Terrestrial Invertebrate Arsenic Accumulation Associated With an Arsenic Hyperaccumulating Fern, Pteris vittata (Polypodiales: Pteridaceae).

Arsenic (As) can play an important role in the contamination of soils, waters, and air. The toxicity of As to most organisms is well established, but little is known about the interactions between environmental As and terrestrial invertebrates and the fate of As through trophic levels. Pteris vittata L. (Polypodiales: Pteridaceae), a fern that hyperaccumulates arsenic, serves as a potential mechanism to facilitate interactions between environmental arsenic and other biota. We compared invertebrate arsenic concentrations (hereafter as [As]) and bioaccumulation factors associated with soil and fern [As] to elucidate relationships between invertebrate and environmental As exposure. We collected invertebrates in pitfall traps from field sites associated with P. vittata, and identified them to order for whole body arsenic analysis and subsequently family for classification into functional feeding groups. We found that overall [As] in invertebrates increased with soil [As], but not with fern [As]. The absence of a relationship between fern [As] and invertebrate [As] may indicate invertebrates are avoiding the fern. Individual taxonomic groups significantly differed in whole body [As], and individual taxa also varied in their relationship between whole body [As] relative to soil and fern [As]. Overall invertebrate abundance decreased as invertebrate [As] load increased but varied across taxa. One particular herbivore, Callopistria floridensis (Florida fern caterpillar), associated with relatively low environmental As exposure contained over 4,000 mg kg-1 As. Our results show that As bioaccumulates into higher trophic levels and invertebrate body [As] covary with exposure to naturally occurring environmental [As] associated with P. vittata.

Pine Sawyers (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Attracted to α-Pinene, Monochamol, and Ipsenol in North America.

Detection tools are needed for Monochamus species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) because they are known to introduce pine wilt disease by vectoring nematodes in Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2012-2014, we examined the effects of the semiochemicals monochamol and ipsenol on the flight responses of the sawyer beetles Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier), Monochamus clamator (LeConte), Monochamus mutator LeConte, Monochamus notatus (Drury), Monochamus obtusus Casey, Monochamus scutellatus (Say), and Monochamus titillator (F.) complex (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) to traps baited with α-pinene. Experiments were set in pine forests in New Brunswick and Ontario (Canada), and Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington (United States). In brief, 40 traps were placed in 10 blocks of 4 traps per block per location. Traps were baited with: 1) α-pinene; 2) α-pinene + monochamol; 3) α-pinene + ipsenol; and 4) α-pinene + monochamol + ipsenol. Monochamol increased catches of six species and one species complex of Monochamus with an additive effect of ipsenol for five species and one species complex. There was no evidence of synergy between monochamol and ipsenol on beetle catches. Monochamol had no effect on catches of other Cerambycidae or on any associated species of bark beetles, weevils, or bark beetle predators. We present a robust data set suggesting that the combination of α-pinene, ipsenol, and monochamol may be a useful lure for detecting Monochamus species.

The role of mites in insect-fungus associations.

The interactions among insects, mites, and fungi are diverse and complex but poorly understood in most cases. Associations among insects, mites, and fungi span an almost incomprehensible array of ecological interactions and evolutionary histories. Insects and mites often share habitats and resources and thus interact within communities. Many mites and insects rely on fungi for nutrients, and fungi benefit from them with regard to spore dispersal, habitat provision, or nutrient resources. Mites have important impacts on community dynamics, ecosystem processes, and biodiversity within many insect-fungus systems. Given that mites are understudied but highly abundant, they likely have bigger, more important, and more widespread impacts on communities than previously recognized. We describe mutualistic and antagonistic effects of mites on insect-fungus associations, explore the processes that underpin ecological and evolutionary patterns of these multipartite communities, review well-researched examples of the effects of mites on insect-fungus associations, and discuss approaches for studying mites within insect-fungus communities.

Efficacy of commercially available ultrasonic pest repellent devices to affect behavior of bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).

Little is known about the potential for acoustic communication in bed bugs, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), or the use of sound as cues in host location, although many hemipterans are known to communicate with sound. Most behavioral research has focused on bed bug pheromones that are used in aggregation and as alarm signals. We investigated the influence of sound as a deterrent and as an attractant, either of which could ultimately be used to monitor and control bed bugs. Female bed bugs were tested in two-choice tests with four different commercially available ultrasonic repellent devices. We found that female bed bugs were equally likely to occur in arenas with or without sound produced by ultrasonic devices. These devices did not repel or attract bed bugs during choice trials. However, more bed bugs preferred the middle corridor between the test (sound) and control (no sound) arenas when the sound devices were played. Bed bugs were also more likely to exit the middle corridor during control trials compared with treatment trials with ultrasonic devices. Our results confirm that commercial devices producing ultrasound are not a promising tool for repelling bed bugs.

Temperature alters the relative abundance and population growth rates of species within the Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) community.

Temperature has strong effects on metabolic processes of individuals and demographics of populations, but effects on ecological communities are not well known. Many economically and ecologically important pest species have obligate associations with other organisms; therefore, effects of temperature on these species might be mediated by strong interactions. The southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann) harbors a rich community of phoretic mites and fungi that are linked by many strong direct and indirect interactions, providing multiple pathways for temperature to affect the system. We tested the effects of temperature on this community by manipulating communities within naturally infested sections of pine trees. Direct effects of temperature on component species were conspicuous and sometimes predictable based on single-species physiology, but there were also strong indirect effects of temperature via alteration of species interactions that could not have been predicted based on autecological temperature responses. Climatic variation, including directional warming, will likely influence ecological systems through direct physiological effects as well as indirect effects through species interactions.

Impacts of silvicultural thinning treatments on beetle trap captures and tree attacks during low bark beetle populations in ponderosa pine forests of northern Arizona.

Our research used a combination of passive traps, funnel traps with lures, baited trees, and surveys of long-term thinning plots to assess the impacts of different levels of stand basal area (BA) on bark beetle tree attack and on trap captures of Ips spp., Dendroctonus spp., and their predators. The study occurred at two sites in ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., forests, from 2004 to 2007 during low bark beetle populations. Residual stand BA ranged from 9.0 to 37.0 m2/ha. More predators and bark beetles were collected in passive traps in stands of lower BA than in stands of higher BA; however, significance varied by species and site, and total number of beetles collected was low. Height of the clear panel passive traps affected trap catches for some species at some sites and years. When pheromone lures were used with funnel traps [Ips pini (Say) lure: lanierone, +03/-97 ipsdienol], we found no significant difference in trap catches among basal area treatments for bark beetles and their predators. Similarly, when trees were baited (Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte lure: myrcene, exo-brevicomin and frontalin), we found no significant difference for days to first bark beetle attack. Surveys of long-term thinning treatments found evidence of bark beetle attacks only in unthinned plots (approximately 37 m2/ha basal area). We discuss our results in terms of management implications for bark beetle trapping and control.

Effects of gallery density and species ratio on the fitness and fecundity of two sympatric bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Interspecific interactions among tree-killing bark beetle species may have ecologically important consequences on beetle population dynamics. Using two tree-killing beetle species (Dendroctonus brevicomis and D. frontalis), we performed observational and experimental studies to verify cross-attraction and co-colonization under field conditions in northern Arizona and test the effects of gallery density and species ratio on response variables of average gallery length, offspring size (progeny fitness), and offspring production per centimeter gallery (fecundity). Our results show that both D. frontalis and D. brevicomis aggregate to pheromones synthesized de novo by D. brevicomis under field conditions and that galleries of both D. brevicomis and D. frontalis occurred together in the same region of a single host tree with significant frequency. In experimental manipulations of species ratios, the presence of conspecific beetles in the gallery environment strongly mediated fecundity, but D. frontalis was the only species that suffered negative impacts from the presence of heterospecific beetles in the gallery environment. Interactions did not result in any apparent fitness effects for progeny of either species, which suggests that multispecies aggregations and co-colonization may be a dominant ecological strategy in the region and result in niche sharing.

Influence of temperature on spring flight initiation for southwestern ponderosa pine bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae).

Determination of temperature requirements for many economically important insects is a cornerstone of pest management. For bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), this information can facilitate timing of management strategies. Our goals were to determine temperature predictors for flight initiation of three species of Ips bark beetles, five species of Dendroctonus bark beetles, and two genera of bark beetle predators, Enoclerus spp. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) and Temnochila chlorodia (Mannerheim) (Coleoptera: Ostomidae), in ponderosa pine forests of northcentral Arizona. We quantified beetle flight activity using data loggers and pheromone-baited funnel traps at 18 sites over 4 yr. Ambient air temperature was monitored using temperature data loggers located in close proximity to funnel traps. We analyzed degree-day accumulation and differences between minimum, average, and maximum ambient temperature for the week before and week of first beetle capture to calculate flight temperature thresholds. Degree-day accumulation was not a good predictor for initiation of beetle flight. For all species analyzed other than D. adjunctus Blandford, beetles were captured in traps only when springtime temperatures exceeded 15.0 degrees C. D. adjunctus was collected when maximum temperatures reached only 14.5 degrees C. Once initial flights had begun, beetles were often captured when maximum ambient air temperatures were below initial threshold temperatures. Maximum and average air temperatures were a better predictor for beetle flight initiation than minimum temperature. We establish a temperature range for effective monitoring of bark beetles and their predators, and we discuss the implications of our results under climate change scenarios.

[Use of transthoracic 3D-echocardiography in congenital heart disease]. / Anwendungen der transthorakalen 3D-Echokardiographie bei angeborenen Herzerkrankungen.

3D-echocardiography using a matrix array transducer was performed in 112 patients. In 98 patients (87.5 %) we were able to acquire adequate 3D-data. The mean time for the 3D-examination was 5.5 min. In valve lesions, septal defects and complex cyanotic heart disease 3D-echocardiography was a confident and helpful innovation for better assessment of the intracardiac morphology in pediatric patients. We conclude that 3D-echocardiography is a useful addition to the conventional 2D-echocardiography.

Effects of tree phytochemistry on the interactions among endophloedic fungi associated with the southern pine beetle.

We examined the interaction between host trees and fungi associated with a tree-killing bark beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis. We evaluated (1) the response of four Pinus species to fungal invasion and (2) the effects of plant secondary metabolites on primary growth of and secondary colonization of three consistent fungal associates. Two of these fungi, Entomocorticium sp. A and Ophiostoma ranaculosum, are obligate mutualists with D. frontalis, and the third associate is a blue-staining fungus, O. minus, that is commonly introduced by beetles and phoretic mites. O. minus negatively affects beetle larvae and in high abundance can impact D. frontalis population dynamics. Size of lesions formed and quantity of secondary metabolites produced in response to fungal inoculations varied significantly among Pinus species. However, monoterpene composition within infected tissue did not significantly vary across treatments. While all eight tested metabolites negatively affected the growth rate of O. minus, only 4-allylanisole, p-cymene, and terpinene reduced the growth of the mycangial fungi. Surprisingly, growth rates of mycangial fungi increased in the presence of several secondary metabolite volatiles. O. minus out-competed both mycangial fungi, but the presence of secondary metabolites altered the outcome slightly. O. ranaculosum out-performed E. sp. A in the presence of dominant conifer monoterpenes, such as alpha- and beta-pinene. Volatiles from the mycangial fungi, particularly E. sp. A, had a negative effect on O. minus growth. In general, phloem phytochemistry of particular Pinus species appeared to alter the relative growth and competitiveness of mutualistic and non-mutualistic fungi associated with D. frontalis. The outcome of interactions among these fungi likely has important consequences for the population dynamics of D. frontalis.

Effects of available water on growth and competition of southern pine beetle associated fungi.

Competitive, interactions among bark beetle associated fungi are potentially influenced by abiotic factors. Water potential, in particular, undergoes marked changes over the course of beetle colonization of tree hosts. To investigate the impact of water potential on competition among three southern pine beetle associated fungi, Ophiostoma minus, Entomocorticium sp. A and Ceratocystiopsis ranaculosus, we utilized artificial media with water potentials of 0, -5, -10, and -20 MPa. Growth of all three fungi, when grown alone, decreased on media with lower water potentials. Growth rates of all three fungi were likewise reduced in competition experiments. At -5 to -10 MPa, C. ranaculosus (a fungus with beneficial effects toward southern pine beetle) was nearly equal in competitive ability to O. minus (a fungus with antagonistic effects towards southern pine beetle). This was not true on control media, nor at other water potentials tested. The range of water potentials used in our assays was similar to the range of water potentials we measured in loblolly pines within a southern pine beetle infestation. This study indicates that water potential may alter the outcome of competitive interactions among bark beetle-associated fungi in ways that favour bark beetle success.

[Effects of an optimized exercise therapy on physical performance of patients with cystic fibrosis]. / Effekte einer "optimierten" Bewegungstherapie auf die Leistungsfähigkeit bei Patienten mit Cystischer Fibrose.

Regular exercise training can increase the physical performance of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, training is often hampered by negative factors such as infections, lack of time, etc. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a 3-week-training-program performed under favourable conditions on physical performance and lung function of CF-patients: 17 patients daily trained at least 2,5 h under suspicious conditions at a sport hotel in Israel (Eilat). During the entire 3 weeks a comprehensive care was applied to the patients including intensive physical therapy and nutrition adapted to the individual demands. Testings of lung function and cycle ergometry ramp tests were performed a week before and after the training program. Additional control measurements were taken 7 months post training. After the 3-week-training vital capacity and FEV1 were increased by 7 % and 6 % (p > 0.05). The results of the cycle ergometry showed bigger and significant improvements in the maximal values of power (12 % - 20 %), oxygen uptake and ventilation. This findings were also valid for the submaximal exercise range indicated by a slower heart rate slope and a lower aerobic-anaerobic threshold. The present results suggest, that relatively large increases in physical performance can be obtained by short, but intensive exercise training including a comprehensive care.

Correction of simple congenital heart defects in infants and children through a minithoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgical techniques in pediatric cardiac surgery have evolved throughout the last 10 years. Advantages of minimally invasive procedures include excellent cosmetic results and superior postoperative outcome. However, safety of minimally invasive techniques has to be proven. METHODS: In 21 female infants and children, a right anterolateral thoracotomy was performed. Mean age was 7.1 years (0.5 to 16.6 years) and mean body weight was 20.8 kg (8.3 to 56 kg). The following defects were repaired: atrial septum defect type II (n = 14); partial atrioventricular septum defect (n = 3); partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (n = 2); ventricular septum defect (n = 2); mitral valve insufficiency (n = 1); and resection of an embolized atrial septum defect occluder (n = 1). In two cases, aortic cross-clamping was performed by using a transthoracic clamp. In 5 patients, femoral cannulation was performed. Skin incisions were limited to 4 to 7 cm. RESULTS: There was no operative or late mortality. Mean operation time, bypass time, and aortic cross-clamp time were 138 (95 to 275), 72 (32 to 179), and 35 (12 to 120) minutes, respectively. Mean postoperative mechanical ventilation time, mean intensive care unit stay, and mean hospital stay were 3.9 hours (1 to 12 hours), 1.4 days (1 to 3 days), and 12 days (8 to 18 days), respectively. Postoperative complications included hemorrhage in 1 patient requiring surgical intervention. Mean follow-up period was 13.3 months (1 to 36 months). All patients were in New York Heart Association class I postoperatively. Trivial mitral insufficiency was evident in 1 patient operated for partial atrioventricular septum defect. CONCLUSIONS: A small right anterolateral thoracotomy as a minimally invasive technique in pediatric cardiac surgery is a safe and suitable alternative in the operative management of simple congenital heart defects. Cosmetic results are superior, however, improved postoperative outcome has to be proven.

[Navigation assisted by image conversion. An experimental study on pelvic screw fixation]. / Bildwandler-gestützte Navigation. Eine experimentelle Studie zu Beckenverschraubungen.

Within an experimental trial the new method of fluoroscopy based navigation was tested for percutaneous pelvic screw fixations. A regular C-arm was used and the navigation system developed by Medivision. In a first step appropriate C-arm projections were defined for five standardized screw positions. Then precision and fluoroscopy time of 60 screws in 6 artificial pelves were evaluated. For the sacroliacal screw in S1, S1 screw in S2, anterior column screw, posterior column screw and the supraacetabular ilium screw three to four appropriate projections were defined. These were all combinations of the known special pelvic views inlet/outlet and iliac/obturator. Using these standardized views the average fluoroscopy time was 6 seconds per screw. 51 screws (85%) were inserted correctly. In five cases there was a slight deviation without perforating the cortex, four times the cortex was perforated.

Novel computer-assisted fluoroscopy system for intraoperative guidance: feasibility study for distal locking of femoral nails.

OBJECTIVES: Orthopaedic procedures that use fluoroscopy require intraoperative mental navigation of the surgical tools in a three-dimensional space. Moreover, because of their reliance on real-time monitoring, such procedures are frequently associated with increased x-ray exposure. The goal of this study was to develop a computer-guided surgical navigation system based on fluoroscopic images that not only facilitates direction of surgical tools within anatomy, but also provides constant feedback without the need for radiologic updates. To evaluate the feasibility of the new technology, the authors used it on cases requiring distal locking of femoral nails. METHODS: The hardware components of the system include an instrumented C-arm, optoelectronic position sensor, stereotactic tools, and custom-made software. Computer integration of these devices permitted C-arm alignment assistance and real-time navigation control without constant x-ray exposure. The nails were locked in a variety of media, including plastic femurs, dry human femoral specimens, human cadavers, and one clinical case. Unreamed femoral nail sizes ranged from 9/340 to 12/400. Radiographs were taken to confirm that screws were positioned correctly, and fluoroscopic time associated with the locking procedure was recorded. RESULTS: All distal holes were locked successfully. In eight (11 percent) of seventy-six holes, the drill bit touched the canal of the locking hole, albeit with no damage to the nail and no clinical consequences. The fluoroscopy time per pair of screws was 1.67 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: The developed system enables the physician to precisely navigate surgical instruments throughout the anatomy using just a few computer-calibrated radiographic images. The total radiation time per procedure can be significantly reduced because additional x-ray exposure is not required for tool navigation.

Uncontrolled reoxygenation by initiating cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with higher protein S100 in cyanotic versus acyanotic patients.

BACKGROUND: The systemic reoxygenation injury produced by initiating cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in infants with cyanotic heart disease may be associated with cerebral dysfunction and injury. Increased protein S100 (S100) serum levels may indicate cerebral and blood brain barrier damage as well as inflammatory changes, therefore serving to quantify these changes. The present clinical study assessed S100 in cyanotic patients undergoing CPB with normoxic versus hyperoxic paO2 in acyanotic cases and in controls without CPB. METHODS: 43 patients with congenital heart disease aged 5 days to 15 years (mean 4.4 years) were enrolled consecutively and divided in four groups: (1) Cyanotic infants undergoing controlled normoxic reoxygenation on CPB (n = 12), (2) cyanotic infants undergoing uncontrolled hyperoxic reoxygenation on CPB (n = 9), (3) acyanotic infants operated with CPB (n = 16) and (4) patients operated without CPB (n = 6). Blood samples were collected after induction of anesthesia (A), up to 4 hours after surgery (B) and at postoperative day one (C). RESULTS: Preoperative S100 serum levels [microg/l] in all groups were below clinical relevance. S100 increased markedly after surgery in groups 1 and 2. Differences in postoperative S100 levels were significant between groups 1 (0.45 +/- 0.13) and 3 (0.35 +/- 0.09; p = 0.018), between groups 2 (1.41 +/- 0.47) and 3 (p = 0.01), and between groups 2 and 4 (0.29 +/- 0.09; p = 0.045). There were no significant differences in postoperative S100 levels (B) between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.05), groups 1 and 4 (p = 0.05), or groups 3 and 4 (p = 0.93). CONCLUSION: Uncontrolled hyperoxic reoxygenation on CPB for surgical correction of congenital heart defects is associated with higher S100 levels in cyanotic infants as compared to acyanotic patients undergoing comparable operations.

A new approach to computer-aided spine surgery: fluoroscopy-based surgical navigation.

A new computer-based navigation system for spinal surgery has been designed. This was achieved by combining intraoperative fluoroscopy-based imaging using conventional C-arm technology with free-hand surgical navigation principles. Modules were developed to automate digital X-ray image registration. This is in contrast to existing computed tomography- (CT) based spinal navigation systems, which require a vertebra-based registration procedure. Cross-referencing of the image intensifier with the surgical object allows the real-time image-interactive navigation of surgical tools based on one single registered X-ray image, with no further image updates. Furthermore, the system allows the acquisition and real-time use of multiple registered images, which provides an advanced multi-directional control (pseudo 3D) during surgical action. Stereotactic instruments and graphical user interfaces for image-interactive transpedicular screw insertion have been developed. A detailed validation of the system was performed in the laboratory setting and throughout an early clinical trial including eight patients in two spine centers. Based on the resulting data, the new technique promises improved accuracy and safety in open and percutaneous spinal surgery.

Computer-assisted fluoroscopy-based reduction of femoral fractures and antetorsion correction.

OBJECTIVE: Intra-operative fluoroscopy is a valuable tool for visualizing underlying bone, implant, and surgical tool positions in orthopedics. It has brought about the minimally invasive surgical technique of intramedullar nailing to fix femoral shaft fractures. However, the limited field of view and two-dimensional property of fluoroscopic images aggravate intra-operative control of surgical parameters. The purpose of this article is to introduce a surgical navigation system based on fluoroscopy that provides missing information for the procedure of femoral fracture fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Optoelectronic markers are placed on a surgical drill, involved bone fragments, the femoral nail, and the fluoroscope to track their positions. Projection properties of the fluoroscope are acquired through an initial precalibration. The relative positions of bone fragments, implants, and surgical tools are displayed superimposed simultaneously and in real time on multi-planar intra-operative fluoroscopic images. This is achieved by computer simulation of X-ray projections that have taken place with acquisition of the fluoroscopic images. In addition, a method has been developed that allows contactless measurement of three-dimensional anatomic landmarks, based on their representation in fluoroscopic images. In combination with optoelectronic tracking, this enables dynamic calculation of important surgical parameters such as femoral antetorsion. RESULTS: A pilot surgery showed that fracture reduction can benefit from the developed computer-assisted method. An in-vitro study on computer-assisted measurement of femoral antetorsion demonstrated the high degree of precision of this technique.

Fluoroscopy as an imaging means for computer-assisted surgical navigation.

OBJECTIVE: Intraoperative fluoroscopy is a valuable tool for visualizing underlying bone and surgical tool positions in orthopedic procedures. Disadvantages of this technology include the need for continued radiation exposure for visual control, and cumbersome means of alignment. The purpose of this article was to highlight a new concept for a computer-assisted freehand navigation system that uses single intraoperatively acquired fluoroscopic images as a basis for real-time navigation of surgical tools. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Optoelectronic markers are placed on surgical tools, a patient reference, and the fluoroscope to track their position in space. Projection properties of the fluoroscope are acquired through an initial precalibration procedure using a tracked radiopaque phantom grid. Corrections are applied to compensate for both the fluoroscope's image intensifier distortions and the mechanical bending of the C-arm frame. This enables real-time simulation of surgical tool positions simultaneously in several single-shot fluoroscopic images. In addition, through optoelectronically tracked digitization of a target viewpoint, the fluoroscope can be numerically aligned at precise angles relative to the patient without any X-ray exposure. RESULTS: This article shows the feasibility of this technology through its use in cadaver trials to perform the difficult task of distal locking of femoral nails.