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This brief communication is a discussion of several styles of shabti figures identified during the National Museums Scotland review of Egyptian material in Scottish collections. The shabtis’ combination of historical styles, nonsensical inscriptions and material composition clearly characterize them as modern productions, despite several recent publications identifying them as Roman Period pseudo-shabtis. This brief communication seeks to address this interpretation and re-establish them as pervasive examples of Egyptian tourist art from the late nineteenth to early/mid-twentieth centuries.

This article is the publication of an indurated limestone standing statue, now in Montrose Museum (ANGUSalive M1980.4578), identified as a Sistrum-player. The statue was collected in 1834 by Dr James Burnes IV, a relative of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, during a journey from India to Scotland. Stylistic features of the statue and its inscription are discussed here for the first time. Her family tree is also reconstructed based on known objects in international collections, restoring her to an important Theban priestly family of the early Ptolemaic Period, which is the largest yet proposed family tree for this group. This is followed by a discussion of the attested individuals.

Square knots can be difficult to construct in deep body cavities. The reversing half-hitch alternating post (RHAP) surgical knot has noninferior tensile strength and performance characteristics in deep body cavities. We compared the enterotomy repairs of novice learners in simulated deep body cavities using RHAP versus square knots after proficiency-based training.Undergraduate students were randomized to RHAP (n = 10) or square knot (n = 10) groups and trained to defined proficiency. They then performed hand-sewn enterotomy repairs of cadaveric porcine small bowels on flat surfaces and in simulated deep body cavities. We recorded time to knot-tying proficiency and to enterotomy repair, and burst pressures for the repair.Mean time-to-proficiency in knot tying was equivalent between the RHAP and square knot groups (23 [standard deviation (SD) 3] v. 21 [SD 2] min, p = 0.33). Mean time for enterotomy repair in deep cavities was shorter for the RHAP group (16 [SD 2] min v. 21 [SD 1] min, p = 0.02). Mean burst pressures for enterotomy repair were equivalent on flat surfaces (128 [SD 41] v. 101 [SD 36] mm Hg, p = 0.31), and were significantly higher for the RHAP group in simulated deep body cavities (32 [SD 13] v. 105 [SD 37] mm Hg, p = 0.05).The RHAP knots appear to have superior performance versus square knots when tied in a deep body cavity by novice learners. Future work should focus on demonstrating the clinical relevance and broad utility of the RHAP knot in abdominal surgery. Both knot types should be taught to novice learners.L’exécution de noeuds plats peut être difficile dans les cavités corporelles profondes. Les noeuds de type demi-clé inversée alternée (RHAP, pour reversing halfhitch alternating post) ont une résistance à la traction et un rendement semblables à ceux des noeuds plats dans ces cavités. Nous avons comparé l’efficacité des noeuds plats et des noeuds de type RHAP réalisés par de nouveaux apprenants dans des cavités profondes simulées, après leur avoir enseigné les compétences nécessaires.Les étudiants de premier cycle ont été aléatoirement répartis en 2 groupes, soit le groupe RHAP (n = 10) et le groupe noeud plat (n = 10), et ont reçu une formation pour développer des compétences prédéfinies. Ils ont ensuite suturé à la main un intestin grêle provenant d’un cadavre de porc, sur une surface plane et à l’intérieur d’une cavité profonde simulée. Nous avons mesuré le temps nécessaire à l’exécution du noeud et à la suture complète de l’incision, de même que la pression que pouvait subir cette suture sans se rompre.Le temps moyen d’exécution du noeud était semblable entre les groupes RHAP et noeud plat (23 min [écart type (E.T.) 3 min] c. 21 min [E.T. 2 min]; p = 0,33). Le temps moyen nécessaire à la suture de l’incision dans la cavité profonde était plus court dans le groupe RHAP (16 min [E.T. 2 min] c. 21 min [E.T. 1 min]; p = 0,02). La pression moyenne que pouvait subir la suture sans se rompre était comparable pour les sutures effectuées sur une surface plane (128 mm Hg [E.T. 41 mm Hg] c. 101 mm Hg [E.T. 36 mm Hg]; p = 0,31), mais était significativement plus élevée dans le groupe RHAP pour les sutures faites dans la cavité profonde (32 mm Hg [E.T. 13 mm Hg] c. 105 mm Hg [E.T. 37 mm Hg], p = 0,05).Les noeuds de type RHAP semblent avoir un rendement supérieur à celui des noeuds plats lorsqu’ils sont réalisés dans une cavité profonde par de nouveaux apprenants. Des études ultérieures devraient se pencher sur la pertinence clinique et l’utilité générale de ces noeuds en chirurgie abdominale. Les 2 types de noeuds devraient être enseignés aux nouveaux apprenants.

BACKGROUND Hemorrhagic shock (HS) and trauma can result in an endotheliopathy of trauma, characterized by endothelial compromise, inflammation, and aberrant coagulation. Kcentra, a prothrombin concentrate, has been demonstrated to mitigate pulmonary vascular leak in a murine model of HS. We investigated the effects of Kcentra in a rat model of HS, to achieve physiologic endpoints of relevance. METHODS Rats subjected to a grade intravenous splenic injury and controlled hemorrhage for 60 minutes were resuscitated with shed volumes of (1) Lactated Ringer's (LR) solution, (2) LR + 20 IU/kg Kcentra, (3) LR + 50 IU/kg Kcentra, (4) rat fresh frozen plasma (RFFP), or (5) human fresh frozen plasma (HFFP). Blood was harvested for monitoring metabolic and coagulation function. Rat lungs were evaluated for lung injury and permeability. RESULTS Animals resuscitated with LR displayed a significant increase in pulmonary vascular permeability (sham, 407.9 ± 122.4; shock + LR, 2040 ± 1462). Resuscitation with RFFP (606.5 ± 169.3) reduced leak; however, treatment with Kcentra (HS + Kcentra [20 IU/kg]: 1792 ± 903.4, HS + Kcentra [50 IU/kg]: 1876 ± 1103), and HFFP (1450 ± 533.2) had no significant effect on permeability. Kcentra modestly altered clotting parameters. Metabolic measures, such as lactate, pH, and base deficit, were restored to baseline levels by both RFFP and HFFP, but not Kcentra or LR. CONCLUSION Kcentra did not alter pulmonary vascular permeability, but modestly increased clotting potential in injured rats. This suggests that there may be a xenogenic reaction of human products in rats and that the effects of Kcentra on vascular stability may be distinct from its ability to modulate clotting. Our data indicate that the species chosen and utilized for in vivo preclinical testing of human derived blood products is of critical importance in determining their efficacy in animal models and is the primary impetus to communicate these results.

Invasive species can be particularly disruptive when they intersect with organisms of conservation concern. Stabilizing the declining eastern migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) is projected to require extensive habitat restoration across multiple land use sectors including metropolitan areas. Numerous conservation programs encourage urban citizens to plant gardens with milkweeds, the obligate larval host plants of the monarch. Here, we show that predation by Polistes dominula, an invasive paper wasp that is particularly abundant in urban settings, can turn such sites into ecological traps for monarch larvae. Polistes dominula was the predominant paper wasp seen foraging in central Kentucky pollinator gardens. In 120 observed encounters with monarch larvae on milkweeds in gardens, most second to fourth instars were killed, whereas most fifth instars escaped by thrashing or dropping. The wasps bit and carried off second instars whole, whereas third and fourth instar kills were first gutted, then processed and carried away piecemeal. Predation on sentinel larvae was much higher in urban gardens than in rural settings. The wasps exploited ornamental butterfly “hibernation boxes” in pollinator gardens as nesting habitat. Polistes dominula is an under-recognized predator that may diminish the urban sector’s contributions to monarch habitat restoration.

Urban ecosystems can support diverse communities of wild native bees. Because bloom times are conserved by geographic origin, incorporating some non-invasive non-native plants in urban landscapes can extend the flowering season and help support bees and other pollinators during periods when floral resources from native plants are limiting. A caveat, though, is the possibility that non-native plants might disproportionately host non-native, potentially invasive bee species. We tested that hypothesis by identifying all non-native bees among 11,275 total bees previously collected from 45 species of flowering woody landscape plants across 213 urban sites. Honey bees

The runoff or leaching of nitrogen fertilizers from monoculture turfgrass lawns contri-butes to water pollution, and such lawns are susceptible to insect pests and provide few resources for pollinators. One approach to creating more sustainable lawns is to incorporate white clover (Trifolium repens L.), a nitrogen-fixing legume, into grass seed mixtures or existing turfgrass swards. “Dutch” white clover (DWC), a ubiquitous landrace, forms non-uniform clumps when intermixed with turfgrasses, thus it is often considered to be a lawn weed. Recently, several dwarf varieties of white clover have been selected for their small leaf size and low growth habit, allowing them to tolerate low mowing heights and blend better with grasses. To date, there have been no studies published on the entomological aspects of dwarf clover in pure stands or intermixed with turfgrass. We established field plots with combinations of DWC, two cultivars of dwarf clover, and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) in monoculture or mixed swards, and compared the invertebrate communities therein. Predatory arthropods and earthworm numbers were similar in all plot types. The clover monocultures were resistant to white grubs, but the grub densities in the clover–tall fescue dicultures were similar to those found in the pure tall fescue swards. Dwarf clovers and DWC were similarly attractive to bees and supported similar bee assemblages. The tall fescue foliar N content was elevated 17–27% in the dicultures with clovers.

Following injury, the skin undergoes a wound healing process culminating in the formation of a mature scar. Millions of patients worldwide are left with scars every year as a result of trauma or surgery. Scars can be painful, disfiguring and disabling, yet patients report that clinicians are often dismissive of their concerns, unable to identify pathological scars and unaware of treatment options. The normal wound healing process comprises three overlapping stages: inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. In some patients this process is deranged, resulting in the formation of hypertrophic or keloid scars. Clinicians can minimize the risk of these pathological scars developing with good surgical technique and wound aftercare. If pathological scars do form, they should be identified early and patients referred for treatment, most often topical or intralesional corticosteroids. In resistant cases, pathological scars may be treated with phototherapy, radiotherapy or surgical resection.

BACKGROUND: Target‐selective biopesticides are needed to facilitate integrated pest and pollinator management in urban landscapes and gardens. Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae, strain SDS‐502 (Btg), recently registered in the USA and Canada, produces Cry8Da protein active against scarab beetles. We evaluated Btg formulations for managing the Japanese beetle [Popillia japonica Newman (JB)], a polyphagous invasive pest, including residual spray effectiveness for reducing adult feeding on Rosa and Tilia spp., and granular formulations for early‐ or late‐curative control of root‐feeding grubs in turfgrass. We also tested for cross‐order activity to monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus L.) larvae and other non‐target insects. RESULTS: Field‐weathered Btg residues reduced JB feeding on foliage for 3–14 days. Most beetles were still flight‐capable after 24 h confinement with Btg‐treated leaves. Granular Btg failed to control early‐ or late‐instar JB grubs in soils under several turfgrass species at multiple field sites. In three trials, feeding on Btg‐sprayed milkweed resulted in 97–100% mortality of early instar monarchs, with symptoms of B. thuringiensis pathogenesis. Fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)) fed Btg‐treated grass had reduced body mass, but there were no adverse effects on lady beetle larvae preying on Btg‐sprayed aphids or on the aphids themselves. CONCLUSION: This study supports efficacy of Btg strain SDS‐502 for reducing defoliation by adult JB in urban landscape settings. Granular formulations, however, failed to control JB grubs in turfgrass soils. Btg should not be used in gardens with larval host plants of the monarch butterfly or other non‐pest Lepidoptera, especially species of conservation concern. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Earthworm activity is beneficial in most natural and agricultural systems, but excessive earthworm casting is a problem on sports fields worldwide. Expulsion of soil-rich earthworm fecal matter, or casts, as mounds of soil on the turf canopy can muddy the surface, reduce photosynthesis, and lead to thinning, weed invasion and surface softening. Casts affect ball roll on sports fields, cause fouling of maintenance equipment, and dull mower blades. Build-up of cast material on reel mower units can affect height and quality of cut. Casting activity is dependent on environmental conditions such as soil texture, temperature, moisture, pH, and organic matter. Response to environmental conditions varies by species. Management options are limited, because no pesticides are specifically labeled for earthworm control at this time, and cultural control methods such as soil modification, turfgrass clipping removal, and sand topdressing have limited and inconsistent efficacy. Products containing plant-derived saponins and irritants show promise for earthworm management. Pest management practices to mitigate excessive earthworm casting will likely need to be species-specific, but limited knowledge of earthworm identification by end-users further inhibits the efficacy of control measures. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background Cell based therapies, such as bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs; also known as mesenchymal stromal cells), are currently under investigation for a number of disease applications. The current challenge facing the field is maintaining the consistency and quality of cells especially for cell dose production for pre-clinical testing and clinical trials. Here we determine how BM-donor variability and thus the derived MSCs factor into selection of the optimal primary cell lineage for cell production and testing in a pre-clinical swine model of trauma induced acute respiratory distress syndrome. Methods We harvested bone marrow and generated three different primary BM-MSCs from Yorkshire swine. Cells from these three donors were characterized based on (a) phenotype (morphology, differentiation capacity and flow cytometry), (b) in vitro growth kinetics and metabolic activity, and (c) functional analysis based on inhibition of lung endothelial cell permeability. Results Cells from each swine donor exhibited varied morphology, growth rate, and doubling times. All expressed the same magnitude of standard MSC cell surface markers by flow cytometry and had similar differentiation potential. Metabolic activity and growth potential at each of the passages varied between the three primary cell cultures. More importantly, the functional potency of the MSCs on inhibition of endothelial permeability was also cell donor dependent. Conclusion This study suggests that for production of MSCs for cell-based therapy, it is imperative to examine donor variability and characterize derived MSCs for marker expression, growth and differentiation characteristics and testing potency in application dependent assays prior to selection of the optimal cell lineage for large scale expansion and dose production. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-019-1877-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background Hemorrhagic shock (HS) and trauma induce endothelial barrier compromise, inflammation, and aberrant clotting. We have shown that fresh human platelets (Plts) and Plt extracellular vesicles mitigate vascular leak in murine models of injury. Here, we investigate the potential of freeze-dried platelets (FDPlts) to attenuate pulmonary vascular permeability, decrease inflammation, and promote clotting in a murine model of HS. Methods Human FDPlts were characterized using in vitro assays of Plt marker expression, aggregation, coagulation, and endothelial cell permeability. An intravital model of vascular injury in the mouse cremaster muscle was used to assess the ability of FDPlts to incorporate into clots. Mouse groups subjected to controlled hemorrhage for 90 minutes were (1) lactated Ringer solution (LR), (2) FDPlts, (3) fresh human Plts, (4) murine whole blood (WB), and (5) shams (only instrumented). Hemorrhagic shock mouse endpoints included coagulation, pulmonary vascular permeability, and lung injury. Results Freeze-dried Plts expressed Plt-specific markers and retained functionality similar to fresh Plts. In in vitro assays of Plt aggregation, differences were noted. In vivo, FDPlts and Plts were found to incorporate into clots in postcapillary venules in the mouse cremaster muscle. Hemorrhagic shock mice resuscitated with LR displayed increased pulmonary vascular permeability compared with sham (sham, 686.6 ± 359.7; shock-LR, 2,637 ± 954.7; p = 0.001), and treatment with FDPlts or WB attenuated permeability compared with shock: shock-FDPlts, 1,328 ± 462.6 (p = 0.05), and shock-WB, 1,024 ± 370.5 (p = 0.0108). However, human Plts (Days 1-3) did not attenuate vascular leak in HS mice compared with shock-LR (shock-Plts, 3,601 ± 1,581; p = 0.33). Conclusion FDPlts contribute to clot formation similar to fresh human Plts. FDPlts also attenuated vascular permeability in vitro and in vivo. Mouse WB resuscitation but not fresh human Plts attenuated vascular permeability after HS. These data suggest that the effect of FDPlts may be a suitable alternative to fresh Plts in modulating hemostasis and the endotheliopathy associated with injury.

Public interest in ecological landscaping and gardening is fueling a robust market for native plants. Most plants available to consumers through the horticulture trade are cultivated forms that have been selected for modified flowers or foliage, compactness, or other ornamental characteristics. Depending on their traits, some native plant cultivars seem to support pollinators, specialist insect folivores, and insect-based vertebrate food webs as effectively as native plant species, whereas others do not. There is particular need for information on whether native cultivars can be as effective as true or “wild-type” native species for supporting specialist native insects of conservation concern. Herein we compared the suitability of native milkweed species and their cultivars for attracting and supporting one such insect, the iconic monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus L.), as well as native bees in urban pollinator gardens. Wild-type Asclepias incarnata L. (swamp milkweed) and Asclepias tuberosa L. (butterfly milkweed) and three additional cultivars of each that vary in stature, floral display, and foliage color were grown in a replicated common garden experiment at a public arboretum. We monitored the plants for colonization by wild monarchs, assessed their suitability for supporting monarch larvae in greenhouse trials, measured their defensive characteristics (leaf trichome density, latex, and cardenolide levels), and compared the proportionate abundance and diversity of bee families and genera visiting their blooms. Significantly more monarch eggs and larvae were found on A. incarnata than A. tuberosa in both years, but within each milkweed group, cultivars were colonized to the same extent as wild types. Despite some differences in defense allocation, all cultivars were as suitable as wild-type milkweeds in supporting monarch larval growth. Five bee families and 17 genera were represented amongst the 2,436 total bees sampled from blooms of wild-type milkweeds and their cultivars in the replicated gardens. Bee assemblages of A. incarnata were dominated by Apidae (Bombus, Xylocopa spp., and Apis mellifera), whereas A. tuberosa attracted relatively more Halictidae (especially Lasioglossum spp.) and Megachilidae. Proportionate abundance of bee families and genera was generally similar for cultivars and their respective wild types. This study suggests that, at least in small urban gardens, milkweed cultivars can be as suitable as their parental species for supporting monarch butterflies and native bees.

Planting milkweeds on public and private lands has emerged as a central conservation strategy for restoring declining North American migratory populations of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Nearly all actionable science on this issue has focused on restoring common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) in rural land types. The aim of this study was to develop recommendations for the best milkweeds for managed gardens intended to support both monarch butterflies and bees. Eight milkweed (Asclepias) species varying in height, form, and leaf shape were grown in a common-garden experiment at a public arboretum. We measured milkweed growth, tillering, and bloom periods, conducted bi-weekly counts of eggs and larvae to assess colonization by wild monarchs, and evaluated suitability for growth of monarch larvae. We also quantified bee visitation and compared the bee assemblages associated with six of the eight species, augmented with additional collections from other sites. Monarchs rapidly colonized the gardens, but did not equally use all of the milkweed species. More eggs and larvae were found on taller, broad-leaved milkweeds, but there was relatively little difference in larval performance, suggesting ovipositional preference for more apparent plants. Asclepias tuberosa and A. fascicularis attracted the greatest number of bees, whereas bee genus diversity was greatest on A. verticillata, A. fascicularis, and A. tuberosa. Milkweeds that do not spread extensively by tillering may be best suited for managed gardens. Combining milkweeds that are preferred by ovipositing monarchs with ones that are particularly attractive to bees may enhance conservation value of small urban gardens.

Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to mitigate vascular permeability in hemorrhagic shock (HS) and trauma-induced brain and lung injury. Mechanistically, paracrine factors secreted from MSCs have been identified that can recapitulate many of the potent biologic effects of MSCs in animal models of disease. Interestingly, MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), contain many of these key soluble factors, and have therapeutic potential independent of the parent cells. In this study we sought to determine whether MSC-derived EVs (MSC EVs) could recapitulate the beneficial therapeutic effects of MSCs on lung vascular permeability induced by HS in mice. Methods Mesenchymal stem cell EVs were isolated from human bone marrow-derived MSCs by ultracentrifugation. A mouse model of fixed pressure HS was used to study the effects of shock, shock + MSCs and shock + MSC EVs on lung vascular endothelial permeability. Mice were administered MSCs, MSC EVs, or saline IV. Lung tissue was harvested and assayed for permeability, RhoA/Rac1 activation, and for differential phosphoprotein expression. In vitro, human lung microvascular cells junctional integrity was evaluated by immunocytochemistry and endothelial cell impedance assays. Results Hemorrhagic shock-induced lung vascular permeability was significantly decreased by both MSC and MSC EV infusion. Phosphoprotein profiling of lung tissue revealed differential activation of proteins and pathways related to cytoskeletal rearrangement and regulation of vascular permeability by MSCs and MSC EVs. Lung tissue from treatment groups demonstrated decreased activation of the cytoskeletal GTPase RhoA. In vitro, human lung microvascular cells, MSC CM but not MSC-EVs prevented thrombin-induced endothelial cell permeability as measured by electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing system and immunocytochemistry of VE-cadherin and actin. Conclusion Mesenchymal stem cells and MSC EVs modulate cytoskeletal signaling and attenuate lung vascular permeability after HS. Mesenchymal stem cell EVs may potentially be used as a novel "stem cell free" therapeutic to treat HS-induced lung injury.

Systemic neonicotinoid insecticides used in urban arboriculture could pose a risk to bees and other pollinators foraging on treated plants. We measured uptake and dissipation of soil-applied imidacloprid and dinotefuran in nectar and leaves of 2 woody plant species, a broadleaf evergreen tree (Ilex × attenuata) and a deciduous shrub (Clethra alnifolia), to assess concentrations to which pollinators and pests might be exposed in landscape settings. Three application timings, autumn (postbloom), spring (prebloom), and summer (early postbloom), were evaluated to see if taking advantage of differences in the neonicotinoids' systemic mobility and persistence might enable pest control while minimizing transference into nectar. Nectar and tissue samples were collected from in-ground plants and analyzed for residues by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) in 2 successive years. Concentrations found in nectar following autumn or spring applications ranged from 166 to 515 ng/g for imidacloprid and from 70 to 1235 ng/gg for dinotefuran, depending on plant and timing. These residues exceed concentrations shown to adversely affect individual- and colony-level traits of bees. Summer application mitigated concentrations of imidacloprid (8-31 ng/g), but not dinotefuran (235-1191 ng/g), in nectar. Our data suggest that dinotefuran may be more persistent than is generally believed. Implications for integrated pest and pollinator management in urban landscapes are discussed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:860-870. © 2017 SETAC.

Introduction This study investigated outcomes in critically unwell acute kidney injury patients and the role of the National Early Warning Score and other factors in identifying patients who experience negative outcomes. Methods Retrospective cohort study investigating 64 patients seen by Critical Care Outreach between November 2014 and February 2015. Mortality at one year was analysed using multivariate regression; all other statistical tests were non-parametric. Results Forty-four per cent of patients required escalation to higher level care, 56% failed to survive beyond one year and 30% of those who did survive had a deterioration in renal function. Previous acute kidney injury significantly predicted mortality but the National Early Warning Score did not. A subgroup of patients developed Stage 3 acute kidney injury before a rise in National Early Warning Score. Conclusions Acute kidney injury in the Critical Care Outreach patient population is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Previous acute kidney injury and acute kidney injury stage may be superior to the National Early Warning Score at identifying patients in need of Critical Care Outreach review.

In this chapter, we consider the methodological needs of the field of LGBTQ-parent families. Our goal with this chapter is to engage in a transparent discussion of the methods used in LGBTQ-parent research—a discussion often reduced to a few sentences in journal publications. Currently, the field has two main methodological-related endeavors. The first is the dedication to the further inclusion of underrepresented populations in LGBTQ-parent research. The second is the need for more nationally representative research. In this chapter, we put forward ideas for improving measurement, thoroughly discuss methods and recruitment strategies that hold promise for including traditionally underrepresented populations in LGBTQ-parent research, and discuss pros and cons of different sampling methods in studying LGBTQ-parent families. We end the chapter with recommendations for future methodological endeavors from LGBTQ-parent scholars and a summary of the practical implications of methodological issues.

Ecological theory predicts that specialist insect herbivores are more likely to locate and colonize host plants growing in relatively sparse or pure stands compared to host plants growing amongst diverse non-host vegetation. We tested the hypothesis that increasing the apparency and accessibility of milkweed (Asclepias spp.) host plants in small polyculture gardens would boost their colonization by the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), an iconic native species of conservation concern. We established replicated gardens containing the identical mix of milkweeds, flowering nectar sources, and non-host ornamental grasses but arranged in three different spatial configurations that were monitored for monarch colonization over two successive growing seasons. Monarch eggs and larvae were 2.5–4 times more abundant in gardens having milkweeds evenly spaced in a 1 m corridor around the perimeter, surrounding the nectar plants and grasses, than in gardens in which milkweeds were surrounded by or intermixed with the other plants. Predator populations were similar in all garden designs. In a corollary open-field experiment, female monarchs laid significantly more eggs on milkweed plants that were fully accessible than on milkweeds surrounded by non-host grasses of equal height. In addition, we monitored monarch usage of 22 citizen-planted gardens containing milkweed and nectar plants in relation to their botanical composition, layout, and surrounding hardscape. Multivariate analysis explained 71% of the variation, with significantly more eggs and larvae found in gardens having milkweeds spatially isolated as opposed to closely intermixed with non-host plants, and in gardens having 100 m north/south access unimpeded by structures. Numerous programs encourage citizens to establish gardens with milkweed and nectar plants to help offset habitat loss across the monarch's breeding range. Our findings suggest guidelines for garden design that can help make the urban sector's contributions to monarch habitat restoration more rewarding for participants, and of greater potential value to monarch recovery.

BACKGROUND Clinical benefits of plasma as an adjunct for treatment of hemorrhagic shock (HS) have been well established. However, its use is not without risk. Little is understood regarding the clinical implications of plasma variability. We hypothesized there to be interdonor variability in plasma that would impact endothelial and organ function postinjury. METHODS Pulmonary endothelial cells (ECs) were incubated with plasma from 24 random donors, and transendothelial electrical resistance was measured. Plasma units with a more or less protective effect on reducing EC permeability were selected for testing in vivo. Syndecan-1 and cytokines were measured. Mice underwent laparotomy and then HS followed by resuscitation with the selected plasma units and were compared with mice receiving no resuscitation and shams. Lung tissue was sectioned and stained for myeloperoxidase and pulmonary syndecan-1 and scored for lung histopathologic injury. RESULTS Plasma from 24 donors revealed variability in the reversal of EC monolayer hyperpermeability; transendothelial electrical resistance for the more protective plasma was significantly higher than that for the less protective plasma (0.801 ± 0.022 vs. 0.744 ± 0.035; p = 0.002). Syndecan-1 was also markedly increased in the less protective compared with the more protective plasma (38427 ± 1257 vs. 231 ± 172 pg/mL, p < 0.001), while cytokines varied. In vivo, the more protective plasma mitigated lung histopathologic injury compared with the less protective plasma (1.56 ± 0.27 vs. 2.33 ± 0.47, respectively; p = 0.005). Similarly, myeloperoxidase was significantly reduced in the more protective compared with the less protective plasma group (2.590 ± 0.559 vs. 6.045 ± 1.885; p = 0.02). Lastly, pulmonary syndecan-1 immunostaining was significantly increased in the more protective compared with the less protective plasma group (20.909 ± 8.202 vs. 9.325 ± 3.412; p = 0.018). CONCLUSION These data demonstrate significant interdonor variability in plasma that can adversely influence the protective effects of plasma-based resuscitation on HS-induced lung injury. This may have important implications for patient safety and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Platelet (Plt) derived-extracellular vesicles (Plt-EVs) have hemostatic properties similar to Plts. In addition to hemostasis, Plts also function to stabilize the vasculature and maintain endothelial cell (EC) barrier integrity. We hypothesized that Plt-EVs would inhibit vascular endothelial cell permeability, similar to fresh Plts. To investigate this hypothesis we utilized in vitro and in vivo models of vascular endothelial compromise and bleeding. METHODS:In vitro: Plt-EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized for Plt markers and particle size distribution. Effects of Plts and Plt-EVs on endothelial barrier function was assessed by trans - endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements and histological analysis of endothelial junction proteins. Hemostatic potential of Plt-EVs and Plts were assessed by multiple electrode Plt aggregometry. In vivo: The effects of Plts and Plt-EVs on vascular permeability and bleeding were assessed in NOD-SCID mice by an established Miles Assay of vascular permeability and a tail snip bleeding assay. RESULTS:In vitro: Plt-EVs displayed exosomal size distribution and expressed Plt specific surface markers. Plts and Plt-EVs decreased EC permeability and restored EC junctions after thrombin challenge. Multiplate aggregometry revealed that Plt-EVs enhanced Thrombin Receptor Activating Peptide (TRAP) mediated aggregation of whole blood, whereas Plts enhanced TRAP, Arachidonic Acid (ASPI), Collagen, and Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) mediated aggregation. In vivo: Plt-EVs are equivalent to Plts in attenuating VEGF-A induced vascular permeability and uncontrolled blood loss in a tail snip hemorrhage model. CONCLUSION:Our study is the first to report that Plt-EVs might provide a feasible product for transfusion in trauma patients to attenuate bleeding, inhibit vascular permeability and mitigate the endotheliopathy of trauma (EOT). STUDY TYPE:Original Article LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: This is a pre-clinical study so it does not confirm to the level of evidence table for all clinical studies and case reports.

Target-selective biopesticides are needed to facilitate integrated pest and pollinator management in urban landscapes and gardens. Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae, strain SDS-502 (Btg), recently registered in the USA and Canada, produces Cry8Da protein active against scarab beetles. We evaluated Btg formulations for managing the Japanese beetle [Popillia japonica Newman (JB)], a polyphagous invasive pest, including residual spray effectiveness for reducing adult feeding on Rosa and Tilia spp., and granular formulations for early- or late-curative control of root-feeding grubs in turfgrass. We also tested for cross-order activity to monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus L.) larvae and other non-target insects.Field-weathered Btg residues reduced JB feeding on foliage for 3-14 days. Most beetles were still flight-capable after 24 h confinement with Btg-treated leaves. Granular Btg failed to control early- or late-instar JB grubs in soils under several turfgrass species at multiple field sites. In three trials, feeding on Btg-sprayed milkweed resulted in 97-100% mortality of early instar monarchs, with symptoms of B. thuringiensis pathogenesis. Fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)) fed Btg-treated grass had reduced body mass, but there were no adverse effects on lady beetle larvae preying on Btg-sprayed aphids or on the aphids themselves.This study supports efficacy of Btg strain SDS-502 for reducing defoliation by adult JB in urban landscape settings. Granular formulations, however, failed to control JB grubs in turfgrass soils. Btg should not be used in gardens with larval host plants of the monarch butterfly or other non-pest Lepidoptera, especially species of conservation concern. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To present novel software algorithms applied to spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for automated detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one diabetic patients (44 eyes) and 18 healthy, nondiabetic controls (20 eyes) who underwent volumetric SD-OCT imaging and fundus photography were retrospectively identified. A retina specialist independently graded DR stage. Trained automated software generated a retinal thickness score signifying macular edema and a cluster score signifying microaneurysms and/or hard exudates for each volumetric SD-OCT. RESULTS: Of 44 diabetic eyes, 38 had DR and six eyes did not have DR. Leave-one-out cross-validation using a linear discriminant at missed detection/false alarm ratio of 3.00 computed software sensitivity and specificity of 92% and 69%, respectively, for DR detection when compared to clinical assessment. CONCLUSION: Novel software algorithms applied to commercially available SD-OCT can successfully detect DR and may have potential as a viable screening tool for DR in future. [ Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina . 2016;47:410–417.]

Intravenous administration of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to reduce blood brain barrier compromise and improve neurocognition following traumatic brain injury (TBI). These effects occur in the absence of engraftment and differentiation of these cells in the injured brain. Recent studies have shown that soluble factors produced by MSCs mediate a number of the therapeutic effects. In this study, we sought to determine if intravenous administration of MSCs (IV-MSCs) could enhance hippocampal neurogenesis following TBI. Our results demonstrate that IV-MSC treatment attenuates loss of neural stem cells and promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in TBI injured mice. As Wnt signaling has been implicated in neurogenesis, we measured circulating Wnt3a levels in serum following IV-MSC administration and found a significant increase in Wnt3a. Concurrent with this increase, we detected increased activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, IV recombinant Wnt3a treatment provided neuroprotection, promoted neurogenesis, and improved neurocognitive function in TBI injured mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate a role for Wnt3a in the therapeutic potential of MSCs and identify Wnt3a as a potential stand-alone therapy or as part of a combination therapeutic strategy for the treatment of TBI.

Transfusion of balanced ratios of plasma to platelets and red blood cells has been shown to reduce early death from exsanguination in trauma patients. Aside from hemostasis, recent work has shown that plasma reduces vascular endothelial permeability, inflammation, and organ edema after hemorrhagic shock (HS), all components of the endotheliopathy of trauma. We hypothesized that Kcentra could have protective effects on the endotheliopathy of trauma comparable with fresh frozen plasma (FFP).In vitro, endothelial cell (EC) barrier function was assessed by measuring changes in transendothelial electrical resistance for Kcentra, FFP, and albumin. In vivo, a modified Miles assay was used on mice to study the effects of Kcentra, FFP, and albumin on vascular permeability induced by VEGF-A. The same groups were studied in a second in vivo model of pulmonary vascular leak induced by HS and laparotomy. The identification of proteins in Kcentra was assessed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.We found that FFP and Kcentra inhibit EC permeability. We also found that Kcentra and FFP have equivalent capacity to restore EC adherens junction breakdown induced by VEGF-A. In vivo, we found that Kcentra and FFP, but not albumin, significantly inhibited vascular permeability induced by VEGF-A and HS-induced vascular permeability in mice. Investigation of the protein content of Kcentra by mass spectroscopy revealed that there are a number of proteins in Kcentra, derived from plasma that may have contributory roles in the noted effects of Kcentra on vascular leak.Taken together, we have demonstrated that FFP and Kcentra inhibit vascular permeability in vivo and in vitro. These beneficial effects of Kcentra may be due in part to the modulation of vascular function by soluble factors present in Kcentra aside from the known clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X. The clinical implications of these findings are unknown and warrant further investigation.

BACKGROUND In current blood banking practices, platelets (PLTs) are stored in plasma at 22°C, with gentle agitation for up to 5 days. To date, the effects of storage and donor variability on PLT regulation of vascular integrity are not known. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS In this study, we examined the donor variability of leukoreduced fresh (Day 1) or stored (Day 5) PLTs on vascular endothelial barrier function in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, PLT effects on endothelial cell (EC) monolayer permeability were assessed by analyzing transendothelial electrical resistances (TEER). PLT aggregation, a measure of hemostatic potential, was analyzed by impedance aggregometry. In vivo, PLTs were investigated in a vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)-induced vascular permeability model in NSG mice, and PLT circulation was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS Treatment of endothelial monolayers with fresh Day 1 PLTs resulted in an increase in EC barrier resistance and decreased permeability in a dose-dependent manner. Subsequent treatment of EC monolayers with Day 5 PLTs demonstrated diminished vasculoprotective effects. Donor variability was noted in all measures of PLT function. Day 1 PLT donors were more variable in their effects on TEER than Day 5 PLTs. In mice, while all PLTs regardless of storage time demonstrated significant protection against VEGF-A–induced vascular leakage, Day 5 PLTs exhibited reduced protection when compared to Day 1 PLTs. Day 1 PLTs demonstrated significant donor variability against VEGF-A–challenged vascular leakage in vivo. Systemic circulating levels of Day 1 PLTs were higher than those of Day 5 PLTs CONCLUSIONS In vitro and in vivo, Day 1 PLTs are protective in measures of vascular endothelial permeability. Donor variability is most prominent in Day 1 PLTs. A decrease in the protective effects is found with storage of the PLT units between Day 1 and Day 5 at 22°C, thereby suggesting that Day 5 PLTs are diminished in their ability to attenuate vascular endothelial permeability.

Background Although a majority of the studies conducted to date on platelet (PLT) storage have been focused on PLT hemostatic function, the effects of 4°C PLTs on regulation of endothelial barrier permeability are still not known. In this study, we compared the effects of room temperature (22°C) stored and (4°C) stored PLTs on the regulation of vascular endothelial cell (EC) permeability in vitro and in vivo. Study design and methods Day 1, Day 5, and Day 7 leukoreduced apheresis PLTs stored at 4 or 22°C were studied in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, PLT effects on EC permeability and barrier function, adhesion, and impedance aggregometry were investigated. In vivo, using a mouse model of vascular leak, attenuation of vascular leak and circulating PLT numbers were measured. Results Treatment of EC monolayers with Day 5 or Day 7 PLTs, stored at both 22°C and 4°C, resulted in similar decreases in EC permeability on average. However, analysis of individual samples revealed significant variation that was donor dependent. Additional in vitro measurements revealed a decrease in inflammatory mediators, nonspecific PLT-endothelial aggregation and attenuated loss of aggregation over time to TRAP, ASPI, ADP, and collagen with 4°C storage. In mice, while 22°C and 4°C PLTs both demonstrated significant protection against vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)-induced vascular leak 22°C PLTs exhibited increased protection compared to 4°C PLTs. Systemic circulating levels of 4°C PLTs were decreased compared to 22°C PLTs. Conclusions In vitro, 4°C-stored PLTs exhibit a greater capacity to inhibit EC permeability than 22°C-stored PLTs. In vivo, 22°C PLTs provide superior control of vascular leak induced by VEGF-A. This discrepancy may be due to increased clearance of 4°C PLTs from the systemic circulation.

The eastern North American migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) is in serious decline. Habitat restoration, including adding millions of host plants to compensate for loss of milkweed in US cropland, is a key part of the international conservation strategy to return this iconic butterfly to sustainable status. We report here that Popillia japonica, a polyphagous, invasive beetle, aggregates and feeds on flowers of Asclepias syriaca, the monarch’s most important larval food plant, reducing fruiting and seed set by >90% and extensively damaging milkweed umbels in the field. The beetle’s ongoing incursion into the monarch’s key breeding grounds in the US Midwest is likely to limit pollination and outcrossing of wild and planted milkweeds, reducing their capacity to colonize new areas via seeds. Popillia japonica represents a previously undocumented threat to milkweeds that should be considered in models for monarch habitat restoration.

Urban and suburban landscapes can be refuges for biodiversity of bees and other pollinators. Public awareness of declining pollinator populations has increased interest in growing plants that provide floral resources for bees. Various publications and websites list "bee-friendly" plants, but such lists are rarely based on empirical data, nor do they emphasize flowering trees and shrubs, which are a major component of urban landscapes. We quantified bee visitation to 72 species of flowering woody landscape plants across 373 urban and suburban sites in Kentucky and southern Ohio, USA, sampling and identifying the bee assemblages associated with 45 of the most bee-attractive species. We found strong plant species effects and variation in seasonal activity of particular bee taxa, but no overall differences in extent of bee visitation or bee genus diversity between native and non-native species, trees and shrubs, or early-, mid-, and late-season blooming plants. Horticulturally-modified varieties of Hydrangea, Prunus, and Rosa with double petals or clusters of showy sterile sepals attracted few bees compared to related plants with more accessible floral rewards. Some of the non-native woody plant species bloomed when floral resources from native plants were scarce and were highly bee-attractive, so their use in landscapes could help extend the flowering season for bees. These data will help city foresters, landscape managers, and the public make informed decisions to create bee-friendly urban and suburban landscapes.

Many golf courses are converting out-of-play areas to meadow-like habitat to reduce mowing, irrigation, and chemical inputs. Such naturalized roughs, which often constitute 50 % or more of a course’s total acreage, support biodiversity by providing habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This study explored the hypothesis that they also serve as reservoirs of invertebrate natural enemies whose services extend to suppress pests in adjacent mowed turf. We used vacuum sampling, pitfall traps, and ant baits to compare arthropod populations in grassland or meadow-type naturalized roughs and traditional mowed roughs at two courses, and tested for spillover of biological control using sentinel eggs or larvae of a grass-feeding caterpillar exposed near or farther from naturalized areas into mowed turf. Although some natural enemies (e.g., spiders) were more abundant in naturalized roughs, we saw no direct spillover of predation which was quite high regardless of habitat type. Most likely that is because ground-nesting ants (Lasius, Solenopsis, and Pheidole spp.), which are dominant predators in this system, were equally or more abundant in the mowed turfgrass. Herbivorous insects, too, were more abundant in naturalized roughs, so prey availability may discourage solitary ground-dwelling predators from leaving those refuges to forage in mowed areas. There was no parasitism of sentinel eggs or larvae in our trials. Despite absence of direct spillover of predation, we argue that naturalized roughs might be more purposely designed and managed to promote parasitoids, insectivorous birds, and other enemies that provide diffuse biological control services elsewhere on the course.

The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) is a major insect pest of economic crops including turfgrasses on golf courses. The entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae GSN1 strain (ScG), a Korean isolate, is an effective biological control agent for soil dwelling and greenhouse insect pests in Korea. In addition, ScG is commercially produced in Korea. We conducted laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials to evaluate efficacy of ScG against black cutworms in turfgrasses. A rate of 63 infective juveniles (Ijs) per larva killed >90% of 3 rd instars feeding in cups of artificial diet within 3 days. In greenhouse trials against cutworms feeding in pots of turfgrass, efficacy of ScG was higher against 4th instars than against 2 nd instars (90.0 vs 81.2% mortality, respectively, at 2,000 Ijs pot -1 ) in perennial ryegrass, and higher against 3 rd instars in creeping bentgrass, Agrostis palustris than in zoysiagrass, Zoysia japonica (96.7 vs 52.5% mortality at 100,000 Ijs m -2 ) in pot. The corrected mortality of 4 th instar was 79.9% at the rate of 100,000 Ijs m -2 in the creeping bentgrass in the field. So ScG could be used as biological control agent against black cutworm in turfgrass of golf courses.

E-mail to the authors, 8 April 2015: I am a beekeeper who has a good relationship with area golf courses. Recently the golf pros approached me about the idea of naturalizing the roughs with a low maintenance drought tolerant grass/wild-flower mixture. They would also like me to put honey bee hives on their courses to encourage pollination. It would be a great opportunity to diversify the flora as well as educate the public on the importance of floral variety for pollinators. Is there any chance the UK Entomology department would like to extend their Operation Pollinator Project to our county? The highly publicized decline of bees, monarch butterflies, and other iconic pollinators inspires broad public empathy and can be a springboard for outreach education about insects and engaging local user groups in grassroots insect conservation (Colding et al. 2006, Xerces Society 2012, MonarchWatch 2015). This article highlights opportunities for entomologists to partner with golf courses (among the most ubiquitous open-space urban and peri-urban land types) for pollinator conservation, outreach education, teaching, and research. Forging such natural links can engage diverse target audiences, including golf industry staff, golfers, club members and guests, neighborhood associations, community groups, undergraduate and graduate students, and the general public. Golf courses are often just a short drive away from urban university campuses, making them accessible as sites for …

Landscape professionals need target-selective insecticides for managing insect pests on flowering woody ornamentals that may be visited by bees and other insect pollinators. Chlorantraniliprole, the first anthranilic diamide insecticide registered for use in urban landscapes, selectively targets the receptors that regulate the flow of calcium to control muscle contraction in caterpillars, plant-feeding beetles, and certain other phytophagous insects. Designated a reduced- risk pesticide by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it has a favorable toxicological and environmental profile, including very low toxicity to bees and most types of predatory and parasitic insects that contribute to pest suppression. Chlorantraniliprole has become a mainstay for managing turfgrass pests, but little has been published concerning its performance against the pests of woody ornamentals. Researchers evaluated it against pests spanning five different orders: adult Japanese beetles, evergreen bagworm, eastern tent caterpillar, bristly roseslug sawfly, hawthorn lace bug, oleander aphid, boxwood psyllid, oak lecanium scale (crawlers), and boxwood leafminer, using real-world exposure scenarios. Chlorantraniliprole’s efficacy, speed of control, and residual activity as a foliar spray for the leaf-chewing pests was as good, or better, than provided by industry standards, but sprays were ineffective against the sucking pests (lace bugs, aphids, or scales). Basal soil drenches in autumn or spring failed to systemically control boxwood psyllids or leafminers, but autumn drenches did suppress roseslug damage and Japanese beetle feeding the following year. This study indicates that chlorantraniliprole can be an effective component of integrated pest and pollinator management programs on woody ornamentals.

In severe trauma and hemorrhage the early and empiric use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality. However, utilization of FFP comes with the significant burden of shipping and storage of frozen blood products. Dried or lyophilized plasma (LP) can be stored at room temperature, transported easily, reconstituted rapidly with ready availability in remote and austere environments. We have previously demonstrated that FFP mitigates the endothelial injury that ensues after hemorrhagic shock (HS). In the current study, we sought to determine whether LP has similar properties to FFP in its ability to modulate endothelial dysfunction in vitro and in vivo. Single donor LP was compared to single donor FFP using the following measures of endothelial cell (EC) function in vitro: permeability and transendothelial monolayer resistance; adherens junction preservation; and leukocyte-EC adhesion. In vivo, using a model of murine HS, LP and FFP were compared in measures of HS- induced pulmonary vascular inflammation and edema. Both in vitro and in vivo in all measures of EC function, LP demonstrated similar effects to FFP. Both FFP and LP similarly reduced EC permeability, increased transendothelial resistance, decreased leukocyte-EC binding and persevered adherens junctions. In vivo, LP and FFP both comparably reduced pulmonary injury, inflammation and vascular leak. Both FFP and LP have similar potent protective effects on the vascular endothelium in vitro and in lung function in vivo following hemorrhagic shock. These data support the further development of LP as an effective plasma product for human use after trauma and hemorrhagic shock.

Ulmus americana (American elm) was an important urban tree in North America prior to the introduction of the Dutch elm disease pathogen in 1930. Subsequently, urban and community forests were devastated by the loss of large canopies. Tree improvement programs produced disease tolerant American and Eurasian elm cultivars and introduced them into the nursery industry. However, consumer acceptance was slow. The National Elm Trial was established to evaluate commercially available taxa of elm across the United States. Established at 16 locations, these plantings monitored survival and growth, as well as disease and insect pressure for 7 to 10 years. ‘Morton’ elm had >90% survival, while 13 cultivars averaged 70% to 90%, and five cultivars ranged from 25% to 69% survival. Trunk diameter growth by location ranged from 0.5 cm/year (Colorado, U.S.) to more than 2.0 cm/year (Iowa, U.S.). By taxa, trunk diameter growth ranged from a low, by ‘JFS Bieberich’ elm (0.7 cm/year), to a high by ‘New Horizon’ elm (1.7 cm/year). Scale insects were minor issues at most trial locations, except Colorado, where scales contributed to the death of several cultivars. Performance ratings (scale 1 to 5) ranged from 2.7 for ‘JFS Bieberich’ elm to 4.5 for ‘New Horizon’ elm. Based on the ratings, the preferred cultivars of American elm were ‘New Harmony’ and ‘Princeton’, and the preferred cultivars of Asian elm were The Morton Arboretum introductions and ‘New Horizon’. These findings will help green-industry professionals determine what elm cultivars will perform the best in different regions.

Systemic neonicotinoid insecticides are used to control turfgrass insect pests. The authors tested their transference into nectar of flowering lawn weeds or grass guttation droplets, which, if high enough, could be hazardous to bees or other insects that feed on such exudates. The authors applied imidacloprid or clothianidin to turf with white clover, followed by irrigation, and used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to analyze residues in clover blooms that were directly sprayed during application or that formed after the first mowing. Imidacloprid residues in guttation fluid from field-grown creeping bentgrass were assessed similarly. The authors used Orius insidiosus, a small anthrocorid bug that is sensitive to dietary neonicotinoids, as a bioindicator of the exudates' toxicity. Nectar from directly sprayed clover blooms contained 5493 ng/g to 6588 ng/g imidacloprid or 2882 ng/g to 2992 ng/g clothianidin and was acutely toxic to Orius. Residues were 99.4% to 99.8% lower in nectar of blooms formed after mowing, and nontoxic to Orius. Imidacloprid residues in turfgrass guttation averaged 88 ng/g at 1 wk after treatment, causing some intoxication of Orius, but declined to 23 ng/g within 3 wk. Systemic transference of neonicotinoids into white clover nectar and creeping bentgrass guttation appears relatively low and transitory. The hazard to nontarget insects via nectar of flowering weeds in treated lawns can be mitigated by adhering to label precautions and mowing to remove blooms if they are inadvertently sprayed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:127–132. © 2014 SETAC

Flowering weeds, though often deemed undesirable in turfgrass lawns, provide food resources for declining pollinator populations in urbanized landscapes. We sampled bees and other pollinators directly from flowering common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and white clover (Trifolium repens) in lawns of similar character in central Kentucky USA to identify species likely to be exposed if such weeds are inadvertently oversprayed during application of lawn insecticides. We also tested the hypothesis that pollinator assemblages visiting spring-blooming white clover in urban and suburban lawns are as species-rich and diverse as in more rural lawn settings. We collected about 50 different species of insect pollinators, including 37 species of bees, from the aforementioned lawn weeds. Two of the six species of bumble bees (Bombus spp.) collected are considered uncommon and possibly in decline. Hover flies (Syrphidae), honey bees (Apis mellifera), and non-Apid wild bees predominated on dandelions whereas proportionately fewer hover flies and more A. mellifera and Bombus spp. visited white clover, especially in summer. Species richness of bees visiting white clover was similar in urban, suburban or periurban-rural lawns, although A. mellifera were proportionately more abundant, and Bombus spp. were less abundant, with increasing percentage of hardscape in surrounding areas. Fostering public awareness of the diversity of bees and other pollinators that visit flowering lawn weeds might help nurture a sociocultural shift toward more pollinator-friendly lawn care practices.

Earthworms can be troublesome pests on golf courses when their soil-rich casts become abundant enough to disrupt the maintenance, aesthetics, and playability of putting greens and fairways. Management of the problem is hindered by lack of knowledge of earthworm community structure on North American golf courses. We surveyed communities of endogeic earthworms inhabiting golf course fairways and putting greens in central Kentucky and tracked the seasonal population structure and casting activity of the predominant species. Seven earthworm species, six of them non-native, were identified in varying proportions from fairways of the different golf courses. Aporrectodea trapezoides (Duges) dominated, although Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny), Diplocardia singularis (Ude), and Amynthas sp. also were abundant on some courses. Soil characteristics (pH, percentages of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter) at fairway sample sites were not good predictors of overall earthworm density or proportionate abundance of particular species. Ap. trapezoides was found in the upper 21 cm of topsoil throughout the year except when frozen ground precluded sampling. The Ap. trapezoides population consisted mainly of adults and cocoons in late autumn and winter, and juveniles in summer. Casting by Ap. trapezoides, which also occurs on soil-based greens, was greatest in late autumn and early winter, with a secondary peak in early spring. Amynthas hupeiensis, an east Asian megascolecid earthworm, was the only species found damaging sand-based greens. Prolific casting by Am. hupeiensis continued during summer after other species’ casting activity on fairways had waned. Am. hupeiensis is established along river banks in Kentucky and neighboring states, and is used as fish bait. We hypothesize that it may be introduced onto golf courses as cocoons in river sand used for course renovations, or from bait discarded by anglers fishing in golf course ponds.

Many turf managers prefer to control foliage- and root-feeding pests with the same application, so-called multiple-targeting, using a single broad-spectrum insecticide or a premix product containing two or more active ingredients. We compared the impact of a neonicotinoid (clothianidin), a premix (clothianidin + bifenthrin), and an anthranilic diamide (chlorantraniliprole), the main insecticide classes used for multiple targeting, on four species of beneficial insects: Harpalus pennsylvanicus, an omnivorous ground beetle, Tiphia vernalis, an ectoparasitoid of scarab grubs, Copidosoma bakeri, a polyembryonic endoparasitoid of black cutworms, and Bombus impatiens, a native bumble bee. Ground beetles that ingested food treated with clothianidin or the premix suffered high mortality, as did C. bakeri wasps exposed to dry residues of those insecticides. Exposure to those insecticides on potted turf cores reduced parasitism by T. vernalis. Bumble bee colonies confined to forage on white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in weedy turf that had been treated with clothianidin or the premix had reduced numbers of workers, honey pots, and immature bees. Premix residues incapacitated H. pennsylvanicus and C. bakeri slightly faster than clothianidin alone, but otherwise we detected no synergistic or additive effects. Chlorantraniliprole had no apparent adverse effects on any of the beneficial species. Implications for controlling turf pests with least disruption of non-target invertebrates are discussed.

We have recently demonstrated that injured patients in hemorrhagic shock shed syndecan 1 and that the early use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in these patients is correlated with improved clinical outcomes. As the lungs are frequently injured after trauma, we hypothesized that hemorrhagic shock-induced shedding of syndecan 1 exposes the underlying pulmonary vascular endothelium to injury resulting in inflammation and hyperpermeability and that these effects would be mitigated by FFP. In vitro, pulmonary endothelial permeability, endothelial monolayer flux, transendothelial electrical resistance, and leukocyte-endothelial binding were measured in pulmonary endothelial cells after incubation with equal volumes of FFP or lactated Ringer's (LR). In vivo, using a coagulopathic mouse model of trauma and hemorrhagic shock, pulmonary hyperpermeability, neutrophil infiltration, and syndecan 1 expression and systemic shedding were assessed after 3 h of resuscitation with either 1× FFP or 3× LR and compared with shock alone and shams. In vitro, endothelial permeability and flux were decreased, transendothelial electrical resistance was increased, and leukocyte-endothelial binding was inhibited by FFP compared with LR-treated endothelial cells. In vivo, hemorrhagic shock was associated with systemic shedding of syndecan 1, which correlated with decreased pulmonary syndecan 1 and increased pulmonary vascular hyperpermeability and inflammation. Fresh frozen plasma resuscitation, compared with LR resuscitation, abrogated these injurious effects. After hemorrhagic shock, FFP resuscitation inhibits endothelial cell hyperpermeability and inflammation and restores pulmonary syndecan 1 expression. Modulation of pulmonary syndecan 1 expression may mechanistically contribute to the beneficial effects FFP.