Western corn rootworm pyrethroid resistance confirmed by aerial application simulations of commercial insecticides

The western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) (WCR) is a major insect pest of corn (Zea mays L.) in the United States (US) and is highly adaptable to multiple management tactics. A low level of WCR field-evolved resistance to pyrethroid insecticides has been confirmed in the US western Corn Belt by laboratory dose-response bioassays. Further investigation has identified detoxification enzymes as a potential part of the WCR resistance mechanism, which could affect the performance of insecticides that are structurally related to pyrethroids, such as organophosphates. Thus, the responses of pyrethroid-resistant and -susceptible WCR populations to the commonly used pyrethroid bifenthrin and organophosphate dimethoate were compared in active ingredient bioassays. Results revealed a relatively low level of WCR resistance to both active ingredients. Therefore, a simulated aerial application bioassay technique was developed to evaluate how the estimated resistance levels would affect performance of registered rates of formulated products. The simulated aerial application technique confirmed pyrethroid resistance to formulated rates of bifenthrin whereas formulated dimethoate provided optimal control. Results suggest that the relationship between levels of resistance observed in dose-response bioassays and actual efficacy of formulated product needs to be further explored to understand the practical implications of resistance

A Comparison Of 3,4,6A,7,10,10A-Hexahydro-7,10-Epoxypyrimido 2,1-A Isoindol-6(2H)-One And 2-(2-Aminoethyl)-3A,4,7,7A-Tetrahydro-1H-4,7-Epoxyisoindole-1,3(2H)-Dion E: Structural And Reactivity Differences Of Two Homologous Tricyclic Imides

The crystal structures of 3,4,6a,7,10,10a-hexahydro-7,10-epoxypyrimido[2,1-a]isoindol-6(2H)-one, C11H12N2O2, and 2-(2-aminoethyl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-epoxyisoindole-1,3(2H)-dione, C10H12N2O3, two tricyclic imides, show one and two molecules in the asymmetric unit, respectively. Intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions are observed in both compounds.National Science Foundation (grant No. CHE-0741973)The Welch Foundation (grant No. F-1631)National Science Foundation (grant No. CHE-0847763)ChemistryBiochemistr

STEM through Authentic Research and Training Program (START) for Underrepresented Communities: Adapting to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The STEM Through Authentic Research and Training (START) Program is a new program integrating academic, social, and professional experiences, in the theme of exomedicine, to build a pipeline into college for first generation and traditionally underrepresented students by providing year-round authentic opportunities and professional development for high school students and teachers. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the START Program has worked with the local Fayette County public school and community partners to provide content to over 300 students through: virtual laboratory tours with community partner Space Tango, meet a scientist discussions, and online near-peer student demonstrations aimed at making the practice of STEM disciplines approachable. Furthermore, the START Program has partnered with Higher Orbits to provide at-home, space-themed learning kits for students to develop teamwork, communication, and STEM principles while engaging in online content with teachers, professionals, and astronauts. Finally, the START Program has moved its training platforms online, including receiving College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) Peer Educator accreditation for our near-peer mentoring and coaching training. As a result, the START Program is better positioned to address this critical need in STEM education, while reaching more students in the community than possible with face-to-face interactions alone

Spiritual Struggles among Atheists: Links to Psychological Distress and Well-Being

Religious and spiritual struggles (R/S struggles)—tension or conflicts regarding religious or spiritual matters—have been robustly linked to greater psychological distress and lower well-being. Most research in this area has relied on samples consisting predominantly of participants who believe in god(s). Limited research has examined R/S struggles among atheists, generally conflating them with agnostics and other nontheists. This study investigated the prevalence of R/S struggles among atheists and compared atheists to theists in two samples (3978 undergraduates, 1048 Internet workers). Results of a multilevel model showed that atheists experience less demonic, doubt, divine, moral, and overall R/S struggles than theists, but similar levels of interpersonal and ultimate meaning struggles. Correlation and regression analyses among atheists demonstrated links between moral, ultimate meaning, and overall R/S struggles and greater distress (depression and anxiety symptoms) as well as lower well-being (life satisfaction and meaning in life). Even after controlling neuroticism, ultimate meaning struggles continued to predict lower well-being and higher distress across samples; moral struggles also predicted distress independently. This study demonstrates the relevance of R/S struggles to atheists and reinforces the applicability of previous results to atheist samples, but also highlights substantial differences between atheists and theists in certain R/S struggles

{μ-6,6′-Dimeth­oxy-2,2′-[butane-1,4-diylbis(nitrilo­methyl­idyne)]diphenolato-1:2κ8 O 6,O 1,O 1′,O 6′:O 1,N,N′,O 1′}tris­(nitrato-1κ2 O,O′)copper(II)gadolinium(III)

In the title dinuclear complex, [CuGd(C20H22N2O4)(NO3)3], the CuII ion is located in the inner N2O2 cavity of the Schiff base ligand and adopts a distorted square-planar geometry. The GdIII ion is ten-coordinate being bound to ten O atoms, four from the Schiff base ligand and six from three bidentate nitrate anions. The CuII and GdIII ions are linked by two phenolate O atoms of the Schiff base ligand, with a separation of 3.5185 (9) Å

Invasive species risk assessments need more consistent spatial abundance data

Spatial abundance information is a critical component of invasive plant risk assessment. While spatial occurrence data provide important information about potential establishment, abundance data are necessary to understand invasive species’ populations, which ultimately drive environmental and economic impacts. In recent years, the collective efforts of numerous management agencies and public participants have created unprecedented spatial archives of invasive plant occurrence, but consistent information about abundance remains rare. Here, we develop guidelines for the collection and reporting of abundance information that can add value to existing data collection efforts and inform spatial ecology research. In order to identify the most common methods used to report abundance, we analyzed over 1.6 million invasive plant records in the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS). Abundance data in some form are widely reported, with 58.9% of records containing qualitative or quantitative information about invasive plant cover, density, or infested area, but records vary markedly in terms of standards for reporting. Percent cover was the most commonly reported metric of abundance, typically collected in bins of trace (25%). However, percent cover data were rarely reported along with an estimate of area, which is critical for ensuring accurate interpretation of reported abundance data. Infested area is typically reported as a number with associated units of square feet or acres. Together, an estimate of both cover and infested area provides the most robust and interpretable information for spatial research and risk assessment applications. By developing consistent metrics of reporting for abundance, collectors can provide much needed information to support spatial models of invasion risk

Western corn rootworm pyrethroid resistance confirmed by aerial application simulations of commercial insecticides

The western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) (WCR) is a major insect pest of corn (Zea mays L.) in the United States (US) and is highly adaptable to multiple management tactics. A low level of WCR field-evolved resistance to pyrethroid insecticides has been confirmed in the US western Corn Belt by laboratory dose-response bioassays. Further investigation has identified detoxification enzymes as a potential part of the WCR resistance mechanism, which could affect the performance of insecticides that are structurally related to pyrethroids, such as organophosphates. Thus, the responses of pyrethroid-resistant and -susceptible WCR populations to the commonly used pyrethroid bifenthrin and organophosphate dimethoate were compared in active ingredient bioassays. Results revealed a relatively low level of WCR resistance to both active ingredients. Therefore, a simulated aerial application bioassay technique was developed to evaluate how the estimated resistance levels would affect performance of registered rates of formulated products. The simulated aerial application technique confirmed pyrethroid resistance to formulated rates of bifenthrin whereas formulated dimethoate provided optimal control. Results suggest that the relationship between levels of resistance observed in dose-response bioassays and actual efficacy of formulated product needs to be further explored to understand the practical implications of resistance

Sublingual Adjuvant Delivery by a Live Attenuated Vibrio cholerae-Based Antigen Presentation Platform

ABSTRACT A sublingually delivered heterologous antigen presentation platform that does not depend on antigen or adjuvant purification would be of great benefit in protection against diarrheal disease. In proof-of-concept studies, we previously showed that when a fusion protein comprised of the Vibrio cholerae biofilm matrix protein RbmA and the B subunit of cholera toxin (R-CTB) is expressed from a plasmid within V. cholerae, R-CTB is sequestered in the biofilm matrix, leading to decoration of the cell surface. Sublingual delivery of live attenuated R-CTB-decorated cells results in a mucosal immune response to CTB. To improve the immune response to diarrheal antigens presented by this platform, we have engineered our live attenuated vaccine to express the mucosal adjuvant mmCT (i.e., multiply mutated CT). Here we report that delivery of this adjuvant via sublingual administration of our vaccine enhances the mucosal immune response to V. cholerae LPS and elicits a systemic and mucosal immune response to CTB. However, provision of R-CTB with mmCT selectively blunts the mucosal immune response to CTB. We propose that mmCT delivered by this live attenuated Vibrio cholerae vaccine platform may serve as a mucosal adjuvant for heterologous antigens, provided they are not too similar to mmCT. IMPORTANCE: Diarrheal disease is the most common infectious disease of children in the developing world. Our goal is to develop a diarrheal antigen presentation platform based on whole Vibrio cholerae cells that does not depend on protein purification. We have previously shown the feasibility of genetically fusing antigens to the V. cholerae biofilm matrix protein RbmA for presentation on the cell surface. A mucosal adjuvant could improve immunogenicity of such a vaccine at the mucosal surface. Here we engineer a live attenuated V. cholerae vaccine to constitutively synthesize mmCT, a nontoxic form of cholera toxin. When this vaccine is delivered sublingually, in vivo-synthesized mmCT acts as both an adjuvant and antigen. This could greatly increase the magnitude and duration of the immune response elicited by codelivered heterologous antigens

Clinical outcomes and toxicity of proton beam radiation therapy for re-irradiation of locally recurrent breast cancer

Purpose: Repeat radiation therapy (RT) using photons/X-rays for locally recurrent breast cancer results in increased short and long-term toxicity. Proton beam RT (PBRT) can minimize dose to surrounding organs, thereby potentially reducing toxicity. Here, we report the toxicity and clinical outcomes for women who underwent re-irradiation to the chest wall for locally recurrent breast cancer using PBRT. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study analyzing 16 consecutive patients between 2013 and 2018 with locally recurrent breast cancer who underwent re-irradiation to the chest wall with PBRT. For the recurrent disease, patients underwent maximal safe resection, including salvage mastectomy, wide local excision, or biopsy only per surgeons recommendations. Systemic therapy was used per the recommendation of the medical oncologist. Patients were treated with median dose of 50.4 Cobalt Gray Equivalent (CGyE) in 28 fractions at the time of re-irradiation. Follow-up was calculated from the start of second RT course. Acute toxicities were defined as those occurring during treatment or up to 8 weeks after treatment. Late toxicities were defined as those occurring more than 8 weeks after the completion of therapy. Toxicities were based on CTCAE 4.0. Results: The median age at original diagnosis and at recurrence was 49.8 years and 60.2 years, respectively. The median time between the two RT courses was 10.2 (0.7-20.2) years. The median follow-up time was 18.7 (2.5-35.2) months. No local failures were observed after re-irradiation. One patient developed distant metastasis and ultimately died. Grade 3-4 acute skin toxicity was observed in 5 (31.2%) patients. Four (25%) patients developed chest wall infections during or shortly (2 weeks) after re-irradiation. Late grade 3-4 fibrosis was observed in only 3 (18.8%) patients. Grade 5 toxicities were not observed. Hyperpigmentation was seen in 12 (75%) patients. Pneumonitis, telangiectasia, rib fracture, and lymphedema occurred in 2 (12.5%), 4 (25%), 1 (6.3%), and 1 (6.3%) patients, respectively. Conclusions: Re-irradiation with PBRT for recurrent breast cancer has acceptable toxicities. There was a high incidence of acute grade 3-4 skin toxicity and infections, which resolved, however, with skin care and antibiotics. Longer follow-up is needed to determine long-term clinical outcomes

Microbial Community of Saline, Alkaline Lakes in the Nebraska Sandhills Based on 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequence Data

The Nebraska Sandhills region contains over 1,500 geochemically diverse interdunal lakes, some of which are potassium rich, alkaline, and hypersaline. Here, we report 16S rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing data on the water and sediment microbial communities of eight alkaline lakes in the Sandhills of western Nebraska