High-Throughput Sequencing Haplotype Analysis Indicates in LRRK2 Gene a Potential Risk Factor for Endemic Parkinsonism in Southeastern Moravia, Czech Republic

Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism are relatively common neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to assess potential genetic risk factors of haplotypes in genes associated with parkinsonism in a population in which endemic parkinsonism and atypical parkinsonism have recently been found. The genes ADH1C, EIF4G1, FBXO7, GBA, GIGYF2, HTRA2, LRRK2, MAPT, PARK2, PARK7, PINK1 PLA2G6, SNCA, UCHL1, and VPS35 were analyzed in 62 patients (P) and 69 age-matched controls from the researched area (C1). Variants were acquired by high-throughput sequencing using Ion Torrent workflow. As another set of controls, the whole genome sequencing data from 100 healthy non-related individuals from the Czech population were used (C2); the results were also compared with the Genome Project data (C3). We observed shared findings of four intron (rs11564187, rs36220738, rs200829235, and rs3789329) and one exon variant (rs33995883) in the LRRK2 gene in six patients. A comparison of the C1–C3 groups revealed significant differences in haplotype frequencies between ratio of 2.09 for C1, 1.65 for C2, and 6.3 for C3, and odds ratios of 13.15 for C1, 2.58 for C2, and 7.6 for C3 were estimated. The co-occurrence of five variants in the LRRK2 gene (very probably in haplotype) could be an important potential risk factor for the development of parkinsonism, even outside the recently described pedigrees in the researched area where endemic parkinsonism is present.

APPLICATION OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY RESULTS, OBTAINED USING UAV DATA TO ESTIMATE THE RESIDUAL CAPACITY OF THE LANDFILL. PRACTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN

Assessment of the current residual capacity is a fundamentally important task, the solution of which is demonstrated on a landfill located in the Republic of Tatarstan. To solve the task, the modern methods of high-precision three-dimensional reconstruction were used based on the survey from an unmanned aircraft DJI Phantom 4, equipped with a global satellite navigation system (GNSS) receiver. As a result of combining the project data and data from field surveys into one coordinate system and elevations and reconstruction of designed underground and ground parts of landfill calculation, the difference of models and the residual capacity of the landfill becomes possible. Based on the materials considered as of July 2020, the residual capacity of the studied landfill is 41.2 % of the project capacity, which allows us to continue to operate this landfill. The proposed approach allows for rapid and high-quality active monitoring of the engineered facility. Photogrammetric processing of the results of low-altitude aerial photography makes it possible to obtain objective data on the current actual state of the landfills, to carry out competent and valid management of the landfill functioning. Significant, this will extend the landfill's lifetime, minimize the adverse effects on the environment and predict the yield to the project capacity much more accurately.

A Qualitative Inquiry into Rural Primary Schooler's Hygiene during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Kupang regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

Introduction: The importance of personal hygiene in preventing the spread of infection cannot be underestimated. Handwashing is an essential aspect of personal hygiene, especially among children. This study aimed to explore primary school students' hygiene in rural and remote areas in the Kupang regency. Methods: This study was conducted as a part of the end line evaluation of the MEMBACA II project. Teachers from four primary schools in three villages were purposively selected to participate in this study. The teachers were recruited from the participant schools of the MEMBACA II Project. Data was collected using phone interviews. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: In total, there were 31 participants across four primary schools interviewed. The participants consisted of teachers, village leaders, village reading camp facilitators, and school supervisors. Participants were recruited as a proxy for providing information about students' hygiene. There were three themes identified as a result of the data analysis. The first theme is an improvement in children’s hygiene behavior. The second theme is the benefit of the little doctor program in children’s hygiene practices. The third theme challenges in children’s hygiene promotion and education. Overall, children were used to handwashing practices. They understood the importance of handwashing, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. They were also aware of four essential times of handwashing. However, the adults perceived the need for handwashing equipment and access to clean water were the main challenges to maintaining students' hygiene. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the significance of regularly teaching children about handwashing in making handwashing habits among these youngsters. A continuing provision of health literacy and access to clean water is required to maintain hygiene behavior

How can BCO-DMO help with your oceanographic data?

BCO-DMO curates a database of research-ready data spanning the full range of marine ecosystem related measurements including in-situ and remotely sensed observations, experimental and model results, and synthesis products. We work closely with investigators to publish data and information from research projects supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as those supported by state, private, and other funding sources. BCO-DMO supports all phases of the data life cycle and ensures open access of well-curated project data and information. We employ F.A.I.R. Principles that comprise a set of values intended to guide data producers and publishers in establishing good data management practices that will enable effective reuse.

Local modelling approach for cross-project defect prediction

Prediction approaches used for cross-project defect prediction (CPDP) are usually impractical because of high false alarms, or low detection rate. Instance based data filter techniques that improve the CPDP performance are time-consuming and each time a new test set arrives for prediction the entire filter procedure is repeated. We propose to use local modeling approach for the utilization of ever-increasing cross-project data for CPDP. We cluster the cross-project data, train per cluster prediction models and predict the target test instances using corresponding cluster models. Over 7 NASA Data sets performance comparison using statistical methods between within-project, cross-project, and our local modeling approach were performed. Compared to within-project prediction the cross-project prediction increased the probability of detection (PD) associated with an increase in the probability of false alarm (PF) and decreased overall performance Balance. The application of local modeling decreased the (PF) associated with a decrease in (PD) and an overall performance improvement in terms of Balance. Moreover, compared to one state of the art filter technique – Burak filter, our approach is simple, fast, performance comparable, and opens a new perspective for the utilization of ever-increasing cross-project data for defect prediction. Therefore, when insufficient within-project data is available we recommend training local cluster models than training a single global model on cross-project datasets.

Amasya İlinde Yetiştirilen Karayaka Koyunlarının Bazı Döl Verim Özellikleri ve Kuzuların Büyüme Performanslarının Belirlenmesi

This study was carried out to determine the growth and reproductive performance of Karayaka sheep in Amasya province within the scope of National Animal Breeding Project. Data were collected from 17529 Karayaka lambs of 20120 Karayaka sheep which were born during 2012 to 2015 birth season. In this study, the live weights, survival rates of the lambs in various periods and reproductive traits of Karayaka ewes were investigated. In this study, the live weights, daily live weight gain, survival rates (90th day) and reproductive traits of Karayaka ewes were investigated. The averages of reproductive traits of Karayaka sheep such as infertility, fertility, twins, fecundity, litter size and survival rate were 13.8%, 86.2%, 7.20%, 0.867, 1.01 and 89.0% respectively. The effects of year, sex and type of birth on the birth weights and the live weights of 90 days (weaning) of Karayaka lambs were found to be significant. Daily live weight gain was affected only by year and sex.

Issue competition in five countries: snakes in a tunnel

What determines the issue content of party competition? The extant literature is torn between issue ownership theories predicting contrasted partisan profiles and more strategic views of electoral platforms emphasizing parties’ incentives to converge on the priorities with the greatest payoffs. This chapter argues that parties are like snakes in tunnels: this metaphor conceptualizes parties’ incentives to emphasize contrasted issues to stay true to their identity and past priorities (the ‘snake’ component) as well as constraints exerted on those efforts by political opponents and context (the ‘tunnel’). Parties need to accommodate emerging problems and their competitors’ strategies, resulting in considerable cross-partisan overlap. Utilizing analyses of Comparative Agendas Project data on issue attention in party manifestos, plus qualitative observations on single electoral campaigns and how parties ‘steal’ issues from each other, the chapter discusses the potential implications of our observations for the way elections influence policies, a topic at the core of the next chapter.