Irrigation method matters: Contamination and die-off rates of Escherichia coli on dry bulb onions after overhead and drip irrigation in Washington State (2022-2023).

Two U.S. outbreaks of salmonellosis in 2020 and 2021 were epidemiologically linked to red onions. The 2020 outbreak investigation implicated production agricultural water as a likely contamination source. Field trials were designed to investigate prevalence and survival of Escherichia coli (surrogate for Salmonella) on dry bulb onions after application of contaminated irrigation water at the end of the growing period. Irrigation water was inoculated at 3 log most probable number (MPN)/100 mL (2022 and 2023) or 5 log MPN/100 mL (2023, drip only) with a cocktail of rifampin-resistant E. coli and applied with the final irrigation (0.4 acre-inch/0.4 hectare-cm) to onions. Onion bulbs (40 or 80) were sampled immediately after irrigation and throughout field curing (4 weeks) and E. coli was enumerated using a MPN method. For drip irrigation, at 3 log MPN/100 mL E. coli was detected on 13% of onions at 24 h but not detected at 0 h; at 5 log MPN/100 mL for drip irrigation applied to saturated soil, E. coli was detected in 63% of onions at 0 h. Prevalence significantly (P<0.05), decreased after 7 d of curing with cell densities of 1-1,400 MPN/onion. At the end of field curing in 2023, 1/80 onions had detectable E. coli (2.04 MPN/onion). E. coli was detected in a significantly smaller percentage of onions (2022: 13%; 2023: 68%) after a contaminated drip irrigation event compared to overhead irrigation (98-100%; P<0.05). After overhead irrigation E. coli was detected in onions (1-1,000 MPN/onion) on day 0. Prevalence decreased significantly (P <0.05) after 7 d of field curing in both years (2022: 15%; 2023: 7%). E. coli was not detected on Calibra onions (80/year) at the end of field curing in either year but was detected at <12 MPN/onion in 2.5-3.75% of onions (n=80) for other cultivars. These data confirm limited contamination risk associated with drip irrigation water quality and begin to quantify contamination risks associated with overhead irrigation of dry bulb onions.

Seasonal variation in attraction to plant volatiles by Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae).

Pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), occurs as 2 seasonal morphotypes. Summerforms occur on pear (Pyrus communis L.; Rosales: Rosaceae) where they are a significant pest. The larger and darker winterform morphotype develops in response to shortening daylengths and begins winter in reproductive diapause characterized by the absence of ovarian development. Diapausing winterforms often leave pear to overwinter on coniferous shelter plants and then return to pear in late winter and early spring to begin depositing the eggs that produce the first summerform generation. Cacopsylla pyricola adults are attracted to the color of foliage most of the year, but little is known about the role of plant volatiles in host finding and in seasonal dispersal between host and shelter plants by the psyllid. We used a Y-tube olfactometer and choice assays to investigate the response by C. pyricola adults to volatiles emitted by pear and an evergreen tree (cypress) often used as a shelter plant by wintering C. pyricola. Attraction to pear and cypress volatiles varied by season, tree phenology, and psyllid physiology. Cacopsylla pyricola were attracted to cypress volatiles and preferred to settle on cypress shoots during winter and early spring but then shifted to a marked preference for the pear developmental host in late spring and summer. Female C. pyricola exhibited stronger responses to pear volatiles than did males. Our study is the first to show that plant volatiles have a role in host finding by C. pyricola and provides a foundation for research on chemical ecology and management of C. pyricola.

Investigating the influence of drone flight on the stability of cancer medicines.

Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) are being used in the treatment of both malignant and non-malignant diseases and whilst highly effective, certain products have very short expiry times. Clinical deterioration and supply chain disruption can often lead to wastage and there is a need to reduce this by improving efficiency in logistics practices between manufacturing sites and administration locations. This study aimed to investigate the influence of drone flight on the stability of cancer medicines. Clinically expired, premanufactured monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were investigated, contained inside instrumented Versapaks, and flown in a Skylift (Mugin) V50 vertical take-off and landing drone through seven phases of flight, (take-off, hover, transition, cruise, transition, hover, and landing). Storage specifications (2-8°C) were met, and any vibrations emanating from the drone and transmitted through the packaging during flight were monitored using accelerometers. Vibration occurred largely above 44 Hz which was consistent with rotor speeds during operation and was significantly greater in amplitude during transition than in forward flight or in hover. Bench experiments validated assurance practices, exploring the edge-of-quality failure by applying extremes of rotational vibration to the mAbs. Aggregation and fragmentation represented a loss of quality in the mAbs and would pose a risk to patient safety. No significant difference was identified in the aggregation and fragmentation of all flown mAbs samples, indicating structural integrity. Flown mAbs in their infusion bags had similar particle sizes compared to controls, (Bevacizumab 11.8±0.17 nm vs. 11.6±0.05 nm, Trastuzumab 11.2±0.05 nm vs. 11.3±0.13 nm, Rituximab 11.4±0.27 nm vs. 11.5±0.05 nm) and aggregate content (Bevacizumab 1.25±0.03% vs 1.32±0.02% p = 0.11, Trastuzumab 0.15±0.06% vs. 0.16±0.06% p = 0.75, Rituximab 0.11±0.02% vs. 0.11±0.01% p = 0.73). The quality of the three mAbs was assured, suggesting that the V50 drone did not induce sufficient levels of vibration to adversely affect their quality.

Selection for high levels of resistance to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) using non-transgenic foliar delivery.

Insecticidal double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) silence expression of vital genes by activating the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism in insect cells. Despite high commercial interest in insecticidal dsRNA, information on resistance to dsRNA is scarce, particularly for dsRNA products with non-transgenic delivery (ex. foliar/topical application) nearing regulatory review. We report the development of the CEAS 300 population of Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with > 11,100-fold resistance to a dsRNA targeting the V-ATPase subunit A gene after nine episodes of selection using non-transgenic delivery by foliar coating. Resistance was associated with lack of target gene down-regulation in CEAS 300 larvae and cross-resistance to another dsRNA target (COPI ß; Coatomer subunit beta). In contrast, CEAS 300 larvae showed very low (~ 4-fold) reduced susceptibility to the Cry3Aa insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis. Resistance to dsRNA in CEAS 300 is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait and is polygenic. These data represent the first documented case of resistance in an insect pest with high pesticide resistance potential using dsRNA delivered through non-transgenic techniques. Information on the genetics of resistance and availability of dsRNA-resistant L. decemlineata guide the design of resistance management tools and allow research to identify resistance alleles and estimate resistance risks.

Cloud Coalescence: A Dynamical Instability Affecting Multiphase Environments.

Mass and size distributions are the key characteristics of any astrophysical object, including the densest clumps comprising the cold phase of multiphase environments. In our recent papers, we showed how individual clouds of various sizes form and evolve in active galactic nuclei. In particular, we showed that large clouds undergo damped oscillations as a response to their formation process. Here we follow up this investigation, addressing how different size clouds interact. We find that smaller clouds become trapped in the advective flows generated by larger clouds. The explanation for this behavior leads to a rather remarkable conclusion: even in the absence of gravity, complexes of clouds are dynamically unstable. In an idealized environment (e.g., one free of turbulence and magnetic fields) a perfectly symmetric arrangement of static clouds will remain static, but any small spatial perturbation will lead to all clouds coalescing into a single, large cloud, given enough time. Using numerical simulations, we investigate the main factors that determine the rate of coalescence. In addition to the cloud separation distance, we find that the transient response of clouds to a disturbance is the primary factor. Turbulent motions in the flow can easily suppress this tendency for spatially well-separated clouds to coalesce, so it is as yet unclear if this phenomenon can occur in nature. Nevertheless, this Letter casts strong doubts on a recent hypothesis that large clouds are prone to fragmentation.

A plasma-sprayed titanium proximal coating reduces the risk of periprosthetic femoral fracture in cementless hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The design of femoral component used in total hip arthroplasty is known to influence the incidence of periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFFs) in cementless hip arthroplasty. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine if 2 potential changes to an existing ABG II-standard cementless implant - addition of a roughened titanium plasma-sprayed proximal coating (ABG II-plasma) and lack of medial scales (ABG II-NMS) could decrease the risk of PFF in the intraoperative and early postoperative periods. METHODS: Six pairs of human cadaveric femurs were harvested and divided into 2 groups, each receiving either of the altered implants and ABG II-standard (control). Each implant was tested in a biomechanical setup in a single-legged stance orientation. Surface strains were measured in intact femurs, during implant insertion, cyclic loading of the bone with the implant, and loading to failure. Strains with the ABG II-standard and the altered implants were compared. FINDINGS: ABG II-plasma showed better load-bearing capacity, with an average 42% greater failure load than that of ABG II-standard. The cortical hoop, axial and mean strains ABG II-plasma were less than those of ABG II-standard, demonstrating decreased tensile behaviour and better load transfer to the proximal femur. The final residual hoop strains in ABG II-plasma were closer to those of intact bone as compared to the standard stem. No differences in strains were observed between the standard stem and ABG II-NMS. CONCLUSION: The increased load-bearing capacity and decreased proximal surface strains on femurs implanted with ABG II-plasma stem should reduce the risks of intraoperative and early postoperative PFF.

Validation of the Stanmore percentage of normal shoulder assessment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Stanmore Percentage of Normal Shoulder Assessment (SPONSA) is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). The score assesses pain, range of movement, strength, stability and function of the shoulder. The aim of this work was to formally validate the SPONSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Validation of this score was carried out by measuring reproducibility, construct validity and sensitivity to change. Time to completion was also recorded. The Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and Constant Score (CS) were used for comparison. These assessments were performed with 61 individuals undergoing shoulder interventions. RESULTS: There was excellent preoperative reproducibility in both intra- and inter-observer groups. The SPONSA had a 0.79 correlation with the OSS and 0.78 with the CS. The overall effect size of the SPONSA was 0.72, which was comparable to OSS (0.65) and greater than CS (0.34), implying equal or better sensitivity to change. CONCLUSIONS: The SPONSA is practical and quick to perform and also a reproducible and a sensitive instrument. This simple PROM is a commendable addition to the existing validated scoring methods for the shoulder. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I; testing of previously developed diagnostic criteria on consecutive patients (with universally applied reference "gold" standard).

Long term results of cementless total hip replacement for reversal of hip ankylosis.

Fifteen patients (16 hips) with an ankylosed hip joint for a mean of 36 years (3.5 to 65), had their hips converted to a cementless Total Hip Replacement (THR). They were followed-up for a median of 10.75 years (5.0 to 19) with none lost to follow-up. All patients showed improved mobility and function post-operatively. The Harris Hip Score improved from 70 (SEM 3.4) to 83 post-operatively (SEM 4.4), which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was one acetabular cup revision at 5 years post implantation for aseptic loosening. All other femoral and acetabular components remained clinically and radiographically well fixed. We conclude that a previously ankylosed hip can be effectively converted to a cementless total hip replacement with good long term results.