Surfactants alter mosquito's flight and physical condition.

Mosquitoes carry lethal pathogens for humans and hundreds of thousands of people are killed by mosquito-borne diseases every year. Therefore, controlling mosquitoes is essential to protect the lives of people around the world. Insecticides are highly effective in controlling mosquitoes and have been used extensively worldwide. However, they have potentially harmful effects on biodiversity and environment, and some mosquitoes are resistant to insecticide ingredients and survive upon their application. Therefore, there is a demand for a method to control mosquitoes without using conventional insecticide ingredients. Here, we used Aedes albopictus to test whether solutions with low surface tension, particularly surfactant solutions can alter mosquito behavior by spreading over the hydrophobic cuticle of mosquitoes. We found that solutions with low surface tension indeed attached to mosquitoes flying or resting on the wall, and made them fall. In addition, solutions with yet lower surface tension covered the mosquito surface more quickly and widely, knocking down or killing mosquitoes. These results suggest that surfactants such as sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate can be used to alter mosquito behavior without relying on conventional insecticides.

Effects of Milk or Apple Juice Ingestion on the Pharmacokinetics of Elvitegravir and Cobicistat in Healthy Japanese Male Volunteers: A Randomized, Single-Dose, Three-Way Crossover Study.

Elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF) is specified in its package insert to be taken with food to obtain sufficient exposure of EVG. It has been reported that a nutritional protein-rich drink shows comparable pharmacokinetics (PK) of EVG to those with a standard breakfast. In this study, the PK profiles of EVG and COBI were evaluated by administration of a single dose of EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF, after ingestion of either a nutritional protein-rich drink, milk, or apple juice. The geometric means for Cmax and AUCinf of EVG following milk ingestion slightly decreased by 21% and 14%, respectively, and those following apple juice ingestion decreased by 67% and 61%, respectively, compared with a nutritional protein-rich drink. There were no differences in any PK parameters of COBI. Therefore, taking EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF after milk or apple juice ingestion appeared to be not appropriate. However, for plasma trough concentrations (Ctau ), it is known that Ctau is best correlated with the efficacy of EVG. The mean C24 of EVG after milk ingestion was 620.6 ng/mL, which was more than 10-fold the protein binding-adjusted 95% inhibitory concentration. With all the above considerations, it was concluded that taking EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF with milk could be an option to maintain sufficient plasma concentrations of EVG.

Direct α-siladifluoromethylation of lithium enolates with Ruppert-Prakash reagent via C-F bond activation.

The direct α-siladifluoromethylation of lithium enolates with the Ruppert-Prakash reagent (CF3 TMS) is shown to construct the tertiary and quaternary carbon centers. The Ruppert-Prakash reagent, which is versatile for various trifluoromethylation as a trifluoromethyl anion (CF3 (-) ) equivalent, can be employed as a siladifluoromethyl cation (TMSCF2 (+) ) equivalent by CF bond activation due to the strong interaction between lithium and fluorine atoms.

Vibratory properties of maxillary dentition in maxillectomy patients wearing metal framework obturator prostheses with three different metal materials.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vibratory properties of maxillary dentition in maxillectomy patients wearing metal framework obturator prostheses with three different material types of metal frameworks and to determine the optimal type by applying in vivo modal analysis. METHODS: The three metal framework obturator prostheses using gold alloy, cobalt-chromium alloy and titanium alloy were fabricated for four maxillectomy patients, whose shapes were almost the same for each patient. All patients were classified into Aramany's Class II. The transfer functions of the maxillary dentition with and without obturator prostheses were measured to obtain the natural frequency, modal shape and damping ratio. A forced response simulation was carried out, in which an impact assuming occlusal force was applied to the lateral segment teeth on the non-defect side, and the maximum displacements of the measurement points were calculated. RESULTS: As for the natural frequency, wearing the obturator prostheses caused reduction of the natural frequency of the maxillary dentition. The modal shapes of titanium alloy obturator prostheses showed the strongest splint-like effect and were concluded to be the most preferable. The damping ratio of titanium alloy obturator prostheses was significantly higher than cobalt-chromium obturator prostheses. The maximum displacement of gold alloy obturator prostheses was significantly the highest of all. CONCLUSION: From the viewpoint of preserving abutments and remaining teeth, we conclude that titanium alloy is a more preferable material than gold alloy and cobalt-chromium alloy for the metal frameworks of metal framework obturator prostheses.

Electron therapy for orbital and periorbital lesions using customized lead eye shields.

PURPOSE: To establish the protective efficacy against late complications of electron therapy using customized lead eye shields in cases with orbital and periorbital lesions. METHODS: Between 1982 and 2006, 16 patients with 22 orbital and periorbital lesions were treated by electron therapy. Customized lead eye shields were prepared and placed in the respective patients' eyes during each fraction of electron therapy. The toxicity and local control rates were analyzed. RESULTS: The preparation period for the customized lead eye shields was 2 days. The shields could be used throughout the treatment period in all the patients. No evidence of radiation cataract was observed in 15 of the 16 patients. None of the patients developed corneal ulceration or evidence of lead poisoning. CONCLUSION: Customized lead eye shields could be made relatively quickly, and electron therapy for orbital and periorbital lesions could be undertaken safely without any late complication.