Suillus hypogaeus: First record of a truffle Suillus.

Suillus (order Boletales) is a diverse genus of epigeous, mushroom-forming fungi native to temperate forests across the Northern Hemisphere; however, some species are also present in areas where Pinaceae has been introduced in the Southern Hemisphere. Unlike the closely related genus Rhizopogon, there are no described hypogeous, sequestrate species of Suillus. Here, we describe Suillus hypogaeus, the first known species of the genus with hypogeous, sequestrate sporocarps. Collections were made on Marys Peak in Benton County, Oregon, USA, at an elevation of 800 m in forests dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii. The peridium is white, quickly staining pink to purple-reddish where bruised or cut. The gleba is pale yellow when young, becoming purple with maturity, and the basidiospores are obovoid, light yellow in KOH, and amyloid in Melzer's reagent. Multilocus molecular phylogenetic analyses support the placement of S. hypogaeus among the Larix specialists in the spectabilis group of Suillus. Although Larix and Pseudotsuga are sister genera, Larix does not occur on Marys Peak or elsewhere in western Oregon. Suillus hypogaeus, therefore, represents both an independent origin of the hypogeous, sequestrate sporocarp within the Boletales and an independent host shift between Larix and Pseudotsuga within the genus Suillus.

Vagus nerve stimulation in pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: a step-by-step video.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a neuromodulatory treatment involving chronic intermittent electrical stimulation of the left vagus nerve, administered through a programmable pulse generator implanted subcutaneously in the chest. This generator connects to a bipolar lead, with electrodes wrapped around the vagus nerve in the neck. Primarily used as an adjunct therapy for patients with refractory epilepsy who cannot undergo or have not benefitted from resective surgery, VNS is generally well tolerated with few severe side effects. Herein is presented an educational surgical video providing a detailed, step-by-step technical description of VNS implantation. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2024.4.FOCVID244.

Persistence of sewage-associated genetic markers in advanced and conventional treated recycled water: implications for microbial source tracking in surface waters.

Sewage contamination of environmental waters is increasingly assessed by measuring DNA from sewage-associated microorganisms in microbial source tracking (MST) approaches. However, DNA can persist through wastewater treatment and reach surface waters when treated sewage/recycled water is discharged, which may falsely indicate pollution from untreated sewage. Recycled water discharged from an advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) facility into a Florida stream elevated the sewage-associated HF183 marker 1,000-fold, with a minimal increase in cultured Escherichia coli. The persistence of sewage-associated microorganisms was compared by qPCR in untreated sewage and recycled water from conventional wastewater treatment (CWT) and AWT facilities. E. coli (EC23S857) and sewage-associated markers HF183, H8, and viral crAssphage CPQ_056 were always detected in untreated sewage (6.5-8.7 log10 GC/100 mL). Multivariate analysis found a significantly greater reduction of microbial variables via AWT vs CWT. Bacterial markers decayed ~4-5 log10 through CWT, but CPQ_056 was ~100-fold more persistent. In AWT facilities, the log10 reduction of all variables was ~5. In recycled water, bacterial marker concentrations were significantly correlated (P ≤ 0.0136; tau ≥ 0.44); however, CPQ_056 was not correlated with any marker, suggesting varying drivers of decay. Concentrations of cultured E. coli carrying the H8 marker (EcH8) in untreated sewage were 5.24-6.02 log10 CFU/100 mL, while no E. coli was isolated from recycled water. HF183 and culturable EcH8 were also correlated in contaminated surface waters (odds ratio ß1 = 1.701). Culturable EcH8 has a strong potential to differentiate positive MST marker signals arising from treated (e.g., recycled water) and untreated sewage discharged into environmental waters. IMPORTANCE: Genes in sewage-associated microorganisms are widely accepted indicators of sewage pollution in environmental waters. However, DNA persists through wastewater treatment and can reach surface waters when recycled water is discharged, potentially causing false-positive indications of sewage contamination. Previous studies have found that bacterial and viral sewage-associated genes persist through wastewater treatment; however, these studies did not compare different facilities or identify a solution to distinguish sewage from recycled water. In this study, we demonstrated the persistence of bacterial marker genes and the greater persistence of a viral marker gene (CPQ_056 of crAssphage) through varying wastewater treatment facilities. We also aim to provide a tool to confirm sewage contamination in surface waters with recycled water inputs. This work showed that the level of wastewater treatment affects the removal of microorganisms, particularly viruses, and expands our ability to identify sewage in surface waters.

Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Understanding of socioeconomic context might enable more efficient evidence-based preventive strategies in oral health. AIM: The study assessed the caries-related socioeconomic macro-factors in 12-year-olds across European countries. DESIGN: This systematic review involved epidemiological surveys on the caries status of 12-year-olds from 2011 to 2022. DMFT was analyzed in relation to gross national income (GNI), United Nations Statistical Division geographical categorization of European countries (M49), unemployment rate, Human Development Index (HDI), and per capita expenditure on dental health care. A meta-analysis was performed for countries reporting data on DMFT, stratified by GNI, and geographical location of European countries, using a random-effects model. RESULTS: The study involved 493 360 children from 36 countries in the geographic region of Europe. The analysis confirmed a strong negative correlation between income and caries experience (p < .01). Children living in higher-income countries showed 90% lower odds of poor oral health than in middle-income countries. Children living in West Europe showed 90% lower odds of poor oral health than children living in East Europe. CONCLUSION: The strong effect of macro-level socioeconomic contexts on children's oral health suggests favoring upstream preventive oral health strategies in countries with economic growth difficulties, Eastern and Southern parts of Europe.

Expanding salivary biomarker detection by creating a synthetic neuraminic acid sensor via chimeragenesis.

Accurate and timely diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is crucial in preventing its progression to advanced stages with a poor prognosis. As such, the construction of sensors capable of detecting previously established disease biomarkers for the early and non-invasive diagnosis of this and many other conditions has enormous therapeutic potential. In this work, we apply synthetic biology techniques for the development of a whole-cell biosensor (WCB) that leverages the physiology of engineered bacteria in vivo to promote the expression of an observable effector upon detection of a soluble molecule. To this end, we have constructed a bacterial strain expressing a novel chimeric transcription factor (Sphnx) for the detection of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), a salivary biomolecule correlated with the onset of OSCC. This WCB serves as the proof-of-concept of a platform that can eventually be applied to clinical screening panels for a multitude of oral and systemic medical conditions whose biomarkers are present in saliva.

Principles of miRNA/miRNA* function in plant MIRNA processing.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators of gene expression, defined by their unique biogenesis, which requires the precise excision of the small RNA from an imperfect fold-back precursor. Unlike their animal counterparts, plant miRNA precursors exhibit variations in sizes and shapes. Plant MIRNAs can undergo processing in a base-to-loop or loop-to-base direction, with DICER-LIKE1 (DCL1) releasing the miRNA after two cuts (two-step MIRNAs) or more (sequential MIRNAs). In this study, we demonstrate the critical role of the miRNA/miRNA* duplex region in the processing of miRNA precursors. We observed that endogenous MIRNAs frequently experience suboptimal processing in vivo due to mismatches in the miRNA/miRNA* duplex, a key region that fine-tunes miRNA levels. Enhancing the interaction energy of the miRNA/miRNA* duplex in two-step MIRNAs results in a substantial increase in miRNA levels. Conversely, sequential MIRNAs display distinct and specific requirements for the miRNA/miRNA* duplexes along their foldback structure. Our work establishes a connection between the miRNA/miRNA* structure and precursor processing mechanisms. Furthermore, we reveal a link between the biological function of miRNAs and the processing mechanism of their precursors with the evolution of plant miRNA/miRNA* duplex structures.

Changes in Daily Apparent Diffusion Coefficient on Fully Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Correlate With Established Genomic Pathways of Radiation Sensitivity and Reveal Novel Biologic Associations.

PURPOSE: Changes in quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) are frequently observed during chemotherapy or radiation therapy (RT). It is hypothesized that qMRI features are reflective of underlying tissue responses. It's unknown what underlying genomic characteristics underly qMRI changes. We hypothesized that qMRI changes may correlate with DNA damage response (DDR) capacity within human tumors. Therefore, we designed the current study to correlate qMRI changes from daily RT treatment with underlying tumor transcriptomic profiles. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Study participants were prospectively enrolled (National Clinical Trial 03500081). RNA expression levels for 757 genes from pretreatment biopsies were obtained using a custom panel that included signatures of radiation sensitivity and DDR. Daily qMRI data were obtained from a 1.5 Tesla MR linear accelerator. Using these images, d-slow, d-star, perfusion, and apparent diffusion coefficient-mean values in tumors were plotted per-fraction, over time, and associated with genomic pathways. RESULTS: A total of 1022 qMRIs were obtained from 39 patients and both genomic data and qMRI data from 27 total patients. For 20 of those patients, we also generated normal tissue transcriptomic data. Radio sensitivity index values most closely associated with tissue of origin. Multiple genomic pathways including DNA repair, peroxisome, late estrogen receptor responses, KRAS signaling, and UV response were significantly associated with qMRI feature changes (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Genomic pathway associations across metabolic, RT sensitivity, and DDR pathways indicate common tumor biology that may correlate with qMRI changes during a course of treatment. Such data provide hypothesis-generating novel mechanistic insight into the biologic meaning of qMRI changes during treatment and enable optimal selection of imaging biomarkers for biologically MR-guided RT.

Intricacies of Human-AI Interaction in Dynamic Decision-Making for Precision Oncology: A Case Study in Response-Adaptive Radiotherapy.

Background: Adaptive treatment strategies that can dynamically react to individual cancer progression can provide effective personalized care. Longitudinal multi-omics information, paired with an artificially intelligent clinical decision support system (AI-CDSS) can assist clinicians in determining optimal therapeutic options and treatment adaptations. However, AI-CDSS is not perfectly accurate, as such, clinicians' over/under reliance on AI may lead to unintended consequences, ultimately failing to develop optimal strategies. To investigate such collaborative decision-making process, we conducted a Human-AI interaction case study on response-adaptive radiotherapy (RT). Methods: We designed and conducted a two-phase study for two disease sites and two treatment modalities-adaptive RT for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and adaptive stereotactic body RT for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-in which clinicians were asked to consider mid-treatment modification of the dose per fraction for a number of retrospective cancer patients without AI-support (Unassisted Phase) and with AI-assistance (AI-assisted Phase). The AI-CDSS graphically presented trade-offs in tumor control and the likelihood of toxicity to organs at risk, provided an optimal recommendation, and associated model uncertainties. In addition, we asked for clinicians' decision confidence level and trust level in individual AI recommendations and encouraged them to provide written remarks. We enrolled 13 evaluators (radiation oncology physicians and residents) from two medical institutions located in two different states, out of which, 4 evaluators volunteered in both NSCLC and HCC studies, resulting in a total of 17 completed evaluations (9 NSCLC, and 8 HCC). To limit the evaluation time to under an hour, we selected 8 treated patients for NSCLC and 9 for HCC, resulting in a total of 144 sets of evaluations (72 from NSCLC and 72 from HCC). Evaluation for each patient consisted of 8 required inputs and 2 optional remarks, resulting in up to a total of 1440 data points. Results: AI-assistance did not homogeneously influence all experts and clinical decisions. From NSCLC cohort, 41 (57%) decisions and from HCC cohort, 34 (47%) decisions were adjusted after AI assistance. Two evaluations (12%) from the NSCLC cohort had zero decision adjustments, while the remaining 15 (88%) evaluations resulted in at least two decision adjustments. Decision adjustment level positively correlated with dissimilarity in decision-making with AI [NSCLC: ρ = 0.53 ( p < 0.001); HCC: ρ = 0.60 ( p < 0.001)] indicating that evaluators adjusted their decision closer towards AI recommendation. Agreement with AI-recommendation positively correlated with AI Trust Level [NSCLC: ρ = 0.59 ( p < 0.001); HCC: ρ = 0.7 ( p < 0.001)] indicating that evaluators followed AI's recommendation if they agreed with that recommendation. The correlation between decision confidence changes and decision adjustment level showed an opposite trend [NSCLC: ρ = -0.24 ( p = 0.045), HCC: ρ = 0.28 ( p = 0.017)] reflecting the difference in behavior due to underlying differences in disease type and treatment modality. Decision confidence positively correlated with the closeness of decisions to the standard of care (NSCLC: 2 Gy/fx; HCC: 10 Gy/fx) indicating that evaluators were generally more confident in prescribing dose fractionations more similar to those used in standard clinical practice. Inter-evaluator agreement increased with AI-assistance indicating that AI-assistance can decrease inter-physician variability. The majority of decisions were adjusted to achieve higher tumor control in NSCLC and lower normal tissue complications in HCC. Analysis of evaluators' remarks indicated concerns for organs at risk and RT outcome estimates as important decision-making factors. Conclusions: Human-AI interaction depends on the complex interrelationship between expert's prior knowledge and preferences, patient's state, disease site, treatment modality, model transparency, and AI's learned behavior and biases. The collaborative decision-making process can be summarized as follows: (i) some clinicians may not believe in an AI system, completely disregarding its recommendation, (ii) some clinicians may believe in the AI system but will critically analyze its recommendations on a case-by-case basis; (iii) when a clinician finds that the AI recommendation indicates the possibility for better outcomes they will adjust their decisions accordingly; and (iv) When a clinician finds that the AI recommendation indicate a worse possible outcome they will disregard it and seek their own alternative approach.

Population-level immunologic variation in wild threespine stickleback (Gasterosteusaculeatus).

Wild organisms are regularly exposed to a wide range of parasites, requiring the management of an effective immune response while avoiding immunopathology. Currently, our knowledge of immunoparasitology primarily derives from controlled laboratory studies, neglecting the genetic and environmental diversity that contribute to immune phenotypes observed in wild populations. To gain insight into the immunologic variability in natural settings, we examined differences in immune gene expression of two Alaskan stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) populations with varying susceptibility to infection by the cestode Schistocephalus solidus. Between these two populations, we found distinct immune gene expression patterns at the population level in response to infection with fish from the high-infection population displaying signs of parasite-driven immune manipulation. Further, we found significant differences in baseline immune gene profiles between the populations, with uninfected low-infection population fish showing signatures of inflammation compared to uninfected high-infection population fish. These results shed light on divergent responses of wild populations to the same parasite, providing valuable insights into host-parasite interactions in natural ecosystems.

Using the genomic adjusted radiation dose (GARD) to personalize the radiation dose in nasopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients undergoing radiotherapy are at risk of treatment failure, particularly locoregional recurrence. To optimize the individual radiation dose, we hypothesize that the genomic adjusted radiation dose (GARD) can be used to correlate with locoregional control. METHODS: A total of 92 patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer / International Union Against Cancer stage III to stage IVB recruited in a randomized phase III trial were assessed (NPC-0501) (NCT00379262). Patients were treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy plus (neo) adjuvant chemotherapy. The primary endpoint is locoregional failure free rate (LRFFR). RESULTS: Despite the homogenous physical radiation dose prescribed (Median: 70 Gy, range 66-76 Gy), there was a wide range of GARD values (median: 50.7, range 31.1-67.8) in this cohort. In multivariable analysis, a GARD threshold (GARDT) of 45 was independently associated with LRFFR (p = 0.008). By evaluating the physical dose required to achieve the GARDT (RxRSI), three distinct clinical subgroups were identified: (1) radiosensitive tumors that RxRSI at dose < 66 Gy (N = 59, 64.1 %) (b) moderately radiosensitive tumors that RxRSI dose within the current standard of care range (66-74 Gy) (N = 20, 21.7 %), (c) radioresistant tumors that need a significant dose escalation above the current standard of care (>74 Gy) (N = 13, 14.1 %). CONCLUSION: GARD is independently associated with locoregional control in radiotherapy-treated NPC patients from a Phase 3 clinical trial. GARD may be a potential framework to personalize radiotherapy dose for NPC patients.

Surgical Anatomy and Technique of Peri-Insular Hemispherotomy in Pediatric Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hemispherotomy is a highly complex procedure that demands a steep learning curve. An incomplete brain disconnection often results in failure of seizure control. The purpose of this article was to present a step-by-step guide to the surgical anatomy of this procedure. It is composed of a 7-stage approach, enhancing access to and improving visualization of deep structures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 39 pediatric patients with refractory epilepsy who underwent this technique was conducted. Engel scores were assessed 1 year postsurgery. Cadaveric dissections were performed to illustrate the procedure. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2022, 39 patients were surgically treated using the peri-insular technique. The technique involved 7 stages: patient positioning, operative approach, opercular resection, transventricular callosotomy, fronto-orbital disconnection, anterior temporal disconnection, and posterior temporal disconnection. Most of the patients (92.30%) were seizure-free (Engel class I) at 1 year postoperative, 5.13% were nearly seizure-free (Engel II), and 2.56% showed significant improvement (Engel III). Complications occurred in 8% of cases, including 1 infection, 2 cases of aseptic meningitis, and 1 non-shunt-requiring acute hydrocephalus. CONCLUSION: The peri-insular hemispherotomy technique offers excellent seizure control with a low complication rate. Our visual documentation of surgical anatomy, complemented by detailed descriptions of surgical nuances, significantly contributes to a comprehensive understanding of this technique.

Molecular Mechanisms Regulating GRF Activity in Plant Growth, Development, and Environmental Responses.

Plants rely on complex regulatory mechanisms to ensure proper growth and development. As sessile organisms, these mechanisms must be flexible enough to adapt to changes in the environment. The GROWTH-REGULATING FACTORs (GRFs) are plant-specific transcription factors that act as a central hub controlling plant growth and development, offering promising biotechnological applications to enhance plant performance. Here, we analyze the complex molecular mechanisms that regulate GRF activity, and how their natural and synthetic variants can impact on plant growth and development. We describe the biological roles of the GRFs and examine how they regulate gene expression and contribute to the control of organ growth and the plant's response to a changing environment. This review focuses on the premise that unlocking their full biotechnological potential requires a thorough understanding of the various regulatory layers governing GRF activity, the functional divergence among GRF family members and the gene networks that they regulate.

Overcoming the Barriers to Teaching Teamwork to Undergraduates in STEM.

There is widespread recognition that undergraduate students in the life sciences must learn how to work in teams. However, instructors who wish to incorporate teamwork into their classrooms rarely have formal training in how to teach teamwork. This is further complicated by the application of synonymous and often ambiguous terminology regarding teamwork that is found in literature spread among many different disciplines. There are significant barriers for instructors wishing to identify and implement best practices. We synthesize key concepts in teamwork by considering the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) necessary for success, the pedagogies and curricula for teaching those KSAs, and the instruments available for evaluating and assessing success. There are only a limited number of studies on teamwork in higher education that present an intervention with a control group and a formal evaluation or assessment. Moreover, these studies are almost exclusively outside STEM disciplines, raising questions about their extensibility. We conclude by considering how to build an evidence base for instruction that will empower students with the KSAs necessary for participating in a lifetime of equitable and inclusive teamwork.

A deep-learning strategy to identify cell types across species from high-density extracellular recordings.

High-density probes allow electrophysiological recordings from many neurons simultaneously across entire brain circuits but don't reveal cell type. Here, we develop a strategy to identify cell types from extracellular recordings in awake animals, revealing the computational roles of neurons with distinct functional, molecular, and anatomical properties. We combine optogenetic activation and pharmacology using the cerebellum as a testbed to generate a curated ground-truth library of electrophysiological properties for Purkinje cells, molecular layer interneurons, Golgi cells, and mossy fibers. We train a semi-supervised deep-learning classifier that predicts cell types with greater than 95% accuracy based on waveform, discharge statistics, and layer of the recorded neuron. The classifier's predictions agree with expert classification on recordings using different probes, in different laboratories, from functionally distinct cerebellar regions, and across animal species. Our classifier extends the power of modern dynamical systems analyses by revealing the unique contributions of simultaneously-recorded cell types during behavior.

Herptile gut microbiomes: a natural system to study multi-kingdom interactions between filamentous fungi and bacteria.

Reptiles and amphibians (herptiles) are some of the most endangered and threatened species on the planet and numerous conservation strategies are being implemented with the goal of ensuring species recovery. Little is known, however, about the gut microbiome of wild herptiles and how it relates to the health of these populations. Here, we report results from the gut microbiome characterization of both a broad survey of herptiles, and the correlation between the fungus Basidiobolus, and the bacterial community supported by a deeper, more intensive sampling of Plethodon glutinosus, known as slimy salamanders. We demonstrate that bacterial communities sampled from frogs, lizards, and salamanders are structured by the host taxonomy and that Basidiobolus is a common and natural component of these wild gut microbiomes. Intensive sampling of multiple hosts across the ecoregions of Tennessee revealed that geography and host:geography interactions are strong predictors of distinct Basidiobolus operational taxonomic units present within a given host. Co-occurrence analyses of Basidiobolus and bacterial community diversity support a correlation and interaction between Basidiobolus and bacteria, suggesting that Basidiobolus may play a role in structuring the bacterial community. We further the hypothesis that this interaction is advanced by unique specialized metabolism originating from horizontal gene transfer from bacteria to Basidiobolus and demonstrate that Basidiobolus is capable of producing a diversity of specialized metabolites including small cyclic peptides.IMPORTANCEThis work significantly advances our understanding of biodiversity and microbial interactions in herptile microbiomes, the role that fungi play as a structural and functional members of herptile gut microbiomes, and the chemical functions that structure microbiome phenotypes. We also provide an important observational system of how the gut microbiome represents a unique environment that selects for novel metabolic functions through horizontal gene transfer between fungi and bacteria. Such studies are needed to better understand the complexity of gut microbiomes in nature and will inform conservation strategies for threatened species of herpetofauna.

Diabetes Mellitus Mortality Trends in Brazil From 2000 to 2021: An In-Depth Joinpoint Analysis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a public health concern in Brazil, with deleterious effects on quality of life and increasing mortality rates. The prevalence of diabetes in Brazil is on the rise, and it is imperative to understand its effects on mortality rates in the last two decades in order to effectively mitigate the detrimental impact of diabetes on public health. This study aims to analyze mortality trends related to diabetes in Brazil from 2000 to 2021, encompassing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, across sex and various age cohorts. Using joinpoint regression analysis, temporal trends in Brazil were assessed, while also incorporating findings from previous studies and considering potential influencing factors, such as government initiatives and cuts in healthcare investment. The study revealed a general upward trend in mortality rates associated with DM1 and DM2 over the study period, in both males and females, with men showing a higher AAPC (average annual percent change), which translated into significantly increased mortality difference at the end of the study. Additionally, it revealed elevated mortality values for extreme age groups in the age cohorts studied, with the exception of middle-aged cohort groups in DM2, which showed an expected higher APC (annual percent change), considering the age of highest incidence of DM2 in those age groups. This comprehensive analysis provides critical insights into the escalating impact of diabetes on mortality rates in Brazil and highlights the urgent need for healthcare strategies. It is expected that the increased prevalence of diabetes in the Brazilian population adds an additional economic burden to healthcare expenditure by the Brazilian government, further worsening the health disparities among different social groups. Unless several political decisions to reduce healthcare expenditure are reversed, greater difficulties in accessing treatments will be detrimental for vulnerable social groups in Brazil. By understanding the nuanced patterns of diabetes-related mortality, healthcare providers and policymakers can allocate resources effectively and implement tailored interventions to better address diabetes in Brazil.

Functional response and mutual interference in the parasitoid Coptera haywardi (Oglobin) (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) attacking Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae.

Functional response and mutual interference are important attributes of natural enemies that should be analysed in species with the potential to be used as biological control agents in order to increase the predictive power of the possible benefits and/or consequences of their release in the field. Our main objective was to determine the functional response and mutual interference of Coptera haywardi (Oglobin), a pupal parasitoid of economically important fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). The functional response of C. haywardi on A. ludens pupae corresponded to a type II model, with an attack rate of 0.0134 host pupa/h and a handling time of 1.843 h, which reveals a meticulous selection process of pupal hosts. The effect of mutual interference among foraging females was negatively correlated with increased parasitoid density in the experimental arena, showing a gradual decline in attack rate per individual female. The increase in the number of foraging females also had an impact on the number of oviposition scars per pupa and the number of immature parasitoids per dissected pupa, but not on the percentage of adult emergence or the sex ratio. Our results suggest that C. haywardi could act as a complementary parasitoid in the control of fruit fly pupae, since the random distribution of these pupae in the soil would decrease the possibility of aggregation and mutual interference between foraging females.

The M-Point A Novel Landmark in Middle Fossa Surgery: A Cadaveric Morphometric Study.

BACKGROUND: The arcuate eminence (AE) is an anatomically consistent bony protrusion located on the upper surface of the petrous bone that has been previously studied as a reference for lateral skull base approaches. There is a paucity of information in the neurosurgical literature seeking to improve the safety of the extended middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach using detailed morphometric analysis of the AE. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of the AE as an anatomical landmark to help with early identification of the internal acoustic canal (IAC) in MCF approaches by means of a cadaveric study, using a new morphometric reference termed the "M-point." METHODS: A total of 40 dry temporal bones and 2 formalin-preserved, latex-injected cadaveric heads were used. The M-point was established as a new anatomic reference by identifying the intersection of a line perpendicular to the alignment of the petrous ridge (PR), originating from the midpoint of the AE, with the PR itself. Subsequent anatomical measurements were performed to measure the distance between M-point and IAC. Additional distances, including PR length and the anteroposterior and lateral AE surfaces, were also measured. RESULTS: The mean distance between the M-point and the center of the IAC was 14.9 mm (SD ± 2.09), offering a safe drilling area during an MCF approach. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel information on identification of a new anatomic reference point known as the M-point that that can be used to improve early surgical identification of the IAC.

The Importance of Dean Flow in Microfluidic Nanoparticle Synthesis: A ZIF-8 Case Study.

The Dean Flow, a physics phenomenon that accounts for the impact of channel curvature on fluid dynamics, has great potential to be used in microfluidic synthesis of nanoparticles. This study explores the impact of the Dean Flow on the synthesis of ZIF-8 particles. Several variables that influence the Dean Equation (the mathematical expression of Dean Flow) are tested to validate the applicability of this expression in microfluidic synthesis, including the flow rate, radius of curvature, channel cross sectional area, and reagent concentration. It is demonstrated that the current standard of reporting, providing only the flow rate and crucially not the radius of curvature, is an incomplete description that will invariably lead to irreproducible syntheses across different laboratories. An alternative standard of reporting is presented and it is demonstrated how the sleek and simple math of the Dean Equation can be used to precisely tune the final dimensions of high quality, monodisperse ZIF-8 nanoparticles between 40 and 700 nm.

Trimodal Therapy Using an MR-guided Radiation Therapy Partial Bladder Tumor Boost in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: Bladder preservation with trimodal therapy (TMT; maximal tumor resection followed by chemoradiation) is an effective paradigm for select patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. We report our institutional experience of a TMT protocol using nonadaptive magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) for partial bladder boost (PBB). Methods and Materials: A retrospective analysis was performed on consecutive patients with nonmetastatic muscle invasive bladder cancer who were treated with TMT using MRgRT between 2019 and 2022. Patients underwent intensity modulated RT-based nonadaptive MRgRT PBB contoured on True fast imaging with steady state precession (FISP) images (full bladder) followed sequentially by computed tomography-based RT to the whole empty bladder and pelvic lymph nodes with concurrent chemotherapy. MRgRT treatment time, table shifts, and dosimetric parameters of target coverage and normal tissue exposure were described. Prospectively assessed acute and late genitourinary and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity were reported. Two-year local control was assessed with Kaplan-Meier methods. Results: Seventeen patients were identified for analysis. PBB planning target volume margins were ≤8 mm in 94% (n = 16) of cases. Dosimetric target coverage parameters were favorable and all normal tissue dose constraints were met. For MRgRT PBB fractions, median table shifts were 0.4 cm (range, 0-3.15), 0.45 cm (0-2.65), and 0.75 cm (0-4.8) in the X, Y, and Z planes, respectively. Median treatment time for MRgRT PBB fractions was 9 minutes (range, 6.9-17.4). We identified 32 out of 100 total MRgRT fractions that may have benefitted from online adaptation based on changes in organ position relative to planning target volume, predominantly because of small bowel (13/32, 41%) or rectum (8/32, 25%). Two patients discontinued RT prematurely. The incidence of highest-grade acute genitourinary toxicity was 1 to 2 (69%) and 3 (6%), whereas the incidence of acute GI toxicity was 1 to 2 (81%) and 3 (6%). There were no late grade 3 events; 17.6% had late grade 2 cystitis and none had late GI toxicity. With median follow-up of 18.2 months (95% CI, 12.4-22.5), the local control rate was 92%, and no patient has required salvage cystectomy. Conclusions: Nonadaptive MRgRT PBB is feasible with favorable dosimetry and low resource utilization. Larger studies are needed to evaluate for potential benefits in toxicity and local control associated with this approach in comparison to standard treatment techniques.