Developing semiochemical repellents for protecting Picea from Dendroctonus rufipennis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Alaska and Utah, USA.

Spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most destructive pest of mature spruce (Picea) in western North America. Recent outbreaks in Alaska and other western US states highlight the need for tools to protect Picea from D. rufipennis. The primary antiaggregation pheromone of D. rufipennis (3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one, MCH) and various combinations of potential repellents (1-octen-3-ol, exo-brevicomin, endo-brevicomin, ipsdienol, ipsenol, limonene, and verbenone) were tested for their ability to disrupt the response of D. rufipennis to attractant-baited multiple-funnel traps. Two assays were conducted on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, in June and July 2021. All treatments significantly reduced the mean number of D. rufipennis caught compared to the baited control. No other significant differences were observed among treatments. Informed by these and other data, tree protection studies were established in Lutz spruce, Picea × lutzii, on the Kenai Peninsula in 2022 and in Engelmann spruce, Pi. engelmannii, in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, in 2021. All experimental trees were baited with frontalin. Repellent treatments included MCH (SPLAT MCH, ISCA Inc., Riverside, CA, USA) and at least 1 additional repellent combination. In Alaska, all treatments significantly reduced colonization (strip attacks + mass attacks) and mortality of individually treated Pi. × lutzii and all Picea within 11.3-m radius of each treated Pi. × lutzii compared to the control. In Utah, all treatments except for SPLAT MCH + octenol significantly reduced colonization compared to the control. Only SPLAT MCH + Acer kairomone blend (AKB) and SPLAT MCH + octenol reduced Pi. engelmannii mortality compared to the control. SPLAT MCH + AKB and SPLAT MCH + acetophenone and green leaf volatiles (PLUS) were the most effective across both studies. The implications of these and other results to the development of an effective semiochemical repellent for D. rufipennis are discussed.

New biologics for food allergy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to explore role of emerging biologics, including ligelizumab, UB-221, dupilumab, and antialarmins, in food allergy management. With a focus on recent developments, we evaluate their promise in mitigating adverse events during oral immunotherapy (OIT), reducing allergic reactions, and addressing the limitations of current therapeutic options. RECENT FINDINGS: Antiimmunoglobulin E mAbs, exemplified by omalizumab, demonstrate efficacy in desensitization and safety improvement during multiallergen OIT. Next-generation antibodies like ligelizumab and UB-221 exhibit enhanced potency and unique mechanisms, holding promise for food allergy treatment. Dupilumab, targeting IL-4 receptor alpha, presents potential benefits in decreasing allergen-specific IgE and modifying the atopic march. Exploration of antialarmins, specifically anti-IL-33 (etokimab) and anti-TSLP (tezepelumab), reveals encouraging results, with etokimab showing early success in peanut allergy trials. SUMMARY: Biologics hold promising potential for food allergy treatment. Tailoring therapeutic approaches based on shared decision-making becomes pivotal. While omalizumab remains a significant option, next-generation anti-IgE antibodies and agents targeting alarmins exhibit unique strengths. Dupilumab, despite limited success as monotherapy, shows promise as an adjunct for OIT. Careful consideration of treatment goals, patient preferences, and the evolving landscape of biologics will shape future clinical practice, offering allergists an expanded toolbox for personalized food allergy management.

Cell morphology best predicts tumorigenicity and metastasis in vivo across multiple TNBC cell lines of different metastatic potential.

BACKGROUND: Metastasis is the leading cause of death in breast cancer patients. For metastasis to occur, tumor cells must invade locally, intravasate, and colonize distant tissues and organs, all steps that require tumor cell migration. The majority of studies on invasion and metastasis rely on human breast cancer cell lines. While it is known that these cells have different properties and abilities for growth and metastasis, the in vitro morphological, proliferative, migratory, and invasive behavior of these cell lines and their correlation to in vivo behavior is poorly understood. Thus, we sought to classify each cell line as poorly or highly metastatic by characterizing tumor growth and metastasis in a murine model of six commonly used human triple-negative breast cancer xenografts, as well as determine which in vitro assays commonly used to study cell motility best predict in vivo metastasis. METHODS: We evaluated the liver and lung metastasis of human TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, BT549, Hs578T, BT20, and SUM159 in immunocompromised mice. We characterized each cell line's cell morphology, proliferation, and motility in 2D and 3D to determine the variation in these parameters between cell lines. RESULTS: We identified MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and BT549 cells as highly tumorigenic and metastatic, Hs578T as poorly tumorigenic and metastatic, BT20 as intermediate tumorigenic with poor metastasis to the lungs but highly metastatic to the livers, and SUM159 as intermediate tumorigenic but poorly metastatic to the lungs and livers. We showed that metrics that characterize cell morphology are the most predictive of tumor growth and metastatic potential to the lungs and liver. Further, we found that no single in vitro motility assay in 2D or 3D significantly correlated with metastasis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide an important resource for the TNBC research community, identifying the metastatic potential of 6 commonly used cell lines. Our findings also support the use of cell morphological analysis to investigate the metastatic potential and emphasize the need for multiple in vitro motility metrics using multiple cell lines to represent the heterogeneity of metastasis in vivo.

The Promise, Mystery, and Perils of Stenting for Symptomatic Internal Jugular Vein Stenosis: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cerebral venous outflow disorders (CVDs) secondary to internal jugular vein (IJV) stenosis are becoming an increasingly recognized cause of significant cognitive and functional impairment in patients. There are little published data on IJV stenting for this condition. This study aims to report on procedural success. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis was performed on patients with CVD that underwent IJV stenting procedures. RESULTS: From 2019 to 2023, 29 patients with CVD underwent a total of 33 IJV stenting procedures. Most patients (20; 69%) had an underlying connective tissue disorder diagnosis. The mean age of the included patients was 36.3 years (SD 12.4), 24 were female (82.8%), and all were Caucasian except for 2 patients (27; 93.0%). Twenty-eight procedures (85%) involved isolated IJV stenting under conscious sedation, whereas 5 procedures (15%) involved IJV stenting and concomitant transverse sinus stenting under general anesthesia. Thirteen (39%) patients underwent IJV stenting after open IJV decompression and styloidectomy. Three patients had stents placed for stenosis below the C1 tubercle, one of which was for carotid compression. Periprocedural complications occurred in 11 (33%), including intracardiac stent migration in 1 patient, temporary shoulder pain/weakness in 5 (15%), and persistent and severe shoulder pain/weakness in 2 patients (6%). Approximately 75% of patients demonstrated improvement after stenting although only 12 patients (36%) had durable improvement over a mean follow-up of 4.5 months (range 6 weeks-3.5 years). CONCLUSION: Our experience, along with early published studies, suggests that there is significant promise to IJV revascularization techniques in these patients; however, stenting carries a high complication rate, and symptom recurrence is common. Most neurointerventionalists should not be performing IJV stenting unless they have experience with these patients and understand technical nuances (stent sizing, anatomy, patient selection), which can maximize benefit and minimize risk.

Redefining treatment expectations: exploring mid- and long-term outcomes of venous sinus stenting in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Venous sinus stenting (VSS) is recognized as a safe and effective intervention for medically-refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). However, its long-term efficacy remains uncertain. METHODS: This retrospective review analyzed a single-center database of adult patients with severe, medically-refractory IIH, who underwent VSS and had minimum 3-month follow-up (FU). Patients were divided into three groups based on post-stenting symptom trajectories: group 1 (sustained improvement without relapse), group 2 (temporary improvement with relapse), and group 3 (no improvement). RESULTS: Of 178 patients undergoing VSS, the majority were female (94%), with a median opening pressure (OP) of 31 cm H2O and trans-stenosis gradient of 14 mm Hg. Of these, 153 (86%) received transverse sinus (TS) stenting, and 19 (11%) underwent concurrent TS and superior sagittal sinus stenting. At a mean FU of 166 days, 53 patients (30%) showed long-term improvement without relapse (group 1). Symptomatic recurrence was noted in 101 patients (57%; group 2) within a mean FU of 390 days. Despite recurrent headache and tinnitus, the average OP reduction was 9.6 cm H2O on repeat lumbar puncture, with 75% showing papilledema improvement or resolution post-VSS. Only 17% required further surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The most common clinical outcome post-VSS in IIH patients is initial symptomatic improvement followed by symptom recurrence in about 60% at a mean of 274 days, despite a consistent intracranial pressure reduction. These findings can guide physicians in setting realistic expectations with patients regarding VSS outcomes.

Wildland-urban interface wildfire increases metal contributions to stormwater runoff in Paradise, California.

The 2018 Camp Fire was a large late-year (November) wildfire that produced an urban firestorm in the Town of Paradise, California, USA, and destroyed more than 18 000 structures. Runoff from burned wildland areas is known to contain ash, which can transport contaminants including metals into nearby watersheds. However, due to historically infrequent occurrences, the effect of wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires, such as the Camp Fire, on surface water quality has not been well-characterized. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of widespread urban burning on surface water quality in major watersheds of the Camp Fire area. Between November 2018 and May 2019, 140 surface water samples were collected, including baseflow and stormflow, from burned and unburned watersheds with varying extent of urban development. Samples were analyzed for total and filter-passing metals, dissolved organic carbon, major anions, and total suspended solids. Ash and debris from the Camp Fire contributed metals to downstream watersheds via runoff throughout the storm season. Increases in concentration up to 200-fold were found for metals Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in burned watersheds compared to pre-fire values. Total concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn exceeded EPA aquatic habitat acute criteria by up to 16-fold for up to five months after the fire. To assess possible transport mechanisms and bioavailability, a subset of 18 samples was analyzed using four filters with nominal pore sizes ranging from 0.22 to 1.2 µm to determine the particulate size distribution of metals. Trace and major metals (Al, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were found mostly associated with larger grain sizes (>0.45 µm), and some metals (Al, Cr, Fe, and Pb) also included a substantial colloidal phase (0.22 to 0.45 µm). This study suggests that fires in the wildland-urban interface increase metal concentrations, mainly through particulate driven transport. The metals with the largest increases are likely from anthropogenic disaster materials, though biomass ash also is a major contributor to water quality. The increase in metals following WUI burning may have adverse ecological impacts.

Intensive care unit admission is not necessary after venous sinus stenting.

BACKGROUND: Venous sinus stenting (VSS) has emerged as a safe and effective treatment option for idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Many physicians routinely admit patients to the intensive care unit (ICU) for close monitoring, but little data exists on whether this is necessary. METHODS: Electronic medical records of consecutive patients who underwent VSS by the senior author from 2016 to 2022 at a single center were reviewed. RESULTS: 214 patients were included. The mean (SD) age was 35.5 (11.6) and 196 (91.6%) patients were female. A total of 166 (77.6%) patients underwent transverse sinus stenting alone; 9 (4.2%) underwent superior sagittal sinus (SSS) stenting alone, 37 (17.3) concomitant transverse and SSS stenting, and 2 (0.9%) underwent stenting at alternate sites. All patients were planned admission to the regular ward (27.6%) or day hospital (72.4%). Twenty (9.3%) patients were discharged to home the same day as the procedure and 182 (85%) patients were discharged the following day. Major periprocedural complications were identified in 2 (0.93%) patients and minor complications were identified in 16 (7.4%). Only one patient with a subdural hematoma identified in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) had care escalated to the ICU. No severe complications were identified after the PACU stay. During the next 48 hours after discharge, 4 (1.9%) patients returned to any emergency room to be evaluated without requiring readmission. CONCLUSION: Routine ICU admission following uncomplicated VSS is unnecessary. Overnight admission to a low-acuity ward, or even same-day discharge in select patients, appears to be a safe and cost-effective strategy.

Combining avidin with CD63 improves basophil activation test accuracy in classifying peanut allergy.

BACKGROUND: Conventional basophil activation tests (BATs) measure basophil activation by the increased expression of CD63. Previously, fluorophore-labeled avidin, a positively-charged molecule, was found to bind to activated basophils, which tend to expose negatively charged granule constituents during degranulation. This study further compares avidin versus CD63 as basophil activation biomarkers in classifying peanut allergy. METHODS: Seventy subjects with either a peanut allergy (N = 47), a food allergy other than peanut (N = 6), or no food allergy (N = 17) were evaluated. We conducted BATs in response to seven peanut extract (PE) concentrations (0.01-10,000 ng/mL) and four control conditions (no stimulant, anti-IgE, fMLP (N-formylmethionine-leucyl-phenylalanine), and anti-FcεRI). We measured avidin binding and CD63 expression on basophils with flow cytometry. We evaluated logistic regression and XGBoost models for peanut allergy classification and feature identification. RESULTS: Avidin binding was correlated with CD63 expression. Both markers discriminated between subjects with and without a peanut allergy. Although small by percentage, an avidin+ /CD63- cell subset was found in all allergic subjects tested, indicating that the combination of avidin and CD63 could allow a more comprehensive identification of activated basophils. Indeed, we obtained the best classification accuracy (97.8% sensitivity, 96.7% specificity) by combining avidin and CD63 across seven PE doses. Similar accuracy was obtained by combining PE dose of 10,000 ng/mL for avidin and PE doses of 10 and 100 ng/mL for CD63. CONCLUSIONS: Avidin and CD63 are reliable BAT activation markers associated with degranulation. Their combination enhances the identification of activated basophils and improves the classification accuracy of peanut allergy.

An analysis of risk factors for venous thromboembolism in primary versus revision total joint arthroplasty.

Background: One of the most serious complications after primary or revision lower extremity total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is venous thromboembolism disease (VTE). Identifying patients at high risk for VTE allows tailoring of prophylactic anticoagulation regimens to those most vulnerable. This study aimed to identify risk factors for VTE in primary and revision lower extremity TJA. Methods: The Electronic Medical Record was queried from a single academic institution for all patients who underwent a lower extremity TJA between 2007 and 2020. Demographics, comorbid conditions, perioperative characteristics, and postoperative complications were identified. An Elastic Net Multiple Logistic Regression Model was used to assess 49 covariates and predict those associated with a significant risk of VTE. Results: We identified 4900 primary and revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. There was no significant difference between primary and revision THA. Primary TKA had a higher rate of VTE than revision TKA. Significant risk factors identified for VTE in THA patients include histories of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), metastatic tumors, hemiplegia, and Hispanic ethnicity. Risk factors for VTE in TKA patients include histories of DVT, PE, metastatic tumors, and postoperative warfarin and heparin use. In all patients, age was a significant predictor of VTE risk. Conclusion: Our work identifies many risk factors for VTE following TJA. While the increased rate of VTE in some populations may represent selection bias, it also highlights the incomplete understanding of the etiology and prevention of this complication in the joint arthroplasty population and requires further study.

Consent document translation expense hinders inclusive clinical trial enrolment.

Patients from historically under-represented racial and ethnic groups are enrolled in cancer clinical trials at disproportionately low rates in the USA1-3. As these patients often have limited English proficiency4-7, we hypothesized that one barrier to their inclusion is the cost to investigators of translating consent documents. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated more than 12,000 consent events at a large cancer centre and assessed whether patients requiring translated consent documents would sign consent documents less frequently in studies lacking industry sponsorship (for which the principal investigator pays the translation costs) than for industry-sponsored studies (for which the translation costs are covered by the sponsor). Here we show that the proportion of consent events for patients with limited English proficiency in studies not sponsored by industry was approximately half of that seen in industry-sponsored studies. We also show that among those signing consent documents, the proportion of consent documents translated into the patient's primary language in studies without industry sponsorship was approximately half of that seen in industry-sponsored studies. The results suggest that the cost of consent document translation in trials not sponsored by industry could be a potentially modifiable barrier to the inclusion of patients with limited English proficiency.

The Effect of Changes in Segmental Lordosis on Global Lumbar and Adjacent Segment Lordosis After L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Cohort Study. OBJECTIVE: Restoration of lordosis in lumbar fusion reduces low back pain, decreases adjacent segment degeneration, and improves postoperative outcomes. However, the potential effects of changes in segmental lordosis on adjacent-level and global lordosis remain less understood. This study aims to examine the relationships between segmental (SL), adjacent-level, and global lumbar lordosis following L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF). METHODS: 80 consecutive patients who underwent single-level L5-S1 ALIF were divided into 3 groups based on the degree of change (∆) in index-level segmental lordosis: <5° (n = 23), 5°-10° (n = 29), >10° (n = 28). Radiographic parameters measured included global lumbar, segmental, and adjacent level lordosis, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, and PI-LL mismatch. RESULTS: Patients with ∆SL 5°-10° or ∆SL >10° both showed significant increases in global lumbar lordosis from preoperative to final follow-up. However, patients with ∆SL >10° showed statistically significant losses in adjacent level lordosis at both immediate postoperative and final follow-up compared to preoperative. When comparing patients with ∆SL >10° to those with ∆SL 5-10°, there were no significant differences in global lumbar lordosis at final follow-up, due to significantly greater losses of adjacent level lordosis in these patients. CONCLUSION: The degree of compensatory loss of lordosis at the adjacent level L4-L5 correlated with the extent of segmental lordosis creation at the index L5-S1 level. This may suggest that the L4 to S1 segment acts as a "harmonious unit," able to accommodate only a certain amount of lordosis and further increases in segmental lordosis may be mitigated by loss of adjacent-level lordosis.

Femoral Component Fracture in a Total Knee Arthroplasty Patient With a Persistent Flexion Contracture.

This article reports a rare case of a total knee arthroplasty femoral component fracture. Fractures of early knee systems were attributed to design flaws. Modern design failures have been attributed to poor surgical technique or underlying osteolysis. Here, we report a fracture in the Vanguard prosthesis (Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN) 12 years after implantation in a patient with a persistent flexion contracture. The fracture likely occurred due to fatigue failure of the anterior flange secondary to increased stress from a high riding patella. Although femoral component fractures are rare, they should be considered as a potential complication, especially in patients with special load considerations. For these patients, it is essential that the prosthesis be properly supported with clean cuts and an adequate cement mantle.

Movement and behavioral states of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in response to a behavioral deterrent in a navigational lock.

BACKGROUND: Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most affected by biological invasions due, in part, to the introduction of invasive carp worldwide. Where carp have become established, management programs often seek to limit further range expansion into new areas by reducing their movement through interconnected rivers and waterways. Lock and dams are important locations for non-physical deterrents, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), to reduce unwanted fish passage without disrupting human use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the behavioral responses of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) to non-physical deterrents within a navigation structure on the Fox River, Wisconsin. Acoustic telemetry combined with hidden Markov models (HMMs) was used to analyze variation in carp responses to treatments. Outcomes may inform CO2 effectiveness at preventing invasive carp movement through movement pinch-points. METHODS: Carbon dioxide (CO2) was recently registered as a pesticide in the United States for use as a deterrent to invasive carp movement. As a part of a multi-component study to test a large-scale CO2 delivery system within a navigation lock, we characterized the influence of elevated CO2 and forced water circulation in the lock chamber on carp movements and behavior. Through time-to-event analyses, we described the responses of acoustic-tagged carp to experimental treatments including (1) CO2 injection in water with forced water circulation, (2) forced water circulation without CO2 and (3) no forced water circulation or CO2. We then used hidden Markov models (HMMs) to define fine-scale carp movement and evaluate the relationships between carp behavioral states and CO2 concentration, forced water circulation, and temperature. RESULTS: Forced water circulation with and without CO2 injection were effective at expelling carp from the lock chamber relative to null treatments where no stimulus was applied. A portion of carp exposed to forced water circulation with CO2 transitioned from an exploratory to an encamped behavioral state with shorter step-lengths and a unimodal distribution in turning angles, resulting in some carp remaining in the lock chamber. Whereas carp exposed to forced water circulation only remained primarily in an exploratory behavioral state, resulting in all carp exiting the lock chamber. CONCLUSION: Our findings illustrate the potential of forced water circulation, alone, as a non-physical deterrent and the efficacy of CO2 injection with forced water circulation in expelling carp from a navigation lock. Results demonstrate how acoustic telemetry and HMMs in an experimental context can describe fish behavior and inform management strategies.

Increased cage angle effects on radiographic outcomes after stand-alone anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

OBJECTIVE: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a well-accepted surgical technique used to treat various lumbar degenerative pathologies. Recently, hyperlordotic cages have been introduced to create higher degrees of lordosis to the lumbar spine. There are little data currently available to define the radiographic benefits that these cages provide with stand-alone ALIF. The goal of the present study was to assess the effect of increasing cage angles on postoperative subsidence, sagittal alignment, and foraminal and disc height in patients who underwent single-level stand-alone ALIF surgery. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed of consecutive patients who underwent single-level ALIF by a single spine surgeon. Radiographic analysis included global lordosis, operative level of segmental lordosis, cage subsidence, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch, edge loading, foraminal height, posterior disc height, anterior disc height, and adjacent-level lordosis. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were performed to analyze the relationship between cage angle and radiographic outcomes. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were included in the study and divided into three groups based on cage angle: < 10° (n = 17), 10°-15° (n = 36), and > 15° (n = 19). Within the entire study cohort, there were significant improvements in disc and foraminal height, as well as segmental and global lordosis, at the final follow-up after single-level ALIF. However, when stratified by cage angle groups, patients with > 15° cages did not have any additional significant changes in global or segmental lordosis compared with those patients with smaller cage angles, but patients with > 15° cages showed greater risk of subsidence while also having significantly less improvements in foraminal height, posterior disc height, and average disc height compared with the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with < 15° stand-alone ALIF cages showed improved average foraminal and disc (posterior, anterior, and average) height without sacrificing improvements in sagittal parameters or increasing risk of subsidence when compared to patients with hyperlordotic cages. The use of hyperlordotic cages > 15° did not provide spinal lordosis commensurate with the lordotic angle of the cage and had a greater risk of subsidence. Although this study was limited by a lack of patient-reported outcomes to correlate with radiographic results, these findings support the judicious use of hyperlordotic cages in stand-alone ALIF.

The relationship between tumour dosimetry, response, and overall survival in patients with unresectable Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NEN) treated with 177Lu DOTATATE (LuTate).

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) delivers targeted radiation to Somatostatin Receptor (SSR) expressing Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NEN). We sought to assess the predictive and prognostic implications of tumour dosimetry with respect to response by 68 Ga DOTATATE (GaTate) PET/CT molecular imaging tumour volume of SSR (MITVSSR) change and RECIST 1.1, and overall survival (OS). METHODS: Patients with gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) NEN who received LuTate followed by quantitative SPECT/CT (Q-SPECT/CT) the next day (Jul 2010 to Jan 2019) were retrospectively reviewed. Single time-point (STP) lesional dosimetry was performed for each cycle using population-based pharmacokinetic modelling. MITVSSR and RECIST 1.1 were measured at 3-months post PRRT. RESULTS: Median of 4 PRRT cycles were administered to 90 patients (range 2-5 cycles; mean 27.4 GBq cumulative activity; mean 7.6 GBq per cycle). 68% received at least one cycle with radiosensitising chemotherapy (RSC). RECIST 1.1 partial response was 24%, with 70% stable and 7% progressive disease. Cycle 1 radiation dose in measurable lesions was associated with local response (odds ratio 1.5 per 50 Gy [95% CI: 1.1-2.0], p = 0.002) when adjusted by tumour grade and RSC. Median change in MITVSSR was -63% (interquartile range -84 to -29), with no correlation with radiation dose to the most avid lesion on univariable or multivariant analyses (5.6 per 10 Gy [95% CI: -1.6, 12.8], p = 0.133). OS at 5-years was 68% (95% CI: 56-78%). Neither baseline MITVSSR (hazard ratio 1.1 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.2], p = 0.128) nor change in baseline MITVSSR (hazard ratio 1.0 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.1], p = 0.223) were associated with OS when adjusted by tumour grade and RSC but RSC was (95% CI: 0.2, 0.8, p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Radiation dose to tumour during PRRT was predictive of radiologic response but not survival. Survival outcomes may relate to other biological factors. There was no evidence that MITVSSR change was associated with OS, but a larger study is needed.

Acetophenone and Green Leaf Volatiles Do Not Enhance the Efficacy of Verbenone for Inhibiting Attraction of Ips pini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Pheromone-baited Traps in Northern Arizona.

We assessed attraction of pine engraver, Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Scolytinae), to pheromone-baited funnel traps treated with repellent semiochemicals in ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Engelm., forests in northern Arizona. Treatments included: 1) baited control (B, ipsdienol + lanierone), 2) 70 g of SPLAT Verb (a flowable, biodegradable formulation containing 10% verbenone, ISCA Technologies Inc., Riverside, CA, USA) + B, 3) 70 g of SPLAT Verb + (E)-2-hexen-1-ol+(Z)-2-hexen-1-ol + acetophenone + B, 4) 7.84-g verbenone pouch (Product #3413, Synergy Semiochemicals Corp., Delta, British Columbia, Canada) + B, and 5) 7.84-g verbenone pouch + (E)-2-hexen-1-ol+(Z)-2-hexen-1-ol + acetophenone + B. In total, 472 I. pini were collected. Trap catches were highest in baited traps and declined significantly with the addition of both formulations of verbenone. Traps treated with SPLAT Verb caught significantly fewer I. pini and male I. pini than those treated with verbenone pouches. The addition of (E)-2-hexen-1-ol+(Z)-2-hexen-1-ol + acetophenone to SPLAT Verb and the verbenone pouch had no effect on trap catch. Verbenone has potential as an effective tool for protecting P. ponderosa trees and slash from I. pini in northern Arizona, but the addition of (E)-2-hexen-1-ol+(Z)-2-hexen-1-ol + acetophenone to verbenone is unwarranted.

Wildland-urban interface fire ashes as a major source of incidental nanomaterials.

Although metal and metalloid concentrations in wildfire ashes have been documented, the nature and concentrations of incidental nanomaterials (INMs) in wildland-urban interface (WUI) fire ashes have received considerably less attention. In this study, the total metal and metalloid concentrations of 57 vegetation, structural, and vehicle ashes and underlying soils collected at the WUI following the 2020 fire season in northern California - North Complex Fire and LNU Lightning Complex Fire - were determined using inductively coupled plasma-time of flight-mass spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The concentrations of Ti, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sb, Co, Bi, Cr, Ba, As, Rb, and W are generally higher in structural/vehicle-derived ashes than in vegetation-derived ashes and soils. The concentrations of Ca, Sr, Rb, and Ag increased with increased combustion completeness (e.g., black ash < gray ash < white ash), whereas those of C, N, Zn, Pb, and In decreased with increased combustion completeness. The concentration of anthropogenic Ti - determined by mass balance calculations and shifts in Ti/Nb above the natural background ratios - was highest in vehicle ash (median: 30.8 g kg-1, range: 4.5-41.0 g kg-1) followed by structural ash (median: 5.5 g kg-1, range: of 0-77.4 g kg-1). Various types of carbonaceous INM (e.g., amorphous carbon, turbostratic-like carbon, and carbon associated with zinc oxides) and metal-bearing INMs (e.g., Ti, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, and Cr) with sizes between few nanometers to few hundreds of nanometers were evidenced in ashes using transmission electron microscopy, including energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Overall, this study demonstrates the abundance of a variety of metals and metalloids in the form of INMs in WUI fire ashes. This study also highlights the need for further research into the formation, transformation, reactivity, fate, and effects of INMs during and following fires at the WUI.

Wildfire impacts on surface water quality parameters: Cause of data variability and reporting needs.

Surface runoff mobilizes the burned residues and ashes produced during wildfires and deposits them in surface waters, thereby deteriorating water quality. A lack of a consistent reporting protocol precludes a quantitative understanding of how and to what extent wildfire may affect the water quality of surface waters. This study aims to analyze reported pre- and post-fire water quality data to inform the data reporting and highlight research opportunities. A comparison of the pre-and post-fire water quality data from 44 studies reveals that wildfire could increase the concentration of many pollutants by two orders of magnitude. However, the concentration increase is sensitive to when the sample was taken after the wildfire, the wildfire burned area, discharge rate in the surface water bodies where samples were collected, and pollutant type. Increases in burned areas disproportionally increased total suspended solids (TSS) concentration, indicating TSS concentration is dependent on the source area. Increases in surface water flow up to 10 m3 s-1 increased TSS concentration but any further increase in flow rate decreased TSS concentration, potentially due to dilution. Nutrients and suspended solids concentrations increase within a year after the wildfire, whereas peaks for heavy metals occur after 1-2 years of wildfire, indicating a delay in the leaching of heavy metals compared to nutrients from wildfire-affected areas. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was greatest within a year post-fire but did not exceed the surface water quality limits. The analysis also revealed inconsistency in the existing sampling protocols and provides a guideline for a modified protocol along with highlighting new research opportunities. Overall, this study underlines the need for consistent reporting of post-fire water quality data along with environmental factors that could affect the data so that the post-fire water quality can be assessed or compared between studies.