Technology and the 4th R after-school program

Economic barriers to technology in today’s society hinder the growth and development of low income families continuously and widens the social economic gap of families that live below the Federal Poverty Level. These barriers contribute to and impact individuals, families and children who can live above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) in the Sacramento region. For the year 2015, the United States Health and Human services department defines the FPL for a family of 4 in the US as $ 24,250.00 (Dept. of Health and Human Services, 2015). For many families and children that live within the impoverished areas of the Sacramento metropolitan city, daily living is a struggle. In today’s world where access to technology can make a huge difference and bridge some of the socio economic gap, providing the right environment for children to be educated can enable the student and their families to get out of the cycle of poverty. By providing ample literature review, data from surveys and questionnaires, primary “AND” secondary sources of data, this research paper will focus on the outcomes of donating gently used and surplus computers equipment that organizations like Sutter Health can donate to after school programs which will in turn improve the lives of people around the Sacramento metropolitan city at practically no cost to the organization. The primary goal within this Capstone project is to answer the questions: 1. If Sutter Health Information Technology and Sutter Health Support Services donated retired PC’s, switches, servers, modems and routers to the 4th R after school program, would students benefit from increased access to information technology? 3 2. How does Sutter Health partner with 4th R program so that surplus and donated equipment has the necessary infrastructure within the 4th program so that donated computers and technology creates an environment for students within the after-school program do have a safe, stable learning and reliable place to educate themselves

Computational reverse chemical ecology: Virtual screening and predicting behaviorally active semiochemicals for Bactrocera dorsalis

BACKGROUND: Semiochemical is a generic term used for a chemical substance that influences the behaviour of an organism. It is a common term used in the field of chemical ecology to encompass pheromones, allomones, kairomones, attractants and repellents. Insects have mastered the art of using semiochemicals as communication signals and rely on them to find mates, host or habitat. This dependency of insects on semiochemicals has allowed chemical ecologists to develop environment friendly pest management strategies. However, discovering semiochemicals is a laborious process that involves a plethora of behavioural and analytical techniques, making it expansively time consuming. Recently, reverse chemical ecology approach using odorant binding proteins (OBPs) as target for elucidating behaviourally active compounds is gaining eminence. In this scenario, we describe a “computational reverse chemical ecology” approach for rapid screening of potential semiochemicals. RESULTS: We illustrate the high prediction accuracy of our computational method. We screened 25 semiochemicals for their binding potential to a GOBP of B. dorsalis using molecular docking (in silico) and molecular dynamics. Parallely, compounds were subjected to fluorescent quenching assays (Experimental). The correlation between in silico and experimental data were significant (r(2) = 0.9408; P < 0.0001). Further, predicted compounds were subjected to behavioral bioassays and were found to be highly attractive to insects. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides a unique methodology for rapid screening and predicting behaviorally active semiochemicals. This methodology may be developed as a viable approach for prospecting active semiochemicals for pest control, which otherwise is a laborious process

Temporal and weather impacts on the rock bee, Apis dorsata Fab.(Hymenoptera, Apidae) visitations in urban green spaces in Bengaluru, India

Bengaluru, acclaimed as the Garden City of India, is an agglomerate of continuous development, and metropolitan gardens serve as a refuge for insect pollinators. These ecological green spaces are subject to the influence of weather and anthropogenic activity. To understand the impact of abiotic factors on the rock bee, Apis dorsata Fab, a study was carried out from 2014 to 2018 in two urban gardens, and the visitation of wild honey bees on flowers was correlated with abiotic factors as well as species of flora. The study showed temperature had a positive correlation (R² = 0.55 in site 1 and R² = 0.45 in site 2) to bee visits, while relative humidity and rain had a negative correlation (R² = 0.50 and R² = 0.50) in site 1. Pooled analysis of visitation on flowers showed that Jacquemontia pentanthos had the highest mean visits (1.7 insects/m²/2 minutes), followed by Hamelia patens (1.4 insects/m²/2 minutes) in site 1. In study site 2, Plumbago lanceolata had the highest mean visits (0.9 insects/m²/2 minutes), and Hibiscus species showed a mean of 0.6 insects/m²/2 minutes in the analysis from 2014–2018

Association between congenital defects in papillary outgrowth and functional obstruction in Crim1 mutant mice

Crim1 hypomorphic (Crim1(KST264/KST264)) mice display progressive renal disease characterized by glomerular defects, leaky peritubular vasculature, and progressive interstitial fibrosis. Here we show that 27% of these mice also present with hydronephrosis, suggesting obstructive nephropathy. Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging using Magnevist showed fast development of hypo-intense signal in the kidneys of Crim1(KST264/KST264) mice, suggesting pooling of filtrate within the renal parenchyma. Rhodamine dextran (10 kDa) clearance was also delayed in Crim1(KST264/KST264) mice. Pyeloureteric peristalsis, while present, was less co-ordinated in Crim1(KST264/KST264) mice. However, isolated renal pelvis preparations suggest normal pelvic smooth muscle contractile responses. An analysis of maturation during the immediate postnatal period [postnatal day (P) 0-15] revealed defects in papillary extension in Crim1(KST264/KST264) mice. While Crim1 expression is weak in pelvic smooth muscle, strong expression is seen in the interstitium and loops of Henle of the extending papilla, commencing at the tip of the P1 papilla and disseminating throughout the papilla by P15. These results, as well as implicating Crim1 in papillary extension and pelvic smooth muscle contractility, highlight the previously unrecognized association between defects in papillary development and progression to chronic kidney disease later in life. Copyright (C) 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

MIGRATORY BEHAVIOUR OF MANGO HOPPERS, IDIOSCOPUS SPP. IN RELATION TO HOST PLANT FLOWERING PHENOLOGY: A SYNCHRONOUS SHIFT

A study was conducted to understand the seasonal migratory behaviour of mango hoppers, Idioscopus spp. from main tree trunk to flowering panicles in relation to host plant flowering phenology. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.65) between the hoppers present on the flower panicle with the availability of inflorescence on the tree and a significant negative correlation (r = -0.24) with the hoppers present on the main tree trunk strongly associates the flowering phenomenon as a major factor triggering the niche shift in Idioscopus spp. The local migration of hoppers with the changing host plant phenology was explained by linear (y = 0.078x -0.066; R2= 0.48) and exponential (y = 0.0387e0.0033x; R2= 0.62) models. As hoppers is the major hindrance during flowering season, this study helps in developing accurate models for seasonal hopper dispersal to enable precise forecasting of pest pressure on mango inflorescence and also for off-season management to reduce crop loss