[Large Pneumothorax in a Sleep Apnea Patient with CPAP without Previously Known Lung and Thoracic Diseases - a Case Report]. / Großer Pneumothorax unter CPAP-Therapie beim Schlafapnoepatienten ohne vorbekannte Lungen- und Thoraxerkrankungen ­ ein Fallbericht.

CPAP is the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.Serious complications from this treatment are very rare. Pneumothorax following lung barotrauma under CPAP therapy has been described in case reports only in patients with pre-existing lung and thoracic diseases.A 68-year-old sleep apnea patient without pre-existing lung or thoracic diseases and with established CPAP therapy since many years was admitted to the hospital after a severe thoracic pain event with persistent shortness of breath. Chest radiograph and computed tomography showed an extensive right-sided pneumothorax with basal bullous emphysema. After surgical treatment of the secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, on the third postoperative day CPAP with reduced pressure was re-introduced with satisfactory sleep apnea findings and without pneumothorax recurrence.As possible cause of pneumothorax in the patient, alveolar inflammatory changes due to over-distention and increased pressure in the alveoli was assumed, which can occur after years of CPAP treatment with gradual pressure increase.In summary, in sleep apnea patients treated with CPAP for years, after sudden onset of thoracic pain and shortness of breath possible spontaneous pneumothorax should be considered.

[Complications after Indwelling Pleural Catheter Implant for Symptomatic Recurrent Benign and Malignant Pleural Effusions]. / Komplikationen nach pleuralem getunnelten Dauerkatheter bei symptomatischen rezidivierenden benignen und malignen Pleuraergüssen.

BACKGROUND: Implant of indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) represents an established therapy method in addition to pleurodesis for symptomatic recurrent benign and malignant pleural effusions (BPE and MPE).There are only few studies on IPC safety during follow-up, especially with regard to infection and pneumothorax rates.The aim of our investigation was to determine the complication frequency after IPC implant and its predictive factors in patients with BPE vs. MPE. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all IPC implantations in the pneumology department at the University Hospital Dresden during 2015 - 2018. RESULTS: An IPC was implanted in 86 patients (43 m/f each; age 66.9 ±â€Š13.3 years) with symptomatic BPE and MPE. BPE and MPE was present in 12.8 % (11/86) and 87.2 % (75/86) of the patients, respectively.A predominantly small and asymptomatic pneumothorax was detectable as an immediate complication in 43/86 (50 %) of patients; 34/43 (79 %) of patients did not require any specific therapy. For 9/43 patients, IPC suction was required for a median period of three days; 8/43 patients had a large pneumothorax with partial or complete regression after a median period of two days.Catheter infection developed in 15.1 % (13/86) of the total group and 36.4 % (4/11) of the BPE vs. 12 % (9/75) of the MPE after a median period of 87 (BPE/MPE 116/87) days. This was more common in BPE (p = 0.035), large pneumothorax (4/8 patients; p = 0.015) and longer catheter dwell times (124 ±â€Š112 vs. 71 ±â€Š112 days; p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Small pneumothoraxes are frequent after IPC implantation, but usually do not require specific therapy. IPC infection was detected in 15.1 % of all patients after a median period of 87 days. This was more common in patients with BPE, longer catheter dwell times and large pneumothorax.

[Chronic Granulomatous Disease: A Rare Differential Diagnosis in Recurrent Pulmonary Infections in Adults]. / Septische Granulomatose als seltene Differenzialdiagnose rezidivierender pulmonaler Infektionen bei Erwachsenen.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) should be considered as a differential diagnosis in children and adolescents with frequent infections, especially when caused by certain specific pathogens.This case report describes a 64-year-old female with multiple recurrent and complicated bronchopulmonary infections, caused by common, but also rare pathogens, autoimmune phenomena, malignancies and recurrent organizing pneumonia (OP) with granulomas. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with p47phox-deficient chronic granulomatous disease (CGD).Individuals with a primary immunodeficiency may survive multiple complications and may be diagnosed at an advanced age especially if the affected structure shows residual activity. When confronted with patients with recurrent bronchopulmonary infections, especially with certain specific rare pathogens, in combination with organizing pulmonary granulomas as well as autoimmune phenomena, CGD should be considered even in elderly patients. Delayed diagnosis significantly increases mortality and morbidity in such cases.

Flexible sample cell for real-time GISAXS, GIWAXS and XRR: design and construction.

Since the properties of functional materials are highly dependent on their specific structure, and since the structural changes, for example during crystallization, induced by coating and annealing processes are significant, the study of structure and its formation is of interest for fundamental and applied science. However, structure analysis is often limited to ex situ determination of final states due to the lack of specialized sample cells that enable real-time investigations. The lack of such cells is mainly due to their fairly complex design and geometrical restrictions defined by the beamline setups. To overcome this obstacle, an advanced sample cell has been designed and constructed; it combines automated doctor blading, solvent vapor annealing and sample hydration with real-time grazing-incidence wide- and small-angle scattering (GIWAXS/GISAXS) and X-ray reflectivity (XRR). The sample cell has limited spatial requirements and is therefore widely usable at beamlines and laboratory-scale instruments. The cell is fully automatized and remains portable, including the necessary electronics. In addition, the cell can be used by interested scientists in cooperation with the Institute for Crystallography and Structural Physics and is expandable with regard to optical secondary probes. Exemplary research studies are presented, in the form of coating of P3HT:PC61PM thin films, solvent vapor annealing of DRCN5T:PC71BM thin films, and hydration of supported phospholipid multilayers, to demonstrate the capabilities of the in situ cell.

Inter-rater Agreement in Three Perfusion-Computed Tomography Evaluation Methods before Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

PURPOSE: There is ongoing debate on which method of perfusion computed tomography (PCT) evaluation in ischemic stroke is the most appropriate for improved selection of patients for endovascular treatment. We sought to test different assessment methods for inter-rater reliability. METHODS: Twenty-six patients were enrolled prospectively before endovascular therapy for acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke. Three raters experienced in stroke imaging and blinded to other imaging and clinical information independently analyzed 22 technically successful PCT scans according to 3 prespecified assessment methods applied to cerebral blood flow (CBF)/cerebral blood volume (CBV) and time-to-peak (TTP) maps: (1) visual mismatch estimate (VME), (2) Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score perfusion method (ASPECTS-PCT), and (3) quantitative perfusion ratios (qPRs): RCBF, RCBV, RTTP. Inter-rater agreement was assessed with Cohen's kappa, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland-Altman plots, and global and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Significant differences between raters were found with VME and ASPECTS-PCT (P < .001) but with qPRs only for CBV (P = .03). Inter-rater agreement for VME was at best moderate by kappa statistics (.51); moderate by ICC for all parametric maps of ASPECTS-PCT (.56-.62), strong for RTTP (.76), and excellent for RCBF (.92) and RCBV (.86). Pairwise comparisons revealed less scattering of individual values with qPRs and less deviation of mean differences from 0, suggesting minor systematic deviation by any 1 rater as compared with VME or ASPECTS-PCT. CONCLUSION: PCT evaluation methods used before endovascular therapy for acute anterior circulation stroke are subject to substantial inter-rater disagreement. QPRs in PCT evaluation had better inter-rater reliability than the often used VME and ASPECTS-PCT assessment.

[Magnetic Resonance Microscopy of the Accommodative Apparatus]. / Magnetresonanzmikroskopie des Akkommodationsapparats.

Magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) at ultra-high magnetic fields allows acquisition of high resolution MR images in the micrometre range. The use of ultra-high magnetic fields opens the possibility of user-independent and artefact-free detailed characterisation of the anatomical tissue of the human eye, which is not achievable with classical imaging techniques. This article correlates MRM of the anterior eye segment and the accommodative apparatus at 9.4 Tesla with conventional histology.

Diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities in photosensitive juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multiple structural white matter abnormalities have been described in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). In the present study, the question of whether microstructural variations exist between the two subgroups of JME, with and without photoparoxysmal responses (PPR positive and negative), was addressed using diffusion tensor imaging. METHODS: A selection of 18 patients (eight PPR positive) from a tertiary epilepsy center diagnosed with JME and 27 healthy controls was studied. The following regions of interest were investigated: the ascending reticular activating system, lateral geniculate nucleus, genu of the internal capsule, ventromedial thalamus and inferior cerebellar peduncle. RESULTS: Widespread white matter microstructural abnormalities in JME and in particular in PPR positive cases were identified. PPR positive patients demonstrated increased fractional anisotropy in the ascending reticular activating system and ventromedial thalamus compared to PPR negative patients and healthy controls. Reduced fractional anisotropy of the lateral geniculate nucleus was observed in the entire JME group compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Several microstructural variations between PPR positive and negative JME patients have been identified. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of the thalamus in the pathophysiology of primary generalized seizures and suggest that thalamo-premotor connections are both an essential part of epileptic networks and important in the pathogenesis of photosensitivity.

Comparing perfusion CT evaluation algorithms for predicting outcome after endovascular treatment in anterior circulation ischaemic stroke.

AIM: To analyse perfusion CT (PCT) evaluation algorithms for their predictive value for outcome after endovascular therapy (ET) in acute ischaemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients were prospectively enrolled to undergo endovascular therapy for moderate to severe [National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of ≥5] anterior circulation stroke ≤6 h of onset. PCT datasets were evaluated according to three algorithms: visual mismatch estimate (VME), Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score (ASPECTS) perfusion, and quantitative perfusion ratios (QPRs: RCBF, RCBV) of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and volume (CBV). Results were correlated with outcome measures [NIHSS score at discharge, NIHSS score change until discharge (ΔNIHSSA/D), mRS at 90 days (mRS90d)] and compared with a matched control group. RESULTS: Recanalization was achieved in 73%, median NIHSS score decreased from 14 to 5 at discharge. The treatment and control group did not differ by VME and ASPECTS perfusion, nor did VME correlate with any of the three outcome measures. ASPECTS perfusion was not predictive of any outcome measure in the ET group. RCBF and RCBV were associated with ΔNIHSSA/D in controls and, inversely, the ET group, but not with mRS90d. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of RCBF (and RCBV) showed a positive predictive and negative predictive value of 87% (78%) and 74% (73%), respectively, for discriminating major neurological improvement (ΔNIHSSA/D <7 versus ≥7). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of QPRs for CBF and CBV are superior to clinically used VME and ASPECTS perfusion evaluation methods for predicting early outcome after ET for anterior circulation stroke.

Cine MRI: a new approach to the diagnosis of scapholunate dissociation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of cine MRI for the detection of scapholunate dissociation (SLD) and to compare the sensitivity and specificity of cine MRI with those of cineradiography and arthroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate feasibility, healthy subjects underwent cine MRI of the wrist. To evaluate sensitivity and specificity, patients with clinically suspected scapholunate ligament (SLL) injury after trauma to the wrist were prospectively included and underwent radiographic examination, cineradiography, and cine MRI. In 25 out of 38 patients, subsequent arthroscopy was performed. Results of cineradiography and cine MRI correlated with those of arthroscopy. RESULTS: Cine MRI was of diagnostic quality in all healthy subjects and patients with good interrater agreement. There was excellent correlation between cineradiography and cine MRI. Scapholunate distance differed significantly between healthy subjects and patients with scapholunate dissociation (p < 0.001), but not between imaging modalities in the patient group. Cine MRI had 85% sensitivity and 90% specificity for the detection of SLD. CONCLUSION: Cine MRI of the wrist is a fast and reliable technique for the detection of SLD with diagnostic accuracy comparable to cineradiography. It can be easily implemented as a routine clinical MRI examination, facilitating diagnostic workup of patients with suspected SLD while avoiding radiation exposure.

[Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and its Application in Ophthalmology]. / Diffusionsgewichtete Magnetresonanztomografie und ihre potenziellen Anwendungsmöglichkeiten in der Ophthalmologie.

The value of diffusion-weighted magnet resonance imaging (DWI-MRI) has been demonstrated for an ever growing range of clinical indications. DWI is sensitive to the diffusion of water molecules and probes their random displacement within tissue. DWI provides both qualitative and quantitative information on tissue characteristics, e.g. tissue cellularity. This review provides an overview of diffusion-weighted imaging and its emerging applications in ophthalmology. The basic physics and technical foundations of DWI are introduced. The emerging applications of DWI are surveyed, particularly in diseases of the eye, orbit and optical nerve.

[Optimized imaging of the midface and orbits]. / Optimierte Bildgebung des Mittelgesichtes und der Orbita.

A variety of imaging techniques are available for imaging the midface and orbits. This review article describes the different imaging techniques based on the recent literature and discusses their impact on clinical routine imaging. Imaging protocols are presented for different diseases and the different imaging modalities.

ELECTROSPUN MESOFIBERS, A NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE PHEROMONE DISPENSER TECHNOLOGY, ARE COMBINED WITH MECHANICAL DEPLOYMENT FOR EFFICIENT IPM OF LOBESIA BOTRANA IN VINEYARDS.

Behaviour modifying pheromones are well known agents for disrupting mating communication of pest insects. For optimal activity, they must be dispensed in time and space at a quantitatively measurable, predetermined release rate covering the flight period of the target species. Pheromones appeal to environmentally conscientious entomologists for their biodegradability, non-toxicity and ecological compatibility. In attempts of combining the virtues of pheromones, suitable slow release dispensers, and their mechanical deployment, an ecologically sensible, reasonably priced and patented procedure was developed and tested with the vineyard pest Lobesia botrana (Lep.: Tortricidae). It is characterized by (1) Electrospun mesofibers with diameters ranging from 0.6 to 3.5 micrometres, containing disruptants and dispensing it by slow release diffusion into the crop, (2) simultaneous application of the fully biodegradable combination of pheromone with Ecoflex polyester mesofiber, (3) combination of mechanical deployment by multi-purpose cultivators of the prefabricated pheromone dispensers with other simultaneous cultivation measures, and thus further reducing labour time and treatment costs. The dispensers are biodegradable within half a year without leaving any objectionable residues. In the standard eco-toxicology tests pheromone dispensers are harmless to non-target organisms. The disruptive effect of one treatment lasts for seven weeks which covers well one of several flight periods of L. botrana.

ERGOGRAPHY-RATIONAL METHOD FOR HANDLING AND EXTRACTING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN BIBLIOGRAPHIES OF PROLIFIC AUTHORS.

Ergography is a novel technique invented in 2003 by the first author in his attempts to understand, analyze, and quantify at one glance the work of creative scientists without reading through lengthy, usually boring laudations of invited speakers. Traditional enumeration of accomplishments is helpful but less than satisfactory. Simple descriptive texts often do not satisfactorily answer the question of how, when and why certain observations and theories were established and how they influenced the development and advance of scientific fields at large. Five influential entomologists, R.L. Metcalf, H. Schmutterer, P. Karlson, T. Eisner and E.O. Wilson, as well as two biochemists, A. Butenandt and F. Lynen, a few of them still alive, were selected as targets to gain some experience with the new technique superficially resembling chromatograms or spectra. Pretty soon, it became clear that the "when" is easy to answer and follows from simple time diagrams. More difficult is the analysis of the "how" and "why" and "under whose influence" certain subject areas were pursued. Even more difficult to analyze is the impact, if any, certain papers had on subsequent authors and to what extent the "memes" influence contemporary or future authors within and outside established research schools of thought. Ergographic analysis is an ongoing project that learns its rules by trying and doing. It links the forefront of research to the task of the science historian who is looking back over considerable distances. Ergographists try to speed up this process by the tools of analyzing working patterns and hopefully finding similarities and signs of influences in other schools of thought. In the virtual absence of suitable critical electronic software with semantic resolution power, ergography is still a matter of personal enterprise, curiosity, intuition, and willingness to follow with a prepared mind the paths investigated before by ingenious talent and make them more transparent.

[In vivo MR microscopy of the human eye]. / In-vivo-Magnetresonanzmikroskopie des humanen Auges.

MR microscopy using an ultra high-field MR system is a novel non-invasive imaging technique to explore the human eye without optical distortions. This review aims to provide an insight into the technique. Normal MR microscopic anatomy of the human eye in vivo is demonstrated and clinical applications of MR microscopy are discussed.

[Ophthalmological imaging with ultrahigh field magnetic resonance tomography: technical innovations and frontier applications]. / Ophthalmologische Bildgebung mit Ultrahochfeld-Magnetresonanztomografie: technische Innovationen und wegweisende Anwendungen.

This review documents technical progress in ophthalmic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultrahigh fields (UHF, B(0) ≥ 7.0 T). The review surveys frontier applications of UHF-MRI tailored for high spatial resolution in vivo imaging of the eye, orbit and optic nerve. Early examples of clinical ophthalmic UHF-MRI including the assessment of melanoma of the choroid membrane and the characterisation of intraocular masses are demonstrated. A concluding section ventures a glance beyond the horizon and explores research promises along with future directions of ophthalmic UHF-MRI.

NEEM: UNUSUALLY VERSATILE PLANT GENUS AZADIRACHTA WITH MANY USEFUL AND SO FAR INSUFFICIENTLY EXPLOITED PROPERTIES FOR AGRICULTURE, MEDICINE, AND INDUSTRY.

Neem plants (Rutales: Meliaceae) are well known for their multitude of human benefits in various fields. Specifically well investigated are the Indian neem tree Azadirachta indica A. Juss., the Thai neem A. siamensis Val., the originally Malaysian/Philippinean neem A. excelsa (Jack) and, as a close relative, the Persian lilac, Melia azedarach. The major and most active natural products are azadirachtin, salannin, nimbin and marrangin from Azadirachta species, and azadirachtin analogues like meliantriol from Melia species. Neem fruits, leaves, bark, and roots have specific virtues. They have been traditionally exploited for a considerable part of human history and are documented in Sanskrit texts. Due to human activity in trade and travel both at land and sea, the plant species has been distributed around the globe and is cultivated in many tropical, and subtropical regions. A multitude of natural products of neem have been isolated, chemically characterized or identified, and investigated for their properties in the management of insects, Acarina, Crustacea, nematodes, bacteria, fungi, viruses and soil fertility (for reviews see Kraus, 2002; Schmutterer, 2002A; Rembold, 2002; Koul, 2004; Schmutterer and Huber, 2005; Kleeberg and Strang, 2009; Hummel et al., 2008, 2011, 2012). Neem products are virtually nontoxic, compatible with beneficial insects, pollinators and bees. They are environmentally benign, sustainable, renewable, and of a price affordable for developed countries. In conclusion, neem is a prime example of a natural resource with many beneficial applications in agriculture, human and veterinary medicine. So far, its use is practically free of resistance problems which are frustratingly prevalent in many areas of synthetic insecticide and drug development. Investigating more neem applications will increase future human welfare and health while being of general ecological benefit to the planet.

EXPLOITING CHEMICAL ECOLOGY FOR LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT OF SMALL HOLDER FARMERS IN KENYA.

"Push-Pull" is an inexpensive and eminently practical strategy designed for developing countries in order to exploit sound principles of chemical ecology for agricultural pest management. This strategy is specifically suitable for small holder farmers. Their experience can easily be integrated into existing farming practices in their immediate environment. "Push-pull" within one and a half decades became widely established and meanwhile is greatly beneficial to practitioners in East Africa, mainly Kenya. The classical push-pull approach used for applied plant-insect management was pioneered by Khan and Pickett (2000) and subsequent papers of Pickett (2003) and Khan et al. (2006, 2008). Relevant plant species explored so far were maize or sorghum intercropped with other East African plants (Desmodium spp. resp. Melinis minutiflora) possessing natural chemicals repellent resp. attractive for stem borer moths Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera), whereby Desmodium spp. was grown inside the maize rows while M. minutiflora surrounded it. Both simultaneous actions combined resulted in a significant decrease of stem borers in the area to be protected. A benefit to cost ratio of 2.5 was realized. Within a period of 15 years the number of subscribing farmers substantially increased from a few dozen to more than 80,000 in 2014. Two experiments along the paths of chemical ecology were undertaken between Sept 2012 and Feb 2013: One was designed to investigate if the legume D. intortum known to produce repellent volatiles against stem borer moths induces defence in Zea mays varieties. We looked at two open-pollinated farmers' varieties and two commercial hybrid varieties suspecting the farmers' varieties to be responsive rather than the hybrids. However, no defence induction was detected in this study so far. This could be explained by an insufficient production of defence inducing volatiles in leaves of D. intortum whereas flowers might produce a sufficient response. More detailed study is needed. A second approach made use of species-specific insect monitoring traps baited with highly specific female sex pheromones for attracting and monitoring destructive insect pests. The female sex pheromone (8-methyl-decane-2-ol propanoate) of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) (Western Corn Rootworm) is readily available as bait in the "Metcalf sticky cup trap" for trapping males, an extraordinarily sensitive technique for monitoring the presence or absence of male beetles in a given area. Li et al. (2006) had argued for the likelihood of easy immigration of this cosmopolitan maize pest into East Africa. Our results, however, so far indicate the absence of a local population in the area of Mbita, while not excluding its presence at Nairobi or Mombasa. Both investigations contribute to different aspects of Kenyan economic development and may be seen as two independent but complementary contributions towards livelihood improvement of small holder farmers in Kenya.

MR microscopy of the human finger and correlation with histology--a proof-of-principle study.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with small surface coils is a well established method for the diagnostic evaluation of finger masses. Until now, histological examination has been required to reliably assess tumor extent and infiltration of surrounding structures. Ultra-high-field MR microscopy (MRM) allows evaluation of anatomical structures and pathologies with submillimeter resolution. This study describes the diagnostic prospects and potential of MRM based on the ex-vivo examination of different finger pathologies. Ten human digits were examined by ex-vivo MRM at 7.1 Tesla (ClinScan, Bruker BioScan) using a T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence. Imaging parameters were: TE 48 ms; TR 8370 ms; slice thickness 700 µm; matrix size 1024 × 1024 pixels; FOV 37 × 37 mm; in-plane resolution 36 × 36 µm/voxel. Afterwards specimens were examined histologically. Histology and MRM were correlated. MRM allowed evaluation of the anatomy of the nail, the tendon insertions, the distal interphalangeal joint, and the neurovascular bundles. Finger abnormalities evaluated by MRM included osteomyelitis and metastatic disease. Subsequent histological examination confirmed MRM findings regarding origin, internal makeup, and extent of the structures visualized. This study demonstrates the potential of MRM for imaging small anatomical structures and pathologies of the human finger. Our ex-vivo findings correlate strongly with histology, suggesting that MRM may gain a central role in assessing anatomical structures and pathology in terms of morphology, extent, and infiltration of surrounding structures. Therefore, with increasing availability, MRM is expected to become an essential tool not only in experimental studies but also for daily routine.

Lobesia botrana IPM: electrospun polyester microfibers serve as biodegradable sex pheromone dispensers.

Modern insect pest management is faced with an increasingly sophisticated set of requirements. Control agent/dispenser combinations must be at the same time safe, nontoxic, inexpensive, reproducibly efficacious, environmentally compatible, biodegradable, and sustainable, and should be based on renewable resources. The methods employed preferably should be suitable for the growing and tightly controlled organic growing sector as well. All this calls for a level of sophistication and reproducibility previously unknown. Only very few systems can offer this kind of performance, but fortunately can be found in the area of suitable pheromone/dispenser combinations. This report is an attempt to adapt electrospun Ecoflex polyester micro fibers of the Greiner-Wendorff type to the very specific needs of the grape growing industry. Specifically required are "semi-intelligent" dispenser materials. On a weight basis, the electrospun product should achieve as high a proportion as possible of "retainable" sex pheromone (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate of Lobesia botrana (Lep.: Tortricidae) and should release it as uniformly as possible into the surrounding airspace. Using the Doye bioassay, some progress indeed has recently been achieved with electrospun Ecoflex microfibers of 0.5-3.5 microm diameter. They were employed as dispensers for programmed sex pheromone release with an effective mating disruption duration of up to seven weeks. With one microfiber/pheromone treatment, this covers one entire flight period of the trivoltine L. botrana. Mechanical application of this microfiber/pheromone preparation (with the option of automation) is possible. Disruption effects are comparable with those of commercially available dispensers of the Isonet type. Exposed under vineyard conditions, Ecoflex polyester fibers are a spider silk like material which is biodegradable within half a year. Thus, after releasing its pheromone load, it does not need removal, which saves one cultivation step. The fibers are under rigorous quantitative pretesting by analytical lab methods such as scanning EM, CLSA, timed weight loss curves in isothermal wind tunnels, and by thermogravimetry. Grapes produced under protection with these pheromone-charged biodegradable and mechanically deployable Ecoflex microfibers are completely free of pesticide residues.

Pheromone dispensers, including organic polymer fibers, described in the crop protection literature: comparison of their innovation potential.

Pheromone dispensers, although known in a variety of different designs, are one of the few remaining technical bottlenecks along the way to a sustainable pheromone based strategy in integrated pest management (IPM). Mating disruption with synthetic pheromones is a viable pest management approach. Suitable pheromone dispensers for these mating disruption schemes, however, are lagging behind the general availability of pheromones. Specifically, there is a need for matching the properties of the synthetic pheromones, the release rates suitable for certain insect species, and the environmental requirements of specific crop management. The "ideal" dispenser should release pheromones at a constant but pre-adjustable rate, should be mechanically applicable, completely biodegradable and thus save the costs for recovering spent dispensers. These should be made from renewable, cheap organic material, be economically inexpensive, and be toxicologically and eco-toxicologically inert to provide satisfactory solutions for the needs of practicing growers. In favourable cases, they will be economically competitive with conventional pesticide treatments and by far superior in terms of environmental and eco-toxicological suitability. In the course of the last 40 years, mating disruption, a non-toxicological approach, provided proof for its potential in dozens of pest insects of various orders and families. Applications for IPM in many countries of the industrialized and developing world have been reported. While some dispensers have reached wide circulation, only few of the key performing parameters fit the above requirements ideally and must be approximated with some sacrifice in performance. A fair comparison of the innovation potential of currently available pheromone dispensers is attempted. The authors advance here the use of innovative electrospun organic fibers with dimensions in the "meso" (high nano- to low micrometer) region. Due to their unique multitude of adjustable parameters, they hold considerable promise for future pest control against a variety of pest insects. In combination with well known synthetic sex pheromones, they can be used for communication disruption studies. One example, the pheromone of the European grape vine moth Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in combination with Ecoflex fibers, has been thoroughly tested in vineyards of Freiburg, Southwest Germany, with promising results. Seven weeks of communication disruption have been achieved, long enough to cover any one of several flights of this multivoltine grape pest. Disruption effects of around 95% have been achieved which are statistically indistinguishable from positive controls tested simultaneously with Isonet LE fibers, while an untreated negative control is significantly different. Ecoflex is a cheap organic co-polyester and completely biodegradable within half a year. Thus, an extra recovery step as with some other dispensers is unnecessary. This co-polyester is also of proven non-toxicity. The extension of the seven week disruption period towards half a year (the entire duration of all 3 Lobesia flights combined) is desirable and is under additional investigation in the near future. The discovery of suitable mesofibers is protected by European and US patents. The pheromone literature appearing between 1959 and today contains more than 25,000 references. This wealth of information is immediately applicable to pest management. It has major impacts on chemical ecology and IPM. In this paper, an attempt is made to compare the systems described in the literature and to derive some predictions about their prospective innovation potential. Special emphasis is given to the new development of organic biodegradable microfibers. To this end, a new electronic searching algorithm is introduced for reviewing the entries to be found in 4 specific databases. Its prominent features will be described. Surprisingly we found no previous entries in the literature linking pheromones with biodegradable organic polymer fibers whose diameters are in the dimension range of low micrometers and in the upper nanometer scale. In conclusion, the microfiber-pheromone combination must be considered as a novel approach whose virtues should be further explored for IPM in the near future.