Response of insect pest and beneficial species to the timing and severity of dicamba injury in soybean

Off-target movement (OTM) of dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzonic acid), to sensitive crops has been one of the most significant issues to affect non-dicamba-resistant (non-DR) soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production in recent years. Although the yield response of non-DR soybean to OTM of dicamba has been extensively studied, few studies have been conducted to understand the effects that dicamba injury has on insect infestations in non-DR soybean. A field experiment was conducted at four locations in Missouri in 2018 and three locations in 2019 to determine if dicamba injury to non-DR soybean has any effect on the prevalence of insect species throughout the growing season. At each location, dicamba was applied to non-DR soybean at rates corresponding to 1/10th, 1/100th, 1/1,000th, and 1/10,000th of the labeled used rate (560 g ae ha-1) at either the V3 or R1 stage of growth. In this study, dicamba doses associated with vapor drift resulted in increased visitation to soybean from bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata). However, the most common response was reduced insect visitation after V3 or R1 applications of dicamba at 1/10th or 1/100th the labeled rate compared to the non-treated control. This response is likely related to the reduction in soybean growth and biomass observed following treatment with the higher rates of dicamba, which in turn influenced the habitat preferences exhibited by the species observed in this study. As the use of dicamba increases in U.S. soybean production, it is important to understand the effects OTM of dicamba has on insect species in agricultural production environments.Includes bibliographical references

Aerosols and Particulates Emitted by Speech and Breath

Human-to-human transmission of upper respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 is primarily driven by the dispersion of virus-laden droplets that are expelled from the nose and mouth. Aerosolized droplets can concentrate in the air for hours and pose a significant threat to human activities in the aerospace and aeronautics industry, which frequently occur in confined environments. Tracking data has shown that the virus spread quickly in confined spaces, such as airplanes and ships. Updated guidelines for human interaction in confined spaces (i.e., less than 6ft in distance between individuals) is critical as the world tries to return to normal operations. A lack of data exists concerning the extent of exposure to aerosolized particles in ecologically relevant, non-intrusive scenarios. Studies involving exhalation into small boxes or funnels do little to advance the fundamental understanding of exposure risk associated with many activities. This research aims to meet the need by investigating the quantity, concentration, and distribution of particles exhaled while speaking and breathing. This data can be used to verify computational models of the same. To accomplish this, specific vocal exercises and activities will be performed in a clean, room-sized environment to generate the airborne droplets associated with each activity. Images of these particles will be captured using a 1200 frame-per-second optical camera and a high-power laser, then analyzed numerically using computer software. The resulting data sets will be compared and used to draw conclusions about the volume and behavior of aerosolized particles associated with various vocal activities. Initial tests suggest very different results than those which implement intrusive data collection. Future studies using this experimental setup will investigate patterns that are discovered and the effectiveness of risk mitigation

A Variant Origin of the Carotid Sinus Nerve.

The carotid sinus nerve is known to convey baroreceptive fibers from the carotid sinus. Despite studies on the baroreflex pathway and the course and communications of the carotid sinus nerve with the surrounding nervous and vascular structures, there have been scant reports on variations in the origin of the carotid sinus nerve (CSN). We identified an unusual origin of the CSN. On the right side of a cadaveric specimen, the CSN was found to arise from two small rami extending from the external laryngeal nerve. Such a case can help better understand various pathways used to monitor the carotid sinus. Additionally, surgeries that manipulate the superior laryngeal nerve could possibly injure a variant carotid sinus nerve, as seen in the present case

Foraminal Ligaments Tether Upper Cervical Nerve Roots: A Potential Cause of Postoperative C5 Palsy.

Background Nerve root tethering upon dorsal spinal cord (SC) migration has been proposed as a potential mechanism for postoperative C5 palsy (C5P). To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate this relationship by anatomically comparing C5-C6 nerve root translation before and after root untethering by cutting the cervical foraminal ligaments (FL). Objective The aim of this study is to determine if C5 root untethering through FL cutting results in increased root translation. Methods Six cadaveric dissections were performed. Nerve roots were exposed via C4-C6 corpectomies and supraclavicular brachial plexus exposure. Pins were inserted into the C5-C6 roots and adjacent foraminal tubercle. Translation was measured as the distance between pins after the SC was dorsally displaced 5 mm before and after FL cutting. Clinical feasibility of FL release was examined by comparing root translation between standard and extended (complete foraminal decompression) foraminotomies. Translation of root levels before and after FL cutting was compared by two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results Significantly more nerve root translation was observed if the FL was cut versus not-cut, p = 0.001; no difference was seen between levels, p = 0.33. Performing an extended cervical foraminotomy was technically feasible allowing complete FL release and root untethering, whereas a standard foraminotomy did not. Conclusion FL tether upper cervical nerve roots in their foramina; cutting these ligaments untethers the root and increases translation suggesting they could be harmful in the context of C5P. Further investigation is required examining the value of root untethering in the context of C5P

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of a Polyphenol Botanical Blend on Sleep and Daytime Functioning

Despite the high prevalence of subclinical sleep disturbances, existing treatments are either potent prescription medications or over-the-counter supplements with minimal scientific support and numerous side effects. However, preliminary evidence shows that polyphenols such as rosmarinic acid and epigallocatechin gallate can support healthy sleep without significant side effects. Therefore, the present study examined whether a polyphenol botanical blend (PBB) could improve sleep and/or daytime functioning in individuals with subclinical sleep disturbances. A total of 89 individuals completed a double-blind, randomized trial of daily treatment with PBB (n = 43) or placebo (n = 46) 30 min before bed for 30 days. Participants were monitored for changes in sleep (by sleep diary and an activity tracker), mood, and neurocognitive functioning. After 30 days, PBB improved diary sleep quality (p = 0.008) and reduced insomnia severity (p = 0.044) when compared to placebo. No other changes in sleep outcomes were observed. Additionally, PBB did not impair neurocognitive functioning, and some improvement was noted in vigilant attention, working memory, and risk assessment. Among individuals with subclinical sleep disturbances, PBB improved sleep quality, insomnia severity, and neurocognitive functioning over placebo. These findings indicate that polyphenol compounds may be useful for improving certain aspects of sleep without compromising neurocognitive functioning

Blood Supply to the Human Spinal Cord. II. Imaging and Pathology

The blood supply of the spinal cord is a complex system based on multilevel sources and anastomoses. Diseases often affect this vascular supply and imaging has been developed that better investigates these structures. The authors review the literature regarding pathology and imaging modalities for the blood supply of the spinal cord. Knowledge of the disease processes and imaging modalities used to investigate these arterial lesions of the spinal cord will assist the clinician when treating patients with spinal cord lesions

Rare association between cystic fibrosis, Chiari I malformation, and hydrocephalus in a baby: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Cystic fibrosis, an epithelial cell transport disorder caused by mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene, is not generally associated with malformations of the central nervous system. We review eight previously published reports detailing an infrequent association between cystic fibrosis and Chiari I malformation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, our report describes only the ninth case of a baby presenting with a new diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and Chiari I malformation, in this case in a 10-month-old, full-term Caucasian baby boy from the United States of America. Neurosurgical consultation was obtained for associated developmental delay, macrocephaly, bulging anterior fontanel, and papilledema. An MRI scan demonstrated an extensive Chiari I malformation with effacement of the fourth ventricle, obliteration of the outlets of the fourth ventricle and triventricular hydrocephalus without aqueductal stenosis. Our patient was taken to the operating room for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It is possible that the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene may play a previously unrecognized role in central nervous system development; alternatively, this central nervous system abnormality may have been acquired due to constant valsalva from recurrent coughing or wheezing or metabolic and electrolyte imbalances that occur characteristically in cystic fibrosis.</p

Global error analysis and inertial manifold reduction

Four types of global error for initial value problems are considered in a common framework. They include classical forward error analysis and shadowing error analysis together with extensions of both to include rescaling of time. To determine the amplificatioh of the local error that bounds the global error we present a linear analysis similar in spirit to condition number estimation for linear systems of equations. We combine these ideas with techniques for dimension reduction of differential equations via a boundary value formulation of numerical inertial manifold reduction. These global error concepts are exercised to illustrate their utility on the Lorenz equations and inertial manifold reductions of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Location-specific immunodetection of cocaine on banknotes

A novel in-gel bioanalytical immunodetection method has been developed to determine both the presence and the location of cocaine on the surface of banknotes. The cocaine was ‘fixed’ to the surface of the banknote via a coating of a polyacrylamide gel matrix. Immunostaining of the immobilised cocaine on the banknote surface was performed using an anti-cocaine primary antibody, either pre-labelled with horse radish peroxidase (HRP) or in conjunction with a HRP-labelled secondary antibody. Visualisation of the location of the cocaine was achieved through chemiluminescence imaging of the banknote following application of a chemiluminescent substrate. The novel method was applied to the detection of cocaine on partial and whole banknote samples obtained from general circulation. Newly minted banknotes, with or without spiked cocaine, were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The results obtained, for the first time, demonstrate the successful location-specific immunostaining of cocaine on banknotes. A preliminary analysis of six UK banknotes, obtained from general circulation, suggests that cocaine can be present at variable locations across the whole of the banknote