A generic weather-driven model to predict mosquito population dynamics applied to species of Anopheles, Culex and Aedes genera of southern France.

An accurate understanding and prediction of mosquito population dynamics are needed to identify areas where there is a high risk of mosquito-borne disease spread and persistence. Simulation tools are relevant for supporting decision-makers in the surveillance of vector populations, as models of vector population dynamics provide predictions of the greatest risk periods for vector abundance, which can be particularly helpful in areas with a highly variable environment. We present a generic weather-driven model of mosquito population dynamics, which was applied to one species of each of the genera Anopheles, Culex, and Aedes, located in the same area and thus affected by similar weather conditions. The predicted population dynamics of Anopheles hyrcanus, Culex pipiens, and Aedes caspius were not similar. An. hyrcanus was abundant in late summer. Cx. pipiens was less abundant but throughout the summer. The abundance of both species showed a single large peak with few variations between years. The population dynamics of Ae. caspius showed large intra- and inter-annual variations due to pulsed egg hatching. Predictions of the model were compared to longitudinal data on host-seeking adult females. Data were previously obtained using CDC-light traps baited with carbon dioxide dry ice in 2005 at two sites (Marais du Viguerat and Tour Carbonnière) in a favourable temperate wetland of southern France (Camargue). The observed and predicted periods of maximal abundance for An. hyrcanus and Cx. pipiens tallied very well. Pearson's coefficients for these two species were over 75% for both species. The model also reproduced the major trends in the intra-annual fluctuations of Ae. caspius population dynamics, with peaks occurring in early summer and following the autumn rainfall events. Few individuals of this species were trapped so the comparison of predicted and observed dynamics was not relevant. A global sensitivity analysis of the species-specific models enabled us to identify the parameters most influencing the maximal abundance of mosquitoes. These key parameters were almost similar between species, but not with the same contributions. The emergence of adult mosquitoes was identified as a key process in the population dynamics of all of the three species considered here. Parameters associated with adult emergence therefore need to be precisely known to achieve accurate predictions. Our model is a flexible and efficient tool that predicts mosquito abundance based on local environmental factors. It is useful to and already used by a mosquito surveillance manager in France.

A conserved domain of the arabidopsis GNOM protein mediates subunit interaction and cyclophilin 5 binding.

The Arabidopsis GNOM protein, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that acts on ADP ribosylation factor (ARF)-type G proteins, is required for coordination of cell polarity along the apical-basal embryo axis. Interallelic complementation of gnom mutants suggested that dimerization is involved in GNOM function. Here, direct interaction between GNOM molecules is demonstrated in vitro and by using a yeast two-hybrid system. Interaction was confined to an N-terminal domain conserved within a subgroup of large ARF GEFs. The same domain mediated in vitro binding to cyclophilin 5 (Cyp5), which was identified as a GNOM interactor in two-hybrid screening. Cyp5 displayed peptidylprolyl cis/trans-isomerase and protein refolding activities that were sensitive to cyclosporin A. Cyp5 protein accumulated in several plant organs and, like GNOM, was partitioned between cytosolic and membrane fractions. Cyp5 protein was also expressed in the developing embryo. Our results suggest that Cyp5 may regulate the ARF GEF function of the GNOM protein during embryogenesis.

A comparison of the performance of children with and without autism on the Sensory Profile.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Sensory Profile discriminates between children with and without autism and which items on the profile best discriminate between these groups. METHOD: Parents of 32 children with autism aged 3 to 13 years and of 64 children without autism aged 3 to 10 years completed the Sensory Profile. A descriptive analysis of the data set of children with autism identified the distribution of responses on each item. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) of each category of the Sensory Profile identified possible differences among subjects without autism, with mild or moderate autism, and with severe autism. Follow-up univariate analyses were conducted for any category that yielded a significant result on the MANCOVA: RESULTS: Eight-four of 99 items (85%) on the Sensory Profile differentiated the sensory processing skills of subjects with autism from those without autism. There were no group differences between subjects with mild or moderate autism and subjects with severe autism. CONCLUSION: The Sensory Profile can provide information about the sensory processing skills of children with autism to assist occupational therapists in assessing and planning intervention for these children.