for the susceptible strain “Kisumu” after the spraying. Conclusions SumiShield is a good candidate for IRS in areas of permanent malaria transmission and where Anopheles populations are resistant to other conventional insecticides such as pyrethroids. It would be interesting to complete experimental huts studies by assessing the efficacy and residual effect of SumiShield 50WG at community level (small-scale field testing) in an area where vectors are highly resistant to insecticides.

Advances in animal magnetoreception have been limited by a lack of tractable vertebrate laboratory models. Here, the authors demonstrate light-independent magnetoreception in mature zebrafish and medaka, as well as magnetosensitive locomotion in juvenile medaka associated with neuronal activation in the lateral hindbrain.

Abstract Magnetic cell sorting provides a valuable complementary mechanism to fluorescent techniques, especially if its parameters can be fine-tuned. In addition, there has recently been growing interest in studying naturally occurring magnetic cells and genetic engineering of cells to render them magnetic in order to control molecular processes via magnetic fields. For such approaches, contamination-free magnetic separation is an essential capability. We here present a robust and tunable microfluidic sorting system in which magnetic gradients of up to 1700 T/m can be applied to cells flowing through a sorting channel by reversible magnetization of ferrofluids. Visual control of the sorting process allowed us to optimize sorting efficiencies for a large range of sizes and magnetic moments of cells. Using automated quantification based on imaging of fluorescent markers, we showed that macrophages containing phagocytosed magnetic nanoparticles, with cellular magnetic dipole moments on the order of 10 fAm2, could be sorted with an efficiency of 90 ± 1%. Furthermore, we successfully sorted intrinsically magnetic magnetotactic bacteria with magnetic moments of 0.1 fAm2. In distinction to column-based magnetic sorting devices, microfluidic systems can prevent sample contact with superparamagnetic material. This ensures contamination-free separation of naturally occurring or bioengineered magnetic cells and is essential for downstream characterization of their properties.

The study of growth and possible metastasis in animal models of tumors would benefit from reliable cell labels for noninvasive whole-organism imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging. Genetically encoded cell-tracking reporters have the advantage that they are contrast-selective for viable cells with intact protein expression machinery. Besides, these reporters do not suffer from dilution during cell division. Encapsulins, which are bacterial protein nanocompartments, can serve as genetically controlled labels for multimodal detection of cells. Such nanocompartments can host various guest molecules inside their lumen. These include, for example, fluorescent proteins or enzymes with ferroxidase activity leading to biomineralization of iron oxide inside the encapsulin nanoshell. The aim of this work was to implement heterologous expression of encapsulin systems from Quasibacillus thermotolerans using the fluorescent reporter protein mScarlet-I and ferroxidase IMEF in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. The successful expression of self-assembled encapsulin nanocompartments with functional cargo proteins was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Also, coexpression of encapsulin nanoshells, ferroxidase cargo, and iron transporter led to an increase in T2-weighted contrast in magnetic resonance imaging of HepG2 cells. The results demonstrate that the encapsulin cargo system from Q. thermotolerans may be suitable for multimodal imaging of cancer cells and could contribute to further in vitro and in vivo studies.

Experimental approaches to studying behaviors based on visual signals are ubiquitous, yet these studies are limited by the difficulty of combining realistic models with the manipulation of signals in isolation. Computer animations are a promising way to break this trade-off. However, animations are often prohibitively expensive and difficult to program, thus limiting their utility in behavioral research. We present anyFish 2.0, a user-friendly platform for creating realistic animated 3D fish. anyFish 2.0 dramatically expands anyFish’s utility by allowing users to create animations of members of several groups of fish from model systems in ecology and evolution (e.g., sticklebacks, Poeciliids, and zebrafish). The visual appearance and behaviors of the model can easily be modified. We have added several features that facilitate more rapid creation of realistic behavioral sequences. anyFish 2.0 provides a powerful tool that will be of broad use in animal behavior and evolution and serves as a model for transparency, repeatability, and collaboration. Keywords: Animal communication, Animation, Video playback, Teleostei

Malaria is the deadliest mosquito-borne disease and kills predominantly people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The now widespread mosquito resistance to pyrethroids, with rapidly growing resistance to other insecticide classes recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), may overturn the successes gained in mosquito control in recent years. It is of utmost importance to search for new, inexpensive, and safe alternatives, with new modes of action, that might improve the efficacy of current insecticides. The efficacy of a novel mechanical insecticidal mineral derived from volcanic rock, ImergardTMWP, was investigated to determine its efficacy as a stand-alone residual wall spray and as a mixture with deltamethrin (K-Othrine® Polyzone) in experimental huts in Cove, Benin. The evaluation was conducted with susceptible (Kisumu) and wild-type Anopheles gambiae (s.l.). Deltamethrin applied alone demonstrated 40–45% mortality (at 72 h post-exposure) during the first four months, which declined to 25% at six months for wild An. gambiae from Cove. ImergardTMWP alone and mixed with deltamethrin, under the same assay conditions, produced 79–82% and 73–81% mortality, respectively, during the same six-month period. ImergardTMWP met the 80% WHO bio-efficacy threshold for residual activity for the first five months with 78% residual activity at six months. ImergardTMWP can be used as a mixture with chemical insecticides or as a stand-alone pesticide for mosquito control in Africa.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the perception of esthetics and the attractiveness of the smile, in frontal view, with mandibular asymmetry, through the eye-tracking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OGAMA software and The Eye Tribe Tracker hardware were used to obtain eye tracking in certain areas of interest on the face. To simulate asymmetry, Photoshop® image editing software was used to create a vertical reference line to the midline of the face and make it symmetrical with control of the angulation relative to another horizontal reference line passing through the vertices. Then, the lower third of the face added asymmetries or deviations, starting from zero, with increments of 2 by 2 degrees up to 6 degrees. The study included 60 laypeople, 30 males and 30 females, without any knowledge about the study, showing good vision, and not having used drugs with the possibility of influencing cognitive or motor skills. RESULTS: From the heat map in cases of mandibular asymmetry, it is possible to visualize that for both sexes the evaluators evaluated with a certain degree of similarity mainly when the deviations presented with 6 degrees. The trajectory of the male and female gaze in cases with asymmetry shows that in cases with a magnitude of 6 degrees, the raters traced mainly in the region of the mouth with little transition in the eye region and mainly in the areas of interest considered as “other.” In the images presented with a magnitude of up to 4 degrees, they were traced in the general image. CONCLUSIONS: The perception of laypeople from mandibular asymmetry to the right in females presented a higher perception when compared to males with mandible asymmetry to the left.

Studies of highly diverged species have revealed two mechanisms by which meiotic recombination is directed to the genome—through PRDM9 binding or by targeting promoter-like features—that lead to dramatically different evolutionary dynamics of hotspots. Here, we identify PRDM9 orthologs from genome and transcriptome data in 225 species. We find the complete PRDM9 ortholog across distantly related vertebrates but, despite this broad conservation, infer a minimum of six partial and three complete losses. Strikingly, taxa carrying the complete ortholog of PRDM9 are precisely those with rapid evolution of its predicted binding affinity, suggesting that all domains are necessary for directing recombination. Indeed, as we show, swordtail fish carrying only a partial but conserved ortholog share recombination properties with PRDM9 knock-outs.

A medida que aumenta la globalización de los suministros de alimentos, resulta cada vez más evidente la necesidad de reforzar los sistemas que velan por la inocuidad de los alimentos en todos los países. La acreditación es el reconocimiento formal, que hace una tercera parte, de que un organismo cumple con los requisitos especificados y es competente para desarrollar tareas específicas de evaluación de la conformidad. INAVI como organismo regulador de la vitivinicultura de la República Oriental del Uruguay cuenta desde el año 2011 con un Laboratorio Acreditado por el OUA (Organismo Uruguayo de Acreditación) en la Norma ISO/IEC 17025:2005. En la actualidad cuenta con 16 alcances en dos matrices diferentes vinos y sidras asegurando así su competencia técnica. Los Organismos Reguladores en Enología con frecuencia deben tomar decisiones en referencia a la salud y bienestar de los consumidores, protección del medio ambiente, control del cumplimiento de requisitos existentes reglamentarios y legales, generación de nuevos requisitos y regulaciones, así como asignación de recursos técnicos y financieros. Para poder tomar estas decisiones los Organismos de Regulación deben tener confianza en los resultados generados, la acreditación de sus laboratorios de ensayo genera la confianza necesaria para el desarrollo de dichas actividades.

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Despite its role in homogenizing populations, hybridization has also been proposed as a means to generate new species. The conceptual basis for this idea is that hybridization can result in novel phenotypes through recombination between the parental genomes, allowing a hybrid population to occupy ecological niches unavailable to parental species. Here we present an alternative model of the evolution of reproductive isolation in hybrid populations that occurs as a simple consequence of selection against genetic incompatibilities. Unlike previous models of hybrid speciation, our model does not incorporate inbreeding, or assume that hybrids have an ecological or reproductive fitness advantage relative to parental populations. We show that reproductive isolation between hybrids and parental species can evolve frequently and rapidly under this model, even in the presence of substantial ongoing immigration from parental species and strong selection against hybrids. An interesting prediction of our model is that replicate hybrid populations formed from the same pair of parental species can evolve reproductive isolation from each other. This non-adaptive process can therefore generate patterns of species diversity and relatedness that resemble an adaptive radiation. Intriguingly, several known hybrid species exhibit patterns of reproductive isolation consistent with the predictions of our model.

Hybridization is increasingly being recognized as a common process in both animal and plant species. Negative epistatic interactions between genes from different parental genomes decrease the fitness of hybrids and can limit gene flow between species. However, little is known about the number and genome-wide distribution of genetic incompatibilities separating species. To detect interacting genes, we perform a high-resolution genome scan for linkage disequilibrium between unlinked genomic regions in naturally occurring hybrid populations of swordtail fish. We estimate that hundreds of pairs of genomic regions contribute to reproductive isolation between these species, despite them being recently diverged. Many of these incompatibilities are likely the result of natural or sexual selection on hybrids, since intrinsic isolation is known to be weak. Patterns of genomic divergence at these regions imply that genetic incompatibilities play a significant role in limiting gene flow even in young species.

The intensity of mating competition and the potential benefits for female of mating with certain males can be influenced by several extrinsic factors, such that behavioral decisions can be highly context-dependent. Short-lived species with a single reproductive season are a unique model to study context-sensitive mating decisions. Through exhaustive sampling in the field and simultaneous choice tests in the laboratory, we evaluated operational sex ratio (OSR) and female mate choice at the beginning and end of the reproductive season in the annual killifish Austrolebias reicherti. We found seasonal change in both OSR and female mate choice. At the start of the reproductive season the OSR did not deviate from parity, and females preferred larger males. Later in the reproductive season, while the proportion of males in the ponds decreased, females became unselective with respect to male size. The particular biological cycle of annual killifish, where both life expectancy and mating opportunities decline sharply over a short timescale, could account for the seasonal change in female choice. Reduction in choosiness could arise from diminished reproductive prospects due to a decline in male availability. Moreover, as the end of the season approaches, any benefits of choosiness are presumably reduced: a female's fitness will be higher if she mates with any male than if she forgoes reproduction and dies. Future work will disentangle the mechanisms underlying seasonal changes in mating preferences, notably direct responses to demographic factors, environmental cues, or intrinsic changes during development.

Determining the costs of sexual ornaments is complicated by the fact that ornaments are often integrated with other, non-sexual traits, making it difficult to dissect the effect of ornaments independent of other aspects of the phenotype. Hybridization can produce reduced phenotypic integration, allowing one to evaluate performance across a broad range of multivariate trait values. Here we assess the relationship between morphology and performance in the swordtails Xiphophorus malinche and X. birchmanni, two naturally-hybridizing fish species that differ extensively in non-sexual as well as sexual traits. We took advantage of novel trait variation in hybrids to determine if sexual ornaments incur a cost in terms of locomotor ability. For both fast-start and endurance swimming, hybrids performed at least as well as the two parental species. The sexually-dimorphic sword did not impair swimming performance per se. Rather, the sword negatively affected performance only when paired with a sub-optimal body shape. Studies seeking to quantify the costs of ornaments should consider that covariance with non-sexual traits may create the spurious appearance of costs.

Mate choice is context dependent, but the importance of current context to interspecific mating and hybridization is largely unexplored. An important influence on mate choice is predation risk. We investigated how variation in an indirect cue of predation risk, distance to shelter, influences mate choice in the swordtail Xiphophorus birchmanni, a species which sometimes hybridizes with X. malinche in the wild. We conducted mate choice experiments to determine whether females attend to the distance to shelter and whether this cue of predation risk can counteract female preference for conspecifics. Females were sensitive to shelter distance independent of male presence. When conspecific and heterospecific X. malinche males were in equally risky habitats (i.e., equally distant from shelter), females associated primarily with conspecifics, suggesting an innate preference for conspecifics. However, when heterospecific males were in less risky habitat (i.e., closer to shelter) than conspecific males, females no longer exhibited a preference, suggesting that females calibrate their mate choices in response to predation risk. Our findings illustrate the potential for hybridization to arise, not necessarily through reproductive "mistakes", but as one of many potential outcomes of a context-dependent mate choice strategy.

Many studies of offspring size focus on differences in maternal investment that arise from ecological factors such as predation or competition. Classic theory predicts that these ecological factors will select for an optimal offspring size, and therefore that variation in a given environment will be minimized. Yet recent evidence suggests maternal traits such as size or age could also drive meaningful variation in offspring size. The generality of this pattern is unclear, as some studies suggest that it may represent non-adaptive variation or be an artifact of temporal or spatial differences in maternal environments. To clarify this pattern, we asked how maternal size, age and condition are related to each other in several populations of the swordtail Xiphophorus birchmanni. We then determined how these traits are related to offspring size, and whether they could resolve unexplained intra-population variation in this trait. We found that female size, age, and condition are correlated within populations; at some of these sites, older, larger females produce larger offspring than do younger females. The pattern was robust to differences among most, but not all, sites. Our results document a pattern that is consistent with recent theory predicting adaptive age- and size-dependence in maternal investment. Further work is needed to rule out non-adaptive explanations for this variation. Our results suggest that female size and age could play an under-appreciated role in population growth and evolution.

This study explored STEM program quality prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, including differences based on learning setting. Program quality data was drawn from a national database consisting of 1259 program quality observations conducted between 2013 and 2021. Using the Dimensions of Success (DoS), an observation tool focused on informal STEM learning program quality, we analyzed 12 dimensions of quality obtained from 1212 observations gathered prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a subsample of the national dataset (n = 616) including only states who submitted DoS observations before and during the pandemic, and 47 observations gathered throughout the pandemic. National trends in program strengths and challenges were replicated in the pandemic sample. Compared to observations conducted prior to the pandemic, the pandemic sample demonstrated significantly weaker evidence of quality in the dimension of Engagement with STEM, which considers the extent to which activities promote physical and cognitive learning. Findings revealed no significant differences across the 12 dimensions between in-person and virtual observations conducted during the pandemic. Common frameworks to support evidence-based planning relevant to dimensions that are challenging in the context of the pandemic are key to promoting high-quality teaching and learning practices that contribute to equitable, positive youth outcomes in STEM.

One of the most notable transformations in the STEM educational landscape in the last decade is the rise of the out-of-school time (OST) sector as a leading provider of STEM enrichment (Krishnamurthi, Ottinger, & Topol, 2013; National Research Council, 2015). High-quality OST programs provide young people with rich, engaging learning experiences, coupling STEM concepts with hands-on activities that foster youth voice and choice and apply STEM to real-world social contexts (Lyon, Jafri, & St. Louis, 2012; Noam & Shah, 2014). A large and growing literature documents the positive effects of OST STEM on youth outcomes (e.g., Allen et al., 2019; Dabney et al., 2012; Young, Ortiz, & Young, 2017). Practitioners, researchers, and policymakers show increasing interest in strategic partnerships among OST providers, K-12 schools, and other community organizations (Anthony & Morra, 2016; Bevan et al., 2010; National Research Council, 2015) to improve access to quality STEM learning, especially among underserved youth, and to increase the number of young people who pursue STEM careers (National Research Council, 2015). To better understand how communities can develop and leverage partnerships within and beyond OST to improve STEM programming, the conducted conducted an in-depth case study of one of the first STEM learning ecosystems in the U.S.: the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance in Oklahoma, which is working to improve STEM teaching and learning from its home base in the OST sector. This article begins by describing the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (CoP), a national initiative that cultivates dynamic community partnerships to provide high-quality STEM learning. After presenting the research frame and outlining the methodology, the authors summarize key findings from the Tulsa alliance, focusing on how an OST-led STEM learning ecosystem forms, develops, acts, evolves, and sustains itself over time. Their conclusions focus on how the OST field can lead a national movement to transform STEM education by developing strong partnerships with schools, businesses, and STEM institutions; by investing in quality standards; and by building data systems and common measurements to support continuous improvement.

An innovative system-building initiative known as the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP) is transforming U.S. STEM education through cross-sector partnerships between schools, afterschool and summer programs, libraries, museums, and businesses, among others. Although logic models exist to describe how SLEs can make positive contributions toward youth STEM learning in theory, it is unknown how individual SLEs are motivated or equipped to collect the evidence needed to demonstrate their value or abilities to solve the problems they were formed to address. The present study describes the results of a 34-item qualitative survey--completed by leaders of 37 SLEs from four U.S. regions--designed to understand where SLEs are in their evaluation planning, implementing, and capacity-building processes. We found that most SLEs were championed by the extended education sector, and all were highly motivated to conduct evaluation and assessment. Most communities reported a willingness to create a shared vision around data collection, which will help researchers and practitioners track, understand, and improve STEM quality and outcomes in and out of school.

BackgroundChemical communication plays a critical role in sexual selection and speciation in fishes; however, it is generally assumed that most fish pheromones are passively released since most fishes lack specialized scent glands or scent-marking behavior. Swordtails (genus Xiphophorus) are widely used in studies of female mate choice, and female response to male chemical cues is important to sexual selection, reproductive isolation, and hybridization. However, it is unclear whether females are attending to passively produced cues, or to pheromones produced in the context of communication.Methodology/principal findingsWe used fluorescein dye injections to visualize pulsed urine release in male sheepshead swordtails, Xiphophorus birchmanni. Simultaneous-choice assays of mating preference showed that females attend to species- and sex-specific chemical cues emitted in male urine. Males urinated more frequently in the presence and proximity of an audience (conspecific females). In the wild, males preferentially courted upstream of females, facilitating transmission of pheromone cues.Conclusions/significanceMales in a teleost fish have evolved sophisticated temporal and spatial control of pheromone release, comparable to that found in terrestrial animals. Pheromones are released specifically in a communicative context, and the timing and positioning of release favors efficient signal transmission.

Predation pressure and energy requirements present particularly salient opposing selective pressures on young fish. Thus, fry are expected to possess sophisticated means of detecting predators and resources. Here we tested the hypotheses that fry of the swordtail fish Xiphophorus birchmanni use chemical and visual cues in detection of predators and conspecifics. To test these hypotheses we presented young (

En este trabajo se presentan dos estadísticas para detectar un outlier superior en muestras exponenciales, cuando se utiliza el estimador de Kaminsky para estimar la mayor observación. Por medio de simulación se comparan los resultados con los obtenidos por Balasooriya y con los resultados obtenidos sin el uso del predictor.

What is it about afterschool that gives it so much potential to powerfully influence educational best practices around the world? This paper will explore what truly defines "afterschool" beyond the time- and location-based pedagogy of the term and will make the case for the use of "expanded learning" or "expanded opportunities" as the terms that most clearly describe this critical time of youth learning and development. This paper will explore the cultural and bureaucratic differences countries have that influence how young people spend their time and what those differences say about a country's views on child development and its aspirations for its youth. Beyond an exploration of cultural differences, this paper will also discuss the trends that are influencing our international efforts to shift the view of expanded learning programs beyond a safe place to keep children occupied while their parents work, toward a fundamental space for child development and educational innovation.

Background: Physical, chemical, bromatological and morphological characteristics are some of the quality aspects that regulate food products. The Andean blackberry is a very perishable fruit, due to its moisture, acidity, and water activity. Dehydration is one of the most common techniques in food preservation. Methods: In this research, blackberry concentrate, inulin and Lacticaseibacillus casei ( L. casei), were co-encapsulated by spray drying using different conditions: maltodextrin (MD: 4-8%), inlet air temperature (IAT: 120-140 ºC), outlet air temperature (OAT: 70-80 ºC) and atomizing disc speed (ADS: 20000-24000 rpm). Results: The experimental optimization had a desirability function (71.9%), MD (5.0%), IAT (121.1 ºC), OAT (71.6 ºC) and ADS (24000 rpm). Physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant capacity were determined in spray dried product. The blackberry powder biofortified with L. casei and inulin (BPLI) achieved 7.12±0.69 Log CFU/g, total phenols (2912.9±96.4 mg eq-gallic acid/100g), anthocyanins (202.9±5.2 mg eq-cyd-3-glu/100g), and antioxidant capacity (ABTS: 2423.1±96.6 mg Trolox/100g and DPPH: 3302.6±76.4 mg Trolox/100g). Conclusions: The physicochemical properties of biofortified blackberry powder indicate that it is a product with appropriate solubility, humidity, and water activity for consumption and storage. BPLI has the potential to be a health food and could be positioned as a functional food due to its probiotic and prebiotic characteristics and the antioxidants that are beneficial to modern consumers; on the other hand, it represents a raw material with potential use in the food industry.