Finotypic plasticity: Predator-induced plasticity in fin size, darkness and display behaviour in a teleost fish.

Fish fins are remarkable devices of propulsion. Fin morphology is intimately linked to locomotor performance, and hence to behaviours that influence fitness, such as foraging and predator avoidance. This foreshadows a connection between fin morphology and variation in predation risk. Yet, whether prey can adjust fin morphology according to changes in perceived risk within their lifetime (a.k.a. predator-induced plasticity) remains elusive. Here, we quantify the structural size of five focal fins in crucian carp (Carassius carassius) following controlled manipulations to perceived predation risk (presence/absence of pike Esox lucius). We also assess if crucian carp respond to increased predation risk by shifts in dorsal fin colouration, and test for differences in how fish actively use their dorsal fins by quantifying the area of the fin displayed in behavioural trials. We find that crucian carp show phenotypic plasticity with regards to fin size as predator-exposed fish consistently have larger fins. Individuals exposed to perceived predation risk also increased dorsal fin darkness and actively displayed a larger area of the fin to potential predators. Our results thus provide compelling evidence for predator-induced fin enlargement, which should result in enhanced escape swimming performance. Moreover, fin-size plasticity may evolve synergistically with fin colouration and display behaviour, and we suggest that the adaptive value of this synergy is to enhance the silhouette of deep-bodied and hard-to-capture prey to deter gape-limited predators prior to attack. Together, our results provide new perspectives on the role of predation risk in development and evolution of fins.

Insect Sterols and Steroids.

Insects are incapable of biosynthesising sterols de novo so they need to obtain them from their diets or, in certain cases, from symbiotic microorganisms. Sterols serve a structural role in cellular membranes and act as precursors for signalling molecules and defence compounds. Many phytophagous insects dealkylate phytosterols to yield primarily cholesterol, which is also the main sterol that carnivorous and omnivorous insects obtain in their diets. Some phytophagous species have secondarily lost the capacity to dealkylate and consequently use phytosterols for structural and functional roles. The polyhydroxylated steroid hormones of insects, the ecdysteroids, are derived from cholesterol (or phytosterols in non-dealkylating phytophagous species) and regulate many crucial aspects of insect development and reproduction by means of precisely regulated titres resulting from controlled synthesis, storage and further metabolism/excretion. Ecdysteroids differ significantly from vertebrate steroid hormones in their chemical, biochemical and biological properties. Defensive steroids (cardenolides, bufadienolides, cucurbitacins and ecdysteroids) can be accumulated from host plants or biosynthesised within the insect, depending on species, stored in significant amounts in the insect and released when it is attacked. Other allelochemical steroids serve as pheromones. Vertebrate-type steroids have also been conclusively identified from insect sources, but debate continues about their significance. Side chain dealkylation of phytosterols, ecdysteroid metabolism and ecdysteroid mode of action are targets of potential insect control strategies.

Chemical composition of four essential oils and their adulticidal, repellence, and field oviposition deterrence activities against Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae).

Effective mosquito repellents can limit the transmission of vector-borne diseases to humans. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop mosquito control strategies that prioritize eco-friendly and cost-effective repellents. Essential oils (EOs) have enormous potential for mosquito repellency. Here, cinnamon, basil, eucalyptus, and peppermint EOs were investigated for adulticide and repellency properties against Culex pipiens as well on the oviposition behavior of gravid females from laboratory (lab test) and field (field test) populations. Cinnamon oil was an effective oviposition deterrent regardless of the population and had high adulticidal activity with toxicity index of 75.00% at 24 h of exposure, relative to deltamethrin. In addition, it exhibited effective repellency at 98.01% and 71.22% at 6.67 and 1.71 µl/cm2, respectively. Peppermint oil had the least adulticidal activity with toxicity index of 6.2% at 24 h, and it resulted in low repellency at 70.90% and 50.64% at 6.67 and 1.71 µl/cm2, respectively. On average, basil and eucalyptus oils showed some adulticidal efficiency, repellency, and oviposition deterrent activity. For all treatments, the oviposition deterrent index values of gravid females from natural populations (field test) were lower than those from lab-reared (lab test) females. Different ratios of monoterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and fatty acids in the EOs tested likely account for the activity variations observed. Our results suggest cinnamon, basil, eucalyptus, and peppermint EOs, which are widely available, economical, and eco-friendly, with good potential for mosquito control strategies.

Ruta angustifolia Essential oil: Behavioral and Insecticidal Effects against Larvae and Adults of Tribolium castaneum.

The study aims to evaluate the behavioral and insecticidal effects of Rutaangustifolia EO (RAEO) against larvae and adults of a major pest insect Tribolium castaneum. RAEO exhibited a strong repellency against both adults and larvae where percentages as high as 74 and 72% of PR (Percentage of Repellency) were recorded respectively, at 0.47 µL/cm2 after 2h. Regarding the antifeedant bioassay, no feeding deterrence was recorded in adults while an increase in appetite was registered in larvae exhibiting -80% of FDI recorded at 0.2 µL/pellet. In terms of feeding preference, the response significantly depended on the developmental stage (F=97.19, P<0.05) and larvae were attracted to treated pellets recording percentages of 84 and 73% of PI (Preference index) after 5 and 30 min at 0.05 µL/pellet; on the other hand, adults expressed a repulsive behavior at 0.2 µL/pellet with a PI of -81.1 (20min), and -69.2% (30 min). Regarding topical application toxicity, a significant difference was observed between larvae and adults (p<0.05 F=174.56). The study promotes the use of RAEO as a repellent and bioinsecticide for the control of larvae and adults of T. castaneum.

Repellency, Fumigant Toxicity, Antifeedent and Residual Activities of Coridothymus capitatus and Its Main Component Carvacrol against Red Flour Beetle.

Tribolium castaneum is a challenging pest of stored products, causing significant economic losses. The present study explored the efficacy of Coridothymus capitatus essential oil and its primary constituent, carvacrol, as eco-friendly alternatives for managing this pest. To evaluate their insecticidal potential, repellency, fumigant toxicity, and antifeedant properties, progeny inhibition assays were performed. Carvacrol exhibited superior repellency compared to the essential oil, achieving a 92% repellency rate at 2 mg/cm2. Both compounds demonstrated significant fumigant toxicity against T. castaneum, with LC50 values of 168.47 and 106.5 µL/L for the essential oil and carvacrol, respectively, after 24 h. Carvacrol also outperformed the essential oil in antifeedant activity, inducing an 80.7% feeding deterrence at 1.17 mg/g. Moreover, both treatments effectively suppressed the development of the pest's progeny. These results collectively underscore the potent insecticidal properties of C. capitatus essential oil and carvacrol, particularly carvacrol, as promising candidates for the sustainable management of T. castaneum in stored product protection.

Chemical Composition, Repellent, and Oviposition Deterrent Potential of Wild Plant Essential Oils against Three Mosquito Species.

In this study, the chemical composition, repellent, and oviposition deterrent effects of five plant essential oils (EOs) extracted from Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Schinus terebinthifolia (Anacardiaceae), Callistemon viminalis (Myrtaceae), Helichrysum odoratissimum (Asteraceae), and Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae) were evaluated against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus. When tested at 33.3 µg/cm2, L. camara, S. terebinthifolia, C. viminalis, and H. odoratissimum were effective repellents against Ae. aegypti (89%, 91%, 90%, and 51% repellency, respectively), but they were less repellent against An. gambiae (66%, 86%, 59%, and 49% repellency, respectively). Interestingly, L. camara, S. terebinthifolia, C. viminalis, and H. odoratissimum exhibited 100% repellency against Cx. quinquefasciatus at 33.3 µg/cm2. In time-span bioassays performed at 333 µg/cm2, the EO of L. camara exhibited 100% repellence against Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae for up to 15 min and against Cx. quinquefasciatus for 75 min. The oviposition bioassays revealed that L. camara exhibited the highest activity, showing 85%, 59%, and 89% oviposition deterrence against Ae. aegypti, An. gambiae, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively. The major compounds of L. camara, S. terebinthifolia, and C. viminalis were trans-ß-caryophyllene (16.7%), α-pinene (15.5%), and 1,8-cineole (38.1%), respectively. In conclusion, the L. camara and S. terebinthifolia EOs have the potential to be natural mosquito repellents.

Antioxidant, insecticidal, antifeedant, and repellent activities of oregano (Origanum vulgare).

This study aimed to assess the antioxidant capacity, the insecticidal, feeding deterrence, repellent effects against Tribolium confusum of the essential oil (EO) and the organic extracts (ME) of Origanum vulgare. The chemical composition of the EO revealed the presence thirty-nine components dominated by carvacrol (81%). With respect to the EO, the ME acted as a potent free radical scavenger with IC50 values of 0.127 and 0.058 mg/mL, respectively. The EO exhibited the most significant toxicity compared to the ME with a mortality of 62 and 20% at 0.08 µL/insect after 24h whereas the EO expressed the highest repellency compared to the ME with a PR of 70 and 38% after 24h. As for feeding deterrence, both samples influenced all nutritional indexes. The findings found in this work might help in the promotion of oregano as natural antioxidant, antifeedant, repellent and insecticide as an alternative to conventional harmful ones.

A review on abuse-deterrent formulations: formulation technology and regulatory stands in approval process.

Drug abuse has become a global health problem over the past few years. Opioid abuse increased with an increase in the prescription of opioids for pain management. Many other classes of drugs are also abused and misused like anti-depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, anti-psychotic, and anticholinergic drugs. One of the major reasons is that patients falsely diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and severe pain are prescribed these drugs, which are likely to be addictive. Abuse-deterrent formulations are one means to control drug abuse and overdose of prescription opioids. In this review, we explained how abuse-deterrent technology works, key ingredients used in abuse-deterrent formulations, a brief about marketed opioid drug products with abuse-deterrent properties, and the stand of regulatory agencies in the approval process of opioid drug products. In the end, it summarized that pharmaceutical industries and the FDA put their efforts into reducing drug abuse by encouraging the development of ADFs. Most available drug product having abuse-deterrent features contains Polyethylene oxide, which degrades at high temperatures. It requires the attention of the researcher to find an alternate ingredient or process to overcome said problem. From a regulatory point of view, only a few regulatory agencies have published their guidance on ADFs. It is important to convey other regulatory organizations' perspectives on ADFs as well.

An evaluation method for developing abuse-deterrent opioid formulations with agonist and antagonist combinations using conditioned place preference.

Although opioids are useful narcotic analgesics in clinical settings, their misuse and addiction in the United States of America and other countries are rapidly increasing. Therefore, the development of abuse-deterrent formulations is an urgent issue. We herein investigated how to select the ratio of an opioid and the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone in abuse-deterrent formulations for mice. The conditioned place preference (CPP) test was used to evaluate the rewarding effects of abused drugs. The opioids morphine (30 µmol/kg), oxycodone (3 µmol/kg), fentanyl (0.4 µmol/kg), and buprenorphine (0.5 µmol/kg) significantly induced place preference in mice. We also examined the optimal ratio of naloxone and opioids to inhibit the rewarding effects of the latter. Naloxone (3-5 µmol/kg) effectively inhibited place preference induced by the opioids tested. We calculated theoretical drug doses that exerted the same pharmacodynamic effects based on two parameters: µ-opioid receptor binding affinity and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Theoretical doses were very close to the drug doses at which mice showed place preference. Therefore, the CPP test is useful as a behavioral method for evaluating abuse-deterrent formulations of opioids mixed with an antagonist. The ratio of naloxone with opioids, at which mice did not show place preference, may be an effective index for developing abuse-deterrent formulations. Ratios may be calculated for other opioids based on µ-opioid receptor binding affinity and BBB permeability.

Directional hydrophone clusters reveal evasive responses of small cetaceans to disturbance during construction at offshore windfarms.

Mitigation measures to disperse marine mammals prior to pile-driving include acoustic deterrent devices and piling soft starts, but their efficacy remains uncertain. We developed a self-contained portable hydrophone cluster to detect small cetacean movements from the distributions of bearings to detections. Using an array of clusters within 10 km of foundation pile installations, we tested the hypothesis that harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) respond to mitigation measures at offshore windfarm sites by moving away. During baseline periods, porpoise movements were evenly distributed in all directions. By contrast, animals showed significant directional movement away from sound sources during acoustic deterrent device use and piling soft starts. We demonstrate that porpoises respond to measures aimed to mitigate the most severe impacts of construction at offshore windfarms by swimming directly away from these sound sources. Portable directional hydrophone clusters now provide opportunities to characterize responses to disturbance sources across a broad suite of habitats and contexts.

The role of Photorhabdus-induced bioluminescence and red cadaver coloration on the deterrence of insect scavengers from entomopathogenic nematode-infected cadavers.

Photorhabdus spp. and Xenorhabdus spp. bacteria produce a variety of molecules that inhibit bacterial and fungal contamination as well as deter scavenging invertebrates and some vertebrates in soil. Certain Heterorhabditis/Photorhabdus-infected insect cadavers can be bioluminescent in the dark and/or turn red from the production of anthraquinone pigments. The role of these traits remains unresolved. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of red color (anthraquinone) and bioluminescence on the deterrence of insect scavengers. Our data shows that scavenger deterrent factor (SDF) is not related to red cadaver coloration or bioluminescence activity as crickets and ants did not consume Galleria mellonella cadavers infected by P. laumondii strain 48-02 and X. bovienii. Both bacteria exhibit SDF activity but do not produce anthraquinone. Also, the insects were not affected by anthraquinone in agar plugs prepared with supernatant from induced P. laumondii Δpptase Pcep-KM-antA (SVS-275) mutant strain, which overproduces anthraquinone. Since bioluminescence and anthraquinone are not responsible for SDF activity against insect scavengers, more studies are needed to elucidate the SDF compound from Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria.

The deterrent ability of Xenorhabdus nematophila and Photorhabdus laumondii compounds as a potential novel tool for Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) management.

The grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a critical pest for vineyards and causes significant economic losses in wine-growing areas worldwide. Identifying and developing novel semiochemical cues (e.g. volatile bacterial compounds) which modify the ovipositional and trophic behaviour of L. botrana in vineyard fields could be a novel control alternative in viticulture. Xenorhabdus spp. and Photorhabdus spp. are becoming one of the best-studied bacterial species due to their potential interest in producing toxins and deterrent factors. In this study, we investigated the effect of the deterrent compounds produced by Xenorhabdus nematophila and Photorhabdus laumondii on the ovipositional moth behaviour and the larval feeding preference of L. botrana. Along with the in-vitro bioassays performed, we screened the potential use of 3 d cell-free bacterial supernatants and 3 and 5 d unfiltered bacterial ferments. In addition, we tested two application systems: (i) contact application of the bacterial compounds and (ii) volatile bacterial compounds application. Our findings indicate that the deterrent effectiveness varied with bacterial species, the use of bacterial cell-free supernatants or unfiltered fermentation product, and the culture times. Grapes soaked in the 3 d X. nematophila and P. laumondii ferments had âˆ¼ 55% and âˆ¼ 95% fewer eggs laid than the control, respectively. Likewise, the volatile compounds emitted by the 5 d P. laumondii fermentations resulted in âˆ¼ 100% avoidance of L. botrana ovipositional activity for three days. Furthermore, both bacterial fermentation products have larval feeding deterrent effects (∼65% of the larva chose the control grapes), and they significantly reduced the severity of damage caused by third instar larva in treated grapes. This study provides insightful information about a novel bacteria-based tool which can be used as an eco-friendly and economical alternative in both organic and integrated control of L. botrana in vineyard.

Bioactive Molecules Derived from Plants in Managing Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti (Linn.).

Mosquitoes are the potential vectors of several viral diseases such as filariasis, malaria, dengue, yellow fever, Zika fever and encephalitis in humans as well as other species. Dengue, the most common mosquito-borne disease in humans caused by the dengue virus is transmitted by the vector Ae. aegypti. Fever, chills, nausea and neurological disorders are the frequent symptoms of Zika and dengue. Thanks to various anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, industrialized farming and poor drainage facilities there has been a significant rise in mosquitoes and vector-borne diseases. Control measures such as the destruction of mosquito breeding places, a reduction in global warming, as well as the use of natural and chemical repellents, mainly DEET, picaridin, temephos and IR-3535 have proven to be effective in many instances. Although potent, these chemicals cause swelling, rashes, and eye irritation in adults and children, and are also toxic to the skin and nervous system. Due to their shorter protection period and harmful nature towards non-target organisms, the use of chemical repellents is greatly reduced, and more research and development is taking place in the field of plant-derived repellents, which are found to be selective, biodegradable and harmless to non-target species. Many tribal and rural communities across the world have been using plant-based extracts since ancient times for various traditional and medical purposes, and to ward off mosquitoes and various other insects. In this regard, new species of plants are being identified through ethnobotanical surveys and tested for their repellency against Ae. aegypti. This review aims to provide insight into many such plant extracts, essential oils and their metabolites, which have been tested for their mosquitocidal activity against different life cycle forms of Ae. Aegypti, as well as for their efficacy in controlling mosquitoes.

A Chewing Study of Abuse-Deterrent Tablets Containing Polyethylene Oxide Using a Robotic Simulator.

Abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs) refer to formulation technologies aiming to deter the abuse of prescription drugs by making the dosage forms difficult to manipulate or extract the opioids. Assessments are required to evaluate the performance of the drugs through different routes including injection, ingestion, and insufflation and also when the drugs are manipulated. Chewing is the easiest and most convenient way to manipulate the drugs and deserves investigation. Chewing is one of the most complex bioprocesses, where the ingested materials are subject to periodic tooth crushing, mixed through the tongue, and lubricated and softened by the saliva. Inter- and intra-subject variations in chewing patterns may result in different chewing performances. The purpose of this study is to use a chewing simulator to assess the deterrent properties of tablets made of polyethylene oxide (PEO). The simulator can mimic human molar grinding with variable chewing parameters including molar trajectory, chewing frequency, and saliva flow rate. To investigate the effects of these parameters, the sizes of the chewed tablet particles and the chewing force were measured to evaluate the chewing performance. Thirty-four out of forty tablets were broken into pieces. The results suggested that the simulator can chew the tablets into smaller particles and that the molar trajectory and saliva flow rate had significant effect on reducing the size of the particles by analysis of variance (ANOVA) while the effect of chewing frequency was not clear. Additionally, chewing force can work as an indicator of the chewing performance.

Pill Counting as an Intervention to Enhance Compliance and Reduce Adverse Outcomes with Analgesics Prescribed for Chronic Pain Conditions: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Appropriate use of opioid analgesics is a key concern within the field of pain medicine. Several methods exist to discourage abuse and facilitate effective treatment regimens. Pill counting is often cited as one such method and frequently employed in varying fashions within clinical practice. However, to date, there is no published review of the evidence to support this practice. This was a comprehensive review of the available literature that was conducted with analysis of the efficacy and practical application of pill counting during treatment of chronic pain conditions. RECENT FINDINGS: There is paucity in data regarding pill count importance in pain management. Pill count is a very important tool to monitor compliance of opioids use which in turn can prevent several complications associated with opioid misuse. Pill counting may be used in conjunction with other abuse deterrents, although increased support for this practice requires standardized methods of pill counting and further analysis of its effectiveness.

Bioassay-Guided Isolation of Iridoid Glucosides from Stenaria nigricans, Their Biting Deterrence against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), and Repellency Assessment against Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

In our natural product screening program, we screened natural products for their repellency and toxicity against insect vectors. Methanolic extract of aerial parts of Stenaria nigricans (Lam.), with no published chemistry, was tested for repellency against mosquitoes and imported hybrid fire ants. Methanolic extracts showed biting deterrence similar to DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) against Aedes aegypti L. Based on this activity, the crude extract was fractionated into chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol subfractions. The active methanolic subfraction was further fractionated into 13 subfractions. These fractions were tested for their biting deterrence against Ae. Aegypti. Active subfractions were further characterized to identify the compounds responsible for this activity. Four undescribed iridoid glucosides (1-4) and three previously reported compounds (5-7) were isolated from active subfractions and tested for their biting deterrent activity. Based on BDI values, compounds 2, 3, 6, and 7, with biting deterrence similar to DEET, showed the potential to be used as repellents against mosquitoes. In an in vitro digging bioassay, none of these compounds showed any repellency against hybrid imported fire ants at a dose of 125 µg/g. This is the first report of biting deterrence and repellency of S. nigricans extract and its pure compounds, iridoid glucosides against mosquitoes and imported fire ants. Further studies will be conducted to explore the repellent potential of these compounds in different formulations under field conditions.

Self-regulated Anti-Overdose Crush and Extraction-Resistant Drug Delivery System to Combat Opioid Overdose Crisis.

Pharmaceutical opioid dosage forms are commonly misused via an oral route in non-manipulated form, i.e., overdose in intact form, or manipulated form, i.e., after crushing the dosage form, and also via the non-oral route in manipulated form, particularly the parenteral or nasal route. To assess the self-regulated anti-overdose property, crushing strength, extractability, and syringeability of the developed drug delivery system by in vitro laboratory studies. Tapentadol HCl drug particulates fabricated using different polymers were assessed for extractability studies in 25 ml of water at room temperature (RT) and at > 90°C. Crushing strength was assessed by grinding the drug particulates in a mortar and pestle and a coffee grinder for 1 min. For syringeability, an attempt was made to withdraw the drug mixture using a 1 ml insulin syringe for 1 min. To assess the self-regulated anti-overdose property, in vitro dissolution testing on a single-capsule per dissolution vessel (normal condition) and four-capsules per dissolution vessel (overdose condition) was performed. POLYOX, Natrosol, and Blanose-containing drug particles retarded drug extraction by > 80% at RT and > 90°C. After 1 min of grinding in a mortar and pestle and a coffee grinder, crushed POLYOX-containing drug particulates were retained at > 99% on the ASTM-170# screen. The attempt to withdraw the viscous mixture of drug formulation prepared with 5 ml of water for 1 min using a 1 ml insulin syringe was unsuccessful. In dissolution studies, more than 90% of the drug was released in normal conditions, and more than 90% of the drug was retarded in overdose conditions. In vitro laboratory studies demonstrate that the developed self-regulated anti-overdose crush-resistant drug delivery system may deter misuse via oral and non-oral routes.

Pharmaceutical opioid marketing and physician prescribing behavior.

Physicians' relationships with the pharmaceutical industry have recently come under public scrutiny, particularly in the context of opioid drug prescribing. This study examines the effect of doctor-industry marketing interactions on subsequent prescribing patterns of opioids using linked Medicare Part D and Open Payments data for the years 2014-2017. Results indicate that both the number and the dollar-value of marketing visits increase physicians' patented opioid claims. Furthermore, direct-to-physician marketing of safer abuse-deterrent formulations of opioids is the primary driver of positive and persistent spillovers on the prescribing of less safe generic opioids - a result that we show appears to be driven by insurance coverage policies. These findings suggest that pharmaceutical marketing efforts may have unintended public health implications.

Lipid microsphere bound oxycodone for pain management in patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Wax microsphere bound oxycodone was developed as an abuse-deterrent opioid and maintains a similar pharmacokinetic profile whether administered with or without an intact capsule. We hypothesized that microsphere oxycodone could be utilized for extended release analgesia in patients undergoing radiation (RT) for head-and-neck cancer (HNC) and would not need to be discontinued due to dysphagia or gastrostomy tube dependence. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a prospective trial that enrolled participants > 18 years with histologically confirmed HNC who were scheduled to receive RT. Analgesia was prescribed in accordance with the WHO pain ladder. Microsphere oxycodone was initiated when total daily opioid dose exceeded 30 mg of morphine sulfate equivalent and was titrated weekly during RT. Pain level and effect on quality of life were assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory. The primary feasibility endpoint was frequency of microsphere oxycodone discontinuation within 3 months of RT for reasons other than pain resolution. RESULTS: Twenty-six eligible patients were enrolled. Microsphere oxycodone was initiated in 16 (61.5%) patients. Six (23.1%) patients utilized a gastrostomy tube to administer microsphere oxycodone during all or part of RT. Microsphere oxycodone was discontinued in 1 (7.6%) patient due to perceived inefficacy. No patients were discontinued due to toxicity or difficulty with administration. Ratings for average pain was 3.1 (± 3.4) at enrollment, 4.0 (± 2.4) at week 6 of RT, and 1.8 (± 2.2) at 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the feasibility and safety of microsphere oxycodone for extended release analgesia among patients with HNC undergoing RT.

A System Using Artificial Intelligence to Detect and Scare Bird Flocks in the Protection of Ripening Fruit.

Flocks of birds may cause major damage to fruit crops in the ripening phase. This problem is addressed by various methods for bird scaring; in many cases, however, the birds become accustomed to the distraction, and the applied scaring procedure loses its purpose. To help eliminate the difficulty, we present a system to detect flocks and to trigger an actuator that will scare the objects only when a flock passes through the monitored space. The actual detection is performed with artificial intelligence utilizing a convolutional neural network. Before teaching the network, we employed videocameras and a differential algorithm to detect all items moving in the vineyard. Such objects revealed in the images were labeled and then used in training, testing, and validating the network. The assessment of the detection algorithm required evaluating the parameters precision, recall, and F1 score. In terms of function, the algorithm is implemented in a module consisting of a microcomputer and a connected videocamera. When a flock is detected, the microcontroller will generate a signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the module, whose task is to trigger the scaring actuator.