Effect of Wing Length on the Prevalence of Trypanosomes in Glossina Morsitans Morsitans in Eastern Zambia

Author(s):  
Cornelius Mweempwa ◽  
Kalinga Chilongo ◽  
Kyoko Hayashida ◽  
Boniface Namangala

Abstract BackgroundTsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) transmit trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock). Several studies have indicated that the age, sex, site of capture, starvation and microbiome symbionts, among others, are important factors influencing trypanosome infection in tsetse flies. However, reasons for a higher infection rate in females than in males still largely remain unknown. As species and sexes of tsetse flies of larger body size are the most mobile and the most available to stationary baits, it was hypothesized in this study that, the higher trypanosome prevalence in female than in male tsetse flies was because females were larger than males.Materials and methodsBlack screen fly rounds and epsilon traps were used to collect tsetse flies in eastern Zambia. Wing vein length was measured and the presence of trypanosomes was examined by microscopy. Principal component method was carried out to determine which variables had potential to be used as predictor variables. The multilevel binary logistic regression method was applied on whole data, one-method data and one-sex data sets to evaluate the hypothesis. ResultsA total of 2,195 Glossina m. morsitans data were evaluated (1,491 and 704 males and females, respectively). The wing length variable contributed the highest variance percentage (39.15%) to the first principal component. The wing length variable showed significant influence on prevalence of trypanosomes when the whole data set was analyzed. The log odds for the prevalence of trypanosomes significantly increased by 0.123 (p = 0.032), per unit increase in wing length. Moreover, moving from females to males, wing length significantly reduced by 0.150 (p < 0.0001) and females had higher trypanosome prevalence rates than males, though not always significant. ConclusionWing length is an important determinant factor for trypanosome prevalence in G. m. morsitans and could partially explain the higher prevalence of trypanosomes in females than in males. To verify this status, however, it’s clear that, reasonably representative population data is required for analysis – a serious challenge with the current tsetse sampling methods. Nonetheless, analysis of combined data from mobile and stationary methods that includes both sexes data, could verify the status.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelius Mweempwa ◽  
Kalinga Chilongo ◽  
Kyoko Hayashida ◽  
Boniface Namangala

Abstract Background Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) transmit trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock). Several studies have indicated that age, sex, site of capture, starvation and microbiome symbionts, among others, are important factors that influence trypanosome infection in tsetse flies. However, reasons for a higher infection rate in females than in males still largely remain unknown. Considering that tsetse species and sexes of larger body size are the most mobile and the most available to stationary baits, it was hypothesized in this study that the higher trypanosome prevalence in female than in male tsetse flies was a consequence of females being larger than males. Methods Black screen fly rounds and Epsilon traps were used to collect tsetse flies in eastern Zambia. Measurement of wing vein length and examination for presence of trypanosomes in the flies were carried out by microscopy. Principal component method was carried out to assess the potential of wing vein length as a predictor variable. The multilevel binary logistic regression method was applied on whole data, one-method data and one-sex data sets to evaluate the hypothesis. Results Data derived from a total of 2195 Glossina morsitans morsitans were evaluated (1491 males and 704 females). The wing length variable contributed the highest variance percentage (39.2%) to the first principal component. The variable showed significant influence on prevalence of trypanosomes when the analysis was applied on the whole data set, with the log odds for the prevalence of trypanosomes significantly increasing by 0.1 (P  =  0.032), per unit increase in wing length. Females had higher trypanosome prevalence rates than males, though not always significant. Furthermore, moving from females to males, wing length significantly reduced by 0.2 (P  <  0.0001). Conclusions We conclude that wing length is an important predictor variable for trypanosome prevalence in Glossina morsitans morsitans and could partially explain the higher prevalence of trypanosomes in females than in males. However, reasonably representative population data are required for analysis—a serious challenge with the current tsetse sampling methods. Thus, analysis combining data from mobile and stationary methods that include both sexes' data could be useful to verify this hypothesis. Graphical abstract


1999 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Van den Bossche ◽  
J.W. Hargrove

AbstractA total of 4420 male Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood were captured on man fly-rounds in Katete District, Eastern Province, Zambia between February 1991 and December 1993. Of these flies, 1680 were captured before June 1992, during which period 989 flies were also captured on odour-baited electric screens operated in the same area. Non-teneral flies were analysed for fat, haematin and residual dry weight and their wing-vein length was measured. There were well marked annual cycles in wing length, fat and residual dry weight. Flies were biggest at the end of the rainy season, and smallest at the end of the hot dry season. Fat levels were lowest before the onset of the rains and highest in the cool season. Residual dry weight was a function of haematin content and the degree of wing-fray; these factors were used to correct the residual dry weight to zero haematin. Corrected residual dry weight and wing-vein lengths were most highly correlated with relative humidity in the month prior to capture (r > 0.8 and 0.6 respectively). Correlations with saturation deficit were weaker; temperature accounted for <20% of the variance. Fly-round flies had a consistently higher residual dry weight than those from the electric screen, but their fat levels were lower. The distributions of log haematin levels differed little between the two sampling methods and were adequately described by a model where capture and feeding rates increased exponentially after each meal. The increase in the feeding rate after each meal differed little with season and was closely similar to that estimated for female G. pallidipesAusten in Zimbabwe.


Author(s):  
Kalinga Chilongo ◽  
Tawanda Manyangadze ◽  
Samson Mukaratirwa

Abstract The effect of human-associated habitat degradation on tsetse populations is well established. However, more insights are needed into how gradual human encroachment into tsetse fly belts affect tsetse populations. This study investigated how wing vein length, wing fray categories, and hunger stages, taken as indicators of body size, age, and levels of access to hosts, respectively, in Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) and Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera: Glossinidae), varied along a transect from the edge into inner parts of the tsetse belt, in sites that had human settlement either concentrated at the edge of belt or evenly distributed along transect line, in north-eastern Zambia. Black-screen fly round and Epsilon traps were used in a cross-sectional survey on tsetse flies at three sites, following a transect line marked by a road running from the edge into the inner parts of the tsetse belt, per site. Two sites had human settlement concentrated at or close to the edge of the tsetse belt, whereas the third had human settlement evenly distributed along the transect line. Where settlements were concentrated at the edge of tsetse belt, increase in distance from the settlements was associated with increase in wing vein length and a reduction in the proportion of older, and hungry, tsetse flies. Increase in distance from human settlements was associated with improved tsetse well-being, likely due to increase in habitat quality due to decrease in effects of human activities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 165-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Dudenhöffer ◽  
Christian Dormann

Abstract. The purpose of this study was to replicate the dimensions of the customer-related social stressors (CSS) concept across service jobs, to investigate their consequences for service providers’ well-being, and to examine emotional dissonance as mediator. Data of 20 studies comprising of different service jobs (N = 4,199) were integrated into a single data set and meta-analyzed. Confirmatory factor analyses and explorative principal component analysis confirmed four CSS scales: disproportionate expectations, verbal aggression, ambiguous expectations, disliked customers. These CSS scales were associated with burnout and job satisfaction. Most of the effects were partially mediated by emotional dissonance. Further analyses revealed that differences among jobs exist with regard to the factor solution. However, associations between CSS and outcomes are mainly invariant across service jobs.


Ring ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-92
Author(s):  
John Morgan

Wing lengths of Clamorous Reed Warblers Acrocephalus stentoreus in Israel Wing length measurements taken from first-year, pre- and post-moulting (annual, complete) Clamorous Reed Warblers were recorded at a site in northern Israel. The resulting data set was examined using a time-series of residuals (CUSUM). Results from this analysis can explain the reported heterogeneity found in a comparable data set by Merom et al. (1999). Further observations made in their paper are rebutted: (1) an implied assumption that Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) spring migration in Israel ends by 1 May is contrary to other publications; (2) the late autumn occurence in N Israel of longer-winged 1st cal. yr. Reed Warblers, unconvincingly explained as either delayed migration by larger individuals or post fledging feather growth, is most likely due to birds from different provenances origins moving at different seasons; (3) growth during adulthood in Reed Warbler is not a new discovery, though presented as such.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter De Wolf ◽  
Zhuangqun Huang ◽  
Bede Pittenger

Abstract Methods are available to measure conductivity, charge, surface potential, carrier density, piezo-electric and other electrical properties with nanometer scale resolution. One of these methods, scanning microwave impedance microscopy (sMIM), has gained interest due to its capability to measure the full impedance (capacitance and resistive part) with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. This paper introduces a novel data-cube approach that combines sMIM imaging and sMIM point spectroscopy, producing an integrated and complete 3D data set. This approach replaces the subjective approach of guessing locations of interest (for single point spectroscopy) with a big data approach resulting in higher dimensional data that can be sliced along any axis or plane and is conducive to principal component analysis or other machine learning approaches to data reduction. The data-cube approach is also applicable to other AFM-based electrical characterization modes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1088-1105
Author(s):  
Nafiseh Vahedi ◽  
Majid Mohammadhosseini ◽  
Mehdi Nekoei

Background: The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP) is a nuclear enzyme superfamily present in eukaryotes. Methods: In the present report, some efficient linear and non-linear methods including multiple linear regression (MLR), support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) were successfully used to develop and establish quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models capable of predicting pEC50 values of tetrahydropyridopyridazinone derivatives as effective PARP inhibitors. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to a rational division of the whole data set and selection of the training and test sets. A genetic algorithm (GA) variable selection method was employed to select the optimal subset of descriptors that have the most significant contributions to the overall inhibitory activity from the large pool of calculated descriptors. Results: The accuracy and predictability of the proposed models were further confirmed using crossvalidation, validation through an external test set and Y-randomization (chance correlations) approaches. Moreover, an exhaustive statistical comparison was performed on the outputs of the proposed models. The results revealed that non-linear modeling approaches, including SVM and ANN could provide much more prediction capabilities. Conclusion: Among the constructed models and in terms of root mean square error of predictions (RMSEP), cross-validation coefficients (Q2 LOO and Q2 LGO), as well as R2 and F-statistical value for the training set, the predictive power of the GA-SVM approach was better. However, compared with MLR and SVM, the statistical parameters for the test set were more proper using the GA-ANN model.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 547-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darush Yazdanfar ◽  
Peter Öhman

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to empirically investigate determinants of financial distress among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the global financial crisis and post-crisis periods.Design/methodology/approachSeveral statistical methods, including multiple binary logistic regression, were used to analyse a longitudinal cross-sectional panel data set of 3,865 Swedish SMEs operating in five industries over the 2008–2015 period.FindingsThe results suggest that financial distress is influenced by macroeconomic conditions (i.e. the global financial crisis) and, in particular, by various firm-specific characteristics (i.e. performance, financial leverage and financial distress in previous year). However, firm size and industry affiliation have no significant relationship with financial distress.Research limitationsDue to data availability, this study is limited to a sample of Swedish SMEs in five industries covering eight years. Further research could examine the generalizability of these findings by investigating other firms operating in other industries and other countries.Originality/valueThis study is the first to examine determinants of financial distress among SMEs operating in Sweden using data from a large-scale longitudinal cross-sectional database.


2017 ◽  
Vol 727 ◽  
pp. 447-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Dai ◽  
Hua Yan ◽  
Jian Jian Yang ◽  
Jun Jun Guo

To evaluate the aging behavior of high density polyethylene (HDPE) under an artificial accelerated environment, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to establish a non-dimensional expression Z from a data set of multiple degradation parameters of HDPE. In this study, HDPE samples were exposed to the accelerated thermal oxidative environment for different time intervals up to 64 days. The results showed that the combined evaluating parameter Z was characterized by three-stage changes. The combined evaluating parameter Z increased quickly in the first 16 days of exposure and then leveled off. After 40 days, it began to increase again. Among the 10 degradation parameters, branching degree, carbonyl index and hydroxyl index are strongly associated. The tensile modulus is highly correlated with the impact strength. The tensile strength, tensile modulus and impact strength are negatively correlated with the crystallinity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2292
Author(s):  
Aneta Ptak-Chmielewska ◽  
Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) represent more than 99% of enterprises in Europe. Therefore, knowledge about this sector, also in the spatial context is important to understand the patterns of economic and social development. The main goal of this article is an analysis of spatial conditions and the situation of MSMEs on a local level using combined sources of information. This includes data collected in the Social Insurance Institution and Tax registers in Poland, which provides information on the employment, wages, revenues and taxes paid by the MSMEs on a local level as well as contextual statistical information. The data is used for a diagnosis of spatial circumstances and discussion of conditions influencing the status of the MSMEs sector in a selected region (voivodeship) in Poland. Taxonomy methods including factor analysis and clustering methods based on k-means and SOM Kohonen were used for selecting significant information and grouping of the local units according to the situation of the MSMEs. There are eight factors revealed in principal component analysis and five clusters of local units distinguished using these factors. These include two clusters with a high share of rural local units and two clusters with a high share of rural-urban and urban local units. Additionally, there was an outstanding cluster with only two dominant urban local units. Factors show differences between clusters in the situation of MSMEs sector and infrastructure. Different spatial conditions in different regions influence the situation of MSMEs.


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