Theory versus practice: are insecticide mixtures in Arizona cotton used for resistance management?

BACKGROUND: Resistance management in pesticide use is critical, yet grower practices, especially pesticide mixing motivations, diverge from theoretical frameworks. This study analyzes 30 years of Arizona cotton growers' practices and pest manager insights to understand mixing trends. RESULTS: Growers predominantly mix pesticides for spectrum or efficacy, not resistance management. This highlights a gap between theory and practice, emphasizing the complexity of real-world dynamics. A shift over time towards selective insecticides and integrated pest management (IPM), supported by extension education, has reduced reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides and increased opportunities to conserve the natural enemies of key pests. This reduced the frequency of insecticide use, a mutual goal of both IPM and resistance management. The availability and adoption of selective products with diverse modes of action, along with the resulting increases in biological control and refuges, likely has delayed or prevented resistances without emphasis on using mixtures specifically for resistance management. In a disrupted system exclusively dependent on broad-spectrum insecticides (1991-1995), 75% ± 5% of cotton area was sprayed with mixtures of these materials. With the availability of selective insecticides, few broad-spectrum products are used today and mixtures of insecticides are sprayed on only 36% ± 3% of the cotton area (2015-2020). CONCLUSION: Although mixing has theoretical relevance, it is diminishing in stable systems with diverse modes of action and adherence to moderation principles. Arizona cotton guidance prioritizes multi-crop refuges over mixtures for resistance management. Integrated research and education, targeting professional pest managers, are pivotal in advancing resistance management without mixtures specifically designed to prevent or mitigate resistance. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Influenza Virus Genomic Surveillance, Arizona, USA, 2023-2024.

Influenza viruses are constantly evolving and are therefore monitored worldwide in the hope to reduce the burden of disease by annual updates to vaccine recommendations. We conducted genomic sequencing of 110 influenza A and 30 influenza B viruses from specimens collected between October 2023 and February 2024 in Arizona, USA. We identified mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) antigenic sites as well as the neuraminidase (NA) gene in our samples. We also found no unique HA and NA mutations in vaccinated yet influenza-infected individuals. Real-time genomic sequencing surveillance is important to ensure influenza vaccine effectiveness.

Opportunity for Reduction of Intensive Care Unit Resource Utilization in Pediatric Blunt Liver and Spleen Injuries: A National Trauma Data Bank Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Guidelines for blunt liver and spleen injury (BLSI) by the Arizona-Texas-Oklahoma-Memphis-Arkansas Consortium (ATOMAC) emphasize hemodynamic stability over injury grade when considering non-operative management (NOM). In this study, we examined rates of intensive care unit (ICU) admission for children with isolated low-risk BLSI among US hospitals. METHODS: The National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) was queried for patients ages 1-15 admitted between 2017 and 2019 with BLSI. Patients with penetrating injuries and/or concomitant non-abdominal injuries with AIS score ≥3 were excluded. Isolated BLSI was considered low-risk if the patient had normal admission vitals and did not require operative intervention. Primary outcomes measured were ICU admission, ICU length of stay (LOS), and overall LOS. RESULTS: 5777 patients ages 15 and under presented with isolated BLSI during the study period. 2031/5777 (35.2%) were considered low-risk. Low-risk patients had lower rates of ICU admission compared to high-risk patients (30.9% vs. 41.6%, p < 0.001) and had shorter ICU LOS (median 2 days vs. 2, p < 0.001) and shorter overall LOS (median 41 h vs. 54, p < 0.001). Pediatric verified and non-pediatric verified trauma centers had similar rates of ICU admission (36.8% vs. 38.9%, p = 0.11). CONCLUSION: Further work is needed to capture opportunities for reduction in ICU utilization in isolated BLSI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The high cost of movement in an arid working landscape for an endangered amphibian.

Connectivity is essential for the maintenance of genetic diversity and stability of wildlife populations. Drought and changing precipitation regimes have caused natural aquatic amphibian breeding habitats to disappear or become isolated and have led to the replacement of natural surface water with artificial livestock water tanks. Terrestrial movement is the only means of responding to aquatic threats in arid landscapes and to allow population connectivity. Aridity may present an impenetrable barrier in hydrologically fragmented environments. We used a facultatively paedomorphic and federally endangered salamander to assess the challenges of movement across arid working lands. Sonoran tiger salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium stebbinsi) are endemic to the San Rafael Valley of southeastern Arizona, United States of America, where they depend on livestock water tanks as breeding habitat. The ecology of this species' metamorphs outside of stock tanks is virtually unknown. To assess survival on the landscape during terrestrial movement we used radio-transmitters to track 78 adult metamorphosed salamanders over 2 years. Sonoran tiger salamanders moved up to 1 km from the tank edge, and average distances moved of over 400 m were higher than most Ambystoma species. However, during the study period, none reached neighboring stock tanks. We found high mortality due to predation and desiccation. Individuals that dispersed to terrestrial habitat in summer survived longer than individuals that dispersed in spring. High mortality suggests terrestrial movement is exceptionally risky and may contribute to isolated subpopulations and elevated levels of inbreeding. Conservation actions that improve and maintain artificial aquatic habitats as well as increase connectivity may improve long-term management for pond-breeding amphibians in arid regions.

A new North American species of Etainia (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae), feeding on Arbutus and Arctostaphylos species (Ericaceae).

Etainiathoraceleuca van Nieukerken, Epstein & Davis, sp. nov. is the second native American species of Etainia Beirne, 1945, and the second known Etainia species feeding on Ericaceae. The species is known from light-collected adults in the USA (California, Arizona) and Canada (Ontario). These were linked via DNA barcodes to larvae that make short leafmines on Arbutus and Arctostaphylos species, then continue feeding in stems and branches, causing damage in nurseries and planted trees in Sonoma and Marin Counties, California. The holotype was accidentally reared from Arbutusarizonica, without observing the damage. Life history and damage are described in detail. Damage in Arctostaphylosuva-ursi found in Washington State probably belongs to E.thoraceleuca, which is a sister species to the European E.albibimaculella (Larsen, 1927).

Genetic characterization and description of Leishmania (Leishmania) ellisi sp. nov.: a new human-infecting species from the USA.

In a 2018 report, an unusual case of cutaneous leishmaniasis was described in a 72-year-old female patient residing in Arizona, United States of America (USA). Preliminary analysis of the 18S rDNA and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes supported the conclusion that the Leishmania strain (strain 218-L139) isolated from this case was a novel species, though a complete taxonomic description was not provided. Identification of Leishmania at the species level is critical for clinical management and epidemiologic investigations so it is important that novel human-infecting species are characterized taxonomically and assigned a unique scientific name compliant with the ICZN code. Therefore, we sought to provide a complete taxonomic description of Leishmania strain 218-L139. Phylogenetic analysis of several nuclear loci and partial maxicircle genome sequences supported its position within the subgenus Leishmania and further clarified the distinctness of this new species. Morphological characterization of cultured promastigotes and amastigotes from the original case material is also provided. Thus, we conclude that Leishmania (Leishmania) ellisi is a new cause of autochthonous cutaneous leishmaniasis in the USA.

Characteristics of Overdose Deaths Related to Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl - Arizona, July 2019 - June 2020.

Using the Arizona State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (AZ-SUDORS), the study aims to identify the social and drug characteristics of illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF)-related overdose deaths. The data include drug overdose deaths from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Decedents were categorized into four groups by types of opioids detected: (1) IMF-positive; (2) heroin-positive (negative for IMF); (3) pharmaceutical opioid-positive (negative for heroin or IMF); (4) nonopioid. Bivariate statistics were used to compare differences between IMF and other groups. Among 2,029 decedents, 77.8% tested positive for opioids. The IMF group included 57.9%, the heroin group included 9.5%, the pharmaceutical opioid group 10.5%, and the nonopioid group 22.2%. The IMF group was younger (mean age 35.0), more likely to be from a large urban area (78.2%), and with a greater proportion of ethnic/racial minorities (48.6%), compared to the other three groups. The IMF group was less likely to test positive for methamphetamine (24.9%), compared to heroin (63.7%) or pharmaceutical opioid groups (34.0%), but more likely to test positive for cannabis (31.3%), compared to the other three groups. Our data show disproportionate IMF impacts on younger persons and ethnic minorities. Interventions need to be tailored to account for distinct psychosocial profiles associated with IMF use.

Pre-contact Agave domesticates - living legacy plants in Arizona's landscape.

BACKGROUND AND SCOPE: Agaves played a central role as multi-use plants providing food, fibre and beverage to pre-contact and historical Mesoamerican cultures. However, their importance to Indigenous Peoples in the Southwest USA and northern Mexico, where they occur because of adaptations such as CAM photosynthesis, is less well known. Archaeological research indicates the Hohokam and other pre-contact Southwestern agrarian people increased agricultural potential in this region by engineering riverine terraces and bajadas for agave dry farming. Agricultural features such as terraces and rock piles were especially characteristic of post-1000 CE with the increase of dense, aggregated populations. We present an overview of six pre-contact agave domesticates (PCADs) the Hohokam and other cultures cultivated, and their ecological and cultural attributes. These PCADs are Agave murpheyi, A. delamateri, A. phillipsiana, A. sanpedroensis, A. verdensis and A. yavapaiensis. CONCLUSION: Pre-contact agriculturists cultivated at least six once cryptic domesticated agave species in the modern Arizona landscape associated with pre-contact agricultural features, such as rock structures. Because of the longevity and primarily asexual reproduction of these agaves, relict clones have persisted to the present day, providing an opportunity to study pre-contact nutrition, trade, migration and agricultural practices. Taxonomic data imply that pre-contact farmers selected desirable attributes, initiating domestication processes that resulted in discrete lineages. These agaves are morphologically and genetically distinct from Southwest US and northern Mexico wild agaves and Mesoamerican wild and domesticated species. Additionally, the remnant clones present a rare opportunity to examine domesticates virtually unchanged since they were last cultivated prehistorically. These discoveries underline the need to view landscapes and some plant species from a cultural, rather than 'natural', perspective and discern potential cryptic species veiled by traditional taxonomic treatments. Protecting and understanding the distribution, and ecological and cultural roles of these plants require interdisciplinary collaboration between botanists, archaeologists, federal agencies and Indigenous Peoples.

Genomic Sequencing Surveillance to Identify Respiratory Syncytial Virus Mutations, Arizona, USA.

We conducted surveillance of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) genomic sequences for 100 RSV-A and 27 RSV-B specimens collected during November 2022-April 2023 in Arizona, USA. We identified mutations within prefusion F-protein antigenic sites in both subtypes. Continued genomic surveillance will be critical to ensure RSV vaccine effectiveness.

Detection of Hantavirus during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Arizona, USA, 2020.

We identified 2 fatal cases of persons infected with hantavirus in Arizona, USA, 2020; 1 person was co-infected with SARS-CoV-2. Delayed identification of the cause of death led to a public health investigation that lasted ≈9 months after their deaths, which complicated the identification of a vector or exposure.

Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Sexual Function in Rectal Cancer Patients Before and After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: The association of treatment-related side effects and tumor characteristics with sexual function, depression, and anxiety were investigated in patients with locally advanced rectum cancer (LARC) receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients who received neoadjuvant CRT with LARC were included. The Arizona Sexual Experiences (ASEX) Scale was used to determine the sexual function status whereas the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to evaluate the depression and anxiety status of the patient, respectively. The patients were asked to fill these scales before and at least 4 weeks after the neoadjuvant CRT. T-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for the comparison of values. RESULTS: Median age was 52.5 years (range: 33-76). Twenty-six patients were male, and 6 patients were female. At presentation, the tumor was located mostly in lower third rectum (72%), and 69% of the patients had T3 tumors. There was a statistically significant deterioration in the sexual functions of the patients (p < 0.001), a statistically significant decrease in their anxiety level after CRT (p: 0.037). Depression level was changed from mild to minimal during this process (p: 0.17). A significant deterioration in the ASEX scale was observed especially in patients with grade 2 and above gastrointestinal side effects (p: 0.01). CONCLUSION: This prospective study showed that the patient's anxiety and depression levels had decreased during the treatment process probably due to the decrease in the patient's symptoms. However, deterioration of the sexual function status which might be correlated to increased gastrointestinal side effects during CRT has been observed. So, clinical and psychiatric support including therapies for sexual dysfunctions is needed for LARC patients during and after the neoadjuvant CRT.

Limited Cutaneous Leishmaniasis as Ulcerated Verrucous Plaque on Leg, Tucson, Arizona, USA1.

We report a 34-year-old man who had a nonhealing, verrucous plaque with central ulceration on the lower leg. This case-patient is a rare example of endemic limited cutaneous leishmaniasis in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Clinicians should be aware of this disease because its manifestations can vary for individual patients.

Coconut fatty acids exhibit strong repellency and week-long efficacy against several urban pest arthropods of the southwestern United States.

BACKGROUND: The southwestern United States is home to a variety of arthropods including Turkestan cockroaches, Blatta lateralis (Walker); hematophagous kissing bugs, Tritoma rubida (Uhler); and Arizona bark scorpions, Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing. These arthropods cause medical concern when they become established around homes and/or invade indoors. Traditionally, the management of these pests has relied primarily on the use of chemical insecticides; however, they offer poor prospects for control owing to their lack of efficacy as well as the effects of insecticides on humans and the environment. Botanical repellents are an option that has not been fully investigated for the management of these pests. Here, we investigated the behavioral responses of common urban pests of the southwestern USA to recently discovered coconut fatty acids (CFAs), to establish the potential use of these compounds as repellents. RESULTS: Fresh residues of CFA mixture (CFAm) and their constituents caprylic acid, capric acid, capric acid methyl ester, lauric acid, and lauric acid methyl ester, tested at a concentration of 1 mg cm-2 , strongly repelled all arthropods. The repellent activity of CFAm lasted for at least 7 days, and the addition of lavender oil, used as an odor-masking agent, did not decrease this effect. Concentrations of CFAm ten times lower (0.1 mg cm-2 ) still repelled Turkestan cockroaches, and concentrations 100 times lower (0.01 mg cm-2 ) repelled T. rubida and scorpions. CONCLUSIONS: CFAm and some of their constituents are efficacious, economical, and logistically feasible for inclusion in integrated pest management programs for these important urban pests of the southwestern USA. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Burkholderia pseudomallei Laboratory Exposure, Arizona, USA.

We describe an incidental Burkholderia pseudomallei laboratory exposure in Arizona, USA. Because melioidosis cases are increasing in the United States and B. pseudomallei reservoirs have been discovered in the Gulf Coast Region, US laboratory staff could be at increased risk for B. pseudomallei exposure.

Measurement invariance of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale by sexual orientation: comparing the sexual functioning of gay and heterosexual individuals.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of sexual functioning requires accurate and reliable measures as well as short and easy to apply. The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), which provides a quick, easy, and nonintrusive assessment of sexual functioning in men and women, is a clear example of a commonly used scale that satisfies these qualities. AIM: The study sought to examine measurement invariance and differential item functioning (DIF) by sexual orientation of the Spanish version of the ASEX. METHODS: A confirmatory factor analysis was performed on a sample of 1600 adults (800 gay and 800 heterosexual individuals), testing measurement invariance of the ASEX by sexual orientation in men and women separately, and calculating its reliability and DIF. OUTCOMES: The measure provided by the Spanish version of the ASEX is reliable and valid for assessing the sexual functioning of gay men and lesbians, but comparisons by sexual orientation are not recommended for men. RESULTS: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the unidimensional structure of the ASEX already found in the Spanish validation with heterosexual people. Measurement invariance showed that, in the men's sample, the factor structure of the ASEX only reached the weak level of invariance, whereas in the women's sample, strict invariance by sexual orientation was reached. The internal consistency reliability was adequate, with better coefficients in women than in men. No significant DIF was observed in either men or women. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians should further their training in sexual and gender diversity as approaches such as affirmative LGBT psychotherapy gain popularity, and they must have access to assessment instruments that are psychometrically robust enough to be used with this population. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This research has some limitations. Because the distribution was administered solely through social media platforms, those without access to social media were unable to participate. Beyond these restrictions, however, the findings are thought to be significant from a research and clinical perspective since measurement invariance is a step that is often excluded when using an instrument validated in a mostly heterosexual sample. CONCLUSION: Validating assessment tools in gay men and lesbians is essential because sexual functioning is a crucial concept in sexual health. The findings of this study suggest that the Spanish version of the ASEX offers valid and reliable measures of sexual functioning for both heterosexual and gay people, though there would be bias in comparing men of both orientations.

Who Is Most Burdened in Health Care? An Analysis of Responses to the ICAN Discussion Aid.

OBJECTIVE: To create a model based on patients' characteristics that can predict the number of burdens reported using the ICAN Discussion Aid, to target use of this tool to patients likeliest to benefit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six hundred thirty-five patients (aged ≥18 years) completed the ICAN Discussion Aid at a Scottsdale, Arizona, family medicine clinic. Patient characteristics were gathered from their health records. Regression trees with Poisson splitting criteria were used to model the data. RESULTS: Our model suggests the patients with the most burdens had major depressive disorder, with twice as many overall burdens (personal plus health care burdens) than patients without depression. Patients with depression who were younger than 38 years had the highest number of personal burdens. A body mass index (BMI) of 26 or greater was associated with increased health care burden versus a BMI below 26. CONCLUSION: The number of burdens a patient will report on the ICAN Discussion Aid can be approximated based on certain patient characteristics. Adults with major depression, a BMI of 26 or greater, and younger age may have greater reported burdens on ICAN, but this finding needs to be validated in independent samples.

Experimental Analysis of Various Blockage Performance for LiDAR Sensor Cleaning Evaluation.

Autonomous driving includes recognition, judgment, and control technologies, and is implemented using sensors such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar. However, recognition sensors are exposed to the outside environment and their performance may deteriorate because of the presence of substances that interfere with vision, such as dust, bird droppings, and insects, during operation. Research on sensor cleaning technology to solve this performance degradation has been limited. This study used various types and concentrations of blockage and dryness to demonstrate approaches to the evaluation of cleaning rates for selected conditions that afford satisfactory results. To determine the effectiveness of washing, the study used the following criteria: washer, 0.5 bar/s and air, 2 bar/s, with 3.5 g being used three times to test the LiDAR window. The study found that blockage, concentration, and dryness are the most important factors, and in that order. Additionally, the study compared new forms of blockage, such as those caused by dust, bird droppings, and insects, with standard dust that was used as a control to evaluate the performance of the new blockage types. The results of this study can be used to conduct various sensor cleaning tests and ensure their reliability and economic feasibility.

Food insecurity and disasters: predicting disparities in total and first-time food pantry visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the U.S. state of Arizona, nearly one-third of households experienced food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase from one-fourth of households before the pandemic. Previous research on food insecurity in the wake of natural and human-instigated disasters demonstrates that groups vulnerable to food insecurity before a disaster are more susceptible to food insecurity during and after that disaster; however, less is known about whether this relationship also holds true during health-related disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced urban food insecurity patterns by analyzing the socio-demographic characteristics of food pantry clients in Maricopa County, Arizona. Using data from Phoenix Rescue Mission (PRM), a local non-profit food service provider, two binomial logistic regression models compare the socio-demographic composition of total and first-time food pantry users before and during the pandemic. In addition to an overall increase in food pantry usage during the pandemic, we find that, while certain socio-demographic groups historically vulnerable to food insecurity experienced the predicted uptick in insecurity during the pandemic, other socio-demographic disparities were attenuated. These somewhat disparate findings illustrate the complex relationship between disasters and food insecurity in an urban context, offering several avenues for future research. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12571-022-01336-2.

Sexual Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale Sexual Dysfunction in Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale.

OBJECTIVE: Parkinson's disease (PD) affects older individuals and can cause sexual dysfunction (SD). SD is a determinant of general well-being; but is infrequently assessed in professionally. The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) measures SD; unlike other scales, it is minimally invasive and requires little time to complete. This review aimed to assess the prevalence of SD in patients with PD using ASEX. METHODS: Were searched the keywords, "sexual dysfunction," "Parkinson's disease" and "ASEX" in 9 databases. RESULTS: The prevalence of SD ranged from 65%-90%. SD was associated with older age at disease onset, higher Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale scores, age and depression (p ranged from .001 to <.05). The most observed SD was erectile dysfunction in men. CONCLUSION: SD is common among patients with PD. ASEX, although not specific to PD, is an easy and quickly applied tool that can help evaluate SD and guide treatments in PD.

Racial/ethnic disparities in influenza risk perception and vaccination intention among Pima County residents in Arizona.

While influenza cases in Arizona have nearly tripled since 2018, vaccination rates continue to lag. Statewide, Hispanics and African Americans had the lowest vaccination rates despite having higher influenza infection rates than Whites. Given Arizona's racial influenza vaccination disparity and the general increase in vaccination hesitancy due to COVID-19, the purpose of this study was to better understand the influences of seasonal influenza vaccination in Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic using qualitative methods. Findings from this study revealed that many participants were motivated to get the influenza vaccine to protect their family and close friends. The heightened concern for COVID-19 prompted some Hispanic/Latino focus group discussion participants to consider getting vaccinated. However, many Hispanic/Latino participants also expressed that they stopped getting influenza vaccine due to negative vaccination experiences or concern about sickness following immunization. African American participants primarily discussed receiving the vaccine as part of their routine health visit. Compared to other races, more White participants believed that vaccination was unimportant because they were healthy, and the people they interacted with never got sick. Distinct factors influence risk perception and vaccination intention across different racial/ethnic groups. Effective interventions can account for these factors and be tailored to the target population to maximize vaccination uptake.