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Related Concept Videos

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To define some physical quantities, there is a need to specify both magnitude as well as direction. For example, when the U.S. Coast Guard dispatches a ship or a helicopter for a rescue mission, the rescue team needs to know not only the distance to the distress signal, but also the direction from which the signal is coming, so that they can get to it as quickly as possible. Physical quantities specified completely with a number of units (magnitude) and a direction are called vector quantities.
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Vectors01:30

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Vectors are mathematical entities characterized by both magnitude and direction. Unlike scalars, which are defined solely by magnitude, vectors represent quantities like displacement, velocity, and force, where direction is essential. Vectors are graphically represented as directed line segments, extending from an initial point to a terminal point, denoted with bold letters or arrows placed above the symbol. Two vectors are deemed equal if they share identical magnitudes and directions,...
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In mechanics, commonly used terms like force, speed, velocity, and work can be classified as either scalar or vector quantities. A scalar is a physical quantity that can be described by its magnitude alone and does not require any directional components. Examples of scalar quantities are mass, area, and length.
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It is cumbersome to find the magnitudes of vectors using the parallelogram rule or using the graphical method to perform mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, and multiplication. There are two ways to circumvent this algebraic complexity. One way is to draw the vectors to scale, as in navigation, and read approximate vector lengths and angles (directions) from the graphs. The other way is to use the method of components.
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Vectors can be multiplied by scalars, added to other vectors, or subtracted from other vectors. The vector sum of two (or more) vectors is called the resultant vector or, for short, the resultant.
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Vector Competence Analyses on Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes using Zika Virus
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What is a vector?

Anthony James Wilson1, Eric René Morgan2, Mark Booth3

  • 1Vector-borne Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, UK anthony.wilson@pirbright.ac.uk.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|March 15, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Defining

Keywords:
arbovirusdisease ecologyhost–pathogen interactionspublic healthtransmissionvector

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Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Vector-borne diseases pose significant threats to humans, livestock, and wildlife.
  • The term 'vector' is applied broadly across diverse epidemiological systems.
  • Existing definitions of 'vector' have varying strengths and weaknesses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze common definitions of 'vector'.
  • To explore the functional differences between vectors and other hosts.
  • To determine the most effective definitions for different research perspectives.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on vector definitions.
  • Comparative analysis of definition strengths and weaknesses.
  • Ecological, evolutionary, and public health perspectives applied.

Main Results:

  • For medical/veterinary use, 'haematophagous arthropod' and 'mobility' definitions are most useful.
  • For population dynamics/evolution, 'micropredator' and 'sequential' definitions are most appropriate.
  • The optimal definition depends on the specific research question.

Conclusions:

  • Clear definitions of 'vector' enhance understanding of disease transmission and evolution.
  • Context-specific definitions are crucial for effective research and control strategies.
  • This work contributes to understanding parasite transmission dynamics.