NH3-selective catalytic reduction (NH3-SCR) is a key technology for efficient NOx removal, yet its performance remains fundamentally limited by sluggish NH3 activation and redox kinetics over conventional catalysts. Although heterovalent doping (e.g., La) is widely employed to enhance the NH3-SCR activity of ceria-based catalysts, the underlying electronic mechanism remains elusive. Herein, spin-polarized density functional theory calculations corrected by on-site Coulomb interactions reveal that La doping induces delocalized O 2p holes on WO3/La-CeO2(111), which serve as the primary electron reservoir during the NH3-SCR reaction. These delocalized O 2p holes can work synergistically with the localized Ce 4f states to accommodate the redistributed charges, lowering the activation barrier for NH3 dissociation. This synergistic effect also affects the N-N coupling stage, where dynamic electron transfer between Ce 4f states and O 2p holes stabilizes the migration of NH2 species. As a result, such La-induced O 2p holes provide a significant thermodynamic driving force for the overall reaction. Our work establishes the synergy between delocalized O 2p holes and localized Ce 4f states as the origin of La-promoted NH3-SCR activity, providing a rational strategy for designing high-performance catalysts via electronic structure engineering. These insights highlight that heterovalent doping can effectively tune the redox properties of lattice oxygen in ceria-based catalysts and may provide theoretical guidance for the development of efficient vanadium-free NH3-SCR systems.
To evaluate the anatomical and functional outcomes of a simplified superior inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique with extended ILM peeling for the surgical treatment of large idiopathic macular holes (iMH). This retrospective, non-randomized, interventional consecutive case series included 42 eyes of 40 patients with iMH. Patients were grouped according to the CLOSE study classification: Group 1: large holes (n=19, minimum linear diameter [MLD] >400 to ≤550 µm), Group 2: extra-large holes (n=18, MLD >550 to ≤800 µm), and Group 3: XXL holes (n=5, MLD >800 to ≤1000 µm). The mean follow-up time was 20.63 ± 18.32 months. The primary endpoint was MH closure rate. Secondary outcomes included closure type, changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ellipsoid zone (EZ) defect, flap position, and surgical complications. Anatomical type 1 closure was achieved in all 42 eyes (100%). The proportion of favorable U-shaped closure decreased significantly with increasing hole size (χ2 = 9.26, df = 2, p = 0.010), with rates of 84.2%, 81.3%, and 20.0% in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. BCVA and EZ defect improved significantly over time in all groups. Final BCVA gain was 4.4 ± 3.3, 6.2 ± 2.7, and 7.3 ± 4.7 ETDRS lines in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, without significant inter-group differences (p > 0.05). Final BCVA correlated with preoperative BCVA (r = 0.51, p < 0.001) and final EZ defect (r = 0.39, p = 0.013), but not with iMH size or symptom duration (p > 0.05). No major complications were observed. The described surgical technique, involving the combination of a superior inverted ILM flap with extended ILM peeling and minimal manipulation of the posterior pole is highly effective in achieving anatomical and functional success in large iMHs up to 1000 µm, with a favorable safety profile and consistent structural recovery.
Controlling macro-geometrical errors in the dry drilling of ductile cast iron remains a critical challenge for sustainable and cost-efficient automotive component manufacturing. This paper investigates the influence of cutting speed (vc) and feed per revolution (fn) on the dimensional and shape accuracy of holes drilled in EN-GJS-500-7 ductile cast iron using an HSS DIN 338 helical drill (Ø 11.8 mm, Ceratizit) on an AVIA VMC800 CNC milling centre. A one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) experimental design was applied: the feed effect was evaluated at vc = 10 m/min with fn ∈ {0.10, 0.15, 0.20} mm/rev, while the speed effect was evaluated at fn = 0.20 mm/rev with vc ∈ {10, 25, 30} m/min. Cutting forces, torques, and vibration accelerations were recorded using an HBM MSC 10 transducer and a PCB 356A01 tri-axial accelerometer. Hole geometry was assessed on a Zeiss Contura G2 coordinate-measuring machine (CMM), and surface texture was evaluated with a TOPO 01P contact profilometer. The expanded measurement uncertainty (k = 2) was estimated based on duplicate test specimens. All drilled holes fell within the IT12 dimensional tolerance (PN-EN 22768-1:1999 grade c), with diameter oversizes ranging from +0.26 mm to +0.46 mm relative to the nominal bore. Cutting speed was identified as the dominant factor affecting both diameter oversize and cylindricity, which increased by 60% (from 0.10 to 0.16 mm) as vc rose from 10 to 30 m/min. Vibration accelerations increased nonlinearly between vc = 25 and 30 m/min (by a factor of 2.5×), indicating an approach to a structural resonance condition. The lowest surface roughness (Ra = 6.6 µm) was obtained at vc = 25 m/min. These findings establish clear physical baselines for tool deflection limits, demonstrating that managing dynamic process stability is vital for optimising macro-geometrical accuracy in the dry machining of cast iron alloys.
This study proposes a precision detection method that integrates Canny operator threshold optimization with Zernike moments to address the issue of low measurement accuracy associated with the manual inspection of circular holes in sheet metal during industrial testing. A complete automated measurement system was developed based on the MATLAB platform. First, adaptive median filtering is employed for image preprocessing, with superior performance in noise suppression and detail preservation validated through Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) and Structural Similarity (SSIM) metrics. Subsequently, Otsu's thresholding method achieves robust segmentation between target and background, laying the foundation for subsequent edge detection. An innovative adaptive threshold selection strategy for the Canny operator based on composite weight scoring was proposed during edge detection, significantly enhancing circular hole edges' continuity and geometric integrity. Finally, by integrating Zernike moments with sub-pixel localization technology, ultra-precise localization of edge points at the sub-pixel level was achieved. Experimental results demonstrate that the system achieves a measurement repeatability standard deviation of less than 0.02 mm and controls the absolute error within ±0.05 mm.This performance surpasses the ±0.3 mm precision requirement in industrial settings, providing an effective solution for automated quality inspection of sheet metal hole manufacturing.
Macular hole, a rare but vision-threatening complication in Alport syndrome, presents unique therapeutic challenges. Although the ocular manifestations of Alport syndrome, such as anterior lenticonus and retinal flecks, have been well documented for decades, the progressive nature of the associated vitreoretinopathy has historically limited the ability of clinicians to prevent irreversible visual deterioration. A 39-year-old woman with genetically confirmed Alport syndrome presented with a 2-month history of progressive bilateral blurred vision. Multimodal ophthalmic imaging revealed wheel-like retinal changes accompanied by full-thickness foveal defects in both eyes. Pars plana vitrectomy combined with amniotic membrane transplantation was performed on the left eye. At 5-month follow-up, the visual acuity of the left eye remained 6/20, consistent with the preoperative best-corrected visual acuity of the same eye. Optical coherence tomography confirmed complete closure of the left macular hole. Pars plana vitrectomy combined with human amniotic membrane transplantation represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of macular holes in patients with Alport syndrome.
Supported catalysts with traditional heterostructures are often limited by weak interfacial effects caused by lattice mismatches, leading to reduced electrode efficiencies and rapid deactivation. Inspired by the ability of plant cutting surfaces to graft multiple species and the superstability of the resulting structures, quenching-derived oxygen vacancies (Ov) on MoO2-x nanorods were utilized herein to anchor Ru species and facilitate the formation of RuP4 nanoparticles tightly grafted onto the MoO2-x surfaces. Unlike conventional heterostructures, this distinctive Ov-RuP4 grafting architecture enhances interfacial electron transfer, thereby inducing a strong grafting effect. This configuration optimizes the reactant affinity of Mo sites adjacent to Ov as well as Ru active sites while improving structural stability under industrial-grade current densities. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Mo vacancy sites exhibit enhanced hydrophilicity and *OH binding, whereas Ru sites exhibit optimal *H adsorption performance, collectively accelerating hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. As a result, the mass activity of RuP4@MoO2-x (at 0.1 V) reaches 8309 and 1842.4 mA mgRu-1 for the alkaline and acidic HER, respectively, considerably surpassing those of RuP4@MoO2 and Pt/C. Furthermore, RuP4@MoO2-x maintains ultralow Ru leaching and superior structural stability during HER operation under industrial-grade current densities. Overall, this work introduces a grafting-inspired strategy for supported catalyst design by leveraging defect engineering, providing a new direction for developing industrial-scale electrodes.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of subretinal injection of balanced salt solution (BSS) combined with vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for managing large-diameter macular holes (MHs ≥ 400 μm). A prospective interventional study was conducted on 31 eyes of 31 patients with full-thickness MHs (including 5 refractory MHs). Patients underwent 25 G vitrectomy, ILM peeling, followed by subretinal BSS injection using a 41 G needle. Outcomes were assessed at 1 and 3 months postoperatively with optical coherence tomography (OCT), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and microperimetry. Metrics of the microperimetry included macular integrity index (MII) and macular threshold (MT). Ten eyes completed 6 month followup. Changes in BCVA (LogMAR), MII, and MT before and after surgery, as well as MH closure and complications were compared and analyzed. Functional outcomes were analyzed only in eyes with successful type I closure. At 1 month, 93.54% (29/31) achieved complete MH closure. BCVA improved from 1.34 ± 0.59 preoperatively to 0.67 ± 0.20 at 1 month and 0.48 ± 0.36 at 3 months (p < 0.001). MII improved from 98.77 ± 4.83 to 96.23 ± 11.38 (p = 0.015) and MT from 17.53 ± 5.04 to 22.54 ± 3.91 dB (p < 0.001) at 3 months. In 10 eyes with 6 month followup, BCVA further improved to 0.41 ± 0.30 and MT to 24.64 ± 2.35 dB (bothp < 0.05). The refractory subgroup (n = 5) achieved 100% complete closure. No complications were observed during the follow-up time. Combined 41 G subretinal BSS injection with PPV and ILM peeling is effective and safe for treating largediameter MHs (≥400 μm), achieving high anatomical closure rates and sustained visual functional improvement up to 6 months. Preliminary outcomes in refractory MHs are favorable; larger cohorts are needed for validation.
To quantify early real-world visual acuity (VA) responder rates at 25-35 days after idiopathic full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) surgery and evaluate the influence of hole size, gas tamponade, and prescribed duration of face-down positioning. In this retrospective cohort study, 193 eyes were analyzed after pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and SF6 20% or C3F8 12% gas tamponade. Routine Snellen (decimal) best-corrected VA was extracted from the medical record and converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). Primary outcomes were mean VA change from the last preoperative assessment to the postoperative visit at 25-35 days and rates of two and three lines VA improvement (≥ 0.2 and ≥ 0.3 logMAR, respectively). Secondary outcomes were baseline-adjusted postoperative VA and anatomical closure. Overall, 66.8% of eyes improved by ≥ 0.2 logMAR and 52.3% by ≥ 0.3 logMAR. Mean VA improved from 0.774 ± 0.409 to 0.455 ± 0.346 logMAR (mean VA change - 0.318 logMAR; p < 0.001). VA change and responder rates did not differ significantly across International Vitreomacular Traction Study size groups (< 250 μm, 250-400 μm, > 400 μm), and no statistically significant association with gas choice or prescribed face-down positioning duration was detected within the limitations of this retrospective cohort. Baseline-adjusted postoperative VA differed by size, with large holes having worse early postoperative VA than small and medium holes, independent of prescribed face-down positioning duration or vitreomacular traction status. Anatomical closure differed by International Vitreomacular Traction Study size group (small 98.9%, medium 96.7%, large 78.0%; p < 0.001). In routine care, FTMH surgery results in clinically meaningful early VA improvement at 25-35 days, with approximately two-thirds of eyes gaining ≥ 0.2 logMAR and half gaining ≥ 0.3 logMAR. Although VA improvement was similar across size groups, large holes had lower closure rates and worse early postoperative BCVA. No statistically significant association between gas choice, prescribed face-down positioning duration, and the extent of VA improvement was detected in this retrospective cohort.
To report two cases of macular holes (MHs) that spontaneously formed and closed following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and summarize the literature. A 72-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman underwent PPV for repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Both patients developed MHs following PPV. In both cases, the holes closed without further surgical intervention. A retrospective chart review and literature review were conducted to supplement this study. Spontaneous MH closure is possible in post-vitrectomized eyes. Small- or medium-sized MHs ( < 400 µm) may be more likely to close spontaneously. Large MHs ( > 400 µm) that form in the setting of vitreomacular traction (VMT) from residual posterior vitreous cortex remnants were found to close after spontaneous VMT release, often within the first month following surgery. Overall, among eyes with spontaneous closure, about two-thirds of MHs in the literature closed spontaneously within the first month following diagnosis, and 4 in 5 holes closed within 3 months. Over one-third of MHs that close spontaneously reopen later, some requiring additional surgery to achieve closure. Sustained closure was seen in this report up to 7 years following closure.
The James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered a population of compact, high-redshift sources, the Little Red Dots (LRDs), which may host supermassive black holes (BHs) significantly heavier than their stellar content compared with local scaling relations. These objects challenge standard models of early galaxy formation and may represent an extreme class of early BH hosts. In this Letter, we investigate whether these BHs could have a primordial origin. We first show that the direct formation of these BH masses in the early Universe is excluded by stringent cosmic microwave background μ-distortion limits. We then investigate the assembly of massive BHs from lighter, observationally allowed primordial black holes (PBHs) via hierarchical mergers, finding that, although this channel can operate depending on the merger history, it faces challenges in explaining the observations due to the rarity of the required high-redshift dark matter halos. Finally, we estimate gas accretion onto intermediate-mass PBHs, while jointly tracking metallicity evolution, and identify regions of parameter space in which such growth could reproduce the observed properties of LRDs. As a special case, we focus on the strongly lensed source QSO1, whose extremely low metallicity and large mass provide a stringent test of these formation channels.
In early 2025, OU Health identified an increase in contaminated surgical instrument sets reaching the operating room (OR). Contaminants, including bioburden, hair, holes in wrapping, debris, and wet sets, posed risks to patient safety, workflow efficiency, and OR productivity, suggesting systemic deficiencies across the sterile processing department (SPD) and perioperative workflow. We convened a multidisciplinary quality-improvement team comprising administrators, surgeons, nurses, scrub technicians, SPD technicians, and quality specialists. Using the 8-Step methodology, we conducted root cause analysis, process mapping, and longitudinal data tracking. Interventions included standardized point-of-use cleaning, enhanced SPD personal protective equipment and gowning practices, washer maintenance, adoption of heavier wrapping materials, containerization of high-risk sets, limiting tray weight, removal of static-attracting materials, and targeted staff education. From July 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026, 388 contamination events were recorded across service lines. Neurosurgery accounted for 36% (136 events) of all events. Common contamination types were holes (113 events), debris (98), bioburden (51), and filter defects (28); hair (20), wet sets (15), and improper disassembly (15) were less common but clinically significant. Temporal analysis demonstrated intermittent short-term improvements but persistent recurrence across contamination types. Contaminated sets contributed to 57% of all documented OR delays, totaling 2851 minutes. Estimated direct costs were $176 762; projected annual costs were $589 042. Contaminated surgical instrument sets represented a recurrent systems-level failure. Institution-wide efforts, including multidisciplinary collaboration, structured quality-improvement methodology, and targeted interventions, produced measurable improvements. Continued monitoring, workforce competency reinforcement, and system redesign are needed to mitigate future risk.
We interfaced β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5 compounds, with varying stoichiometries of precisely positioned Pb-ions (x) and Cu-ions (y) in interstitial sites along a tunnel-structured ζ-V2O5 framework, with cysteine-capped CdS (cysCdS) quantum dots (QDs) to yield heterostructured photocatalysts. β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5 compounds exhibit midgap electronic states with orbital contributions from both Cu 3d and stereochemically active Pb 6s states that show distinctive light-initiated reactivity with photoexcited QDs. β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5/CdS heterostructures were prepared by linker-assisted assembly (LAA). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy revealed that cysCdS QDs were deposited onto surfaces of β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5 via LAA. HAXPES revealed that the site-selective positioning of Pb-ions and Cu-ions promoted close energetic alignment of the midgap states of β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5 compounds with the valence-band maximum of cysCdS QDs. Transient absorption spectroscopy revealed that photogenerated holes were transferred from CdS QDs to midgap states of β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5 compounds on time scales <50 ps. Finally, photoelectrochemical and photochemical experiments revealed that β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5/CdS heterostructures promoted the photocatalytic reduction of H+ to H2. In photoelectrochemical experiments, under oxidative conditions, for all β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5/CdS heterostructures, H2 was evolved at a Pt counter electrode while a sacrificial donor was oxidized at the heterostructure-functionalized working electrode. In contrast, under reductive conditions, for β-Pb0.152V2O5/CdS and β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5/CdS heterostructures, H2 was evolved at the working electrode. In photochemical experiments, dispersed β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5/CdS heterostructures promoted the reduction of H+ to H2 under white-light illumination; β'-Cu0.55V2O5/CdS and β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5/CdS heterostructures, for which midgap states have Cu 3d orbital character, generated 2-fold more H2 than β-Pb0.152V2O5/CdS heterostructures. Cu-ion insertion thus appends additional acceptor surface states that improve ligand-mediated hole transfer from photoexcited QDs, but such states are intrinsically limited in mediating hole transport to the substrate as a result of the low mobility of holes in narrow Cu 3d-states. Our results reveal that the density and orbital character of midgap states of β-Pbx/β'-CuyV2O5 compounds, tunable through recently developed site-selective ion insertion strategies, determine efficiencies of charge-transfer and charge-transport mechanisms that underpin photocatalysis.
Complementary (C) FETs enable superior scaling and electrostatics for sub-3 nm nodes but the increased Si/dielectric interface reliability a critical concern, and its impact on Tree-shaped CFETs is investigated for the first time in this work. The Si/dielectric interface trap density (Nit) is varied from 1 to 9 × 1012 cm- 2 for both acceptor and donor traps to evaluate their influence on digital, analog, RF, and circuit characteristics. With increasing Nit, in the n-type (p-type) device, acceptor (donor) traps repel electrons (holes), reducing ION while suppressing IOFF by ~ 5 orders, improving the ION/IOFF ratio. In p-type (n-type) device acceptor (donor) traps attract holes (electrons), increasing ION by ~ 68% (~ 58%) but reducing the ratio to 102 due to higher leakages. Notably, when the Nit exceeds 4 × 1012 cm- 2, the switching ratio deteriorates below 104 for donor (acceptor) traps in the n-type (p-type) device due to pronounced trap-assisted leakage. The findings demonstrate that the Tree-shaped CFET maintains strong electrostatic integrity till ≤ 4 × 1012 cm- 2 and stable analog/RF behavior even under severe Si/dielectric interface trap perturbations. The Tree-CFET CMOS inverter shows robust circuit behavior with ~ 2.9 ps delay at moderate trap densities, highlighting the need for precise interface engineering for sub-3 nm nodes.
Organic hole-transporting materials (HTMs) play a key role in enhancing both the efficiency and endurance of photovoltaic devices and for optoelectronic applications. In contrast to their inorganic counterparts, they offer distinct advantages such as solution processability, tunable properties, and low-cost fabrication. However, their electrical conductivity in most cases is intrinsically low and can be enhanced through doping using chemical oxidants. Doping typically involves the partial oxidation of the HTM, generating additional free charges and improved film conductivity. In this work, we investigate the effect of molecular design on the doping mechanism, with a specific focus on imine-linked, triarylamine-based compounds. Our research indicates that the effectiveness of doping and resulting conductivity are determined by the energy of the dopant-HTM complex. Through a combined approach including density functional theory (DFT) modelling, spectroscopy, and conductivity measurements, we observe that oxidation of the HTM does not guarantee doping if the generated charges are not free. This highlights the importance of imine bond orientation in the stabilisation of generated holes. Interestingly, a seemingly trivial chemical change, such as the inversion of an imine bond affects the doping of the material. Our findings show that such isomerisation can result in charge transfer complexes with stabilised holes that do not improve conductivity. This challenges many common approaches to chemical doping, where standard additives are added to newly developed HTMs without prior investigation of their efficacy for the chemical system being studied. We advocate for a tailored understanding of the doping mechanism and the use of spectroscopic techniques to enhance HTM design and characterisation.
The development of efficient and sustainable photocatalysts for removing antibiotic pollutants from water remains an environmental challenge. In this work, a "greener" ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-2Na)-assisted solvothermal route was proposed to tailor the morphology and interfacial properties of BiVO4, enhancing its visible-light photocatalytic performance via plasmonic silver nanoparticles. Among the prepared photocatalysts, BVO-0.1 and Ag/BVO-0.1 exhibited outstanding photocatalytic activity, achieving nearly complete degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (98.2 %) and sulfamethoxazole (96.4 %), respectively, under visible-light light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation. Radical trapping experiments revealed that photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide radicals (•O2-) were the dominant reactive species responsible for antibiotic degradation. Furthermore, degradation pathway analysis combined with quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR)-based toxicity evaluation confirmed the stepwise transformation and mineralization of sulfamethoxazole into less harmful products. This study provides new insights into the sustainable design of BiVO4-based photocatalysts by integrating crystal-facet engineering with plasmonic interfacial coupling, enabling an effective and environmentally benign approach for the visible-light removal of antibiotic pollutants from water.
Currently, significant progress has been made in the development of in-plane symmetry-protected BIC sensors, but research on out-of-plane symmetry-protected BIC sensors has received much less attention. In this work, we introduce an approach where the tilt angle of rectangular holes is adjusted to break vertical mirror symmetry, successfully exciting the out-of-plane BIC mode. Our results show that increasing the tilt angle enhances electric field confinement at the BIC resonance, while promoting radiation leakage and facilitating stronger coupling to free space. Further analysis reveals that the gold coating significantly enhances the quality factor for tilt angles smaller than 5 ° , without compromising the sensor's detection sensitivity. These findings highlight the potential of out-of-plane symmetry-broken BIC metamaterials as highly sensitive platforms for THz refractive index and thickness sensing, driving advancements in this emerging field. Investigation of out-of-plane symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum in terahertz metamaterials.
This work explores the fabrication and characterization of X-ray imaging devices using a single-crystal TlBr sample (8 mm × 8 mm × 10 mm) and polycrystalline TlBr film (approximately 0.38-mm thick), both bonded to a Libra-1 Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) readout chip connected to the BrillianSe 1M readout system. The BrillianSe 1M, designed for X-ray radiography by KA Imaging, features a 10 mm × 11 mm readout chip with a 7.8 μm pixel pitch and a 7.8 mm × 7.8 mm active area. The work below describes the characterization of test and imaging devices. The characterization includes current-voltage (IV) curves and impedance spectra, longevity measurements of the X-ray response and leakage current, and imaging characterization with light-emitting diodes (LED) and X-rays. The resistivity of 3x1010 Ω-cm was estimated for a polycrystalline film sample. Following five weeks, the leakage current decreased from 670 to 6.4 nA, while the X-ray photocurrent decreased from 28 to 4 nA. Both the single crystal and polycrystalline imaging devices resolved 0.3-mm-diameter holes in a Tungsten composite mask when irradiated with 90 kVp (100 μA tube current) X-rays. Effects at the interface can be seen with both LED and X-rays. The images provide critical information for optimizing the fabrication process and device longevity.
Amauromyza karli Hendel (Diptera: Agromyzidae) has recently emerged as a damaging stem-boring pest of quinoa in Colorado and other quinoa-producing regions of the United States. Severe infestations have been associated with substantial yield losses, highlighting the need for improved understanding of the pest's seasonal dynamics to support integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. The objective of this study was to characterize the seasonal phenology of A. karli in quinoa production systems in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. Adult flight activity was monitored using yellow sticky traps over 4 growing seasons, and larval incidence and stem exit holes were quantified across 2 years. Our results indicated that larval densities peaked in early June with infestations reaching over 90% by mid-July. An ordinal-day, 2-parameter logistic model based on cumulative trap captures was the most parsimonious model and predicted that 50% of adult activity occurred around late June. In addition, a negative binomial mixed-effects model showed no significant association between quinoa field size and adult captures, suggesting that variation in pest pressure is driven by field-level heterogeneity and temporal factors. These findings provide a framework for improving monitoring and management of A. karli. Aligning the timing of biological or chemical control measures with periods of peak adult activity, as well as adjusting planting dates to reduce exposure of vulnerable crop stages, may help mitigate damage caused by this pest. Overall, this study contributes foundational phenological information that can be used to inform IPM decision-making and reduce economic losses in quinoa production.
In forensic gunshot residue (GSR) analysis, occupational exposure to environmentally derived particles can mimic inorganic GSR (IGSR), increasing the risk of false positive interpretations in firearm related investigations. While global studies have identified brake dust and workshop materials as sources of IGSR like particles, no systematic background profiling has been conducted in Pakistan, where motorcycle mechanics represent a high exposure group amid prevalent motorcycle associated street crimes. This study provides the first localized examination of hand contamination in this population, using standardized sampling and SEM/EDS analysis with direct comparison to authentic GSR from regionally common ammunitions. The primary objective was to characterize background levels of IGSR like particles on motorcycle mechanics in Lahore Division and evaluate their potential to confound forensic GSR evidence. No characteristic GSR lead bearing particles (Pb/Sb/Ba) or lead-free particles such as Gd/Ti/Zn and Ga/Cu/Sn were detected in any of the 100 motorcycle mechanic samples sets. Consistent and commonly associated particles were present in all samples, dominated by Ba/Ca/Si and Ba/Al combinations in low to moderate counts (4-127) and (3-163) particles per sample stub respectively, with dominantly irregular morphology contrasted with the high-temperature morphology typically associated with authentic GSR, including rounded edges, spheroidal or spherical forms, and/or degassing holes, despite comparable size ranges. These results demonstrate that motorcycle mechanics routinely carry GSR like particles mostly from both the lead bearing and lead free consistent GSR category. from occupational sources but lack the definitive markers of firearm discharge. The findings emphasize the necessity of incorporating occupational context and morphological assessment in GSR interpretation, supporting the development of regional background databases to improve evidentiary reliability and reduce misinterpretation risks in forensic casework.