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Two trials evaluated insecticides for flatheaded borer control and effect on red maple (Acer rubrum L.) cultivar growth over 4 years. Chrysobothris femorata (Olivier) was the only species reared from borer damaged maples during the study. Soil-applied systemic insecticides (acephate, imidacloprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, and thiamethoxam) and trunk-applied contact insecticides (chlorpyrifos and bifenthrin) were tested. In the 2005 trial, a one-time drench of Allectus (imidacloprid + bifenthrin) or Discus (imidacloprid + cyfluthrin) provided 2 to 4 years of protection with 'Autumn Flame' and 'Franksred' from C femorata. Soil-applied experimental imidacloprid tablets prevented borer damage in the third and fourth post-treatment years, but were not as effective as imidacloprid drenches in the first two years. Soil applied acephate tablets, chlorpyrifos (Dursban 4E) trunk sprays, or untreated control plants had borer damage each year, which totaled up to 41.7% damage by year 4 in 'Autumn Flame'. Trunk diameter growth and tree canopy size was greater with Discus drench or imidacloprid tablet treatments than other treatments. In the 2006 trial, drenches of Allectus, Discus, or Safari 20SG (dinotefuran) applied in May and Discus or Arena 50WDG (clothianidin) drenches applied in March provided complete protection from C. Jemorata the first year in 'Fairview Flame', 'Franksred', and 'October Glory'. Discus (March) drench provided four years of complete protection among the three cultivars, while other neonicotinoid drenches had 3.7-6.3% (Arena March), 3.7-12.5% (Arena May), 0 6.3% (Discus May), 0-10.3% (Safari), and 12.5-20.5% (Flagship) total damage. Ineffective treatments included an experimental imidacloprid gel (7.4-18.8% damage), acephate tablets (18.5-75.0%), Onyx Pro Insecticide (5.1-18.8%), Dursban 2E (11.1-31.3%), one imidacloprid tablet (15.4-43.8%), or untreated plants (32.1-41.0%). This study demonstrates a single application of some neonicotinoid treatments can provide multi-year C. femorata prevention, increased maple trunk growth, and provide borer protection superior to trunk sprays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handgun applicators are popular, general-purpose greenhouse sprayers. However, there are few recommendations on how to use them to treat plant benches. Handgun applications made from one side can result in significant differences in deposits between the side of the plant facing the spray stream and the opposite side. Broadcast spraying over the top of the canopy may improve spray distribution across the canopy. The objective of this research was to determine differences in performance between different sprayers used to treat mature poinsettias and differences in the fate of the spray within the canopy with the aim to determine which techniques produced the highest spray retention on the abaxial leaf surface. A benchtop trial was conducted using a mature poinsettia canopy in a greenhouse. Sprayer treatments were used to apply tank mixes of pesticides and fluorescent tracer. Nylon screen targets were secured to the abaxial surfaces of leaves in the upper and lower parts of the canopy. Benchtop trials revealed significant differences between the amount of spray found on the upper and lower canopy target areas. Handgun nozzle pressure was a more significant factor in depositing material on the abaxial surfaces of leaves than changing application rate. A Twin Jet boom system using dual-orifice nozzles did not treat abaxial surfaces differently from the handgun applications. The air-assist treatment with flat-fan nozzles produced the highest mean deposits on abaxial surfaces in the lower canopy area, but overall there were no statistical differences in lower canopy deposits between treatments. These results demonstrate the difficulty that ornamental producers have in targeting pesticide placement on abaxial leaf surfaces deeper in the canopy. The variability in spray deposits observed on foliage demonstrates the potential for significant variability in pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic insecticides and application methods were evaluated in two trials that began in 2005 and 2006 for control of potato leaf hopper (Empoasca fabae [Harris]) on four red maple (Acer rubrum L.) cultivars and rated annually through 2007. Treatments evaluated in this study included surface drenches of imidacloprid plus cyfluthrin (Discus) or imidacloprid plus bifenthrin (Allectus SC), clothianidin (Arena 50WDG), dinotefuran (Safari 20SG), or thiamethoxam (Flagship 25WG); soil inserted treatments of imidacloprid formulated as an experimental tablet or as an experimental gel; or a plant root dip of Discus + Terra-Sorb hydrogel. In the 2005 trial, a one-time drench of Discus or two imidacloprid tablets significantly reduced leafhopper damage to red maple for a 3-year period. In the 2006 trial, a one-time drench of Allectus, Discus, Arena, Flagship, and Safari significantly reduced leafhopper damage for 2 years. In most cases, the Discus drench and root dip treatments were initially more effective than the imidacloprid tablets or the gel treatment. However, in general, the efficacy of imidacloprid tablet or gel treatments increased in subsequent years. Two imidacloprid tablets were more effective than one. Likewise, higher imidacloprid drench rates were more effective than lower rates. Most insecticide treatments significantly increased red maple trunk diameter, although this effect varied with cultivar and time. Allectus and Discus drench treatments significantly increased the branch and internode length of 'Franksred' maple in the 2005 trial. Results of this study indicate long-term potato leafhopper control with systemic insecticides and enhanced growth in red maple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The I PREPARE environmental exposure history mnemonic is a quick reference tool created for primary care providers. Health care providers (N = 159) were asked to evaluate a prototype mnemonic, to suggest new health history questions, and to propose the deletion of less relevant questions. The goal of this evaluation was to create a practical and clinically relevant mnemonic, rather than to obtain quantitative estimates of validity. The final I PREPARE mnemonic cues the provider to 'Investigate potential exposures;' ask questions related to 'Present work,' 'Residence,' 'Environmental concerns,' 'Past work,' and 'Activities;' provide 'Referrals and resources;' and 'Educate' the patient by reviewing a checklist of strategies to prevent or minimize exposures. The sequence of I PREPARE makes intuitive sense by cueing the provider to ask specific questions and provide educational materials to the patient. National improvements in the quality of environmental exposure history data are predicated in part on the creation of simple and convenient tools for use in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Department of Health and the Cabinet Office's Regulatory Impact Unit want to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic burdens on front-line NHS staff. They asked the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) to look at the pattern of telephone numbers used by NHS acute trusts to summon the emergency teams that deal with cardiac arrests and the feasibility of introducing one telephone number for cardiac arrests across all hospitals. Greater staff mobility, the increased use of agency and locum staff due to mergers and an increase in the number of trusts using more than one telephone number to summon hospital crash teams mean heightened risk of confusion and possible delays in treatment for patients. A survey of NHS acute trusts found that at least 27 different crash call numbers were in use in NHS hospitals. The number 2222 was the most frequently used crash call number. The NPSA recommended in a Patient Safety Alert issued in February 2004 that all NHS organisations providing acute services in England and Wales should plan to use this as their standard crash call number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insecticide and fungicide labels often lack specific recommendations on the spray volume and spray droplet sizes that will provide the most efficacious pest management of ornamental pest problems. A greenhouse trial was established to determine differences in spray retention in a poinsettia canopy between single -nozzle, handgun applications made using three different spray volumes and three different spray qualities. For the same areas of the canopy, there were few differences in spray deposit between treatments. Canopy position was a significant factor in the amount of spray found on foliar and artificial targets. Higher deposits were measured in the fronts and upper areas of the canopy than the backs and lower areas of the canopy. There were no significant differences in recovery of fungicide from leaves between treatments. The high-volume application produced the highest deposits on artificial targets across all spray qualities. There were no significant differences in overall spray deposit between the low- and medium-volume treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In response to the devastating drug toxicity crisis in Canada driven by an unregulated opioid supply predominantly composed of fentanyl and analogues, safer supply programs have been introduced. These programs provide people using street-acquired opioids with prescribed, pharmaceutical opioids. We use six core components of safer supply programs identified by people who use drugs to explore participant perspectives on the first year of operations of a safer supply program in Victoria, BC, during the dual public health emergencies of COVID-19 and the drug toxicity crisis to examine whether the program met drug-user defined elements of an effective safer supply model., Methods: This study used a community-based participatory research approach to ensure that the research was reflective of community concerns and priorities, rather than being extractive. We interviewed 16 safer supply program participants between December 2020 and June 2021. Analysis was structured using the six core components of effective safer supply from the perspective of people who use drugs, generated through a prior study., Results: Ensuring access to the 'right dose and right drugs' of medications was crucial, with many participants reporting success with the available pharmaceutical options. However, others highlighted issues with the strength of the available medications and the lack of options for smokeable medications. Accessing the safer supply program allowed participants to reduce their use of drugs from unregulated markets and manage withdrawal, pain and cravings. On components related to program operations, participants reported receiving compassionate care, and that accessing the safer supply program was a non-stigmatizing experience. They also reported receiving support to find housing, access food, obtain ID, and other needs. However, participants worried about long term program sustainability., Conclusions: Participants in the safer supply program overwhelmingly appreciated it and felt it was lifesaving, and unlike other healthcare or treatment services they had previously accessed. Participants raised concerns that unless a wider variety of medications and ability to consume them by multiple routes of administration became available, safer supply programs would remain unable to completely replace substances from unregulated markets., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Importance: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of British Columbia, Canada, released clinical guidance to support physicians and nurse practitioners in prescribing pharmaceutical alternatives to the toxic drug supply. These alternatives included opioids and other medications under the risk mitigation guidance (RMG), a limited form of prescribed safer supply, designed to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and harms associated with illicit drug use. Many clinicians chose to coprescribe opioid medications under RMG alongside opioid agonist treatment (OAT)., Objective: To examine whether prescription of hydromorphone tablets or sustained-release oral morphine (opioid RMG) and OAT coprescription compared with OAT alone is associated with subsequent OAT receipt., Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted from March 27, 2020, to August 31, 2021, included individuals from 10 linked health administrative databases from British Columbia, Canada. Individuals who were receiving OAT at opioid RMG initiation and individuals who were receiving OAT and eligible but unexposed to opioid RMG were propensity score matched at opioid RMG initiation on sociodemographic and clinical variables. Data were analyzed between January 2023 and February 2024., Exposure: Opioid RMG receipt (≥4 days, 1-3 days, or 0 days of opioid RMG dispensed) in a given week., Main Outcome and Measures: The main outcome was OAT receipt, defined as at least 1 dispensed dose of OAT in the subsequent week. A marginal structural modeling approach was used to control for potential time-varying confounding., Results: A total of 4636 individuals (2955 [64%] male; median age, 38 [31-47] years after matching) were receiving OAT at the time of first opioid RMG dispensation (2281 receiving ongoing OAT and 2352 initiating RMG and OAT concurrently). Opioid RMG receipt of 1 to 3 days in a given week increased the probability of OAT receipt by 27% in the subsequent week (adjusted risk ratio, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.25-1.30), whereas receipt of opioid RMG for 4 days or more resulted in a 46% increase in the probability of OAT receipt in the subsequent week (adjusted risk ratio, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.43-1.49) compared with those not receiving opioid RMG. The biological gradient was robust to different exposure classifications, and the association was stronger among those initiating opioid RMG and OAT concurrently., Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study, which acknowledged the intermittent use of both medications, demonstrated that individuals who were coprescribed opioid RMG had higher adjusted probability of continued OAT receipt or reengagement compared with those not receiving opioid RMG.

Introduction: We used eye-tracking technology to explore the visual perception of clinicians during a high-fidelity simulation scenario. We hypothesized that physicians who were able to successfully manage a critical situation would have a different visual focus compared to those who failed., Methods: A convenience sample of 18 first-year emergency medicine residents were enrolled voluntarily to participate in a high-fidelity scenario involving a patient in shock with a 3rd degree atrioventricular block. Their performance was rated as pass or fail and depended on the proper use of the pacing unit. Participants were wearing pre-calibrated eye-tracking glasses throughout the 9-min scenario and infrared (IR) markers installed in the simulator were used to define various Areas of Interest (AOI). Total View Duration (TVD) and Time to First Fixation (TFF) by the participants were recorded for each AOI and the results were used to produce heat maps., Results: Twelve residents succeeded while six failed the scenario. The TVD for the AOI containing the pacing unit was significantly shorter (median [quartile]) for those who succeeded compared to the ones who failed (42 [31-52] sec vs. 70 [61-90] sec, p = 0.0097). The TFF for the AOI containing the ECG and vital signs monitor was also shorter for the participants who succeeded than for those who failed (22 [6-28] sec vs. 30 [27-77] sec, p = 0.0182)., Discussion: There seemed to be a connection between the gaze pattern of residents in a high-fidelity bradycardia simulation and their performance. The participants who succeeded looked at the monitor earlier (diagnosis). They also spent less time fixating the pacing unit, using it promptly to address the bradycardia. This study suggests that eye-tracking technology could be used to explore how visual perception, a key information-gathering element, is tied to decision-making and clinical performance.

Background: Transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP) is recommended to treat unstable bradycardia. Simulation might improve familiarity with this low-frequency procedure. Current mannequins fail to reproduce key features of TCP, limiting their usefulness. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of a modified high-fidelity mannequin on the ability of junior residents to achieve six critical tasks for successful TCP., Methods: First-year residents from various postgraduate programs taking an advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) course were enrolled two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). Both cohorts received the same standardized course content. An ALS simulator® mannequin was used to demonstrate and practice TCP during the bradycardia workshop of the first cohort (control cohort, 2015) and a modified high-fidelity mannequin that reproduces key features of TCP was used for the second cohort (intervention cohort, 2016). Participants were tested after training with a simulation scenario requiring TCP. Performances were graded based on six critical tasks. The primary outcome was the successful use of TCP, defined as having completed all tasks., Results: Eighteen participants in the intervention cohort completed all tasks during the simulation scenario compared to none in the control cohort (36 vs 0%, p  < 0.001). Participants in the intervention cohort were more likely to recognize when pacing was inefficient (86 vs 12%), obtain ventricular capture (48 vs 2%), and check for a pulse rate to confirm capture (48 vs 0%)., Conclusions: TCP is a difficult skill to master for junior residents. Training using a modified high-fidelity mannequin significantly improved their ability to establish TCP during a simulation scenario., Competing Interests: This study was approved by the local Institutional Review Board for research in healthcare (15-051-CERES-D).Not applicable.Roger Perron works for CAE Healthcare which produces the HPS mannequin.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Flooding can increase tree susceptibility to root rot pathogens as well as attacks by ambrosia beetles attracted to stress-induced ethanol emissions. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of a preventative fungicide treatment and root infection with Phytophthora cinnamomi on ambrosia beetle attacks in flood stressed trees. A fungicide (Pageant ® Intrinsic ® ) was evaluated in two flood trials using Eastern redbud and tulip poplar trees with treatments including the fungicide with or without pathogen or no fungicide with or without pathogen. Fungicide treated trees had fewer ambrosia beetle attacks, particularly in trees without P. cinnamomi co-infection. In a follow-up experiment, ethanol content was evaluated in flooded redbuds to determine if the fungicide treatment reduced stress-induced compounds. All flood stressed trees began producing ethanol within 24 h post flooding, regardless of fungicide treatment or P. cinnamomi infection. We conclude that pre-treatments of a fungicide can provide protection from ambrosia beetle attacks during an extreme flood event, but that protection is reduced if a root rot pathogen is also present. Additionally, rejection of fungicide treated trees was not related to the absence of ethanol, as the fungicide-treated plants released ethanol in quantities similar to non-treated trees.

The radiation responses of different high-power erbium/ytterbium-codoped fiber amplifiers (HP-EYDFA) have been investigated up to 100 krad (SiO 2 ) dose levels. These devices are able to deliver 20 W of signal output power at 1565 nm by pumping at 915 nm (43 W) radiation tolerant (Er/Yb) or radiation hardened (ErYbCe) active few mode fibers; these performances are needed for free-space communications between low-orbit satellites and ground transceivers. X-ray irradiation results show that, thanks to a positive influence of the photo- and thermal-bleaching phenomena associated with such high-power operating conditions, the gain degradation levels of HP-EYDFA based on radiation hardened fibers remain below 6% after 100 krad at an accelerated dose rate of 3.4 rad/s.

Rationale, Aims and Objectives: Wristbands are essential for accurate patient identification. Some evidence suggests that missing wristbands is not an infrequent occurrence in acute hospitals. The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has developed guidance on patient identification for hospitals in England and Wales. Here we report an evaluation of the uptake of the guidance., Method: The evaluation was designed as a 'pre-post' intervention survey. Fifty hospitals (response rate 67%) responded to the 'pre-guidance' part and 40 hospitals (response rate 43%) responded to the 'post-guidance' part., Results: The majority of the hospitals use wristbands to identify inpatients. Fifty-eight per cent of the hospitals in the 'pre-guidance' survey and 50% of them in the 'post-guidance' survey reported not having a patient identification policy before receiving the guidance. Only one hospital reported not having developed such a policy in the 'post-guidance' survey. Ninety-eight per cent of the hospitals reported that their policies are consistent with the guidance. Relevant training to staff is provided in about a quarter of the organizations, both before and after the guidance. Problems in implementing the guidance were reported by 23% of the hospitals, and included difficulties with staff or patient attitudes, or with the guidance itself, or difficulty to identify a lead staff member., Conclusion: Overall, implementation of NPSA guidance regarding inpatient identification was satisfactory. The reported problems should be taken into account, as they likely apply to a range of patient safety interventions. Limitations of evaluating intervention uptake, rather than efficacy, and relying on self-report are discussed.

Rationale, Aims and Objectives: Current evidence suggests that hospital inpatient identification wristbands are not used optimally. Here we report a project by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) to inform guidance development to hospitals regarding wristband specifications., Method: A survey assessed (i) the information on wristbands; (ii) the processes of issuing/checking/applying wristbands onto patients; (iii) the types/designs of wristbands (including colour-coding); and (iv) the main problems faced by staff face in relation to wristbanding patients., Results: Responses from 166 staff members from 62 hospitals in England and Wales were collected. Information: most participants reported using the patients' first and last names, their date of birth and their local hospital number. The National Health Service (NHS) number, which is a unique identifier for each patient, is used by 37% of the respondents. Issuing process: wristbands are issued on admission or at Emergency Departments. Trained or untrained staff are involved in issuing/checking/applying wristbands onto patients, without significant problems. Colour-coding: 29/36 multiple-respondent hospitals and 15/16 single-respondent hospitals use colour-coded wristbands to indicate special patient status (e.g. allergies). Colour-coding is not used consistently: four colours are used to signal risk of fall; red is used to signal at least 10 different statuses/risks., Conclusion: The NPSA recommends that wristbands should include patient's last and first name, date of birth and NHS number. They should be printed/written in black against white background. Only red colour should be used to signal special patient status. These recommendations are consistent with current developments in patient identification, and will be evaluated.

In this work we present a comparative study of three image deconvolution methods applied to fluorescence images of neural proteins. The purpose of this work is to compare the efficiency of these methods, in order to establish which one performs better the restoration of this type o image. Moreover we show that image deconvolution improve not only image quality, but detection capabilities and thus the counting of endocytic vesicles. Image deconvolution was performed by Gold-Meinel (GM) and Lucy-Richardson Maximum likelihood (LRML) non-blind methods and by Lucy-Richardson Maximum likelihood blind method (LRMLB). These methods were tested in 120 images from two different experiments. Computed theoretical point spread function (psf) was used for non-blind deconcovolution methods. Twenty five iterations were performed to restore each image using GM and LRML algorithms. In the case of LRMLB, 10 cycles were performed with 15 psf iterations and 5 image iterations per cycle to deconvolve each image. Endocytic vessels' counting was manually made in deconvolved and non-deconvolved images by a trained observer. Results showed an increase of 22% and 24% in the detection of endocytic vessels using LRML and LRMLB methods respectively and a decrease of 6% using GM method, against detection with non deconvolved images.

Experiments were performed to elucidate resistance of glandular-haired alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., to the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris). The primary objective was to examine the potential role of the glandular trichomes and stem lignification for imparting resistance to this pest. During free-choice foliar discoloration experiments, the resistant alfalfa clone FGplh13 expressed lower levels of injury than the susceptible P5373 after 13 d. No-choice tests performed using nymphal potato leafhoppers showed higher levels of mortality associated with the resistant glandular-haired clone FGplh13, and no nymphs survived after 48 h. Additional no-choice experiments using FGplh13 and P5373 alfalfa with the glandular and nonglandular trichomes intact or removed show that mortality of nymphs and adults decreased after removal of the glandular trichomes from FGplh13. Nymphal and adult mortality and nymphal development time did not differ on FGplh13 with the trichomes removed and P5373 with the trichomes intact or removed. Firstinstar, and possibly second-instar, potato leafhoppers were entrapped by an exudate produced by the glandular trichomes on the FGplh13 alfalfa. Stem lignification and the number of vascular bundles did not differ between FGplh13 and P5373 alfalfas. The glandular trichomes on FGplh13 alfalfa appeared to provide the major host resistance factor, with resistance to adults being chemically based and resistance to nymphs being chemically and mechanically based. To maintain levels of potato leafhopper resistance, breeders would appear to benefit by continuing to select for the expression of the glandular trichome phenotype.

A fully automated image analyzing system was developed for the quantitative study of cells in culture. It was able to count cells, to classify cells according to their morphological characteristics and to follow cell culture development. A specific procedure was designed to process Hoffman modulation contrast images. It detects local gray level differences while using conditional dilation techniques. We were able to successfully detect aggregated unstained cells, presently a technical limit in image segmentation. Living cells can be studied in a noninvasive and nondestructive way with this system. An improved automatic focusing algorithm was developed which ensured an accurate prediction of the optimal focus position. A strictly defined sampling procedure was applied to estimate unbiasedly cell density and obtain precisely cell contours. The evaluation of the system was carried out on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-NTR) cell cultures treated with a newly developed neurotensin agonist JMV449. Chinese hamster ovary cell division was found to be retarded 20 hours after the JMV449 treatment, while the morphology of CHO-NTR cells has already undergone significant changes 12 hours after the treatment. This image analyzing system provides the possibility to follow cell culture development (e.g., cell density evolution, cell morphological changes) under various experimental conditions.

Four years ago, maternal/child health nurses from the Metro CLSC in Montreal found themselves in a crisis situation. They were unable to evaluate their work--which consisted of varying tasks and the need for these nurses to be everywhere at the same time. A need to reflect on the situation prompted the team to meet for three hours twice monthly to analyze the problems and establish a plan of action. A nurse-counsellor guided the initial process. A post-natal home visit was chosen as an example for discussion. The group conceded that each member of the perinatal team had a different philosophy and nursing approach. The team consisted of nurses of various ages, experiences and educational backgrounds. Some nurses felt more comfortable expressing themselves in English while others preferred French. At times this group diversity hindered the communication of ideas as well as the ability to reach a consensus about required practice changes. The McGill Nursing model from McGill University was chosen and integrated into the team's practice. The author presents this model and outlines it's advantages and disadvantages. She illustrates this model with the use of an ecomap designed by Wright and Leahy (1984). This nursing model addresses the use of forces within each individual as well as the family. Since it takes into account the extended family, it allows a global approach to care. The article focuses on the essential elements of integrating the model, including it's development and how it was accepted by these nurses. According to the author, the process of changing to this model is dynamic and continuous.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)