Elucidating jejunal diverticulosis: Diagnostic and treatment insights from a perforated case study.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Diverticula are sac-shaped formations resulting from the inward folding of the intestinal wall's lining. While they predominantly occur in the colon, they can manifest in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, with jejunal diverticulum being the most prevalent. Symptoms are infrequent in most cases, and when they do occur, intestinal perforation is the most severe complication. In such instances, prompt surgical intervention is imperative, typically entailing the excision of the affected intestinal segment, followed by a end-to-end anastomosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old female patient presented at the emergency department with sharp abdominal pain. Imaging revealed the presence of perforated jejunal diverticula. Diagnostic laparoscopy confirmed a perforated jejunal diverticulum along with generalized peritonitis and multiple diverticula in the same region. Consequently, we performed a segmental intestinal resection and anastomosis. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Jejunal diverticulosis, a rare condition primarily affecting the elderly, is found in 0.5-2.3 % of imaging studies. Although its exact cause remains elusive, potential contributing factors include abnormal intestinal movements and elevated gut pressure. Symptoms are generally vague, such as abdominal discomfort. Diagnosis often occurs incidentally during imaging, leading to a high mortality rate when complications occurs. While computed tomography (CT) scans are useful for detecting intestinal wall protrusions, definitive diagnosis typically requires laparoscopy or laparotomy. Treatment varies based on symptoms and complications, with surgery often necessary for perforations or when medical treatment fails. CONCLUSION: Jejunal diverticulosis is often asymptomatic or displays non-specific symptoms. Timely diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention in case of perforation is crucial.

Video assisted retroperitoneal debridement for infected pancreatic necrosis: A two port approach for difficult access.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: The incidence of acute pancreatitis varies globally, and its rates are increasing. Timely intervention in cases of infected necrosis is crucial to effective management. The landscape of acute pancreatitis management has undergone transformation through adopting a "step-up" strategy, accentuating the shift towards minimally invasive techniques. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old patient with acute pancreatitis and infected pancreatic necrosis underwent a challenging yet successful treatment using video-assisted retroperitoneal debridement employing a two-port approach facilitated access for an intricate area. The procedure, performed 45 days after admission, effectively reduced peripancreatic collections, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach in managing complex cases of infected pancreatic necrosis. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The management of acute pancreatitis has evolved towards a comprehensive strategy involving early hydration, nutritional support, effective pain management, and interventions. Infected pancreatic necrosis poses a serious complication, with minimally invasive techniques such as video-assisted retroperitoneal debridement (VARD) emerging as preferred options. The efficacy and safety of VARD in complex cases are highlighted, although challenges persist, especially in extensive necrosis. CONCLUSION: The VARD procedure, a key component of the step-up approach, exhibits a remarkable safety profile, substantially reducing postoperative complications and mortality compared to open surgical counterparts. However, challenges persist in managing cases of infected Walled-Off Necrosis with deep extension, necessitating carefully considering a minimal-access approach. We report our experience using the VARD in a two-port approach.

Influence of temperature on the population size of Aceria litchii (Acari: Eriophyidae) and the development of its galls.

The lychee erinose mite, Aceria litchii (Keifer), is a tiny eriophyid mite known to induce the formation of open galls (erinea) on lychee plants, Litchi chinensis Sonn. In lychee infested by A. litchii, four stages of erineum are observed, based on erineum color: hyaline, white, amber and dark brown. The cause of the color change in erinea is unknown, but it might be linked to the extent of A. litchii infestation. Artificially infested lychee seedlings were used to determine the developmental time, trichome density, and mite population size in each of the four erineum stages. The effect of temperature (15, 25, and 35 °C) on A. litchii population size and erineum developmental time was also investigated. Overall, each erineum stage lasted approximately 50 days and the population size of A. litchii increased gradually through the hyaline, white and amber stages, and a strong decline was observed in dark brown erinea. Visual comparisons of the low-temperature scanning electron microscope (LT-SEM) images revealed that the trichome density was lower in the hyaline stage than in the other stages. Temperature influenced mite population size and amber erinea developmental time. Mite population was lower at 35 °C than at 15 and 25 °C, suggesting that high temperatures promote detrimental effects on A. litchii. Amber erinea developed slower at 15 °C than at 25 and 35 °C. Possible effects of the temperature on A. litchii population in lychee plants are discussed.

Anal involvement in patient with pemphigus vulgaris: Case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) is a low incidence autoimmune mucocutaneous bullous disease, in which pathogenic antibodies are directed against the keratinocyte cell surface. Although anal involvement is unusual, correlations between its appearance and disease severity have been recently reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old male presented with an anal fissure and a year of recurrent oral and pharyngeal aphtha. A chemical sphincterotomy with botulinum toxin plus fissurectomy was performed. 3 years later an upper eyelid injury raised suspicion of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), tested negative for specific antibodies. A couple years later, an anal fissure, and suspected Crohn's disease, led to a second intervention. Surgical analysis unveiled characteristics indicative of a vegetating variant of PV. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Anal involvement in PV varies in prevalence, with studies reporting rates between 2 % and 27.98 %. This manifestation often accompanies late disease stages and may indicate severity, notably in association with oral lesions. Patients might not readily discuss anal symptoms, leading to potential underreporting. Anal PV is linked to other lesions (ocular, nasal, genital) and the severity of oral PV. Even when other sites are in remission, anal recurrence can occur. Early recognition and follow-up are crucial, highlighting the need for routine anal examination and confirmatory diagnostics. CONCLUSION: PV lesions can present on the skin or mucosa, although oral lesions are the most common site of initial presentation. Anal PV is a diagnostic challenge, and this case illustrates the importance of a careful evaluation.

Small molecule anion carriers facilitate lactate transport in model liposomes and cells.

An excessive production of lactate by cancer cells fosters tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, targeting lactate metabolism and transport offers a new therapeutic strategy against cancer, based on dependency of some cancer cells for lactate as energy fuel or as oncogenic signal. Herein we present a family of anionophores based on the structure of click-tambjamines that have proved to be extremely active lactate carriers across phospholipid membranes. Compound 1, the most potent lactate transmembrane carrier, was studied in HeLa cells. The use of a monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) inhibitor proved that 1 is an active lactate transporter in living cells, confirming the results obtained in phospholipid vesicles. Moreover, an additive effect of compound 1 with cisplatin was observed in HeLa cells. Identification of active lactate anionophores working in living cells opens up ways to exploit this class of compounds as molecular tools and drugs addressing dysregulated lactate metabolism.

Incidental finding of left-sided superior vena cava: A case report and comprehensive literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare vascular anomaly that affects systemic venous circulation. PLSVC typically is asymptomatic as the return of venous blood to the right atrium occurs through the coronary sinus. It is important to possess a comprehensive understanding of drainage as it can present challenges in catheter placement on the right side of the heart, aiming to prevent potential complications. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old female patient presented at the medical service with abdominal distention. During the examination, the presence of ascites was observed. Subsequent studies revealed peritoneal carcinomatosis of unknown origin. The patient underwent staging laparoscopy with biopsy sampling. Consequently, the placement of a catheter for chemotherapy was performed. A portable chest X-ray was obtained revealing the catheter extending along the left subclavian vein and progressing through the left paramediastinal regionThe presence of persistent left superior vena cava was confirmed after reviewing prior studies. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The most common abnormality in the venous drainage system is PLSVC. Approximately 40 % of PLSVC cases have associated significant cardiovascular anomalies, with septal defects being the most common. Recognizing anomalies and anatomical variants with the involvement of a multidisciplinary team is critical to prevent vascular complications during endovascular procedures and to tailor techniques for patients in need of cardiac endovascular procedures or cardiac devices. CONCLUSION: PLSVC is often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of this anomaly and perform meticulous imaging workup to prevent potential complications.

Evaluation of Spore Acquisition, Spore Production, and Host Survival Time for Tea Shot-Hole Borer, Euwallacea perbrevis, Adults after Exposure to Four Commercial Products Containing Beauveria bassiana.

Euwallacea perbrevis, the tea shot-hole borer (TSHB), is an invasive ambrosia beetle that vectors several fungal pathogens that cause Fusarium branch dieback in avocado trees in southern Florida. This study assessed the potential of four commercial products containing the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bb) for managing adult TSHB beetles. Formulated products containing Bb strains to which adult beetles were exposed were BioCeres WP, BotaniGard WP, BotaniGard ES, and Velifer ES. Controls consisted of water only and BotaniGard ES and Velifer ES supernatant with spores removed. Acquisition of spores by adult beetles dipped in product suspensions with 2.5 ± 0.1 × 106 spores/mL was assessed. Survival time of beetles after residual exposure to the Bb-based products in an in vivo avocado bark plug bioassay was determined. Production of Bb spores on beetles after being dipped in product suspensions and placed in a moistened bark-plug assay with water only was assessed. Significantly more spores were acquired by beetles exposed to Velifer ES and BotaniGard ES than beetles exposed to the other fungal products. Beetles exposed to Velifer ES and BotaniGard ES died faster (6-8 days) compared to beetles dipped in the other fungal products (10-11 days) and controls (12 days). Percentage of mycosis was highest with beetles exposed to Velifer ES (63%). Spore production on cadavers of beetles dipped in Velifer ES (20 ± 6.4 × 105 spores/cadaver) was the highest among all treatments, whereas it was the lowest on cadavers of beetles dipped in BotaniGard ES (1 ± 0.2 × 105 spores/cadaver). All Bb-based products, especially Velifer ES, demonstrated potential to manage TSHB populations under laboratory conditions. These Bb-based fungal products should be tested under field conditions to confirm these laboratory results.

Formulation and evaluation of anion transporters in nanostructured lipid carriers.

Six novel click-tambjamines (1-6) bearing an alkyl chain of varying length linked to the imine moiety have been formulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to evaluate their transmembrane anion transport activity both when free (i.e., not encapsulated) and nanoformulated. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are an example of drug delivery systems (DDSs) that stand out because of their versatility. In this work we show that NLCs can be used to efficiently formulate highly lipophilic anionophores and experiments conducted in model liposomes reveal that these formulations are adequate to deliver anionophores without compromising their transport activity. This result paves the way to facilitate the study of highly lipophilic anionophores and their potential use as future drugs.

Sieving Fruit Pulp to Detect Immature Tephritid Fruit Flies in the Field.

Fruit flies of the Tephritidae family are among the most destructive and invasive agricultural pests in the world. Many countries undertake expensive eradication programs to eliminate incipient populations. During eradication programs, a concerted effort is made to detect larvae, as this strongly indicates a breeding population and helps establish the spatial extent of the infestation. The detection of immature life stages triggers additional control and regulatory actions to contain and prevent any further spread of the pest. Traditionally, larval detection is accomplished by cutting individual host fruits and examining them visually. This method is labor intensive, as only a limited number of fruit can be processed, and the probability of missing a larva is high. An extraction technique that combines i) mushing host fruit in a plastic bag, ii) straining pulp through a series of sieves, iii) placing retained pulp in a brown sugar water solution, and iv) collecting larvae that float to the surface was tested. The method was evaluated in Florida with field-collected guava naturally infested by Anastrepha suspensa. To mimic low populations more representative of a fruit fly eradication program, mangos and papaya in Hawaii were infested with a known, low number of Bactrocera dorsalis larvae. The applicability of the method was tested in the field on guava naturally infested by B. dorsalis to evaluate the method under conditions experienced by workers during an emergency fruit fly program. In both field and laboratory trials, mushing and sieving the pulp was more efficient (required less time) and more sensitive (more larvae found) than cutting fruit. Floating the pulp in brown sugar water solution helped detect earlier instar larvae. Mushing and sieving fruit pulp of important tephritid hosts may increase the probability of detecting larvae during emergency programs.

Giant squamous cell carcinoma developed on a mesh-related enterocutaneous fistula: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Squamous cell carcinoma degeneration on enterocutaneous fistulas (EF) is infrequent. There are some reports of malignant conversion in Crohn's disease-associated fistulas. Literature about the malignant development of mesh-related EF is even more limited. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: A 66-year-old patient who developed necrotizing pancreatitis was managed through an open necrosectomy approach with a prolonged open abdomen that derived an incisional hernia which was repaired using a synthetic mesh. Years later, the patient was admitted to the service because of hypovolemic shock due to gastrointestinal bleeding. An abdominal wound with mesh exposition and cloudy discharge was observed. A high-output enterocutaneous fistula diagnosis was established. After an institutional surgical committee, a surgical approach was defined, a 60 cm en-block resection of the involved small bowel was done, and the surgical specimen was obtained for histopathological analysis. DISCUSSION: The use of prosthetic mesh in the case of incisional hernias is associated with a higher incidence of complications. However, there is no evidence of the development of squamous cell carcinoma developed on a mesh-related enterocutaneous fistula. This is a condition associated with Chron's disease and its diagnosis should be suspected by the exacerbation of local signs and symptoms. The scarce literature published suggests that this pathology can be managed by radical surgery and even chemoradiation, the last one required only for patients with associated Chron's disease. CONCLUSION: Squamous Cell Carcinoma developed on a mesh-related enterocutaneous fistula is a rare condition with no classic signs and symptoms that allow diagnostic identification.

Volatile Characterization of Lychee Plant Tissues (Litchi chinensis) and the Effect of Key Compounds on the Behavior of the Lychee Erinose Mite (Aceria litchii).

Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles (HIPVs) are volatile signals emitted by plants to deter herbivores and attract their natural enemies. To date, it is unknown how lychee plants, Litchi chinensis, respond to the induction of leaf galls (erinea) caused by the lychee erinose mite (LEM), Aceria litchii. Aiming to reveal the role of HIPVs in this plant-mite interaction, we investigated changes in the volatile profile of lychee plants infested by LEM and their role on LEM preferences. The volatile profile of uninfested (flower buds, fruit, leaves and new leaf shoots) and infested plant tissue were characterized under different levels of LEM infestation. Volatiles were collected using head-space-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. Fifty-eight volatiles, including terpenoids, alcohols, aldehydes, alkanes, esters, and ketones classes were identified. Using dual-choice bioassays, we investigated the preference of LEM to uninfested plant tissues and to the six most abundant plant volatiles identified. Uninfested new leaf shoots were the most attractive plant tissues to LEM and LEM attraction or repellence to volatiles were mostly influenced by compound concentration. We discuss possible applications of our findings in agricultural settings.

Investigating Photo-Degradation as a Potential Pheromone Production Pathway in Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula.

Since its discovery in North America in 2014, the spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, has become an economic, ecological, and nuisance pest there. Developing early detection and monitoring tools is critical to their mitigation and control. Previous research found evidence that SLF may use pheromones to help locate each other for aggregation or mating. Pheromone production necessitates specific conditions by the insects, and these must be investigated and described. A chemical process called photo-degradation has been described as a final step in the production of pheromones in several diurnal insect species, in which cuticular hydrocarbons were broken down by sunlight into volatile pheromone components. In this study, photo-degradation was investigated as a possible pheromone production pathway for SLF. Extracts from SLF mixed-sex third and fourth nymphs and male or female adults were either exposed to simulated sunlight to produce a photo-degradative reaction (photo-degraded), or not exposed to light (crude), while volatiles were collected. Behavioral bioassays tested for attraction to volatiles from photo-degraded and crude samples and their residues. In third instars, only the volatile samples from photo-degraded mixed-sex extracts were attractive. Fourth instar males were attracted to both crude and photo-degraded residues, and volatiles of photo-degraded mixed-sex extracts. Fourth instar females were attracted to volatiles of crude and photo-degraded mixed-sex extracts, but not to residues. In adults, only males were attracted to body volatiles from crude and photo-degraded extracts of either sex. Examination of all volatile samples using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that most of the identified compounds in photo-degraded extracts were also present in crude extracts. However, the abundance of these compounds in photo-degraded samples were 10 to 250 times more than their abundance in the crude counterparts. Results from behavioral bioassays indicate that photo-degradation probably does not generate a long-range pheromone, but it may be involved in the production of a short-range sex-recognition pheromone in SLF. This study provides additional evidence of pheromonal activity in SLF.

Mucinous appendix intussusception: Case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Intussusception is an intestinal invagination of one bowel segment into another. It occurs mostly in children, but it can show in adults due to different etiologies. Appendiceal neoplasms are rare and can mimic an acute onset of appendicitis. Appendiceal mucinous neoplasm is one of the subtypes of appendiceal malignancies found in less than 1 % of appendectomies samples. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 32-year-old woman with abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant, whose computed tomography revealed an ileocolic intussusception and a low-density tubular image in the distal loop. She underwent diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic right colectomy. Biopsy results confirmed a LAMN with acute appendicitis and intussusception. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Appendiceal intussusception (AI) is associated with the alteration of peristalsis, in addition to multiple inflammatory conditions and diseases such as parasites, foreign bodies, Crohn's disease, and lymphoid hyperplasia. The pathophysiology of AI is not fully established, but the main appendicular alteration that has been associated with it is the presence of a tumor. AI lead points are typically pathological in 90 % of cases, 65 % of which are neoplastic in nature. Right hemicolectomy should be performed for tumors involving the periappendicular area or in those larger than 2 cm in size. Follow-up and surveillance colonoscopy is suggested. CONCLUSION: Intussusception is a rare diagnosis in adults. However, malignancy should be suspected if identified.

Piperitone (p-Menth-1-En-3-One): A New Repellent for Tea Shot Hole Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Florida Avocado Groves.

The tea shot hole borer, Euwallacea perbrevis, has been recently established in Florida, USA, where it vectors fungal pathogens that cause Fusarium dieback in avocado. Pest monitoring uses a two-component lure containing quercivorol and α-copaene. Incorporation of a repellent into IPM programs may reduce the incidence of dieback in avocado groves, particularly if combined with lures in a push-pull system. This study evaluated piperitone and α-farnesene as potential repellents for E. perbrevis, comparing their efficacy to that of verbenone. Replicate 12-week field tests were conducted in commercial avocado groves. Each test compared beetle captures in traps baited with two-component lures versus captures in traps containing lures plus repellent. To complement field trials, Super-Q collections followed by GC analyses were performed to quantify emissions from repellent dispensers field-aged for 12 weeks. Electroantennography (EAG) was also used to measure beetle olfactory response to each repellent. Results indicated that α-farnesene was ineffective; however, piperitone and verbenone were comparable in repellency, achieving 50-70% reduction in captures, with longevity of 10-12 weeks. EAG responses to piperitone and verbenone were equivalent, and significantly greater than response to α-farnesene. Since piperitone is less expensive than verbenone, this study identifies a potential new E. perbrevis repellent.

Flexibility in the ambrosia symbiosis of Xyleborus bispinatus.

Introduction: Ambrosia beetles maintain strict associations with specific lineages of fungi. However, anthropogenic introductions of ambrosia beetles into new ecosystems can result in the lateral transfer of their symbionts to other ambrosia beetles. The ability of a Florida endemic ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus bispinatus, to feed and establish persistent associations with two of its known symbionts (Raffaelea subfusca and Raffaelea arxii) and two other fungi (Harringtonia lauricola and Fusarium sp. nov.), which are primary symbionts of invasive ambrosia beetles, was investigated. Methods: The stability of these mutualisms and their effect on the beetle's fitness were monitored over five consecutive generations. Surface-disinfested pupae with non-developed mycangia were reared separately on one of the four fungal symbionts. Non-treated beetles (i.e., lab colony) with previously colonized mycangia were used as a control group. Results: Xyleborus bispinatus could exchange its fungal symbionts, survive, and reproduce on different fungal diets, including known fungal associates and phylogenetically distant fungi, which are plant pathogens and primary symbionts of other invasive ambrosia beetles. These changes in fungal diets resulted in persistent mutualisms, and some symbionts even increased the beetle's reproduction. Females that developed on Fusarium sp. nov. had a significantly greater number of female offspring than non-treated beetles. Females that fed solely on Harringtonia or Raffaelea symbionts produced fewer female offspring. Discussion: Even though some ambrosia beetles like X. bispinatus can partner with different ambrosia fungi, their symbiosis under natural conditions is modulated by their mycangium and possibly other environmental factors. However, exposure to symbionts of invasive beetles can result in stable partnerships with these fungi and affect the population dynamics of ambrosia beetles and their symbionts.

Differences in the evolution and management of acute appendicitis in patients with COVID-19: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated uncertainty about the management of appendicitis. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the evolution and treatment of acute appendicitis in patients with COVID-19 infection compared to patients without the infection. METHODS: A case-control study of adult patients hospitalized for acute appendicitis was performed, having as cases those who presented COVID-19. Data were extracted from the medical records. The logistic regression model was used to calculate crude (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: We evaluated 38 cases and 76 controls, the mean age of the patients was 38.2 years (± 16.8), of whom 55.3% were women. Multivariate analysis showed, in cases, a lower probability of intraoperative findings (aOR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.05-0.90) and a surgery time of more than 60 min (aOR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.06-0.80), while there was a greater probability of management by open surgery (aOR: 3.83; 95% CI: 1.42-10.32) and a hospitalization time of more than 3 days after surgery (aOR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.34-8.26). CONCLUSION: Significant differences were observed in terms of intraoperative findings, type of surgery, intraoperative time, and hospitalization time in patients with acute appendicitis and COVID-19.

ANTECEDENTES: La pandemia de COVID-19 ha generado incertidumbre sobre el manejo de la apendicitis. OBJETIVO: Evaluar las diferencias en la evolución y el tratamiento de la apendicitis en pacientes con COVID-19 en comparación con los pacientes sin la infección. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles de pacientes adultos hospitalizados por apendicitis aguda, teniendo como casos aquellos que presentaron COVID-19. Los datos se extrajeron de las historias clínicas. Se utilizó el modelo de regresión logística para calcular las odds ratios (OR) crudas y ajustadas con sus respectivos intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC 95%). RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron 38 casos y 76 controles, la edad media de los pacientes fue de 38.2 años (± 16.8), de los cuales el 55,3% eran mujeres. El análisis multivariante mostró, en los casos, una menor probabilidad de hallazgos intra operatorios (ORa: 0,21; IC 95%: 0.05-0.90) y un tiempo de cirugía superior a 60 min (ORa: 0.21; IC 95%: 0.06-0.80), mientras que hubo una mayor probabilidad de manejo mediante cirugía abierta (ORa: 3.83; IC 95%: 1.42-10.32) y un tiempo de hospitalización superior a tres días tras la cirugía (ORa: 3.33; IC 95%: 1.34-8.26). CONCLUSIONES: Se observaron diferencias significativas en cuanto a los hallazgos intraoperatorios, el tipo de cirugía, el tiempo intraoperatorio y el tiempo de hospitalización en pacientes con apendicitis aguda y COVID-19.

Community of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) in Agricultural and Forest Ecosystems with Laurel Wilt.

Redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is an invasive wood-boring pest first detected in the USA in 2002 in Georgia. The beetle's dominant fungal symbiont, Harringtonialauricola, causes laurel wilt, a lethal disease of trees in the Lauraceae. Over the past 20 years, X. glabratus and laurel wilt have spread to twelve southeastern states, resulting in high mortality of native Persea species, including redbay (P. borbonia), swampbay (P. palustris), and silkbay (P. humilis). Laurel wilt also threatens avocado (P. americana) in south Florida, but in contrast to the situation in forests, X. glabratus is detected at very low levels in affected groves. Moreover, other species of ambrosia beetle have acquired H. lauricola and now function as secondary vectors. To better understand the beetle communities in different ecosystems exhibiting laurel wilt, parallel field tests were conducted in an avocado grove in Miami-Dade County and a swampbay forest in Highlands County, FL. Sampling utilized ethanol lures (the best general attractant for ambrosia beetles) and essential oil lures (the best attractants for X. glabratus), alone and in combination, resulting in detection of 20 species. This study documents host-related differences in beetle diversity and population levels, and species-specific differences in chemical ecology, as reflected in efficacy of lures and lure combinations.

The role of indolyl substituents in squaramide-based anionophores.

A new family of squaramide-based anionophores (L1-L8) have been synthesised and fully characterised with the aim to investigate the effect of indolyl substituents on their anion binding and transmembrane transport properties. L1, L2, L6, and L8, bearing a 7-indolyl/indol-7-yl moiety as the substituent, were found to be the most efficient of the series in binding chloride with high stability constants. L1, L6, and L8 were also found to be the most potent anionophores of the series, able to mediate transmembrane anion transport. In particular, L6 bearing the 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl group was found to be the most active transporter, and its efficiency as an anionophore/anion transporter was favourably compared with that of their symmetrically-substituted squaramide analogues L9 and L10, previously reported in the literature.

Machine learning for cell type classification from single nucleus RNA sequencing data.

With the advent of single cell/nucleus RNA sequencing (sc/snRNA-seq), the field of cell phenotyping is now a data-driven exercise providing statistical evidence to support cell type/state categorization. However, the task of classifying cells into specific, well-defined categories with the empirical data provided by sc/snRNA-seq remains nontrivial due to the difficulty in determining specific differences between related cell types with close transcriptional similarities, resulting in challenges with matching cell types identified in separate experiments. To investigate possible approaches to overcome these obstacles, we explored the use of supervised machine learning methods-logistic regression, support vector machines, random forests, neural networks, and light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM)-as approaches to classify cell types using snRNA-seq datasets from human brain middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and human kidney. Classification accuracy was evaluated using an F-beta score weighted in favor of precision to account for technical artifacts of gene expression dropout. We examined the impact of hyperparameter optimization and feature selection methods on F-beta score performance. We found that the best performing model for granular cell type classification in both datasets is a multinomial logistic regression classifier and that an effective feature selection step was the most influential factor in optimizing the performance of the machine learning pipelines.