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BackgroundTurkish migrants living in the Netherlands have a high prevalence of depressive disorders, but experience considerable obstacles to accessing professional help. Providing easily accessible Internet treatments may help to overcome these barriers. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally sensitive, guided, self-help, problem-solving intervention through the Internet for reducing depressive symptoms in Turkish migrants. MethodsA two-armed randomized controlled trial was conducted. The primary outcome measure was the severity of depressive symptoms; secondary outcome measures were somatic symptoms, anxiety, quality of life, and satisfaction with the treatment. Participants were assessed online at baseline, posttest (6 weeks after baseline), and 4 months after baseline. Posttest results were analyzed on the intention-to-treat sample. Missing values were estimated by means of multiple imputation. Differences in clinical outcome between groups were analyzed with a t test. Cohen’s d was used to determine the between-groups effect size at posttreatment and follow-up. ResultsTurkish adults (N=96) with depressive symptoms were randomized to the experimental group (n=49) or to a waitlist control group (n=47). High attrition rates were found among the 96 participants of which 42% (40/96) did not complete the posttest (6 weeks) and 62% (59/96) participants did not complete the follow-up assessment at 4 months. No significant difference between the experimental group and the control group was found for depression at posttest. Recovery occurred significantly more often in the experimental group (33%, 16/49) than in the control group (9%, 4/47) at posttest (P=.02). Because of the high attrition rate, a completers-only analysis was conducted at follow-up. The experimental group showed significant improvement in depression compared to the control group both at posttest (P=.01) and follow-up (P=.01). ConclusionsThe results of this study did not show a significant effect on the reduction of depressive symptoms. However, the effect size at posttest was high, which might be an indicator of the possible effectiveness of the intervention when assessed in a larger sample and robust trial. Future research should replicate our study with adequately powered samples. Trial RegistrationDutch Trial Register: NTR2303. http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=2303 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6IOxNgoDu).

Direct methods for determining the fidelity of DNA polymerases are robust, with relatively little sample manipulation before sequencing. In contrast, methods for measuring RNA polymerase and reverse transcriptase fidelities are complicated by additional preparation steps that introduce ambiguity and error. Here, we describe a sequencing method, termed Roll-Seq, for simultaneously determining the individual fidelities of RNA polymerases and reverse transcriptases (RT) using Pacific Biosciences single molecule real-time sequencing. By using reverse transcriptases with high rolling-circle activity, Roll-Seq generates long concatemeric cDNA from a circular RNA template. To discern the origin of a mutation, errors are recorded and determined to occur within a single concatemer (reverse transcriptase error) or all concatemers (RNA polymerase error) over the cDNA strand. We used Roll-Seq to measure the fidelities of T7 RNA polymerases, a Group II intron-encoded RT (Induro), and two LINE RTs ( Fasciolopsis buski R2-RT and human LINE-1). Substitution rates for Induro and R2-RT are the same for cDNA and second-strand synthesis while LINE-1 has 2.5-fold lower fidelity when performing second-strand synthesis. Deletion and insertion rates increase for all RTs during second-strand synthesis. In addition, we find that a structured RNA template impacts fidelity for both RNA polymerase and RT. The accuracy and precision of Roll-Seq enable this method to be applied as a complementary analysis to structural and mechanistic characterization of RNA polymerases and reverse transcriptases or as a screening method for RNAP and RT fidelity., (© 2024 Potapov et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press for the RNA Society.)

Circular RNA (circRNA) has recently gained attention for its emerging biological activities, relevance to disease, potential as biomarkers, and promising an alternative modality for RNA vaccines. Nevertheless, sequencing circRNAs has presented challenges. In this context, we introduce a novel circRNA sequencing method called Induro-RT mediated circRNA-sequencing (IMCR-seq), which relies on a group II intron reverse transcriptase with robust rolling circle reverse transcription activity. The IMCR-seq protocol eliminates the need for conventional circRNA enrichment methods such as rRNA depletion and RNaseR digestion yet achieved the highest circRNA enrichment and detected 6-1000 times more circRNAs for the benchmarked human samples compared to other methods. IMCR-seq is applicable to any organism, capable of detecting circRNAs of longer than 7000 nucleotides, and is effective on samples as small as 10 ng of total RNA. These enhancements render IMCR-seq suitable for clinical samples, including disease tissues and liquid biopsies. We demonstrated the clinical relevance of IMCR-seq by detecting cancer-specific circRNAs as potential biomarkers from IMCR-seq results on lung tumor tissues together with blood plasma samples from both a healthy individual and a lung cancer patient. In summary, IMCR-seq presents an efficient and versatile circRNA sequencing method with high potential for research and clinical applications., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

As a result of the widespread prevalence of anesthetic usage, anesthesia-related complications are well studied, ranging from benign postoperative nausea and vomiting to potentially fatal complications, such as paralysis, malignant hyperthermia, and death. However, one intersection that still needs further analysis is the relationship between vector-borne illnesses (VBIs) and anesthetic complications. With the advent of climate change and global warming, what were previously endemic vectors have spread far beyond their typical regions, resulting in the spread of VBI. As the incidence of VBIs rapidly increases in the United States, operations for diagnostic testing, and thus the identification and treatments of these VBIs, have significantly diminished. A literature review was conducted to analyze case reports of patients with VBIs and anesthetic concerns with sources from PubMed and Google Scholar databases, and a wide range of complications were found., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Jaramillo Arias et al.)

Culex quinquefasciatus is an important target for vector control because of its ability to transmit pathogens that cause disease. Most populations are resistant to pyrethroids and often to organophosphates, the two most common classes of active ingredients used by public health agencies. A knockdown resistance ( kdr ) mutation, resulting in an amino acid change from a leucine to phenylalanine in the voltage gated sodium channel, is one mechanism contributing to the pyrethroid resistant phenotype. Enzymatic resistance has also been shown to play a very important role. Recent studies have shown strong resistance in populations even when kdr is relatively low, which indicates that factors other than kdr may be larger contributors to resistance. In this study, we examined, on a statewide scale (over 70 populations), the strength of the correlation between resistance in the CDC bottle bioassay and the kdr genotypes and allele frequencies. Spearman correlation analysis showed only moderate (-0.51) or weak (-0.29) correlation between the kdr genotype and permethrin or deltamethrin resistance, respectively. The frequency of the kdr allele was an even weaker correlate than genotype. These results indicate that assessing kdr in populations of Culex quinquefasciatus is not a good surrogate for phenotypic resistance testing.

Sporadic outbreaks of human cases of West Nile virus (WNV), primarily vectored by Culex quinquefasciatus Say in suburban and urban areas, have been reported since introduction of the virus into Florida in 2001. Miami-Dade County, Florida is part of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, supports Cx. quinquefasciatus year-round, and recently experienced over 60 human cases of WNV during one outbreak. To facilitate more effective integrated vector management and public health protection, we used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bottle bioassay method to evaluate the susceptibility of adult Cx. quinquefasciatus collected from 29 locations throughout Miami-Dade County to pyrethroid and organophosphate adulticide active ingredients (AIs) used by Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control. We also determined the frequency of the 1014 knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation for Cx. quinquefasciatus from a subset of 17 locations. We detected resistance to two pyrethroid AIs in all tested locations (permethrin: 27 locations, deltamethrin: 28 locations). The 1014F allele was widely distributed throughout all 17 locations sampled; however, 29.4% of these locations lacked 1014F homozygotes even though phenotypic pyrethroid resistance was present. Organophosphate resistance was more variable; 20.7% of the locations tested were susceptible to malathion, and 33.3% of the populations were susceptible to naled. We subsequently conducted a field trial of ReMoa Tri, a recently approved multiple AI adulticide formulation labelled for resistant mosquitoes, against a mixed location field population of Miami-Dade Cx. quinquefasciatus. Average 24-hr mortality was 65.1 ± 7.2% and 48-hr mortality increased to 85.3 ± 9.1%, indicating good control of these resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus. This current study shows that insecticide resistance is common in local Cx. quinquefasciatus but effective options are available to maintain control during active disease transmission in Miami-Dade County., Competing Interests: ReMoa Tri for field testing was provided by Valent Biosciences LLC under an Experimental Use Permit. Valent BioSciences LLC holds a patent (US9826742) related to this product. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials., (Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.)

Background: Malaria outbreaks have sporadically occurred in the United States, with Anopheles quadrimaculatus serving as the primary vector in the eastern region. Anopheles crucians, while considered a competent vector, has not been directly implicated in human transmission. Considering the locally acquired Plasmodium vivax cases in Sarasota County, Florida (7 confirmed cases), Cameron County, Texas (one confirmed case), and Maryland (one confirmed case) in the summer of 2023. The hypothesis of this study is that major cities in the United States harbour sufficient natural populations of Anopheles species vectors of malaria, that overlap with human populations that could support local transmission to humans. The objective of this study is to profile the most abundant Anopheles vector species in Miami-Dade County, Florida-An. crucians and An. quadrimaculatus., Methods: This study was based on high-resolution mosquito surveillance data from 2020 to 2022 in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Variations on the relative abundance of An. crucians and An. quadrimaculatus was assessed by dividing the total number of mosquitoes collected by each individual trap in 2022 by the number of mosquitoes collected by the same trap in 2020. In order to identify influential traps, the linear distance in meters between all traps in the surveillance system from 2020 to 2022 was calculated and used to create a 4 km buffer radius around each trap in the surveillance system., Results: A total of 36,589 An. crucians and 9943 An. quadrimaculatus were collected during this study by the surveillance system, consisting of 322 CO 2 -based traps. The findings reveal a highly heterogeneous spatiotemporal distribution of An. crucians and An. quadrimaculatus in Miami-Dade County, highlighting the presence of highly conducive environments in transition zones between natural/rural and urban areas. Anopheles quadrimaculatus, and to a lesser extent An. crucians, pose a considerable risk of malaria transmission during an outbreak, given their high abundance and proximity to humans., Conclusions: Understanding the factors driving the proliferation, population dynamics, and spatial distribution of Anopheles vector species is vital for implementing effective mosquito control and reducing the risk of malaria outbreaks in the United States., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Simultaneous dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks in Florida, USA, in 2020 resulted in 71 dengue virus serotype 1 and 86 WNV human cases. We hypothesized that we would find a number of DENV-1 positive mosquito pools, and that the distribution of these arbovirus-positive mosquito pools would be associated with those neighborhoods for which imported DENV cases have been recently reported in 2019 and 2020., Methods: We collected and screened Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Anopheles crucians, Culex coronator, Cx. nigripalpus , and Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from Miami-Dade County (Florida) for DENV and WNV by rRT-qPCR. Spatial statistical analyses were performed to capture positive mosquito pool distribution in relation to land use, human demography, environmental variables, mosquito trap placement and reported human travel associated DENV cases to guide future mosquito control outbreak responses., Findings: A rapid screen of 7,668 mosquitoes detected four DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2), nine DENV-4 and nine WNV-positive mosquito pools, which enabled swift and targeted abatement of trap sites by mosquito control. As expected, DENV-positive pools were in urban areas; however, we found WNV-positive mosquito pools in agricultural and recreational areas with no historical reports of WNV transmission., Interpretation: These findings demonstrate the importance of proactive arbovirus surveillance in mosquito populations to prevent and control outbreaks, particularly when other illnesses (e.g., COVID-19), which present with similar symptoms, are circulating concurrently. Growing evidence for substantial infection prevalence of dengue in mosquitoes in the absence of local index cases suggests a higher level of dengue endemicity in Florida than previously thought., Funding: This research was supported in part by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant 1U01CK000510-03, Southeastern Regional Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases Gateway Program., Competing Interests: This research was supported in in part by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant 1U01CK000510, and a T32 AI 007110 to JBA. RRD and JAL disclosed unrelated pending patents, and RRD disclosed leadership on the US Military Infectious Diseases Research Program (MIDRP) Emerging Infectious Diseases Advisory Board. No other authors had any relevant grants, contracts, royalties, consulting feeds, honoraria for lectures, payment for expert testimony, support for attending meetings, patents, participation on a data safety monitoring board or advisory board, leadership or role on a committee or society (paid or unpaid), stock, receipt of equipment or material, or any other financial or non-financial interests., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

The Asian tiger mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ) arrived in the USA in the 1980's and rapidly spread throughout eastern USA within a decade. The predicted northern edge of its overwintering distribution on the East Coast of the USA roughly falls across New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, where the species has been recorded as early as 2000. It is unclear whether Ae. albopictus populations have become established and survive the cold winters in these areas or are recolonized every year. We genotyped and analyzed populations of Ae. albopictus from the northeast USA using 15 microsatellite markers and compared them with other populations across the country and to representatives of the major global genetic clades to investigate their connectivity and stability. Founder effects or bottlenecks were rare at the northern range of the Ae. albopictus distribution in the northeastern USA, with populations displaying high levels of genetic diversity and connectivity along the East Coast. There is no evidence of population turnover in Connecticut during the course of three consecutive years, with consistent genetic structure throughout this period. Overall, these results support the presence of established populations of Ae. albopictus in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, successfully overwintering and migrating in large numbers. Given the stability and interconnectedness of these populations, Ae. albopictus has the potential to continue to proliferate and expand its range northward under mean warming conditions of climate change. Efforts to control Ae. albopictus in these areas should thus focus on vector suppression rather than eradication strategies, as local populations have become firmly established and are expected to reemerge every summer.

Background: Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) impacts human outdoor activity because of its aggressive biting behavior, and as a major vector of mosquito-borne diseases, it is also of public health importance. Although most mosquito species exhibit crepuscular activity by primarily host seeking at dawn and dusk, Ae. albopictus has been traditionally characterized as a diurnal or day-biting mosquito. With the global expansion and increased involvement of Ae. albopictus in mosquito-borne diseases, it is imperative to elucidate the diel activity of this species, particularly in newly invaded areas., Methodology and Principal Findings: Human sweep netting and carbon dioxide-baited rotator traps were used to evaluate the diel activity of Ae. albopictus in two study sites. Both trapping methods were used in New Jersey's Mercer County, USA (temperate/urban), while only human sweep netting was used in Florida's Volusia County, USA (subtropical/suburban). Human sweep netting was performed to determine adult mosquito activity at Sunrise, Solar Noon, Sunset, and Lunar Midnight. Because New Jersey is in a temperate area, diel activity was investigated during the early season (3-19 July), peak season (25 July-19 September), and late season (22 September- 22 October). Aedes albopictus showed the highest activity during peak and late seasons at Solar Noon (P < 0.05). At Sunrise and Sunset during the peak season, Ae. albopictus activity was similar. Lunar Midnight activity was significantly lower than Sunrise and Solar Noon (P < 0.05) but was similar to that of Sunset. In the late season, the highest activity was observed during Solar Noon while the least activity was observed during Sunrise and Lunar Midnight (P<0.05). Bottle rotator traps used in conjunction with the human sweep net technique exhibited similar results. Seasonal activity was not differentiated in Florida due to the consistent subtropical climate. The highest adult activity was observed at Sunrise using human sweep netting, but it was not significantly different from Solar Noon and Sunset. The lowest adult activity was observed at Lunar Midnight; however, it was not significantly different from Solar Noon and Sunset. These results provide evidence that the diel activity of Ae. albopictus, contrary to the common perception of its diurnal activity, is much more varied., Conclusion/significance: Involvement of Ae. albopictus in the transmission of debilitating mosquito-borne pathogens such as chikungunya, dengue, and Zika virus, coupled with its affinity to thrive in human peridomestic environments, substantiates that our findings have global implications in areas where Ae. albopictus populations established. It also highlights the importance of behavioral studies of vector species which will not only help mosquito control professionals plan the timing of their control efforts but also provides empirical evidence against conventional wisdoms that may unjustly persist within public health stewards., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Conventional larvicide delivery strategies originally developed for permanent and floodwater mosquitoes have proved suboptimal in the small, scattered, and cryptic larval habitats preferred by container-inhabiting Aedes mosquitoes. New methods such as autodissemination, wherein adult mosquitoes spread insecticides to their own larval habitats, have been under study. Another novel delivery method termed heterodissemination, i.e. larvicide delivery by other species sharing the same habitats, has also been proposed. We conducted a proof-of-concept study with four independent experiments using American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and green frogs Lithobates clamitans as carriers of pyriproxyfen, an insect growth regulator, under semi-field conditions in three different locations, two in New Jersey, and one in Utah. Frogs with attached slow-release pyriproxyfen tablets were introduced into outdoor enclosures with water containers. Water samples from the containers were periodically tested using larval Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens mosquitoes to assess mortality and percent eclosure inhibition. Overall pupal mortality [95% credible intervals] estimated by Bayesian analysis for the treatment group was 73.4% [71.3-75.2] compared to 4.1% [2.9-5.5] for the control group. Mortality within treatment groups in four different experiments ranged from 41 to 100%, whereas control mortalities ranged from 0.5% to 11%. We conclude that heterodissemination is a promising and effective approach deserving of further study.

Aedes scapularis is a neotropical mosquito known to transmit pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Its recent establishment in southeastern Florida has potential public health implications. We used an ecological niche modeling approach to predict the abiotic environmental suitability for Ae. scapularis across much of the Americas and Caribbean Islands. Georeferenced occurrence data obtained from the Global Biodiversity Inventory Facility and recent collection records of Ae. scapularis from southern Florida served as input for model calibration. Environmental layers included bioclimatic variables provided in 2000 to 2010 average Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications climatic (MERRAclim) data. Models were run in the software program Maxent. Isothermality values often found in costal environments, had the greatest contribution to model performance. Model projections suggested that there are areas predicted to be suitable for Ae. Scapularis across portions of the Amazon Basin, the Yucatán Peninsula, the Florida Peninsula, and multiple Caribbean Islands. Additionally, model predictions suggested connectivity of highly suitable or relatively suitable environments spanning the United States Gulf Coast, which may facilitate the geographic expansion of this species. At least sixteen Florida counties were predicted to be highly suitable for Ae. scapularis , suggesting that vigilance is needed by vector control and public health agencies to recognize the further spread of this vector.

We constructed an electric multi-rotor autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS) to perform mosquito control activities. The UAS can be equipped with any of four modules for spraying larvicides, dropping larvicide tablets, spreading larvicide granules, and ultra-low volume spraying of adulticides. The larvicide module sprayed 124 μm drops at 591 mL/min over a 14 m swath for a total application rate of 1.6 L/ha. The tablet module was able to repeatedly deliver 40-gram larvicide tablets within 1.1 m of the target site. The granular spreader covered a 6 m swath and treated 0.76 ha in 13 min at an average rate of 1.8 kg/ha. The adulticide module produced 16 μm drops with an average deposition of 2.6 drops/mm2. UAS pesticide applications were made at rates prescribed for conventional aircraft, limited only by the payload capacity and flight time. Despite those limitations, this system can deliver pesticides with much greater precision than conventional aircraft, potentially reducing pesticide use. In smaller, congested environments or in programs with limited resources, UAS may be a preferable alternative to conventional aircraft., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Effective suppression of container-inhabiting Asian Tiger [Aedes albopictus (Skuse)] (Diptera: Culicidae) and yellow fever [Aedes aegypti (L.)] (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes presents one of the most intractable problems for modern mosquito control. Traditional tools often fail to control populations of these mosquito species, and are prohibitively expensive or have negative environmental impacts. Novel approaches and tools are urgently needed for integrated container-inhabiting mosquito management programs. One of the most promising techniques is autodissemination. We present the results of a long-term large-scale study conducted in a temperate urbanized environment representing typical Ae. albopictus habitats. Three treatment sites with autodissemination stations and three nearby reference sites were monitored for eggs, immature, and adult mosquitoes over a period of 3 yr from 2014 to 2016. Elevated larval and pupal mortality of 12-19% on average was the most notable outcome in sentinel cups of the treatment sites. The number of eggs in the treatment sites was significantly reduced in 2014, but not in 2015 or 2016. Adult populations remained similar in treatment and reference sites throughout the study. The impact of autodissemination on mosquito populations was lower than reported by previous investigations. Technical and logistical problems associated with wider coverage and working in multiple urban neighborhoods contributed to reduced efficacy. Incorporating autodissemination with routine mosquito control operations and commercializing this methodology for general public use will require further research on combining this tool with other novel or conventional technologies., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America 2020.)

Background: Management of Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti is challenging in large part due to the cryptic nature of their larval habitats. Autodissemination, using conspecific species to transfer pesticide, is unable to provide proactive control. Here we report results from a new hypothesis, heterodissemination, wherein females of the cohabiting non-biting midge, Chironomus decorus, reared in the laboratory, treated with pyriproxyfen, and released to transfer lethal concentrations to shared mosquito larval habitats., Results: Pyriproxyfen-impregnated oil and powder formulations were developed. The average payload for each female midge treated with oil followed by powder formulations was 5.07 ± 0.92 μg of active ingredient or 1660 times the median lethal concentration (LC 50 ) for Ae. albopictus or Ae. aegypti in 200 mL of water. Subsequent residue analysis showed pyriproxyfen transference from chironomids, treated with oil formulation only, into water-holding containers up to 2.06 ppb or 171.7 times the LC 50 . Releasing 20 laboratory reared and contaminated Chironomus decorus into a small room resulted in 80.42 ± 0.67% and 75.67 ± 3.14% Ae. albopictus pupal mortality in open and cryptic sentinel ovicups, respectively. Container water volumes ranging up to 4 L did not affect efficacy. In a large field cage, 90.3 ± 2.5% Ae. albopictus mortality was resulted from releasing 100 treated female midges. Releasing 400 contaminated midges into a residential backyard resulted in 74.3% pupal mortality in sentinel ovicups., Conclusions: Room, large field cage and field release trials demonstrated that adult midges reared and treated in the laboratory transfer highly lethal concentrations of pyriproxyfen to Ae. albopictus container habitats. Heterodissemination provides a potential approach for precision, proactive mosquito control, which may draw attention for further studies. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) fall generally into two broad categories: those that are covalently bound either to the surface or to each other and those that rely on weaker forces such as hydrogen bonding or van der Waals forces. The engineering of the structure of SAMs formed from weaker forces is an exciting and complex field that often utilizes long alkane substituents bound to core moieties. The core provides the unique optical, electronic, or catalytic property desired, while the interdigitation of the alkane chains provides the means for creating well-regulated patterns of cores on the substrate. This design technique sometimes fails because some of the alkane substituents remain extended into solution rather than become interdigitated on the substrate. One contributor to this is steric hindrance between elements of the core and of the alkane chain. It is shown that the use of an alkyne linker between the core and the alkane chain can, in the case of meso-substituted porphyrins, significantly reduce this steric barrier and allow more stable and predictable surface structures to form. In particular, 5,15-bis(1-octynyl)porphyrin and 5,15-bis(1-tetradecynyl)porphyrin are shown to form significantly more stable SAMs than their alkane-linked counterparts. Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to provide detailed surface structures. Temperature and solution concentration dependence of the surface coverage is also reported. Density functional theory (DFT) is used to determine the energetic effects associated with alkane substitution at both the meso and β positions and the beneficial energetic effects of the alkyne linker.

Background: Cache Valley virus (CVV; Bunyavirales, Peribunyaviridae) is a mosquito-borne arbovirus endemic in North America. Although severe diseases are mainly observed in pregnant ruminants, CVV has also been recognized as a zoonotic pathogen that can cause fatal encephalitis in humans. Human exposures to CVV and its related subtypes occur frequently under different ecological conditions in the New World; however, neurotropic disease is rarely reported. High prevalence rates of neutralizing antibodies have been detected among residents in several Latin American cities. However, zoophilic mosquito species involved in the enzootic transmission are unlikely to be responsible for the transmission leading to human exposures to CVV. Mechanisms that lead to frequent human exposures to CVV remain largely unknown. In this study, competence of two anthropophilic mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti, for CVV was determined using per os infection to determine if these species could play a role in the transmission of CVV in the domestic and peridomestic settings of urban and suburban areas., Results: Aedes albopictus were highly susceptible to CVV whereas infection of Ae. aegypti occurred at a significantly lower frequency. Whilst the dissemination rates of CVV were comparable in the two species, the relatively long period to attain maximal infectious titer in Ae. aegypti demonstrated a significant difference in the replication kinetics of CVV in these species. Detection of viral RNA in saliva suggests that both Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti are competent vectors for CVV under laboratory conditions., Conclusions: Differential susceptibility to CVV was observed in Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti, reflecting their relatively different capacities for vectoring CVV in nature. The high susceptibility of Ae. albopictus to CVV observed in this study suggests its potential role as an efficient vector for CVV. Complemented by the reports of multiple CVV isolates derived from Ae. albopictus, our finding provides the basis for how the dispersal of Ae. albopictus across the New World may have a significant impact on the transmission and ecology of CVV.

Barrier applications, treating vegetation and other potential mosquito resting areas with residual pesticides, have become standard practice for commercial pest management professionals offering mosquito control services. These treatments are generally effective in reducing numbers of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse). In the temperate climates, adult Ae. albopictus populations are naturally eliminated each winter and must be grown from diapausing eggs the following spring. Therefore, early-season control interventions timed before populations rebound may further reduce population growth compared with interventions that take place after the population has peaked. We compared Early (1 June) barrier applications of lambda-cyhalothrin (Demand CS) mixed with the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen (Archer IGR) to Late applications (31 July) in urban and suburban residential parcels in New Jersey. These applications resulted in 43 and 51% reductions in adult Ae. albopictus populations in the Early and Late intervention study parcels, respectively, when compared with the untreated Controls. Indirect applications of pyriproxyfen (i.e., rainwater runoff transferring pesticide) to potential larval habitat did not cause mortality in laboratory larval bioassays but direct mist applications of the Archer and Demand combination to larval habitats led to elevated larval mortality over a 6-wk period. The Early-season intervention offered no advantage in efficacy on adult populations compared with the Late-season intervention, which targeted peak mosquito populations. Our study provides support for the efficacy of barrier applications and illustrates the importance of timing barrier treatments to coincide with established Ae. albopictus action thresholds., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Given the lack of vaccines for most vector-borne diseases, vector control is often the primary option for disease control. Aedes albopictus are difficult to control because the immatures primarily develop in containers ubiquitous in residential properties. Conventional adulticide campaigns often result in brief, rebounding population declines, so incorporating new techniques into an integrated pest management program is imperative. We performed combined area-wide applications of the larvicides Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis and pyriproxyfen with the adulticide sumithrin and prallethrin to achieve extended suppression of Ae. albopictus populations in Trenton, NJ, USA. We deployed bioassay cups to assess the spatial penetration and efficacy of the applications., Results: Inhibition of adult emergence was significantly higher in the treatment bioassay cups than in laboratory controls (z = 4.65, P < 0.0001) and field control bioassay cups (z = 8.93, P < 0.0001). We observed a lower trend in adult numbers following season-long combined application of pyriproxyfen and adulticide, with numbers of adult Ae. albopictus at the treatment site up to five times lower than at the control site., Conclusion: Pyriproxyfen is a powerful mosquito larvicide and pupacide with low mammalian toxicity that shows promise for area-wide vehicle-mounted (either ground or airborne) applications. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The Au(I) complexes CF 3 AuCNMe (1a) and CF 3 AuCN t Bu (1b) were investigated as Au(I) precursors for focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID) of metallic gold. Both 1a and 1b are sufficiently volatile for sublimation at 125 ± 1 mTorr in the temperature range of roughly 40-50 °C. Electron impact mass spectra of 1a-b show gold-containing ions resulting from fragmenting the CF 3 group and the CNR ligand, whereas in negative chemical ionization of 1a-b, the major fragment results from dealkylation of the CNR ligand. Steady-state depositions from 1a in an Auger spectrometer produce deposits with a similar gold content to the commercial precursor Me 2 Au(acac) (3) deposited under the same conditions, while the gold content from 1b is less. These results enable us to suggest the likely fate of the CF 3 and CNR ligands during FEBID.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and increased pulmonary artery pressure may be frequent in patients with upper airway obstruction. In this study, we evaluated atrial conduction delays in patients with upper airway obstruction secondary to nasal septum deviation (NSD)., Methods: A total of 32 patients with upper airway obstruction secondary to NSD undergoing a septoplasty procedure were enrolled in this study. Preoperative electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed in all patients who underwent surgery. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and atrial conduction time (ACT) were recorded before and 6 months after the surgical procedures., Results: The PAP was significantly lower postoperatively than preoperatively (20.75 ± 4.83 vs. 24.68 ± 5.26; P < 0.001). The postoperative Electromechanical Delay of Mitral septal wall (EMD-MS) value was significantly lower than that preoperatively (46.20 ± 8.5 vs. 40.5 ± 9.9; P < 0.001). The postoperative Electromechanical Delay of Mitral lateral wall (EMD-ML) value decreased significantly compared to the preoperative period (46.3 ± 7.4 vs. 40.6 ± 9.3; P < 0.001). The postoperative Electromechanical Delay of Tricuspit lateral wall (EMD-TL) value was significantly lower than that preoperatively (43.8 ± 7.0 vs. 38.1 ± 9.1; P < 0.001). There was no significant change in pre- or postoperative measurements of inter- and intra-atrial conduction delays., Conclusions: We demonstrated that upper airway obstruction secondary to NSD causes a significant increase in mPAP and a significant delay in ACT, which improved after nasal septoplasty. According to these results, we conclude that upper airway obstruction may be an important risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension, RV dysfunction, and atrial arrhythmias, especially in unoperated cases., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The activity of X box-binding protein 1 (XBP1), a master transcriptional regulator of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and the unfolded protein response (UPR), is controlled by a two-step noncanonical splicing reaction in the cytoplasm. The first step of nuclease cleavage by inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), a protein kinase/endoribonuclease, is conserved in all eukaryotic cells. The second step of RNA ligation differs biochemically among species. In yeast, tRNA ligase 1 (Trl1) and tRNA 2'-phosphotransferase 1 (Tpt1) act through a 5'-PO 4 /3'-OH pathway. In metazoans, RNA 2',3'-cyclic phosphate and 5'-OH ligase (RtcB) ligate XBP1 exons via a 3'-PO 4 /5'-OH reaction. Although RtcB has been identified as the primary RNA ligase, evidence suggests that yeast-like ligase components may also operate in mammals. In this study, using mouse and human cell lines along with in vitro splicing assays, we investigated whether these components contribute to XBP1 splicing during ER stress. We found that the mammalian 2'-phosphotransferase Trpt1 does not contribute to XBP1 splicing even in the absence of RtcB. Instead, we found that 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CNP) suppresses RtcB-mediated XBP1 splicing by hydrolyzing 2',3'-cyclic phosphate into 2'-phosphate on the cleaved exon termini. By contrast, RNA 3'-terminal cyclase (RtcA), which converts 2'-phosphate back to 2',3'-cyclic phosphate, facilitated XBP1 splicing by increasing the number of compatible RNA termini for RtcB. Taken together, our results provide evidence that CNP and RtcA fine-tune XBP1 output during ER stress., (© 2018 Unlu et al.)

Background: Cache Valley virus (CVV) is a mosquito-borne orthobunyavirus endemic in North America. The virus is an important agricultural pathogen leading to abortion and embryonic lethality in ruminant species, especially sheep. The importance of CVV in human public health has recently increased because of the report of severe neurotropic diseases. However, mosquito species responsible for transmission of the virus to humans remain to be determined. In this study, vector competence of three Culex species mosquitoes of public health importance, Culex pipiens, Cx. tarsalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus, was determined in order to identify potential bridge vector species responsible for the transmission of CVV from viremic vertebrate hosts to humans., Results: Variation of susceptibility to CVV was observed among selected Culex species mosquitoes tested in this study. Per os infection resulted in the establishment of infection and dissemination in Culex tarsalis, whereas Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus were highly refractory to CVV. Detection of viral RNA in saliva collected from infected Cx. tarsalis provided evidence supporting its role as a competent vector., Conclusions: Our study provided further understanding of the transmission cycles of CVV and identifies Cx. tarsalis as a competent vector.

The BG-Sentinel ® (BGS) trap is considered "the gold standard" for Aedes albopictus surveillance. With the risk of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses in the USA, it is imperative our best surveillance asset is as dependable and cost-effective as possible. Biogents AG (Regensburg, Germany) in recent years has manufactured 3 generations of BGS traps in an effort to optimize trapping performance of invasive Aedes species. We evaluated the field efficacy of BG-Sentinel 2 prototype (BGS2P), BG-Sentinel (BGS1), and BG-Sentinel 2 ® (BGS2). The field experiment was conducted between July 1 and September 21, 2016, on the outskirts of an abandoned industrial area in the city of Trenton, NJ (40°13'58.0″N, 74°44'21.6″W). All 3 traps were compared with 3-compound BG cartridge lures. There was no significant difference in total Ae. albopictus collections among BGS1 and BGS2. However, the number of Ae. albopictus collected from the BGS2P was significantly lower than BGS1 ( P = 0.016) and BGS2 ( P = 0.025). Our results indicate BGS2, encompassing the latest technology aimed with improved durability and efficacy, will yield the highest capture rates of adult Ae. albopictus mosquitoes.

Background: Usutu virus (USUV) is a member of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) serocomplex in the Flaviviridae family. Emergence of USUV in Europe has led to disease burdens in birds and created increasing concern for the potential zoonotic transmission to humans. Whilst USUV has not been detected in the New World, the identification of competent vector species in North America is critical in the assessment of the likelihood of its dispersal and establishment of enzootic transmission cycles. The objective of this study was to determine vector competence of potential mosquito vectors in North America for USUV. Three medically important mosquito species were selected for testing because of their involvement in the transmission of West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus, two related JEV serocomplex flaviviruses in the New World., Methodology/principal Findings: Oral challenge of Culex pipiens, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes albopictus was performed to determine the susceptibility and vector competence of North American mosquitoes for USUV. Infection status was monitored by the isolation of virus from homogenized mosquito tissues. The disseminated form of infection was demonstrated by the detection of infectious virus in the head, wings, and legs of infected mosquitoes. The presence of viral RNA in saliva of infected Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus indicated that both species are competent for transmission of USUV., Conclusions/significance: Results indicate that members of the Cx. pipiens complex are susceptible to USUV and competent for its transmission potential in North America in the event of its introduction. In contrast, Ae. albopictus were highly refractory to USUV infection, suggesting that this species is unlikely to contribute to USUV transmission in North America., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The successful control of Aedes albopictus requires a multifaceted approach using a variety of integrated pest management techniques. Because this species is diurnal, nighttime ultra-low volume adulticide applications seem likely to miss resting mosquitoes and, therefore, are often met with skepticism. The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of nighttime applications of pyrethroids with and without prallethrin to control caged and field populations of Ae. albopictus . During August and September of 2015, 2 adulticide applications were performed, treating 4 urban sites in the city of Trenton. We compared Anvil®, which contains sumithrin and piperonyl butoxide (PBO), to Duet™, which contains sumithrin, prallethrin, and PBO. Because prallethrin excites resting mosquitoes to flight, we hypothesized that Duet would kill more mosquitoes, especially those resting in cryptic harborages. Comparing pretreatment and posttreatment adult mosquito numbers, Biogents Sentinel trap collections revealed twice as many mosquitoes were killed by Duet than by Anvil. For caged Ae. albopictus , both products performed comparably, with Duet achieving a slightly higher mortality in front yards and Anvil achieving a slightly higher mortality in backyards. It is clear that nighttime adulticide applications are effective against Ae. albopictus , and the need to continue efficacy data collection is important because adulticiding is a key component of disease control response.

Electron-induced surface reactions of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO) 2 Mn(CO) 5 were explored in situ under ultra-high vacuum conditions using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The initial step involves electron-stimulated decomposition of adsorbed (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO) 2 Mn(CO) 5 molecules, accompanied by the desorption of an average of five CO ligands. A comparison with recent gas phase studies suggests that this precursor decomposition step occurs by a dissociative ionization (DI) process. Further electron irradiation decomposes the residual CO groups and (η 5 -C 5 H 5 , Cp) ligand, in the absence of any ligand desorption. The decomposition of CO ligands leads to Mn oxidation, while electron stimulated Cp decomposition causes all of the associated carbon atoms to be retained in the deposit. The lack of any Fe oxidation is ascribed to either the presence of a protective carbonaceous matrix around the Fe atoms created by the decomposition of the Cp ligand, or to desorption of both CO ligands bound to Fe in the initial decomposition step. The selective oxidation of Mn in the absence of any Fe oxidation suggests that the fate of metal atoms in mixed-metal precursors for focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) will be sensitive to the nature and number of ligands in the immediate coordination sphere. In related studies, the composition of deposits created from (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO) 2 Mn(CO) 5 under steady state deposition conditions, representative of those used to create nanostructures in electron microscopes, were measured and found to be qualitatively consistent with predictions from the UHV surface science studies.

Mosquito control programs in the United States are still searching for best management practices to control the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse; Diptera: Culicidae). Most intervention methods for this species are either labor intensive (e.g., source reduction) or short-term (e.g., ultra-low-volume adulticiding). We investigated the effectiveness of barrier spray pesticide applications within urban and suburban residential yards in New Jersey as a control strategy using a before-after-control-impact (BACI) approach. Applications of Demand CSR pyrethroid (9.7% AI lambda-cyhalothrin) only or combined Demand CSR and Archer IGR insect growth regulator (1.3% AI pyriproxyfen) applications resulted in significant and similar decreases in adult mosquito abundance post-treatment ranging from 78 to 74% respectively, compared with the untreated control. Both insecticides exceeded the 70% reduction threshold considered as effective for Ae. albopictus control for 2 to 4 wk. However, applications of Archer IGR alone did not reduce adult mosquito abundance. The field study results were supported by laboratory no-choice bioassays using treated leaf foliage. Our study is the first data driven evidence of the residual efficacy of barrier pesticide applications in New Jersey with lambda-cyhalothrin that provided significant reductions in adult Ae. albopictus populations for an extended duration.

AC electric fields were utilized in the growth of individual high-aspect ratio cobalt nanowires from simple salt solutions using the Directed Electrochemical Nanowire Assembly method. Nanowire diameters were tuned from the submicron scale to 40 nm by adjusting the AC voltage frequency and the growth solution concentration. The structural properties of the nanowires, including shape and crystallinity, were identified using electron microscopy. Hysteresis loops obtained along different directions of an individual nanowire using vibrating sample magnetometry showed that the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy has the same order of magnitude as the shape anisotropy energy. Additionally, the saturation magnetization of an individual cobalt nanowire was estimated to be close to the bulk single crystal value. A small cobalt nanowire segment was grown from a conductive atomic force microscope cantilever tip that was utilized in magnetic force microscopy (MFM) imaging. The fabricated MFM tip provided moderate quality magnetic images of an iron-cobalt thin-film sample.

The production of alloyed nanostructures presents a unique problem in focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID). Deposition of such structures has historically involved the mixing of two or more precursor gases in situ or via multiple channel gas injection systems, thereby making the production of precise, reproducible alloy compositions difficult. Promising recent efforts to address this problem have involved the use of multi-centred, heterometallic FEBID precursor species. In this vein, we present here a study of low-energy electron interactions with cyclopentadienyl iron dicarbonyl manganese pentacarbonyl ((η 5 -Cp)Fe(CO) 2 Mn(CO) 5 ), a bimetallic species with a polyhapto ligand (Cp) and seven terminal carbonyl ligands. Gas phase studies and coupled cluster calculations of observed low-energy electron-induced reactions were conducted in order to predict the performance of this precursor in FEBID. In dissociative electron attachment, we find single CO loss and cleavage of the Fe-Mn bond, leading to the formation of [Mn(CO) 5 ] - , to be the two dominant channels. Contributions through further CO loss from the intact core and the formation of [Mn(CO) 4 ] - are minor channels. In dissociative ionization (DI), the fragmentation is significantly more extensive and the DI spectra are dominated by fragments formed through the loss of 5 and 6 CO ligands, and fragments formed through cleavage of the Fe-Mn bond accompanied by substantial CO loss. The gas phase fragmentation channels observed are discussed in relation to the underlying processes and their energetics, and in context to related surface studies and the likely performance of this precursor in FEBID.

The ability of electrons and atomic hydrogen (AH) to remove residual chlorine from PtCl 2 deposits created from cis -Pt(CO) 2 Cl 2 by focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) is evaluated. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) measurements as well as thermodynamics calculations support the idea that electrons can remove chlorine from PtCl 2 structures via an electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) process. It was found that the effectiveness of electrons to purify deposits greater than a few nanometers in height is compromised by the limited escape depth of the chloride ions generated in the purification step. In contrast, chlorine atoms can be efficiently and completely removed from PtCl 2 deposits using AH, regardless of the thickness of the deposit. Although AH was found to be extremely effective at chemically purifying PtCl 2 deposits, its viability as a FEBID purification strategy is compromised by the mobility of transient Pt-H species formed during the purification process. Scanning electron microscopy data show that this results in the formation of porous structures and can even cause the deposit to lose structural integrity. However, this phenomenon suggests that the use of AH may be a useful strategy to create high surface area Pt catalysts and may reverse the effects of sintering. In marked contrast to the effect observed with AH, densification of the structure was observed during the postdeposition purification of PtC x deposits created from MeCpPtMe 3 using atomic oxygen (AO), although the limited penetration depth of AO restricts its effectiveness as a purification strategy to relatively small nanostructures.

Aedes albopictus is a major nuisance pest and also a public health concern because of the role it plays in the transmission of arboviruses. There is a continuing demand for effective surveillance tools for this species. The first generation of Biogents Sentinel (BGS1) traps have proven to be an effective tool for surveillance of Ae. albopictus throughout its range, however, some defects in construction led to the eventual development of the next generation. We compared the performance of the new generation prototype trap (BGS2P) to the original. Studies were conducted in suburban and urban areas in Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Virginia, USA in the summer of 2014 (July-October). BGS1 traps collected significantly more Ae. albopictus when compared to the BGS2P with or without CO2 in all locations (P<0.05). When a white cloth was wrapped around the BGS2P traps, efficiency did not change in Louisiana, New Jersey, and Virginia; however, numbers of adult Ae. albopictus collected from the BGS2P and the BGS1 were significantly different based on lure type (P< 0.0001). Results from Florida showed that BGS1with the BG lure and CO2 collected significantly higher adult numbers compared to BGS2P with a three component cartridge lure and CO2 (P< 0.0001). Overall, our results indicate that despite improvements in construction and durability of the BGS2P, this newer trap type did not increase the capture rates of Ae. albopictus in North America. Biogents modified BGS2P based on the data collected from the current study and updated as Biogents Sentinel 2 is now commercially available and its efficacy in comparison to the original will require further study.

Background: Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, is an aggressive, highly anthropophilic, day-biting mosquito with an expanding geographic range. Suppression of Ae. albopictus is difficult because of the abundance and prevalence of larval habitats within peridomestic environments, particularly cryptic habitats such as corrugated extension spouts, fence post openings, discarded food containers, etc. Because of the challenges of eliminating or treating larval habitats of this species, we tested an autodissemination concept to contaminate these habitats with the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen., Methods: Our study was conducted in the City of Trenton (Mercer County), New Jersey, USA (40°12'N, 74°44'W). We selected six hot spots, where five or more Ae. albopictus males or females were collected based on weekly trap surveillance. A trapping unit was a city block, approximately 0.8 ha (hot spot), where we deployed 26 to 28 autodissemination stations per treatment plot. To gauge efficacy, we deployed BGS traps, oviposition cups, and sentinel cups in treatment and control locations., Results: We found a significant reduction in eggs (P < 0.0001) and larval populations (P < 0.0001) as a result of treatment. Pupal mortality, as determined through bioassays, was also significantly higher in the treatment sites (P < 0.0001)., Conclusion: Our results clearly show the potential and unique use of the autodissemination stations to control immature Ae. albopictus in urban areas. Penetration of larvicides with existing methods are difficult to reach cryptic habitats, but the autodissemination approach, which exploits the oviposition behavior of the target pest, can be integrated into intervention programs. New tools are urgently needed to curb the expansion and public health implications of Ae. albopictus and other container-inhabiting species.

We report on the use of the Gravid Aedes Trap (GAT) as a surveillance device for Aedes albopictus (Skuse) relative to the BG-Sentinel (BGS) trap in field studies conducted in Trenton, NJ, and on Hammond Island, Queensland, Australia. A parallel study conducted in Nha Trang, Vietnam, assessed the use of the GAT as an indoor surveillance device as well as the use of canola oil as a noninsecticide killing agent. In Trenton and Hammond Island, the GAT collected fewer male (0.40 ± 0.12 and 0.43 ± 0.30, respectively) and female (3.05 ± 0.67 and 2.7 ± 2.3, respectively) Ae. albopictus than the BGS trap (males: 3.54 ± 1.26 and 3.75 ± 0.83; females: 4.66 ± 1.18 and 3.9 ± 0.23) over their respective sampling periods (i.e., 24 h for the BGS and 1 wk for the GAT). Despite differences in capture rates, the percentage of traps positive for female Ae. albopictus was similar between the BGS and GAT (Trenton: 60.1 ± 6.3% and 64.4 ± 4.1%; Hammond: 87.5 ± 6.9% and 80.0 ± 8.2%). In Nha Trang, the GAT was equally effective indoors and outdoors with (10 g hay or 3 g fish food) and without (water or empty) infusion. Additionally, no significant decrease in collections was observed between GATs set with canola oil or long-lasting insecticidal net. In summary, both traps were successful in monitoring female Ae. albopictus over their respective trapping intervals, but would be best used to complement each other to monitor both sexes and all physiological stages of female Ae. albopictus. However, the versatility and low-cost of the GAT makes it an attractive alternative to the more expensive BGS trap., (© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a vector of dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika viruses. This mosquito inhabits a wide range of artificial water-holding containers in urban and suburban areas making it difficult to control. We tested the hypothesis that female-driven autodissemination of an insect growth regulator could penetrate cryptic oviposition habitats difficult to treat with conventional insecticidal sprays., Methodology: Oviposition preferences of Ae. albopictus females for open and cryptic cups were tested in semi-field experiments. Two conventional larvicidal sprayers were tested to determine droplet penetration and larvicidal efficacy in open and cryptic habitats using Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) in the field. Finally, the efficacy of pyriproxyfen autodissemination stations was assessed in cryptic and open cups in residential areas during 2013 and 2014., Principal Findings: Gravid females strongly preferred cryptic (53.1±12.9 eggs/cup) over open (10.3±4.3 eggs/cup) cups for oviposition. Cryptic cups showed limited droplet penetration and produced 0.1-0.3% larval mortality with a conventional backpack and low-volume sprays of Bti. The autodissemination stations effectively contaminated these cryptic cups (59.3-84.6%) and produced 29.7-40.8% pupal mortality during 2013-2014. Significant pupal mortality was also observed in open cups., Conclusions: The autodissemination station effectively exploits the oviposition behavior of wild gravid females to deliver pyriproxyfen to targeted oviposition habitats. Although the pupal mortality in cryptic cups was relatively lower than expected for the effective vector control. Autodissemination approach may be a suitable supporting tool to manage Ae. albopictus immatures in the cryptic habitats those are less accessible to conventional larvicidal sprays., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Recent reports of Zika virus (ZIKV) isolates from Culex species mosquitoes have resulted in concern regarding a lack of knowledge on the number of competent vector species for ZIKV transmission in the new world. Although observations in the field have demonstrated that ZIKV isolation can be made from Culex species mosquitoes, the detection of ZIKV in these mosquitoes is not proof of their involvement in a ZIKV transmission cycle. Detection may be due to recent feeding on a viremic vertebrate, and is not indicative of replication in the mosquito. In this study, susceptibility of recently colonized Culex species mosquitoes was investigated. The results showed a high degree of refractoriness among members of Culex pipiens complex to ZIKV even when exposed to high-titer bloodmeals. Our finding suggests that the likelihood of Culex species mosquitoes serving as secondary vectors for ZIKV is very low, therefore vector control strategies for ZIKV should remain focused on Aedes species mosquitoes. Our demonstration that Culex quinquefasciatus from Vero Beach, FL, is refractory to infection with ZIKV is especially important and timely. Based on our data, we would conclude that the autochthonous cases of Zika in Florida are not due to transmission by C. quinquefasciatus, and so control efforts should focus on other species, logically Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), is a highly invasive container-inhabiting species with a global distribution. This mosquito, similar to other Stegomyia species such as Aedes aegypti (L.), is highly adapted to urban and suburban areas, and commonly oviposits in artificial containers, which are ubiquitous in these peridomestic environments. The increase in speed and amount of international travel and commerce, coupled with global climate change, have aided in the resurgence and expansion of Stegomyia species into new areas of North America. In many parts of their range, both species are implicated as significant vectors of emerging and re-emerging arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and now Zika. Although rapid and major advances have been made in the field of biology, ecology, genetics, taxonomy, and virology, relatively little has changed in the field of mosquito control in recent decades. This is particularly discouraging in regards to container-inhabiting mosquitoes, because traditional integrated mosquito management (IMM) approaches have not been effective against these species. Many mosquito control programs simply do not possess the man-power or necessary financial resources needed to suppress Ae. albopictus effectively. Therefore, control of mosquito larvae, which is the foundation of IMM approaches, is exceptionally difficult over large areas. This review paper addresses larval habitats, use of geographic information systems for habitat preference detection, door-to-door control efforts, source reduction, direct application of larvicides, biological control agents, area-wide low-volume application of larvicides, hot spot treatments, autodissemination stations, public education, adult traps, attractive-toxic sugar bait methods, lethal ovitraps, barrier-residual adulticides, hand-held ultra-low-volume adulticides, area-wide adulticides applied by ground or air, and genetic control methods. The review concludes with future recommendations for practitioners, researchers, private industry, and policy makers., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America 2016. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the United States.)

We aimed to evaluate the effect of 2100MHz radiofrequency radiation emitted by a generator, simulating a 3G-mobile phone on the brain of rats during 10 and 40 days of exposure. The female rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group I; exposed to 3G modulated 2100MHz RFR signal for 6h/day, 5 consecutive days/wk for 2 weeks, group II; control 10 days, were kept in an inactive exposure set-up for 6h/day, 5 consecutive days/wk for 2 weeks, group III; exposed to 3G modulated 2100MHz RFR signal for 6h/day, 5 consecutive days/wk for 8 weeks and group IV; control 40 days, were kept in an inactive exposure set-up for 6h/day, 5 consecutive days/wk for 8 weeks. After the genomic DNA content of brain was extracted, oxidative DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine, pg/mL) and malondialdehyde (MDA, nmoL/g tissue) levels were determined. Our main finding was the increased oxidative DNA damage to brain after 10 days of exposure with the decreased oxidative DNA damage following 40 days of exposure compared to their control groups. Besides decreased lipid peroxidation end product, MDA, was observed after 40 days of exposure. The measured decreased quantities of damage during the 40 days of exposure could be the means of adapted and increased DNA repair mechanisms., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and other container-inhabiting species have become important public health concerns due to the transmission of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Effective surveillance is dependent on the ability to collect a sufficient number of mosquitoes for population monitoring and pathogen isolation. The Biogents Sentinel (BGS) trap supplied with a proprietary human skin lure has become the standard tool for container-inhabiting Aedes species collections worldwide. Recently, R-octenol, a single isomer of the well characterized mosquito attractant octenol, was shown to greatly improve the capture rate of some Aedes species when utilized with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps and Mosquito Magnet traps. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the TrapTech lure (TT lure), containing R-octenol, alone or in combination with the human skin lure in a BGS trap to capture Ae. albopictus and other species. BGS traps with human skin lures or a combination of the two lures collected approximately twice as many Ae. albopictus females compared to those with TT lures. Unlike previous studies, baiting BGS traps with TT lures did not result in increased diversity of mosquito species, or in higher numbers of other container-inhabiting Aedes species. Although human skin lures were clearly superior to TT R-octenol lures in BGS traps, R-octenol lures are more widely available and might still be used as an alternative lure, especially when Ae. albopictus populations are high., (© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Recent changes in climate and human behavior have led to dramatic increases in the abundance and geographic expansion of invasive mosquito vectors such as Aedes albopictus. Although source reduction has been shown to be effective in reducing mosquito populations, thousands of backyards need to be inspected during door-to-door campaigns, which is labor intensive and expensive. We identified 'hot spots' as high (five or more female or male Ae. albopictus) adult mosquito populations at very focal locations. We tested whether hot spot source reduction efforts were effective in reducing mosquito populations in the early summer season (June to July)., Results: Analysis of historical data from the study sites indicated the proportion of hot spots in the control site relative to the intervention site was much greater in 2011, when hot spot treatments were applied to the intervention site, than in 2012, 2013 and 2014 combined, when no sites were treated [OR (95% CI) = 3.9 (1.8, 8.5), Z = 3.39, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Hot spot treatments can be incorporated into existing integrated mosquito management programs to increase effectiveness while reducing the time, cost and effort spent on methods such as door-to-door source reduction. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA., (Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

Adult control of Aedes albopictus via ultra-low volume is difficult because this species occurs primarily in peridomestic habitats where obstacles such as buildings and vegetation can disrupt spray plumes and droplet dispersion. We determined droplet penetration and characterization of a pyrethroid adulticide applied from the ground at mid (46.77 ml/ha) and maximum (93.53 ml/ha) label rates within cryptic habitats of urban and suburban environments. Droplets were collected from all habitats, with no significant differences detected between locations within the same application rate or collection method. No differences were detected in droplet densities (drops per mm2) between rates within urban environments, but more droplets were collected in urban (149.93 ± 11.07 SE) than suburban sites (114.37 ± 11.32) at the maximum label rate (P = 0.003). The excellent penetration of aerosols into cryptic habitats of an urban site was likely due to the shorter spray paths afforded by our network of roads and alleys. Mid label rates displayed similar droplet density values as maximum label rates in urban areas, indicating that lower rates may be used effectively to reduce costs, lessen non-target effects, and increase environmental stewardship. Advances in formulations and technology are driving changes in adulticide applications, leading to use of the minimum effective dose for maximum efficacy, precision, and accountability.

Nasal obstruction is a common cause of marked nasal septal deviation. It is related strongly with hypoxia. Hypoxic conditions increase mean platelet volume levels. This study aimed to investigate the effect of age on mean platelet volume in patients with marked nasal septal deviation. We made a retrospective study of patients with marked nasal septal deviation between January 2012 and May 2014. The patients were divided into four groups according to duration of nasal obstruction (less than 10, 10-20, 20-30 and more than 30 years). The groups were compared with each other in terms of mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, platelet count in preoperative hemogram. This study was performed on 356 male and 139 female patients. Mean age was 33.9 ± 12.3 years. It was determined that the platelet count, mean platelet volume did not constitute statistically significant difference between groups (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, it was determined that as the duration of nasal obstruction elongated the mean platelet volume value increased and platelet count values decreased. Mean values of platelet distribution width constituted statistically significant difference between all groups (p = 0.026). Patients with marked nasal septum deviation should be subjected to surgery as soon as possible because of the increase in mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width values which are related to increase in the risk of cardiopulmonary complications of nasal obstruction.

Marker dyes are often mixed with liquid insecticide formulations prior to field applications to accurately determine the characteristics and penetration of droplets into targeted habitats. We have been using FD&C Red 40 Granular DM food dye at the rate of 20 g/liter in liquid solutions of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) for area-wide larvicide applications against the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. The Bti and dye mix ratio has been recommended by pesticide manufacturers for testing under operational conditions, but no data exist on the effects of the dye itself on mosquito larvae. We tested the effects of the FD&C Red 40 food dye in laboratory bioassays against different strains of Ae. albopictus (New Jersey and Maryland) and Culex pipiens pipiens (Utah) at rates of 0.039 to 80.0 g/liter. We also conducted field application trials to measure dye concentrations up to 100 m downwind when mixed and applied according to manufacturer instructions. In laboratory bioassays, we found that mean survival in cups with dye were significantly different from the controls beginning at 10.0 g/liter for New Jersey Ae. albopictus and at 20.0 g/liter for Maryland Ae. albopictus and Utah Cx. p. pipiens. In field application trials, we recorded a maximum volume density of 1,152.8 nl/cm(2) and calculated the maximum concentration of dye at 9.09 × 10(-3) g/liter. Our results showed that although we detected greater effects of dye on Ae. albopictus in New Jersey experiments than Ae. albopictus in Maryland and Cx. p. pipiens from Utah, concentrations of the dye during operational applications were at least 1,100 times below concentrations that exhibited toxic effects for either species in the laboratory, suggesting that the dye will not interfere with accuracy of field bioassays. Our results conclusively demonstrate that the addition of the FD&C Red 40 marker dye does not alter the efficacy of the pesticide formulation by skewing results, but rather provides a valuable addition to accurately determine pesticide penetration and spectrum by discriminating between intended pesticide and other potential pollutants.

Purpose: To compare doxorubicin-loaded HepaSphere transarterial chemoembolization versus conventional transarterial chemoembolization in terms of survival, time to recurrence, acute reversible hepatotoxicity, postembolization syndrome, and chemoembolization-related mortality and morbidity., Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty-six patients (103 men, 23 women; mean age, 64.3 y) with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent conventional chemoembolization between January 2007 and March 2011 or drug-eluting embolic (DEE) chemoembolization (after the protocol change) between March 2011 and October 2014 were included in a retrospective analysis. Primary outcome measures were survival and time to recurrence. Secondary outcome measures were frequency of recurrence, technical success, acute reversible hepatotoxicity, postembolization syndrome, and chemoembolization-related mortality and morbidity., Results: The technical success rate was 97.1%. There were no significant differences between the conventional and DEE chemoembolization groups with regard to mean survival duration (39.0 vs 37.4 mo), recurrence (32.9% vs 39.6%), postembolization syndrome (90% vs 89%), and chemoembolization-related mortality (5.5% vs 1.9%) and morbidity (9.6% vs 9.4%; P > .05). The time to recurrence was shorter in DEE chemoembolization-treated patients than in conventional chemoembolization-treated patients (5.0 vs 11.5 mo; P = .006), and acute reversible hepatotoxicity occurred more frequently after conventional chemoembolization (P = .019)., Conclusions: Conventional chemoembolization and DEE chemoembolization were safe and effective interventions for unresectable HCC. DEE chemoembolization was not better than conventional chemoembolization in terms of survival and was associated with a shorter time to recurrence. Acute reversible hepatotoxicity occurred more frequently after conventional chemoembolization., (Copyright © 2015 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with average diameters of 2-4 nm have been covalently attached to zinc oxide nanorods using dithiol ligands. Electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy show that ozone treatment or annealing at 300 or 450 °C increases the average diameter of the AuNPs to 6, 8, and 14 (±1) nm, respectively, and decomposes the organic layers to various degrees. These treatments locate the AuNPs closer to the nanorods. Heating and subsequent ozone exposure changes the color of the as-prepared nanocomposite powder from blue to purple due to oxidation of the outer layer of the AuNPs, and heating to 300 °C changes it to pink due to oxygen desorption. ZnO nanorods have a bimodal photoluminescence spectrum that consists of an ultraviolet excitonic peak and a visible, surface defect-related peak. Ozone treatment and annealing of the nanocomposite decreases the intensities of both peaks due to quenching by the AuNPs, but the visible peak is affected less. The photocatalytic efficiency of the nanocomposites toward oxidative degradation of rhodamine B has been measured and follows the order 300 °C > 450 °C > ozone treated ≈ as-prepared ≈ bare ZnO. The greater efficiency of the annealed samples likely arises from decreased electron-hole pair recombination rates.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the referral rate and when automatic Auditory Brainstem Response (aABR) should be used for newborn hearing screening., Methods: The present study enrolled 2933 healthy full-term infants and 176 infants with perinatal risk factors. Hearing screening using Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAEs) was performed in newborns for the first time 5 days after birth except perinatal risk factors infants. The TEOAE was repeated to neonates failing to pass at the 15th day after birth. Neonates failing to pass the second TEOAE, repeated the test again at the 30th day after birth. Neonates failing to pass the third TEOAE were referred for the second stage screening using aABR. In addition, neonates with risk factors were tested with aABR directly., Results: In this research, 85 (2.9%) infants who could not pass the TEOAE and 176 infants exposed to perinatal risk factors, underwent the aABR test. In the aABR, 14 (7.9%) of 176 infants exposed to perinatal risk factors and 10 (11.7%) of 85 infants who could not pass the TEOAE failed to pass. As a result, hearing loss was detected in only 10 (0.34%) of 2933 healthy full-term infants., Conclusion: TEOAE should be performed at least twice in healthy full-term infants before aABR, because aABR is to be performed by specially trained personnel and takes a long time. In view of these results, it is our opinion that infants without perinatal risk factors should undergo TEOAE screening test and infants who did not pass control screening tests and have perinatal risk factors should absolutely undergo aABR test. But it should be remembered that TEOAE can cause a problem to miss auditory neuropathy in infants without perinatal risk factors., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Our aim was to analyze the changes in middle ear pressure in the early period after adenoidectomy in children with adenoid hypertrophy without otitis media with effusion., Methods: This prospective, descriptive study was performed on 64 patients (with normal tympanic membranes and tympanograms) undergoing adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. All patients were operated by single experienced team using curettage technique. First tympanometry was done on the day before surgery. Tympanometry was repeated on the first-, third-, and seventh-day after the operation. Patients are separated into two groups according to age as patients younger than 6 years (Group A) and patients older than 6 years (Group B). All data were separately evaluated for each ear using Jerger Classification., Results: Of the 64 patients included in the study, 35 were male and 29 were female, and the average age was 91.01 ± 37.4 (35-178) months. Pathological decreases in the middle ear pressures of at least one ear were determined in 48 (75%) patients on the first postoperative day and in 10 (15.6%) patients on the third postoperative day. Middle ear pressures returned to preoperative values by the seventh postoperative day except in two patients. There were statistically significant differences (p<0.0001) among preoperative and first, third, and seventh postoperative day mean middle ear pressure. There were no statistically significant differences between Groups A and B in terms of tympanometry values of both ears obtained preoperatively and on the first, third, and seventh postoperative day., Conclusion: In our study, temporary eustachian dysfunction and aural fullness occur in the early period after adenoidectomy and/or adenotonsillectomy. This situation may be due to post-surgery clots and edema in nasopharynx. We consider that tubal orifice can be exposed to surgical trauma as adenoidectomy surgeries are done by curettage technique. There is a need for comparative studies using microdebrider or laser adenoidectomy accompanied by an endoscope., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)