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The Nantucket pine tip moth (NPTM) (Rhyacionia frustrana Comstock) is a native, regeneration pest of young loblolly pines (Pinus taeda L.), causing shoot dieback, tree deformity, and growth and volume declines. Soil applications of systemic insecticides may be an effective strategy to suppress NPTM populations. The study objective was to assess the efficacy of four systemic insecticide treatments (chlorantraniliprole, dinotefuran, fipronil, and imidacloprid) for two growing seasons in outplanted bareroot and containerized seedling trials. Response variables included NPTM infestation rates, along with tree height, groundline diameter, volume index, and stem form. Infestation rates significantly decreased for each systemic insecticide treatment during the first year compared to controls, although dinotefuran and imidacloprid provided season-long control in one trial. Chlorantraniliprole reduced NPTM infestation rates for two growing seasons in both trials. While imidacloprid treatments did not alter growth metrics except for one comparison, fipronil and dinotefuran treatments improved several growth metrics. Chlorantraniliprole consistently improved growth metrics throughout the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal deformity was present in 58 (19%) of 302 patients born with oesophageal atresia and fistula when examined at review. This was present in 24 (47%) of 51 patients with vertebral anomalies and 34 (14%) of 251 patients with normal vertebrae. Scoliosis was present in 21 patients with vertebral anomalies, torticollis in two, and lordosis in one. Two thirds of the patients with congenital scoliosis have had or are likely to require operation, compared with five patients with non-congenital scoliosis. Scoliosis associated with mixed vertebral anomalies in the lower thoracic spine had the worst prognosis. The medical records of a further 64 patients who had survived operation but who could not be traced were reviewed, and indicated that four had had congenital vertebral anomalies but none had a spinal deformity. We recommend early detection of vertebral anomalies in this group and careful follow up of patients with these abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Northwest Africa 14713 is a new poikilitic Martian meteorite discovered in 2021 with a total mass of ~3 kg. Martian meteorites are currently the only samples of Mars available for direct study by Earth-based laboratories. The shergottites are the youngest of the Martian meteorites predominantly having formed during the late Amazonian period with crystallization ages ranging from 165 to 225 Ma [1]. They represent ~82% by mass of the known Martian meteorites and can be divided further into four distinct sub-groups: pyroxene-phyric (basaltic), olivinephyric, gabbroic and poikilitic [2]. There are currently only ~276 examples of shergottites, and of those only ~12% display a poikilitic texture (Meteoritical Bulletin Database). With such a limited number of examples available it is important that we continue to expand this sampling through the continued analysis and classification of newly discovered Martian meteorites to better understand the petrogenic relationship that exists between the shergottite subgroups and Martian meteorites in general. Diagram 1. Pyroxene ternary plot for NWA 14713; Image 1. Photograph of hand sample of NWA 14713; Image 2. BSE image of NWA 14713 converted to binary using ImageJ showing maskelynite in black. Image 3. 200x reflected light image of poikiloblastic texture with olivine chadacrysts embedded in pyroxene oikocrysts. Petrography: NWA 14713 was studied using a polished microprobe mount. Examination of the mount with electron microprobe and image analysis using ImageJ shows it contains numerous poikiloblastic olivine chadacrysts embedded within pigeonite and augite oikocrysts. Modal analysis shows ~25% igneous-zoned olivine, ~35% igneouszoned pyroxene and ~35% maskelynite. Augite is subcalcic with pyroxene phases dominated by relatively low-Ca pigeonite. No lo-Ca pyroxenes were detected. Three types of Cr-spinels were detected and analyzed: high-Cr Ti-spinel with Ti8.81, Cr17.35, high-Ti Cr-spinel with Ti4.58, Cr27.49, and low-Ti Cr-spinel with Cr38.74, Ti0.63 (all Wt%). Other minor phases observed were ilmenite, merrillite, and troilite. Geochemistry: Olivine Fa35.4±2.8 n=10; pigeonite Fs25.7±3.2Wo9.2±2.4, n=8; augite Fs16.5±1.0Wo34.6±1.3, Fe/Mn=26±3, n=3; plagioclase An54.8±1.2Ab43.9±1.2, Or 1.3±0.2, n=5. Discussion: Microprobe analysis indicates this meteorite is a Martian poikilitic shergottite. It is a Martian based on Fe/Mn ratios of both olivine and pyroxenes. It is a poikilitic shergottite based on pyroxene plots, modal abundances, and poikiloblastic embedding of olivine chadacrysts within pyroxene oikocrysts [3]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In two studies, we examined women's anger expression and its instrumental function in relationships by addressing the following questions: What is the relationship between women's self-reports of instrumentality and their perceived styles of anger expression? In what ways and situations do women see their anger expression as instrumental or goal enhancing? In Study I, we expected that women's perceived styles of anger expression would be positively related to instrumentality, as measured with the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ; Spence, Helmreich, & Stapp, JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 4, 43, 1974). Although our hypothesis was not supported, a positive relationship did emerge between assertiveness and instrumentality, as predicted. In Study II, we conducted three focus group discussions to elucidate women's experiences of anger and to provide clarification for the results of Study I. We identified group themes related to when women experienced their anger expression as instrumental as well as when women perceived themselves as noninstrumental in anger-arousing situations. In their narratives, women explained how they make decisions about expressing their anger based on relationship concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bracing in the treatment of mild idiopathic scoliosis is controversial. A study of 33 adolescents showed that bracing significantly decreased lung volumes. Functional residual capacity was reduced by a mean of 26%, 18% of children showing a reduction of greater than 40%. The mean reduction in total lung capacity was 16% and in forced vital capacity 18%. This restriction of lung function by bracing might have a deleterious effect on lung growth or might impose an additional risk factor in the presence of other disorders, such as asthma and diaphragmatic weakness. The use of bracing in individuals with mild scoliosis should be judiciously reassessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]