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Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) are the principal vectors of Leishmania spp. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). In Central Europe, Phlebotomus mascittii is the predominant species, but largely understudied. To better understand factors driving its current distribution, we infer patterns of genetic diversity by testing for signals of population expansion based on two mitochondrial genes and model current and past climate and habitat suitability for seven post-glacial maximum periods, taking 19 climatic variables into account. Consequently, we elucidate their connections by environmental-geographical network analysis. Most analyzed populations share a main haplotype tracing back to a single glacial maximum refuge area on the Mediterranean coasts of South France, which is supported by network analysis. The rapid range expansion of Ph. mascittii likely started in the early mid-Holocene epoch until today and its spread possibly followed two routes. The first one was through northern France to Germany and then Belgium, and the second across the Ligurian coast through present-day Slovenia to Austria, toward the northern Balkans. Here we present a combined approach to reveal glacial refugia and post-glacial spread of Ph. mascittii and observed discrepancies between the modelled and the current known distribution might reveal yet overlooked populations and potential further spread., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Recent survey work in Costa Rica has resulted in the discovery of new species of derbid and cixiid planthoppers associated with palms. During this survey, one species belonging to the genus Anotia has been discovered and described, A. firebugia. A second species was collected while sweeping trailside vegetation in the Los Angeles cloud forest in Costa Rica and determined to represent a new species of Anotia. Herein, Anotia cerebro sp. n. is described and supplemental molecular data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 18S rRNA gene and D9-D10 expansion region of the 28S rRNA gene are provided.

Background: Dual anti-HER2-targeted therapy in breast cancer (BC) significantly increased the rate of pathological complete response (pCR) compared to single blockade when added to chemotherapy. However, limited data exist on the long-term impact on survival of the additional increase in pCR., Methods: Neoadjuvant lapatinib and/or trastuzumab treatment optimisation (NCT00553358) is an international, randomised, open-label, phase III study investigating the addition of lapatinib to chemotherapy plus trastuzumab in HER2-positive early BC. Ten-year event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS) and safety were assessed on intention-to-treat population. The association between pCR and EFS or OS was investigated in landmark population., Results: A total of 455 patients were randomised to receive lapatinib (154), trastuzumab (149) or the combination (152). Ten-year EFS estimates were 63% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54%-71%) in the lapatinib group, 64% (95% CI, 55%-72%) in the trastuzumab group and 67% (95% CI, 58%-74%) in the combination group. Ten-year OS rates were 76% (95% CI, 67%-83%), 75% (95% CI, 66%-82%) and 80% (95% CI, 73%-86%) in the lapatinib, trastuzumab and combination groups, respectively. Women who achieved a pCR had improved EFS (hazard ratio 0.48, 95% CI, 0.31-0.73) and OS (hazard ratio 0.37, 95% CI, 0.20-0.63) compared with those who did not. The numerical difference in survival according to pCR status was greater in women treated with the combination and those with hormone-receptor-negative tumours. There were no new or long-term safety concerns., Conclusions: Patients with HER2-positive BC showed a durable survival benefit of neoadjuvant anti-HER2, irrespective of treatment arm. Patients who achieve pCR have significantly better outcomes than patients without pCR., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Haplaxius is a large genus of New World cixiid planthoppers. The genus is of particular interest because Haplaxius crudus can transmit palm infecting phytoplasmas and the recent discovery of additional Haplaxius on palms during survey work highlights the need to fully understand the diversity of this genus on palms. Herein, a new species, Haplaxius cotinga sp. n., is described from the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. This species is most similar to H. deleter from southern Panama, from which it differs mostly by features of the male terminalia. Molecular data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 18S rRNA, and histone 3 (H3) gene is provided and demonstrates supplemental support for placing the novel taxon in Haplaxius.

As the number of observations submitted to the citizen science platform iNaturalist continues to grow, it is increasingly important that these observations can be identified to the finest taxonomic level, maximizing their value for biodiversity research. Here, we explore the benefits of acting as an identifier on iNaturalist., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (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.)

During recent surveys on leafhoppers in urban and agroecosystem areas in Europe the Oriental Hishimonus diffractus Dai, Fletcher Zhang, 2013 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) has been found. This species, described from China and Thailand, is recorded here for the first time from Europe in the following countries: France, Portugal (Madeira), Spain, Gibraltar, United Kingdom, and Italy (Sicily). H. diffractus has been found associated with Jasminum and Olea (Oleaceae), Citrus (Rutaceae), Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae), Rubus (Rosaceae), Nerium (Apocynaceae) and Vitis (Vitaceae). Presence of the adults, morphological features, and some biological notes are provided to H. diffractus. Furthermore, Hishimonus hamatus Kuoh, 1976 is here reported for the first time in Spain and France. All Hishimonus species introduced in Europe are considered, and their economic importance discussed. Details on the first record and country in Europe, origin area, current distribution and host plants are given for each species.

We report on high-quality high-throughput laser milling of silicon with a sub-ps laser delivering more than 1 kW of average laser power on the workpiece. In order to avoid heat accumulation effects, the processing strategy for high-quality laser milling was adapted to the available average power by using five-pulse bursts, a large beam diameter of 372 µm to limit the peak fluence per pulse to approximately 0.7 J / c m 2 , and a high feed rate of 24 m/s. As a result, smooth surfaces with a low roughness of S a ≤0.6µ m were achieved up to the investigated milling depth of 313 µm while maintaining a high material removal rate of 230 m m 3 /min.

An ongoing survey to document planthopper diversity on palms (Arecaceae) is being conducted in Costa Rica. During these efforts a new species of derbid planthopper belonging to the genus Agoo was found on Astrocaryum alatum Loomis in the Heredia province at La Selva Biological Station and is described here as Agoo luzdenia Bahder Bartlett sp. n., bringing the genus to four described taxa-A. dahliana, A. luzdenia Bahder Bartlett sp. n., A rubrimarginata, and A. xavieri. Sequence data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 18S genes was generated for the novel taxon and strongly supports its placement in the genus Agoo.

Purpose: MINDACT demonstrated that 46% of patients with early breast cancer at high clinical but low genomic risk on the basis of MammaPrint may safely avoid adjuvant chemotherapy. A second random assignment (R-C) compared docetaxel-capecitabine with an anthracycline-based regimen., Patients and Methods: R-C randomly assigned patients 1:1 between standard anthracycline-based regimens, with or without taxanes (control) and experimental docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 intravenously plus oral capecitabine 825 mg/m 2 two times per day for 14 days (DC) every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary end points included overall survival and safety., Results: Of 2,832 patients, 1,301 (45%) were randomly assigned, and 97% complied with R-C assignment. In the control arm, 29.6% only received taxanes (0.5% of N0 patients). DFS events (n = 148) were much less than required (n = 422) as a result of a lower-than-expected accrual and event rate. At 5 years of median follow-up, DFS was not different between DC (n = 652) and control (n = 649; 90.7% [95% CI, 88% to 92.8%] v 88.8% [95% CI, 85.9% to 91.1%]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.83 [95% CI, 0.60 to 1.15]; P = .26). Overall survival (HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.54 to 1.53]) and DFS in the clinical high and genomic high-risk subgroup (86.1% v 88.1%; HR, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.58 to 1.21]) were similar in both arms. DC led to more grade 1 neuropathy (27.1% v 11.2%) and more grade 2 hand/foot syndrome (28.5% v 3.3%) and diarrhea (13.7% v 5.8%). Serious cardiac events occurred in 9 patients (control, n = 4; DC, n = 5). Fifty-three patients developed second cancers (control, n = 32; DC, n = 21; leukemia: 2 v 1). Five treatment-related deaths occurred (control, 2 [0.3%]; DC, 3 [0.5%])., Conclusion: Although underpowered, this second randomization in MINDACT did not show any improvement in outcome or safety with the use of DC compared with anthracycline-based chemotherapy.