Collard insect control

Collards, Brassica oleracea var. viridis, because of their nutritional value, are important vegetables in the diets of many Tennesseans. According to a survey conducted by R. D. Freeland of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Tennessee produced 1,544 acres of fresh and 4,405 acres of processor collards in 1971. Most were grown on the Cumberland Plateau and in West Tennessee. Many insects attack collard foliage. Flea beetle feeding causes shot holes in the leaf. Various caterpillars such as the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) , and the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.), are capable of severe defoliation (Figure 1). If controls are not applied, heavy losses will generally occur. Some chemicals currently recommended by the Institute of Agriculture for collard insect control were tested and some new chemicals and biological preparations were evaluated for effectiveness. Results are herein reported

Control of Loopers On Snap Beans

Snap beans, Phaseolus vulgaris L., are important to the economy of Tennessee. According to the publication, Tennessee Agricultural Statistics, 13,000 acres were grown in Tennessee in 1971 with a value of $2,984,000. Tennessee produces 5.9% of the beans grown in the United States and ranks fifth in the nation in snap bean production. Tennessee-grown beans are processed in Tennessee and in nearby states. In 1972 demand was up because of poor growing weather in the adjacent bean producing states. Most beans in Tennessee are grown on the Cumberland Plateau, Sequatchie Valley, and in extreme northeast Tennessee. In recent years, looper infestations on the Cumberland Plateau have resulted in the abandonment of large acreages of snap beans. Infestations usually occur too late to cause much damage by defoliation (Figure 1), but their presence in harvested beans results in rejection by the processor

Re-expansion of balloon-expandable stents after growth

AbstractObjectives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of re-expansion of balloon expandable intravascular stents and to examine the gross and histologic effects of re-expansion on vascular integrity.Background. Intravascular stents have been used successfully as an adjunct to balloon dilation of congenital pulmonary artery branch stenosis and postoperative stenosis of the pulmonary arteries in children. However, use of rigid stents in children could result in development of relative stenosis at the site of stent implantation with subsequent growth of the child.Methods. Stainless steel “iliac” stents were placed in the thoracic aorta of 10 normal juvenile swine by a transcatheter technique. Angiography and re-expansion were performed at a mean of 11 weeks (n = 9) and again at 18 weeks (n = 5). After euthanasia, the aortic specimens were removed for gross and histologic examination.Results. Stents were successfully implanted in 10 swine. Re-expansion was successfully performed in each animal at 11 weeks and at 18 weeks. Aortic growth produced a relative constriction of the aorta of 20% ± 10% (mean ± SD) at the site of stent implantation at both 11 and 18 weeks. Re-expansion produced a significant increase in mean stent diameter from 10.1 ± 1 mm to 12.3 ± 1.2 mm at 11 weeks and from 11.2 ± 0.7 to 13.5 ± 1.1 mm at 18 weeks after implantation (p < 0.001). Balloon dilation produced a relative increase in stent diameter of 21% ± 7% at 11 weeks and 18% ± 4% at 18 weeks. Stent re-expansion was accompanied by plastic deformation of the neointima without neointimal dissection. Where neointima was thick, there was no evidence of neointimal abrasion, but where neointima was thin, areas of localized neointimal abrasion were observed with focal fibrin and platelet adherence to the stent struts. There was no evidence of medial or adventitial hemorrhage or dissection produced by re-expansion.Conclusions. Re-expansion of intravascular stents is feasible after growth in juvenile swine without significant injury to neointima, media or adventitia. The results of this study support careful and selective use of intravascular stents as an adjunct to balloon dilation of congenital stenoses in children

721-6 Pulmonary Balloon Valvuloplasty: Effective Palliation for Infants with Tetralogy of Fallot and Small Pulmonary Arteries

Infants with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and small pulmonary arteries (PAs) may need palliation to improve pulmonary blood flow and allow growth of the PAs prior to complete repair. Shunts may become occluded, distort the PAs or cause pulmonary overcirculation. As an alternative palliation, we performed pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty (PBV) on infants with TOF and small PAs.20 infants, ages 1.8±1.5 mo and weights 4.1±1.6kg, undervvent PBV as initial palliation for persistent cyanosis or “spells”. 4/20 pts were intubated prior to or for PBV All pts had pre and post-PBV angiograms. In all pts, single balloon valvuloplasty was performed. The ratio of balloon: pulmonary valve annulus (PVA) diameter was 1.51±0.32. Post-PBV, there was no change in the PYA diameter (5.2±1.1mm vs 5.6 + 1.1mm; p=0.1) or PA branch diameter(4.1±1.6mm vs 4.5±1.7mm, p&gt;0.05). The systemic 02 saturation increased from 81±8% to 93±6%. (p&lt;0.001)7/20 pts undervvent follow-up (F/U) cath 8.2±2.4 mo post-PBV Compared to pre-PBV measurements, the PYA diameter increased from 5.2 ± 1.1mm to 7.1±1.4mm (p&lt;0.03) and the McGoon ratio increased from 1.4±0.4 to 2.1±0.3 (p&lt;0.02).Of the 20 pts, 11 pts undervvent corrective surgery 8.0±3.1 mo post-PBV with no surgical deaths; 5 pts remain in stable condition awaiting surgery; 3 pts required shunt placement 9-66 days post-PBV; 1 pt died due to other congenital anomalies.ConclusionsPulmonary balloon valvuloplasty promotes growth of the PAs and PYA in infants with TOF and small PAs, offering a safe and effective alternative palliation for infants who are not yet candidates for complete repair

Redilation of endovascular stents in congenital heart disease: factors implicated in the development of restenosis and neointimal proliferation

AbstractOBJECTIVESWe sought to determine the incidence of and risk factors for the development of restenosis and neointimal proliferation after endovascular stent implantation for congenital heart disease (CHD).BACKGROUNDRisk factors for the development of restenosis and neointimal proliferation are poorly understood.METHODSThis was a retrospective review of patients who underwent endovascular stent redilation between September 1989 and February 2000.RESULTSOf 368 patients who had 752 stents implanted, 220 were recatheterized. Of those 220 patients, 103 underwent stent redilation. Patients were classified into three groups: 1) those with pulmonary artery stenosis (n = 94), tetralogy of Fallot/pulmonary atresia (n = 72), congenital branch pulmonary stenosis (n = 9), status post-Fontan operation (n = 6), status post-arterial switch operation (n = 7); 2) those with iliofemoral venous obstruction (n = 6); and 3) those with miscellaneous disorders (n = 3). The patients’ median age was 9.9 years (range 0.5 to 39.8); their mean follow-up duration was 3.8 years (range 0.1 to 10). Indications for stent redilation included somatic growth (n = 67), serial dilation (n = 27) and development of neointimal proliferation or restenosis, or both (n = 9). There was a low incidence of neointimal proliferation (1.8%) and restenosis (2%). There were no deaths. Complications included pulmonary edema (n = 1), hemoptysis (n = 1) and contralateral stent compression (n = 2).CONCLUSIONSRedilation or further dilation of endovascular stents for CHD is effective as late as 10 years. The risk of neointimal proliferation (1.8%) and restenosis (2%) is low and possibly avoidable. Awareness of specific risk factors and modification of the stent implantation technique, including avoidance of minimal stent overlap and sharp angulation of the stent to the vessel wall and avoidance of overdilation, have helped to reduce the incidence of restenosis

p53 Activation by Knockdown Technologies

Morpholino phosphorodiamidate antisense oligonucleotides (MOs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are commonly used platforms to study gene function by sequence-specific knockdown. Both technologies, however, can elicit undesirable off-target effects. We have used several model genes to study these effects in detail in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Using the zebrafish embryo as a template, correct and mistargeting effects are readily discernible through direct comparison of MO-injected animals with well-studied mutants. We show here indistinguishable off-targeting effects for both maternal and zygotic mRNAs and for both translational and splice-site targeting MOs. The major off-targeting effect is mediated through p53 activation, as detected through the transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, acridine orange, and p21 transcriptional activation assays. Concurrent knockdown of p53 specifically ameliorates the cell death induced by MO off-targeting. Importantly, reversal of p53-dependent cell death by p53 knockdown does not affect specific loss of gene function, such as the cell death caused by loss of function of chordin. Interestingly, quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR, microarrays and whole-mount in situ hybridization assays show that MO off-targeting effects are accompanied by diagnostic transcription of an N-terminal truncated p53 isoform that uses a recently recognized internal p53 promoter. We show here that MO off-targeting results in induction of a p53-dependent cell death pathway. p53 activation has also recently been shown to be an unspecified off-target effect of siRNAs. Both commonly used knockdown technologies can thus induce secondary but sequence-specific p53 activation. p53 inhibition could potentially be applicable to other systems to suppress off-target effects caused by other knockdown technologies

Phase transition systematics in BiVO4 by means of high-pressure-high-temperature Raman experiments

"We report here high-pressure-high-temperature Raman experiments performed on BiVO4. We characterized the fergusonite and scheelite phases (powder and single crystal samples) and the zircon polymorph (nanopowder). The experimental results are supported by ab initio calculations, which, in addition, provide the vibrational patterns. The temperature and pressure behavior of the fergusonite lattice modes reflects the distortions associated with the ferroelastic instability. The linear coefficients of the zircon phase are in sharp contrast to the behavior observed in the fergusonite phase. The boundary of the fergusonite-to-scheelite second-order phase transition is given by TF-Sch (K) = -166(8)P(GPa) + 528(5). The zircon-to-scheelite, irreversible, first-order phase transition takes place at T-Z-(Sch )(K) = -107(8)P(GPa) + 690(10). We found evidence of additional structural changes around 15.7 GPa, which in the downstroke were found to be not reversible. We analyzed the anharmonic contribution to the wave-number shift in fergusonite using an order parameter. The introduction of a critical temperature depending both on temperature and pressure allows for a description of the results of all the experiments in a unified way.

Antivenom Treatment Is Associated with Fewer Patients using Opioids after Copperhead Envenomation

Introduction Copperhead envenomation causes local tissue destruction, leading people to seek treatment for the pain and swelling. First-line treatment for the pain is opioid medications. There is rising concern that an initial opioid prescription from the emergency department (ED) can lead to long-term addiction. This analysis sought to determine whether use of Fab antivenom (FabAV) for copperhead envenomation affected opioid use. Methods We performed a secondary analysis using data from a randomized clinical trial designed to determine the effect of FabAV on limb injury recovery following mild to moderate copperhead envenomation. Opioid use was a defined secondary outcome in the parent trial. Patients were contacted after discharge, and data were obtained regarding medications used for pain and the patients’ functional status. This analysis describes the proportion of patients in each treatment group reporting opioid use at each time point. It also assesses the interaction between functional status and use of opioids. Results We enrolled 74 patients in the parent trial (45 received FabAV, 29 placebo), of whom 72 were included in this secondary analysis. Thirty-five reported use of any opioids after hospital discharge. A smaller proportion of patients treated with FabAV reported opioid use: 40.9% vs 60.7% of those in the placebo group. The proportion of patients using opioids remained smaller in the FabAV group at each follow-up time point. Controlling for confounders and interactions between variables, the model estimated that the odds ratio of using opioids after hospital discharge among those who received placebo was 5.67 times that of those who received FabAV. Patients who reported higher baseline pain, those with moderate as opposed to mild envenomation, and females were more likely to report opioid use at follow-up. Patients with ongoing limitations to functional status had an increased probability of opioid use, with a stronger association over time. Opioid use corresponded with the trial’s predefined criteria for full recovery, with only two patients reporting opioid use in the 24 hours prior to achieving full limb recovery and no patients in either group reporting opioid use after full limb recovery. Conclusion In this study population, the proportion of patients using opioids for pain related to envenomation was smaller in the FabAV treatment group at all follow-up time points

The Efficacy of Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) Antivenom Versus Placebo Plus Optional Rescue Therapy on Recovery From Copperhead Snake Envenomation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial

Study objective: Copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomation causes limb injury resulting in pain and disability. It is not known whether antivenom administration improves limb function. We determine whether administration of antivenom improves recovery from limb injury in patients envenomated by copperhead snakes. Methods: From August 2013 through November 2015, we performed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled, clinical trial to evaluate the effect of ovine Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (ovine) (CroFab; FabAV) antivenom therapy on recovery of limb function in patients with copperhead snake envenomation at 14 days postenvenomation. The study setting was 18 emergency departments in regions of the United States where copperhead snakes are endemic. Consecutive patients aged 12 years or older with mild- to moderate-severity envenomation received either FabAV or placebo. The primary outcome was limb function 14 days after envenomation, measured by the Patient-Specific Functional Scale. Additional outcomes included the Patient-Specific Functional Scale at other points; the Disorders of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, Lower Extremity Functional Scale, and Patient’s Global Impression of Change instruments; grip strength; walking speed; quality of life (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Fucntion-10); pain; and analgesic use. Results: Seventy-four patients received study drug (45 FabAV, 29 placebo). Mean age was 43 years (range 12 to 86 years). Fifty-three percent were men, 62% had lower extremity envenomation, and 88% had mild initial severity. The primary outcome, the least square mean Patient-Specific Functional Scale score at 14 days postenvenomation, was 8.6 for FabAV-treated subjects and 7.4 for placebo recipients (difference 1.2; 95% confidence interval 0.1 to 2.3; P1�4.04). Additional outcome assessments generally favored FabAV. More FabAV-treated subjects experienced treatment- emergent adverse events (56% versus 28%), but few were serious (1 in each group). Conclusion: Treatment with FabAV reduces limb disability measured by the Patient-Specific Functional Scale 14 days after copperhead envenomation. [Ann Emerg Med. 2017;70:233-244.

The Genesis stent: A new low-profile stent for use in infants, children, and adults with congenital heart disease

Placement of intravascular stents that can reach adult size in infants and smaller children has been limited by the large profile and poor flexibility of currently available stents. In vitro and in vivo testing of the Genesis stent was performed to evaluate crimpability, predeployment flexibility, and radial strength. Comparisons were made to the Palmaz iliac and IntraStent (IS) LD stents. Nine physicians placed 30 Genesis stents in swine pulmonary and systemic arteries to evaluate stent deliverability/crimpability. Two swine were recovered and underwent a second catheterization 8 weeks later, where the stents (n = 8) were reexpanded to maximal size. Angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) assessments were performed. In vitro testing revealed the Genesis stent to have superior crimpability, flexibility, and comparable radial strength to the Palmaz iliac stent, and superior crimpability and radial strength and comparable flexibility to the IS LD series. During in vivo testing, the physicians graded the Genesis stent superior to the Palmaz stent regarding crimpability and deliverability, and superior to the IS LD stent in regard to crimpability, and comparable to or superior in deliverability. In the chronic animals, the Genesis stent was expanded up to maximal diameter 8 weeks following implantation. Angiographic and IVUS revealed no fractures no in-stent restenosis. The Genesis stent can be easily delivered through smaller sheaths, which will facilitate their use in infants and smaller children with vascular stenosis. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2003;59:406–414. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/35255/1/10547_ftp.pd