Nut bush pesticide limits: urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to address current and emerging insect pests and insecticide options in the Australian macadamia industry.

In Australia, macadamia orchards are attacked by four main insect pest groups. Management and control of three of these key pests currently relies on broad-spectrum insecticides whose long-term future is questionable. Of the 23 insecticides registered for use in macadamia in Australia, 19 face issues affecting their availability and 12 are presently not approved in the EU, the USA or Canada. These international markets may refuse produce that does not adhere to their own insecticide use standards, hence Australian produce may be excluded from market access. Many of the potential replacement integrated pest management methods of pest control are generally considered less effective by the industry and have not been adopted. There are 17 insect pest groups identified by the industry, any of which have potential to become major problems if broad-spectrum insecticide options become unavailable. Thirteen pest groups need urgent attention as they are at risk of losing current effective control methods, and no replacement solutions have yet been developed. The lag period for research and development to identify new chemical and biological control solutions means there is now an urgent need for the macadamia industry to craft a strategy for sustainable pest management for each pest. Critically, this industry strategy needs to address the vulnerabilities identified in this paper, identify potential solutions for any cases of market failure and consider funding mechanisms to address these gaps. On economic and sustainability grounds, potential biological control options should be explored, especially in cases where insecticide control options are vulnerable. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Angioedema without urticaria after recent initiation of celecoxib.

Angioedema is potentially life-threating swelling of integument and mucosa that has multiple potential aetiologies with varying mechanisms. Drug-induced angioedema is often easily correlated with the offending agent and can be prevented with discontinuation of the medication. Many medications have now been implicated in drug-induced angioedema but the two most common are ACE inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This case highlights severe angioedema secondary to celecoxib and reviews varying aetiologies of angioedema and NSAID hypersensitivity reactions.

Optical superluminal motion measurement in the neutron-star merger GW170817.

The afterglow of the binary neutron-star merger GW1708171 gave evidence for a structured relativistic jet2-6 and a link3,7,8 between such mergers and short gamma-ray bursts. Superluminal motion, found using radio very long baseline interferometry3 (VLBI), together with the afterglow light curve provided constraints on the viewing angle (14-28 degrees), the opening angle of the jet core (less than 5 degrees) and a modest limit on the initial Lorentz factor of the jet core (more than 4). Here we report on another superluminal motion measurement, at seven times the speed of light, leveraging Hubble Space Telescope precision astrometry and previous radio VLBI data for GW170817. We thereby obtain a measurement of the Lorentz factor of the wing of the structured jet, as well as substantially improved constraints on the viewing angle (19-25 degrees) and the initial Lorentz factor of the jet core (more than 40).

Concomitant methimazole-induced agranulocytosis and cholestatic jaundice in a young woman.

A woman in her 30s presented to the emergency department with new-onset sore throat and fever. She had recently been diagnosed with Graves' disease 3 months prior. As a result, she was initiated on atenolol and methimazole for management. Her methimazole dosing had been stable at 15 mg daily for the month prior to presentation. Investigation revealed severe neutropenia and jaundice. She was found to have concomitant agranulocytosis and cholestatic jaundice secondary to methimazole.Methimazole was discontinued on admission and the patient received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of zero. She was placed on broad-spectrum antibiotics and intravenous steroids for epiglottic and supraglottic oedema noted on bedside laryngoscopy. ANC and bilirubin improved over a 2-week hospital course. She was discharged on a temporary regimen of propranolol, dexamethasone and potassium iodide until she was able to undergo successful thyroidectomy for definitive management of Graves' disease outpatient.

A highly magnified star at redshift 6.2.

Galaxy clusters magnify background objects through strong gravitational lensing. Typical magnifications for lensed galaxies are factors of a few but can also be as high as tens or hundreds, stretching galaxies into giant arcs1,2. Individual stars can attain even higher magnifications given fortuitous alignment with the lensing cluster. Recently, several individual stars at redshifts between approximately 1 and 1.5 have been discovered, magnified by factors of thousands, temporarily boosted by microlensing3-6. Here we report observations of a more distant and persistent magnified star at a redshift of 6.2 ± 0.1, 900 million years after the Big Bang. This star is magnified by a factor of thousands by the foreground galaxy cluster lens WHL0137-08 (redshift 0.566), as estimated by four independent lens models. Unlike previous lensed stars, the magnification and observed brightness (AB magnitude, 27.2) have remained roughly constant over 3.5 years of imaging and follow-up. The delensed absolute UV magnitude, -10 ± 2, is consistent with a star of mass greater than 50 times the mass of the Sun. Confirmation and spectral classification are forthcoming from approved observations with the James Webb Space Telescope.

Effect of in Planta Treatment of 'Cavendish' Banana with Herbicides and Fungicides on the Colonisation and Sporulation by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Subtropical Race 4.

Fusarium wilt caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc) is a significant constraint to banana production worldwide, with the recent expansion of banana growing regions impacted by Foc Tropical Race 4 (TR4). The lack of commercially acceptable Cavendish cultivars with Foc resistance means the only current means of effective control is through strict quarantine and inoculum management. One method of control that is currently advocated includes the removal of infected plants which have been killed using herbicide injections. The aim of this work was to examine the effect of herbicide and fungicide treatments on sporulation of the fungus. In glasshouse studies using a green fluorescent transformed Foc Subtropical Race 4 isolate, we found treatments with herbicide hastened colonisation of the banana tissue and the production of micro- and macroconidia. The use of a fungicide did not prevent sporulation of the fungus in such tissue. This study demonstrates that herbicide treated plants are a source of potential inoculum for infection of nearby plants.

Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review of Interventions.

BACKGROUND: Proximal hamstring tendinopathy affects athletic and non-athletic populations and is associated with longstanding buttock pain. The condition is common in track and field, long distance running and field-based sports. Management options need to be evaluated to direct appropriate clinical management. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate surgical and non-surgical interventions used in managing proximal hamstring tendinopathy. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched to January 2019. Studies (all designs) investigating interventions for people with proximal hamstring tendinopathy were eligible. Outcomes included symptoms, physical function, quality of life and adverse events. Studies were screened for risk of bias. Reporting quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (Randomized Controlled Trials [RCT]) and the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist (Case Series). Effect sizes (Standard mean difference or Standard paired difference) of 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 were considered as small, medium and large respectively. Overall quality of evidence was rated according to GRADE guidelines. RESULTS: Twelve studies (2 RCTs and 10 case series) were included (n=424; males 229). RCTs examined the following interventions: platelet-rich plasma injection (n=1), autologous whole-blood injection (n=1), shockwave therapy (n=1) and multi-modal intervention (n=1). Case series included evaluation of the following interventions: platelet-rich plasma injection (n=3), surgery (n=4), corticosteroid injection (n=2), multi-modal intervention + platelet-rich plasma injection (n=1). Very low-level evidence found shockwave therapy was more effective than a multi-modal intervention, by a large effect on improving symptoms (-3.22 SMD; 95% CI -4.28, -2.16) and physical function (-2.42 SMD; 95% CI-3.33, -1.50) in the long-term. There was very low-level evidence of no difference between autologous whole-blood injection and platelet-rich plasma injection on physical function (0.17 SMD; 95% CI -0.86, 1.21) to (0.24 SMD; 95% CI -0.76, 1.24) and quality of life (-0.04 SMD; 95%CI -1.05, 0.97) in the medium-term. There was very low-quality evidence that surgery resulted in a large reduction in symptoms (-1.89 SPD; 95% CI -2.36, -1.41) to (-6.02 SPD; 95% CI -8.10, -3.94) and physical function (-4.08 SPD; 95%CI -5.53, -2.63) in the long-term. CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence to recommend any one intervention over another. A pragmatic approach would be to initially trial approaches proven successful in other tendinopathies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2a.

Greater Association of Relative Thresholds Than Absolute Thresholds With Noncontact Lower-Body Injury in Professional Australian Rules Footballers: Implications for Sprint Monitoring.

Sprint capacity is an important attribute for team-sport athletes, yet the most appropriate method to analyze it is unclear. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between sprint workloads using relative versus absolute thresholds and lower-body soft-tissue and bone-stress injury incidence in professional Australian rules football. METHODS: Fifty-three professional Australian rules football athletes' noncontact soft-tissue and bone-stress lower-body injuries (N = 62) were recorded, and sprint workloads were quantified over ∼18 months using the global positioning system. Sprint volume (m) and exposures (n) were determined using 2 methods: absolute (>24.9 km·h-1) and relative (≥75%, ≥80%, ≥85%, ≥90%, ≥95% of maximal velocity). Relationships between threshold methods and injury incidence were assessed using logistic generalized additive models. Incidence rate ratios and model performances' area under the curve were reported. RESULTS: Mean (SD) maximal velocity for the group was 31.5 (1.4), range 28.6 to 34.9 km·h-1. In comparing relative and absolute thresholds, 75% maximal velocity equated to ~1.5 km·h-1 below the absolute speed threshold, while 80% and 85% maximal velocity were 0.1 and 1.7 km·h-1 above the absolute speed threshold, respectively. Model area under the curve ranged from 0.48 to 0.61. Very low and very high cumulative sprint loads ≥80% across a 4-week period, when measured relatively, resulted in higher incidence rate ratios (2.54-3.29), than absolute thresholds (1.18-1.58). DISCUSSION: Monitoring sprinting volume relative to an athlete's maximal velocity should be incorporated into athlete monitoring systems. Specifically, quantifying the distance covered at >80% maximal velocity will ensure greater accuracy in determining sprint workloads and associated injury risk.

Optical Photothermal Infrared Microspectroscopy with Simultaneous Raman - A New Non-Contact Failure Analysis Technique for Identification of <10 µm Organic Contamination in the Hard Drive and other Electronics Industries.

Optical Photothermal Infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy is a new technique for measuring submicron spatial resolution IR spectra with little or no sample preparation. This speeds up analysis times benefiting high-volume manufacturers through gaining insight into process contamination that occurs during development and on production lines. The ability to rapidly obtain far-field non-contact IR spectra at high spatial resolution facilitates the chemical identification of small organic contaminants that are not possible to measure with conventional Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy. The unique pump-probe system architecture also facilitates submicron simultaneous IR + Raman microscopy from the same spot with the same spatial resolution. With these unique capabilities, O-PTIR is finding utilization in the high-volume and high-value industries of high-tech componentry (memory storage, electronics, displays, etc.).

Tooth wear in patients treated with HIV anti-retroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between HIV anti-retroviral therapy and tooth wear. METHODS: Assessment of tooth wear was conducted both with a survey questionnaire and clinical assessment at Russell Street Dental Clinic in Portland, Oregon. The survey questionnaire comprised of questions on study participant's gender, age, HIV status, current medications, awareness of tooth grinding or clenching, jaw soreness, tooth or gum soreness, and frequency of headaches. For the clinical evaluation, a dental provider recorded the degree of wear on each tooth using a scale of 0-3. An individual tooth-wear index was used to rank patients with regard to incisal and occlusal wear. Data analysis included descriptive analysis, tests of association and regression analysis using SPSS V.24. RESULTS: The study sample involved 93 patients (HIV + ve = 60, HIV-ve = 33) with age range of 20-90 yrs. (mean = 49 yrs., s.d = 13.3). 92 and 67% participants of the HIV + ve and HIV-ve groups, respectively, presented with tooth wear. The mean tooth wear index was higher in HIV + ve patients than HIV-ve patients (8.2 vs. 7.8), however, this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A significant, positive correlation was found between HIV presence and tooth wear index, after accounting for age (B = 0.71, p < 0.05). The number of years on anti-retroviral therapy alone was positively correlated with tooth wear index (R2 = 0.116, p < 0.05). After controlling for age, years of anti-retroviral therapy use was positively correlated with tooth wear index (B = 0.047, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that HIV + ve patients, who are on anti-retroviral therapy have significant tooth wear, although more studies with larger sample size are needed to confirm this. There is a critical need to initiate a dialogue with medical providers about tooth wear as a possible side effect of antiretroviral therapy and to introduce appropriate preventive measures.

A Cost Analysis of Three Pharmacologic Behavior Guidance Modalities in Pediatric Dentistry.

Purpose: The aims of this study was to compare dental treatment costs for three pharmacologic behavior guidance modalities: (1) dental office-based moderate sedation (SED); (2) hospital-based general anesthesia (GA-H); and (3) dental office-based general anesthesia (GA-OFF). Methods: Data were collected for healthy two- to six-year-olds who had full-mouth rehabilitation using GA-H at the University of North Carolina Children's Hospital, Chapel Hill, N.C., USA. Patients served as their own controls to compare costs across the three modalities. Rendered treatments were quantified using relative value units (RVUs). Costs included opportunity costs and administrative data. We relied upon ordinary least squares analyses to examine the relationship between total costs and RVUs. Results: Of 200 consecutive hospital records, 65 met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 4.4 years old (range equals two to six years old; 41 ASA I, 24 ASA II). Dental treatment using GA-H averaged 118 minutes (range equals 62 to 256 minutes), with a mean of 12 teeth (range equals six to 20) treated. GA-H costs were 4.1 times greater than GA-OFF costs (range equals 1.1 to 4.9), and 4.5 times greater than SED costs (range equals 0.9 to 7.1); GA-OFF costs were 1.1 times greater than SED costs (range equals 0.7 to 1.6). Conclusions: Treatment completed (measured in relative value units) was correlated highest with costs for dental office-based moderate sedation and least for hospital-based general anesthesia. If more than four SED appointments are needed, GA-OFF may provide cost-savings; however, at no point does GA-H offer cost-savings.

Relativistic deflection of background starlight measures the mass of a nearby white dwarf star.

Gravitational deflection of starlight around the Sun during the 1919 total solar eclipse provided measurements that confirmed Einstein's general theory of relativity. We have used the Hubble Space Telescope to measure the analogous process of astrometric microlensing caused by a nearby star, the white dwarf Stein 2051 B. As Stein 2051 B passed closely in front of a background star, the background star's position was deflected. Measurement of this deflection at multiple epochs allowed us to determine the mass of Stein 2051 B-the sixth-nearest white dwarf to the Sun-as 0.675 ± 0.051 solar masses. This mass determination provides confirmation of the physics of degenerate matter and lends support to white dwarf evolutionary theory.

Anisotropic Electron Tail Generation during Tearing Mode Magnetic Reconnection.

The first experimental evidence of anisotropic electron energization during magnetic reconnection that favors a direction perpendicular to the guide magnetic field in a toroidal, magnetically confined plasma is reported in this Letter. Magnetic reconnection plays an important role in particle heating, energization, and transport in space and laboratory plasmas. In toroidal devices like the Madison Symmetric Torus, discrete magnetic reconnection events release large amounts of energy from the equilibrium magnetic field. Fast x-ray measurements imply a non-Maxwellian, anisotropic energetic electron tail is formed at the time of reconnection. The tail is well described by a power-law energy dependence. The expected bremsstrahlung from an electron distribution with an anisotropic energetic tail (v_{⊥}>v_{∥}) spatially localized in the core region is consistent with x-ray emission measurements. A turbulent process related to tearing fluctuations is the most likely cause for the energetic electron tail formation.

A kiloparsec-scale internal shock collision in the jet of a nearby radio galaxy.

Jets of highly energized plasma with relativistic velocities are associated with black holes ranging in mass from a few times that of the Sun to the billion-solar-mass black holes at the centres of galaxies. A popular but unconfirmed hypothesis to explain how the plasma is energized is the 'internal shock model', in which the relativistic flow is unsteady. Faster components in the jet catch up to and collide with slower ones, leading to internal shocks that accelerate particles and generate magnetic fields. This mechanism can explain the variable, high-energy emission from a diverse set of objects, with the best indirect evidence being the unseen fast relativistic flow inferred to energize slower components in X-ray binary jets. Mapping of the kinematic profiles in resolved jets has revealed precessing and helical patterns in X-ray binaries, apparent superluminal motions, and the ejection of knots (bright components) from standing shocks in the jets of active galaxies. Observations revealing the structure and evolution of an internal shock in action have, however, remained elusive, hindering measurement of the physical parameters and ultimate efficiency of the mechanism. Here we report observations of a collision between two knots in the jet of nearby radio galaxy 3C 264. A bright knot with an apparent speed of (7.0 ± 0.8)c, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum, is in the incipient stages of a collision with a slower-moving knot of speed (1.8 ± 0.5)c just downstream, resulting in brightening of both knots--as seen in the most recent epoch of imaging.

Postdischarge Nausea and Vomiting Remains Frequent After Le Fort I Osteotomy Despite Implementation of a Multimodal Antiemetic Protocol Effective in Reducing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) after Le Fort I osteotomy with and without the use of a multimodal antiemetic protocol shown to decrease postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy with or without additional procedures at a single academic institution formed the intervention cohort for an institutional review board-approved prospective clinical trial with a retrospective comparison group. The intervention cohort was managed with a multimodal antiemetic protocol. The comparison group consisted of consecutive patients who underwent similar surgical procedures at the same institution before protocol implementation. All patients were asked to complete a postdischarge diary documenting the occurrence of nausea and vomiting. Those who completed the diaries were included in this analysis. Data were analyzed with the Fisher exact test and the Wilcoxon rank sum test. A P value less than .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Diaries were completed by 85% of patients in the intervention group (79 of 93) and 75% of patients in the comparison group (103 of 137). Patients in the intervention (n = 79) and comparison (n = 103) groups were similar in the proportion of patients with validated risk factors for PDNV, including female gender, history of PONV, age younger than 50 years, opioid use in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and nausea in the PACU (P = .37). The prevalence of PDNV was unaffected by the antiemetic protocol. After discharge, nausea was reported by 72% of patients in the intervention group and 60% of patients in the comparison group (P = .13) and vomiting was reported by 22% of patients in the intervention group and 29% of patients in the comparison group (P = .40). CONCLUSION: Modalities that successfully address PONV after Le Fort I osteotomy might fail to affect PDNV, which is prevalent in this population. Future investigation will focus on methods to minimize PDNV.

Paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction in solid tumors.

Leukemoid reaction is defined as leucocytosis >50,000/µL. When it occurs in association with a malignancy, and infection or leukemia has been ruled out, it is termed as paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction. A patient presented with fatigue, generalized weakness, and abdominal distension and was incidentally noted to have a white blood cell count of 139,000/µL. Leukemia was ruled out by peripheral smear and flow cytometry. Computed tomography-guided biopsy of thickened omentum revealed poorly differentiated metastatic carcinoma. He died 3 days after admission with a peak white blood cell count of 180,000/µL. Previous reports and pathophysiology of paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction are reviewed.

Multimodal protocol reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of a multimodal antiemetic protocol on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after Le Fort I osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy with or without additional procedures at a single academic institution were recruited as the intervention cohort for an institutional review board-approved prospective clinical trial with a retrospective comparison group. The intervention cohort was managed with a multimodal antiemetic protocol, including total intravenous anesthesia; prophylactic ondansetron, steroids, scopolamine, and droperidol; gastric decompression at surgery end; opioid-sparing analgesia; avoidance of morphine and codeine; prokinetic erythromycin; and fluids at a minimum of 25 mL/kg. The comparison group consisted of consecutive patients from a larger study who underwent similar surgical procedures before protocol implementation. Data, including occurrence of PONV, were extracted from medical records. Data were analyzed in bivariate fashion with the Fisher exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Logistic regression was used to compare the likelihood of nausea and vomiting in the 2 cohorts after controlling for demographic and surgical characteristics. A P value less than .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The intervention (n = 93) and comparison (n = 137) groups were similar in gender (58% and 65% female patients; P = .29), race (72% and 71% Caucasian; P = .85), age (median, 19 and 20 years old; P = .75), proportion of patients with known risk factors for PONV (P = .34), percentage undergoing bimaxillary surgery (60% for the 2 groups), and percentage for whom surgery time was longer than 180 minutes (63% and 59%; P = .51). Prevalence of postoperative nausea was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the comparison group (24% vs 70%; P < .0001). Prevalence of postoperative vomiting was likewise significantly lower in the intervention group (11% vs 28%; P = .0013). The likelihood that patients in the comparison group would develop nausea was 8.9 and that for vomiting was 3.7 times higher than in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: This multimodal protocol was associated with substantially decreased prevalence of PONV in patients undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy.

The safety of sedation for overweight/obese children in the dental setting.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to examine childhood overweight/obesity as a risk factor for adverse events during sedation for dental procedures. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective, IRB-approved study that included 17 years of data (1992-2009). The outcome variables were desaturation, nausea/vomiting, prolonged sedation, and true apnea. The major explanatory variables were weight percentiles and BMI percentiles. RESULTS: A total of 510 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 431 (86%) experienced no adverse events, 73 (14%) experienced one or more adverse events, and 6 had missing data. BMI data were available for a nested cohort of 103 children. Patients who experienced one or more adverse events had higher mean weights and BMI percentiles, though differences were not statistically significant. Another way to conceptualize the BMI data is to consider that 12% of the normal weight children experienced one or more adverse events versus 18% of the overweight/obese. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, weight percentiles were higher in children who had one or more adverse events. Similarly, patients with higher BMI percentiles were more likely to experience adverse events. Although preliminary in nature, these findings suggest that childhood overweight/obesity may be associated with adverse events during sedation for dental procedures.

The occurrence and mass distribution of close-in super-Earths, Neptunes, and Jupiters.

The questions of how planets form and how common Earth-like planets are can be addressed by measuring the distribution of exoplanet masses and orbital periods. We report the occurrence rate of close-in planets (with orbital periods less than 50 days), based on precise Doppler measurements of 166 Sun-like stars. We measured increasing planet occurrence with decreasing planet mass (M). Extrapolation of a power-law mass distribution fitted to our measurements, df/dlogM = 0.39 M(-0.48), predicts that 23% of stars harbor a close-in Earth-mass planet (ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 Earth masses). Theoretical models of planet formation predict a deficit of planets in the domain from 5 to 30 Earth masses and with orbital periods less than 50 days. This region of parameter space is in fact well populated, implying that such models need substantial revision.