Mosquitoes take blood meals from a diverse range of host animals and their host associations vary by species. Characterizing these associations is an important element of the transmission dynamics of mosquito-vectored pathogens. To characterize mosquito host associations, various molecular techniques have been developed, which are collectively referred to as blood meal analysis. DNA barcoding has diverse biological applications and is well-suited to mosquito blood meal analysis. The standard DNA barcoding marker for animals is a 5' fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. A major advantage of this marker is its taxonomic coverage in DNA sequence reference databases, making it feasible to identify a wider range of mosquito host species than with any other gene. However, the COI gene contains high sequence variation at potential priming sites between vertebrate orders. Coupled with the need for primer sequences to be mismatched with mosquito priming sites so that annealing to mosquito DNA is inhibited, it can be difficult to design primers suitable for blood meal analysis applications. Several primers are available that perform well in mosquito blood meal analysis, annealing to priming sites for most vertebrate host taxa, but not to those of mosquitoes. Because priming site sequence variation among vertebrate taxa can cause amplification to fail, a hierarchical approach to DNA barcoding-based blood meal analysis can be applied. In such an approach, no single primer set is expected to be effective for 100% of potential host species. If amplification fails in the initial reaction, a subsequent reaction is attempted with primers that anneal to different priming sites, and so on, until amplification is successful.

Hay River RCMP say they believe two weekend incidents, including one in which a person was shot, are linked to drugs and organized crime.

The bronze wreath immortalized the moment when the members of the Honor Guard removed their hats and placed them on the president's grave during his burial

Trevor Lewis was a corporal in the Canadian Armed Forces who tried to bury the memories from his deployment in Afghanistan. They all came back in 2021 after the fall of Kabul. This story is how he made peace with his time in that country.

The family of forklift operator Bill Sherstobitoff says that the company he worked for, the Great Little Box Company (GLBC), has not made enough of an effort to make things right in the two years since his death in December 2022.

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and advised him not to escalate the Ukraine war, a source familiar with the conversation said, but the Kremlin denied the two had spoken.

Maybe there isn't one giant improvement in the iPhone 16 Pro Max from its predecessor, but there are many improvements worth the steep price of admission.

The European Union has told Apple to stop geo-locking, where apps and services vary in different countries — entirely ignoring decades of laws and practices by other industries that have nothing to do with the App Store.

An employee is surprised when two Christians come back to visit her a second time, over a year after their first conversation.

After 10 years in North Africa, an OM worker sees a change in the hearts of neighbours and friends.

Microplastics have been steadily increasing in freshwater environments for decades and are directly tied to rising global plastic production since the 1950s, according to a new study by an interdisciplinary team of Penn State researchers.

In late 2023, the Penn State Law in University Park Civil Rights Appellate Clinic — along with the Employment Law Group, a Washington, D.C.-based boutique litigation firm — filed merits briefs with the Ninth Circuit to appeal the district court’s dismissal of an ADA case. On the basis of this briefing and subsequent oral argument, the Ninth Circuit reversed the lower court’s ruling and remanded the case for trial.

The News Lab at Penn State has earned a grant to complete two election-related projects as part of a nationwide effort supported by the American Press Institute and the Knight Election Hub.

SA's financial regulator is investigating allegations that agents of online brokerage Banxso, whose licence has been suspended, contacted clients claiming it has been "cleared".

Preschool-age children who frequently play number-related games at home show better math skills and growth by the end of kindergarten, finds a new study in the journal Child Development.

Palak Nagpal recommends using raw cacao powder to make this guilt-free delicious dessert.

Firefly Aerospace has raised $175 million in a late-stage funding round led by RPM Ventures, valuing the space startup at more than $2 billion, it said on Tuesday.

This year's UN climate summit - COP29 - is being held during yet another record-breaking year of higher global temperatures, adding pressure to negotiations aimed at curbing climate change.

The Vivo X200 series, which includes the Vivo X200, X200 Pro, and X200 Pro Mini, were launched in China in October. They are powered by MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipsets and run on Android 15-based OriginOS 5. The smartphones are equipped with Zeiss-backed triple rear camera units, alongside Vivo's V3+ imaging chips on the Pro models. A tipster has now hinted at the probable global launch date of the Vivo X200 handsets.

She reshared a thoughtful note on the significance of 11/11, a day believed by many to amplify manifestations and focus on setting clear intentions

Manoj Mitra had been hospitalised earlier on September 20 due to breathing difficulties

Department of Insurance will lead effort to rein in monopolistic behavior and excessive pharmaceutical costs Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced today that the Delaware Department of Insurance will begin the process of building and enforcing regulations regarding Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) as a new law goes into effect. The new authorities of the department will […]

Think turkey is just for Thanksgiving? It's more than a holiday dish! Here are some health benefits of eating turkey and why it should be a staple in your kitchen.

A video showing a digital creator making three different types of hot chocolate has got 30 million views on Instagram.

Record 56 people have so far died on the France-Britain route across the Channel in 2024.

Four-part Old State House Coffee-Hour Lecture Series to take place in April 2022.

Three-part series explores America’s second war with Great Britain.

The Delaware Department of Justice Investor Protection Unit is closely monitoring the extreme price volatility of certain stocks and cautioned investors about the risks associated with investing in publicly traded companies that are experiencing volatility. “It can be risky investing in stocks with extreme changes in price over a short period of time. Investors should […]

Defendant facing life in prison for repeatedly raping two juvenile victims, ages 8 and 14 After one week of trial, a Kent County jury convicted a Magnolia man of 77 felony offenses in connection with the serial sexual abuse of two juvenile children. Richard Haines, 59, faces a 462-year minimum mandatory sentence and will be required […]

“It speaks volumes of our neighbors that so many Delawareans have taken action to help the Ukrainian people,” said Attorney General Jennings.  “Unfortunately, scammers are shameless and see a crisis as an opportunity. To protect yourself, and to ensure that your donations reach people in need, everyone should take steps to ensure that their contributions go to legitimate causes.  My office will do its part in ensuring that those who seek to profit from the pain and suffering of the Ukrainian people are investigated and brought to justice.”

The DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) has indicted a former Delaware Correctional Officer and K9 handler on three charges, including a felony, for recklessly confining and causing the death of a four-year-old law enforcement animal named Lux. “We find these stories so viscerally disturbing not only because we care for the […]

Prosecutors indicted and convicted 20 defendants for murder, shooting, and other felonies; shootings down 30% since 2020 A successful murder trial has completed the State’s four-year prosecution against a major Wilmington-area gang with a 100% conviction rate, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Tuesday. The State’s efforts have secured more than 100 years of confirmed prison time, […]

The Delaware Department of Justice secured a felony conviction in the first of several pending cases stemming from an ongoing investigation by the Delaware Division of Revenue and the Department of Justice into fraud related to the 2022 Delaware Relief Rebate Program. That program provided Delaware residents with a one-time $300.00 check and was intended […]

Delaware’s agricultural industry looks forward to attending the annual Delaware Ag Week at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington from January 8 – 11, 2024. “Ag Week is the largest venue where Delaware farmers, agribusinesses, and subject matter experts can network and learn about the latest innovations and research that will impact them in the upcoming growing season,” said Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse.

 DOVER (April 12, 2022) – The Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing the first flu-related death of the 2021-2022 flu season. The individual was a 54-year-old Kent County female infected with influenza A who died in early April. She had underlying health conditions and was not vaccinated. As of April 2, 2022, the most recent […]

As temperatures soar into the high 80s this week and humidity rises, the Division of Public Health (DPH) reminds Delawareans how to avoid heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps.

DOVER, DE (Dec. 16, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced today the state’s first suspected flu-related death for the 2022-2023 influenza season. The patient was a Kent County resident between the ages of 55 – 64 and is not reported as being vaccinated against the flu. Getting the annual flu vaccine is important for all people ages 6 months and older to prevent serious […]

MILFORD (June 6, 2023) – Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and leaders from the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Department of Education (DOE), and Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF) led a community response briefing on Friday to provide the latest information regarding the state’s efforts to address substance use […]

DOVER – Tuesday, leaders from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) joined partner community agencies for a community response briefing to provide the latest information regarding the state’s efforts to address disparities in outcomes related to Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder for minority and vulnerable populations. Organized by the DHSS […]

NEW CASTLE (January 22, 2024) – Today, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and leaders from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) along with partner community agencies led a community response briefing to provide the latest information regarding the state’s efforts to support individuals facing homelessness and housing instability related to substance use disorder. […]

Getting the annual flu vaccine is important for all people ages 6 months and older to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death that can result from the flu virus. Hospitalization and death from the flu can occur in previously healthy individuals, though persons with underlying health conditions are at significantly increased risk for serious outcomes.

NEW CASTLE (April 22, 2024) – Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and leaders from the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), along with partner community agencies, led a community response briefing on Monday to provide the latest outcome data and other information regarding the State’s efforts to support individuals struggling with substance use disorder in […]

SAS Decision Builder is a decision intelligence solution, which means that it uses machine learning and automation to augment human decision-making for better and faster insights that drive tactical and strategic business decisions. It’s a cousin to business intelligence and the next step after data engineering and model training, completing the analytics lifecycle to help achieve business goals.

SAS Decision Builder in Microsoft Fabric: Helping you translate insights into action was published on SAS Users.

NEWARK (Jan. 18, 2023) – Today, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, along with top leaders from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS), led a community response briefing to provide the latest information about suspected drug overdose deaths in the state, current and emerging dangers […]

The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) has received reports of out-of-state entities contacting potential social equity applicants in Delaware. These entities may be trying to trick you into paying for help securing a social equity license.   The OMC does not endorse these activities and is working to investigate them, partnering with the Department […]

Delaware Treasurer Colleen Davis has announced the distribution of this year’s Aspire529 awards. Aspire529 is a program for youth in or aging out of the foster care system to help them pay for expenses related to higher education. This year’s recipients, two from New Castle County, two from Kent, and one from Sussex plan to […]

DOVER, DEL. (Oct. 14, 2024) – Delaware’s cancer mortality rate continues to decline, according to the latest data from the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH). Delaware and the U.S. saw their mortality rates go down by an average of 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively, between 2007 and 2021. In the 2024 report, which looked at the […]

Dover, DE – On October 24, 2024, the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) held a public license lottery to determine the selection of applicants across several categories, including cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and testing, for Delaware’s regulated marijuana industry. This lottery marks a critical milestone in ensuring a fair and transparent licensing process, providing equal […]

On February 4, 2019, gloom settled over the iconic Brigade Parade grounds in the heart of Kolkata. Kanhaiya Kumar, then a firebrand Left leader known for his rousing speeches, had cancelled his visit to a rally just before the Lok Sabha election