Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a postemergence rice herbicide that has reduced rice yield in some situations, and producers are concerned that the impact could be even greater with low rice seeding densities. Therefore, research was conducted in Stoneville, MS, from 2019 to 2021, to evaluate the effect of florpyrauxifen-benzyl on rice yield when a hybrid was seeded at reduced densities. Rice cultivar FullPage RT 7521 FP was seeded at 10, 17, 24, 30, and 37 kg ha−1. At the 4-leaf to 1-tiller growth stage, florpyrauxifen-benzyl was applied at 0 or 58 g ai ha−1. Rice injury following application of florpyrauxifen-benzyl was ≤8% across all seeding rates and evaluation intervals. Application of florpyrauxifen-benzyl reduced plant heights by 14% to all seeding rates but did not result in delayed rice maturity. When florpyrauxifen-benzyl was not applied to rice that was seeded at 10 and 17 kg ha−1 seeding rates, rice matured slower than when it was seeded at 24, 30, and 37 kg ha−1. When florpyrauxifen-benzyl was applied, rough rice grain yields were reduced by at the 17 and 37 kg ha−1 seeding rates, but not at any other seeding rate. In conclusion, application of florpyrauxifen-benzyl at a 2× rate can cause a loss of yield resulting from variation in rice densities.

Florpyrauxifen-benzyl was commercialized in 2018 to target barnyardgrass and aquatic or broadleaf weeds. Field studies were conducted from 2019 to 2021 in Stoneville, MS, to evaluate barnyardgrass control following a simulated failure of florpyrauxifen-benzyl or other common postemergence rice herbicides. In the first field study, florpyrauxifen-benzyl was applied at 0 and 15 g ai ha–1 to rice at the two- to three-leaf stage to simulate a failed application targeting barnyardgrass. Sequential herbicide treatments included no herbicide and full rates of imazethapyr, quinclorac, bispyribac-Na, and cyhalofop applied 7 or 14 d after florpyrauxifen-benzyl treatment. The second field study was designed to evaluate barnyardgrass control with florpyrauxifen-benzyl following simulated failure of postemergence rice herbicides. Initial herbicide treatments included no herbicide and half rates of imazethapyr, quinclorac, bispyribac-Na, and propanil. Sequential applications at 7 or 14 d after the initial herbicide treatments included florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 0 and 30 g ai ha–1. Results from the first study indicated barnyardgrass control 21 d after final treatment (DAFT) was greater with sequential treatments at 7 compared with 14 d after initial treatment (DA-I) with no initial application of florpyrauxifen-benzyl. Therefore, delaying sequential treatments until 14 d after initial florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 15 g ha–1 allowed barnyardgrass to become too large to control with other rice herbicides. Rough rice yield was reduced in plots where quinclorac application was delayed from 7 to 14 DA-I with no initial application of florpyrauxifen-benzyl. The second study suggested that florpyrauxifen-benzyl application should be delayed 14 d after a herbicide failure. Although no differences in barnyardgrass control 21 DAFT were detected whether florpyrauxifen-benzyl was applied 7 or 14 DA-I of any herbicide utilized, >85% control was only achieved when florpyrauxifen-benzyl application was delayed 14 DA-I. These results demonstrate barnyardgrass control options following simulated failed applications of common rice herbicides.

Background: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a gram-negative, biofilm-producing bacterium that is ubiquitous in water environments and often associated with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Outbreaks of S. maltophilia bloodstream infections are a rare event and raise the suspicion of a common source. We used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for an investigation of a cluster of S. maltophilia HAIs at a single hospital. Methods: A patient was defined as an intensive care unit (ICU) patient with fever and S. maltophilia isolated from a culture and who was treated for an HAI from May to October 2022. The response to the cluster included an epidemiologic investigation, water infection control risk assessments (WICRA), and environmental sampling. We also conducted WGS to characterize and assess relatedness between clinical and environmental S. maltophilia isolates. Results: From May 5 to October 1, 2022, we identified 11 HAIs due to S. maltophilia: 9 bloodstream infections and 2 ventilator-associated pneumonia cases. The initial epidemiological investigation did not identify common medical products, procedures, or personnel as an exposure source. The WICRA identified several breaches that may have exposed patients to contaminated water from sink backsplashes in the ICU, computerized tomography (CT) rooms, and the emergency department. In the CT rooms, saline bags were sometimes used for multiple patients, as were single-use intravenous contrast solution bottles. No additional cases were identified once infection control breaches were mitigated by installing sink splashguards, disinfecting drains, dedicating sink use for handwashing, and adhering to single-patient use of pharmaceutical products in the CT rooms. Of 46 environmental water samples, 19 were culture-positive for S. maltophilia. Isolates available for WGS included 7 clinical isolates (6 blood and 1 respiratory) and 17 environmental isolates. Among the 24 isolates sequenced, 16 unique multilocus sequence types (MLSTs) were identified. The 6 blood isolates sequenced were highly related (ST239, 0–4 high-quality, single-nucleotide variants [hqSNV] over 98.99% core genome), suggesting a common source. Two clusters of related environmental isolates were identified; however, overall MLST and hqSNV analyses suggested no relatedness between clinical and environmental isolates. Conclusions: An ICU cluster of S. maltophilia bloodstream infections was likely associated with water contamination of room surfaces and use of single-use intravenous products for multiple patients in the setting of a national pharmaceutical product shortage. This investigation highlights the importance of strong surveillance and water infection control, including routine assessment of ancillary areas in which intravenous products are administered and interdisciplinary collaboration to properly mitigate nosocomial transmission.

Disclosures: None

Studies of early fourth-millennium BC Britain have typically focused on the Early Neolithic sites of Wessex and Orkney; what can the investigation of sites located in areas beyond these core regions add? The authors report on excavations (2011–2019) at Dorstone Hill in Herefordshire, which have revealed a remarkable complex of Early Neolithic monuments: three long barrows constructed on the footprints of three timber buildings that had been deliberately burned, plus a nearby causewayed enclosure. A Bayesian chronological model demonstrates the precocious character of many of the site's elements and strengthens the evidence for the role of tombs and houses/halls in the creation and commemoration of foundational social groups in Neolithic Britain.

Despite advances in cancer genomics and the increased use of genomic medicine, metastatic cancer is still mostly an incurable and fatal disease. With diminishing returns from traditional drug discovery strategies, and high clinical failure rates, more emphasis is being placed on alternative drug discovery platforms, such as ex vivo approaches. Ex vivo approaches aim to embed biological relevance and inter-patient variability at an earlier stage of drug discovery, and to offer more precise treatment stratification for patients. However, these techniques also have a high potential to offer personalised therapies to patients, complementing and enhancing genomic medicine. Although an array of approaches are available to researchers, only a minority of techniques have made it through to direct patient treatment within robust clinical trials. Within this review, we discuss the current challenges to ex vivo approaches within clinical practice and summarise the contemporary literature which has directed patient treatment. Finally, we map out how ex vivo approaches could transition from a small-scale, predominantly research based technology to a robust and validated predictive tool. In future, these pre-clinical approaches may be integrated into clinical cancer pathways to assist in the personalisation of therapy choices and to hopefully improve patient experiences and outcomes.

Introduction. While many individuals quit smoking during pregnancy, most relapse within one year postpartum. Research into methods to decrease smoking relapse postpartum has been hampered by difficulties with recruitment. Method. We conducted individual interviews with pregnant women (N = 22) who were interested in quitting smoking while pregnant about their attitudes regarding smoking and quitting during pregnancy, clinical trial participation, and smoking cessation medication use. Results. Participants were aware of the risks of smoking while pregnant. Many wanted to quit smoking before delivery. Few used empirically supported treatments to quit. While research was viewed positively, interest in taking on new commitments postpartum and taking a medication to prevent relapse was low. Medication concerns were evident among most participants, especially among those planning to breastfeed. Further, several women noted medication was unnecessary, as they did not believe they would relapse postpartum. Financial incentives, childcare, and fewer and/or remote visits were identified as facilitators to participating in research. However, these factors did not outweigh women’s concerns about medication use and time commitments. Conclusions. Women are aware that quitting smoking during pregnancy and remaining smoke-free postpartum are important. However, beliefs that personal relapse risk is low and that medications are dangerous reduced enthusiasm for taking medication for postpartum relapse prevention. Future medication trials should educate women about the high likelihood of relapse, prepare to answer detailed questions about risks of cessation medications, and connect with participants’ clinicians. For new mothers, studies conducted remotely with few scheduled appointments would reduce barriers to participation.

Information on performance of sequential treatments of quizalofop-P-ethyl with florpyrauxifen-benzyl on rice is lacking. Field studies were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in Stoneville, MS, to evaluate sequential timings of quizalofop-P-ethyl with florpyrauxifen-benzyl included in preflood treatments of rice. Quizalofop-P-ethyl treatments were no quizalofop-P-ethyl; sequential applications of quizalofop-P-ethyl at 120 g ha−1 followed by (fb) 120 g ai ha−1 applied to rice in the 2- to 3-leaf (EPOST) fb the 4-leaf to 1-tiller (LPOST) growth stages or LPOST fb 10 d after flooding (PTFLD); quizalofop-P-ethyl at 100 g ha−1 fb 139 g ha−1 EPOST fb LPOST or LPOST fb PTFLD; quizalofop-P-ethyl at 139 g ha−1 fb 100 g ha−1 EPOST fb LPOST and LPOST fb PTFLD; and quizalofop-P-ethyl at 85 g ha−1 fb 77 g ha−1 fb 77 g ha−1 EPOST fb LPOST fb PTFLD. Quizalofop-P-ethyl was applied alone and in mixture with florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 29 g ai ha−1 LPOST. Visible rice injury 14 d after PTFLD (DA-PTFLD) was no more than 3%. Visible control of volunteer rice (‘CL151’ and ‘Rex’) 7 DA-PTFLD was similar and at least 95% for each quizalofop-P-ethyl treatment. Barnyardgrass control with quizalofop-P-ethyl at 120 fb 120 g ha−1 LPOST fb PTFLD was greater (88%) in mixture with florpyrauxifen-benzyl. The addition of florpyrauxifen-benzyl to quizalofop-P-ethyl increased rough rice yield when quizalofop-P-ethyl was applied at 100 g ha−1 fb 139 g ha−1 EPOST fb LPOST. Sequential applications of quizalofop-P-ethyl at 120 g ha−1 fb 120 g ha−1 EPOST fb LPOST, 100 g ha−1 fb 139 g ha−1 EPOST fb LPOST, or 139 g ha−1 fb 100 g ha−1 EPOST fb LPOST controlled grass weed species. The addition of florpyrauxifen-benzyl was not beneficial for grass weed control. However, because quizalofop-P-ethyl does not control broadleaf weeds, florpyrauxifen-benzyl could provide broad-spectrum weed control in acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase–resistant rice.

Florpyrauxifen-benzyl and quizalofop were available for POST applications in 2018; however, little is known about the response of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)–resistant rice cultivars and advanced lines to POST herbicides. A field study was conducted in 2017 and 2018 at Stoneville, MS, to characterize the response of ACCase-resistant rice cultivars and advanced lines to POST applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl. The imidazolinone-resistant (IR) rice cultivars ‘CL163’ and ‘CLXL 745’, and ACCase-resistant rice cultivars ‘PVL01’, ‘PVL013’, ‘PVL024-B’, ‘PVL038’, ‘PVL080’, and ‘PVL081’were treated with florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 0 (nontreated control for each cultivar) and 58 g ai ha–1 at the four-leaf to one-tiller (LPOST) growth stage. At 14 d after treatment (DAT), PVL01 was injured 5% to 6% greater than CLXL 745, PVL013, and PVL081; however, injury was ≤10% at that evaluation for all cultivars. Similarly, injury was ≤13% for all cultivars 28 DAT. Mature heights were reduced for all cultivars except PVL013 and PVL081. Rough rice yield was ≥100% of the control for all cultivars except PVL081, PVL013, and CL163. Results suggest that florpyrauxifen-benzyl can safely be applied POST to rice cultivars grown in Mississippi as well as ACCase-resistant cultivars that are currently under development.

Off-target paraquat movement to rice has become a major problem in recent years for rice producers in the midsouthern United States. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is applied to rice in greater quantity and frequency than all other nutrients to optimize rice yield. Two separate field studies were conducted from 2015 to 2018 in Stoneville, MS, to assess whether starter N fertilizer can aid rice recovery from exposure to a sub-lethal concentration of paraquat and to evaluate rice response to different N fertilizer management strategies following exposure to a sub-lethal concentration of paraquat. In both studies, paraquat treatments consisted of paraquat at 0 and 84 g ai ha–1 applied to rice in the two- to three-leaf (EPOST) growth stage. In the starter fertilizer study, N fertilizer at 24 kg ha–1 as ammonium sulfate (AMS) was applied to rice at spiking- to one-leaf (VEPOST), two- to three-leaf (EPOST), or three- to four-leaf (MPOST) growth stages before and after paraquat treatment. In the N fertilizer timing study, N fertilizer at 168 kg N ha–1 was applied in a single four-leaf to one-tiller (LPOST) application or two-, three-, and two four-way split applications. Despite starter N fertilizer applications, paraquat injured rice ≥41%, reduced height 57%, reduced dry weight prior to flooding 77%, delayed maturity 10 d, reduced dry weight at maturity 33%, and reduced rough rice yield 35% in the starter fertilizer study. Similarly, in the N fertilizer timing study, paraquat injured rice ≥45%, reduced height 14%, delayed maturity 10 d, reduced dry weight at maturity 44%, and reduced rough rice yield 50% for all N fertilizer management strategies. Both studies indicate that severe complications in growth and development can occur from rice exposure to a sub-lethal concentration of paraquat. In both studies, manipulation of N fertilizer management did not facilitate rice recovery from early-season exposure to paraquat.

In glyphosate-resistant (GR) cropping systems, paraquat applied in mixtures with residual herbicides prior to crop emergence offers an alternative herbicide mode of action (MOA) to aid in GR weed management. Rice is sensitive to off-target herbicide movement; however, severity of injury can vary with herbicide, rate, and formulation. Therefore, research was conducted from 2015 to 2017 in Stoneville, MS, to characterize rice response to a sublethal concentration of paraquat applied at 84 g ai ha–1 in combination with common residual herbicides. Paraquat plus metribuzin injured rice 68% to 69% 14 and 28 d after treatment (DAT), which was 10% to 13% greater than injury following paraquat alone or paraquat plus fomesafen. Pooled across metribuzin and fomesafen treatments, paraquat reduced rough rice yields 23%. Paraquat plus 10 different residual herbicides injured rice ≥51% 28 DAT and reduced rough rice yields ≥21%. These studies indicate a severe negative impact on rice growth and development following exposure to a sublethal concentration of paraquat alone or in mixture with common residual herbicides. Therefore, applications of paraquat plus residual herbicides to fields in proximity to rice should be avoided if conditions are conducive for off-target movement.