Florida Region Research Articles

Assessing the Costs of Intravenous Push Waste in Intraoperative Areas Through Observation: A Multi-site Study.

The costs associated with proper disposal, management, and regulatory compliance of controlled substances in healthcare systems are substantial. In the context of the current opioid crisis, and given the high abuse potential of controlled substances, it is imperative that waste is minimized and waste procedures are followed to ensure safe disposal of controlled substances. This study aims to quantify the costs associated with fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine, midazolam, and ketamine waste in intraoperative areas through a multi-site observational analysis. The study used an observational design across various hospital procedural and post-procedural units in the Southwest Florida region of the United States. Automated and non-automated workflows for wasting controlled substances were compared. As with a previous study conducted by Hertig et al., waste was evaluated as (1) the quantity (mg/μg) of medication disposed defined as 'pharmaceutical waste' or 'product waste' (PW); and (2) workforce time associated with the waste disposal process defined as 'workforce time waste' (WTW). Secondary measures include workforce costs associated with the waste disposal process. The product waste analysis was conducted between October and December 2023. The workforce time waste analysis was examined over a 10-day period in January and February 2024. A yearly extrapolation model was applied to cost data. The findings revealed substantial costs linked to both PW and WTW, emphasizing the financial burden of controlled substance waste. Study data validated previous literature describing the extent of fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine waste while documenting significant amounts of midazolam and ketamine waste. The combined annual waste cost for the two study hospitals was estimated at US$56,557, with workforce time accounting for 36%-50% of this total cost. This study provides vital insights into the financial and operational impact of medication waste in procedural and post-procedural areas, supporting ongoing efforts to minimize waste, ensuring the safe and effective use of controlled substances. Future research should explore the impact of medication waste across diverse healthcare settings and the cost implications associated with pharmacy professionals in the waste compliance process.

The microbiota of moon snail egg collars is shaped by host-specific factors.

Moon snails (Family: Naticidae) lay eggs using a mixture of mucus and sediment to form an egg mass commonly referred to as an egg collar. These egg collars do not appear to experience micro-biofouling or predation, and this observation led us to hypothesize that the egg collars possess a chemically rich microbiota that protect the egg collars from pathogens. Herein, we sought to gain an understanding of the bacterial composition of egg collars laid by a single species of moon snails, Neverita delessertiana, by amplifying and sequencing the 16S rRNA gene from the egg collar and sediment samples collected at four distinct geographical regions in southwest Florida. Relative abundance and non-metric multidimensional scaling plots revealed distinct differences in the bacterial composition between the egg collar and sediment samples. In addition, the egg collars had a lower α-diversity than the sediment, with specific genera being significantly enriched in the egg collars. Analysis of microorganisms consistent across two seasons suggests that Flavobacteriaceae make up a large portion of the core microbiota (36%-58% of 16S sequences). We also investigated the natural product potential of the egg collar microbiota by sequencing a core biosynthetic gene, the adenylation domains (ADs), within the gene clusters of non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS). AD sequences matched multiple modules within known NRPS gene clusters, suggesting that these compounds might be produced within the egg collar system. This study lays the foundation for future studies into the ecological role of the moon snail egg collar microbiota.IMPORTANCEAnimals commonly partner with microorganisms to accomplish essential tasks, including chemically defending the animal host from predation and/or infections. Understanding animal-microbe partnerships and the molecules used by the microbe to defend the animals from pathogens or predation has the potential to lead to new pharmaceutical agents. However, very few of these systems have been investigated. A particularly interesting system is nutrient-rich marine egg collars, which often lack visible protections, and are hypothesized to harbor beneficial microbes that protect the eggs. In this study, we gained an understanding of the bacterial strains that form the core microbiota of moon snail egg collars and gained a preliminary understanding of their natural product potential. This work lays the foundation for future work to understand the ecological role of the core microbiota and to study the molecules involved in chemically defending the moon snail eggs.

Wetland hydrological change and recovery across three decades of shifting groundwater management

Groundwater extraction compromises the function of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, such as freshwater wetlands. Identifying whether groundwater conservation restores wetland hydrology is a first step toward rehabilitating impaired wetlands. In the Tampa Bay region of Florida (U.S.), groundwater extraction rates have been declining since 1998, partly in response to desiccation of wetlands and waterbodies. This study uses monthly water-level data from 152 depressional wetlands over 28 years (1991–2018) to identify trends in wetland inundation, determine whether those trends vary among wetlands historically exposed to different rates of groundwater extraction, and describe relationships between the timing and extent of cutbacks in groundwater extraction and the timing and extent of changes in wetland inundation. Many wetlands (57 %) exhibited increased inundation in response to cutbacks in groundwater extraction, indicating that water conservation measures are inducing recovery. Further, increased inundation began in most wetlands immediately upon, or within two years of, the time extraction cutbacks occurred, although some recovering wetlands exhibited longer lags. An additional 26 % of wetlands had steady-state water levels with inundation similar to that of reference wetlands, potentially revealing a population of wetlands hydrologically unimpaired by nearby groundwater extraction. Another subset of wetlands (14 %) with steady-state water depths exhibited increasing deviations from basin-full water levels, suggesting subsidence of the wetland basin. Active intervention beyond cutbacks in groundwater extraction may be necessary to restore this subset, whereas passive restoration (reducing extraction) appears adequate for the majority of impacted wetlands. Rising water levels may amplify surface-water connections among wetlands, with ecological and biogeochemical consequences both for individual wetlands and for the whole wetlandscape. As a host of human activities continue to rely on groundwater extraction, this study demonstrates the potential for, as well as variability in, hydrological recovery across a wetland-rich, low-relief landscape following the enactment of water conservation policies.

Disparities in Syphilis Trends and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Joinpoint Analysis of Florida Surveillance Data (2013-2022).

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium​​​​​​Treponema pallidum, has reemerged at an increasing rate globally in recent years, posing a significant public health concern. Visualizing and analyzing time series trends of syphilis across various demographics and geographic regions, and how syphilis trends varied during the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), would help public health policymakers develop targeted strategies and interventions to effectively address the rising rates of syphilis, ultimately improving overall public health outcomes. A retrospective study was conducted using surveillance data on infectious syphilis cases reported to the Florida Department of Health, between 2013 and 2022. Age-standardized syphilis rates (ASSRs) per 100,000 persons were calculated using the 2000 U.S. standard population data. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) in the ASSRs was analyzed according to age, gender, race, geographic locations, and the COVID-19 pandemic period to quantify the epidemiological syphilis trends using joinpoint regression models. In Florida, the ASSR significantly increased from 8.65/100,000 in 2013 to 23.08/100,000 in 2022 across different demographic groups, with an overall AAPCof 11.47 (95% confidence interval (CI): 9.85-13.43). This increase in the AAPC was more pronounced in females (AAPC= 20.97; 95% CI, 18.61-24.49) than in males (AAPC = 10.34; 95% CI, 8.19-12.98). The increasing trends of infectious syphilis were observed across all age groups, with greater increases among those aged 25-49 years (AAPC = 12.32; 95% CI, 10.09-15.18), aged 50-69 years (AAPC= 13.42; 95% CI, 9.41-18.89), and aged over 70 years (AAPC= 13.63; 95% CI, 9.23-21.95), compared to those aged less than 24 years (AAPC= 7.86; 95% CI, 7.06-8.81). The increasing trends were comparable across racial groups, with an AAPC of 8.08 (95% CI, 5.47-11.15) for Hispanics, 11.84 (95% CI, 10.02-14.09) for non-Hispanic Whites, 10.49 (95% CI, 8.75-12.66) for non-Hispanic Blacks, and 11.29 (95% CI, 5.28-19.57) for non-Hispanic individuals of other races, respectively. The AAPCfor the COVID-19 pandemic period was 12.99 (95% CI, 8.48-16.21), which was comparable to the pre-pandemic period (AAPC= 11.58; 95% CI, 10.17-12.76), indicating that this upward trend in infectious syphilispersisted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. At the county level, over the 10-year period, the average ASSRs ranged from 0.89/100,000 in 2013 to 25.41/100,000 in 2022, with the estimated AAPCs varied from 2.47 (95% CI, -1.89 to 6.92) in Monroe County to 50.01 (95% CI, 37.71-62.27) in Okaloosa County. The trend of infectious syphilis increases substantially from 2013 to 2022, with notable differences observed among age, gender, and geographic regions in Florida. Females experienced a greater rise in infectious syphilis cases compared to males. This upward trend in infectious syphilispersisted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts are needed to implement strategies to address the rising syphilis rates within high-incidence groups and communities across the state.

Use of satellite data to increase public health advisories for poor air quality in the sugarcane growing region of Florida

Use of satellite data to increase public health advisories for poor air quality in the sugarcane growing region of Florida

Postharvest evaluations of soil erosion, ground cover, and best management practice implementation on integrated biomass and conventional clearcut harvest sites

As demand for wood energy rises, it’s vital to understand the environmental impact of various harvest types, considering different best management practices (BMPs) and site conditions, for sustainable forest management. This study provides a comparative analysis of postharvest site characteristics between biomass and conventional harvest sites located in the Coastal Plain region of the southeastern US. A total of 30 recently harvest sites (15 each for biomass and conventional) were selected from the Coastal regions of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Erosion rates were estimated using the USLE-Forest method and ground cover was assessed as a percentage of the area covered by bare soil, litter, light slash, heavy slash, and piles. BMP implementation (%) was based on state-specific BMP surveys. The findings show that stream management zones (SMZs) and harvest areas were less prone to soil erosion, while forest roads, skid trails, and stream crossings were more prone to erosion, regardless of the harvest type. Conventional harvest sites had an overall weighted average erosion rate of 0.35 Mg/ha/year, with an average BMP implementation of 92.70 %, while biomass harvest sites had an overall weighted average erosion rate of 0.22 Mg/ha/year, with an average BMP implementation rate of 97.91 %. Average erosion rate (Mg/ha/year) from the harvest area (biomass=0.11, conventional=0.06) and SMZs (biomass=0.05, conventional=0.02) were not significantly different (p>0.05). Conversely, average erosion rate from roads (biomass=4.17, conventional=6.44), skid trails (biomass=2.15, conventional=3.73), decks (biomass=0.39, conventional=0.72), and stream crossings (biomass=1.53, conventional=5.31) were significantly higher in conventional harvest sites (p<0.05). BMP implementation rates for roads (biomass=98.09 %, conventional=93.71 %), stream crossings (biomass=95 %, conventional=71 %), and timber harvest (biomass=96.44 %, conventional=93.33 %) were significantly higher in biomass harvest sites, while waste management BMP (biomass=89.91 %, conventional=100 %) was significantly higher in conventional harvest sites. Regarding ground cover, conventional harvest sites had significantly larger areas covered by light slash, heavy slash, and piles than biomass harvest sites, while biomass harvest sites had significantly larger areas covered by green growth. Our research shows a significant negative correlation between overall BMP implementation and erosion rates (r=-0.67, p=0.0002), as well as site size (r=-0.38 p=0.0400), indicating that larger sites tend to have lower BMP implementation and increased erosion risk. In conclusion, biomass harvest sites in our study did not yield higher erosion rates in comparison to conventional harvest sites, provided that the current BMP recommendations were implemented properly and in adequate amounts. This study emphasizes the importance of site-specific management strategies to mitigate erosion in all harvest sites, irrespective of harvest type used.

Hydrothermal Pyrolysis of Sargassum Marine Macroalgae: "Synthesis and Characterization of Products"

Abstract In recent years, there has been an explosive growth and overabundance of pelagic Sargassum macroalgae in the North Atlantic Ocean, which wash up on the beaches in the United States, Mexico and the Caribbeans, causing both environmental and health issues in those coastal regions. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process was investigated as a potential solution by converting this wet algae biomass into solid and liquid products, namely hydrochar and organic process water, respectively. In this study, the effects of HTC reaction temperatures on the yields and physicochemical properties of hydrochar and organic process water derived from Sargassum algae sample obtained from a coastal region in South Florida were evaluated by using various analytical techniques, including SEM, TGA, BET, FTIR and GC-MS. As a result of the increase in temperature, hydrochar yield decreased, while the yield of bio-oil increased. During the heating process, the volatile matter in hydrochar decreases, whereas the fixed carbon increases. Ash content in hydrochar increases as temperature increases. There were some interconnected pores on the surfaces of all three temperatures. It has been shown that a change in temperature has a significant effect on the chemical composition of bio-oils. In some cases, certain compounds increased as the temperature increased, but in others, it was temperature dependent. This study demonstrated that HTC technology could be a potential solution for mitigating Sargassum pollution issue by converting it into value-added bio-based products.

Exploring academic resilience: a phenomenological study of lived experiences during COVID-19 and Hurricane Ian

ABSTRACT The Southwest Florida region experienced COVID-19 and a major hurricane between 2020 and 2022. The increase in major emergencies, which are often unpredictable, can be highly distressing for those affected. This phenomenological study describes the lived experiences of academics through these two significant traumatic events and explores the relationship between their experiences and their resilience. Using constant comparative thematic analysis, two themes were identified: creating community through an ethic of care and finding resilience through purpose. Implications and recommendations are provided for future work to help inform higher education leaders and policymakers of the effects of reoccurring trauma on academics and give leaders a better understanding of academic resilience and resilience development. Furthermore, by understanding academic resilience in the face of adversity, this study provides academic leaders with insight to create new strategies to support academics and foster resilience in higher education.

First report of Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) resistance to spirotetramat in Florida

One of the most destructive invasive pests worldwide is the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1. The Florida vegetable crop market, worth millions of dollars annually, suffers major losses because of whitefly injury. Spirotetramat is frequently used by Florida vegetable crop growers to control whitefly nymphs. A previous study based on maximum dose bioassays indicated that MEAM1 populations in Florida may be developing resistance to spirotetramat. Thus, the long-term efficacy of this active ingredient depends on the development of baseline susceptibility data and the continued monitoring of MEAM1 populations' susceptibility. In the present study, 16 populations of whiteflies collected in south Florida were tested for resistance to spirotetramat through serial dilution bioassays designed to test whitefly nymphs. The field populations’ responses were compared with a susceptible MEAM1 laboratory colony. Median lethal concentrations (LC50) and resistance ratios (RRs) were quantified to determine MEAM1 resistance levels. Among the populations tested, 12.5% remained relatively susceptible (3–4 RR) to spirotetramat. Low to moderate resistance was found in 56% of the populations (16–58 RR). Over 30% of the populations tested were highly or extremely resistant (126–795 RR). Overall, the variable susceptibility of spirotetramat in some field populations indicates that resistance to this insecticide has developed in certain regions of south Florida. This is the first report of spirotetramat resistance in the United States. These results will directly refine management recommendations for spirotetramat use in areas where MEAM1 populations exhibit resistance.

Assessing non-motorist safety in motor vehicle crashes – a copula-based approach to jointly estimate crash location type and injury severity

Non-motorist injury severity can be affected by various observed and unobserved attributes related to the crash location type (segment or intersection). Recognizing the distinct non-motorist injury severity profiles by crash location type, we propose a joint modeling framework to study crash location type and non-motorist injury severity as two dimensions of the severity process. We employ a copula-based joint framework that ties the crash location type (represented as a binary logit model) and injury severity (represented as a generalized ordered logit model) through a closed form flexible dependency structure to study the injury severity process. The proposed approach also accommodates the potential heterogeneity (across non-motorists) in the dependency structure. The data for our analysis is drawn from the Central Florida region for the years of 2015 to 2021. The model system explicitly accounts for temporal heterogeneity across the two dimensions. A comprehensive set of independent variables including non-motorist user characteristics, driver and vehicle characteristics, roadway attributes, weather and environmental factors, temporal and socio-demographic factors are considered for the analysis. We also conducted an elasticity analysis to show the actual magnitude of the independent variables on non-motorist injury severity for the two locations. The results highlight the importance of examining the effect of various independent variables on non-motorist injury severity outcome by crash location type.

Prosocial responses in disasters: Zooming out to neighboring regions and uncovering the impact of socioeconomic and built environment features

In recent years, with the escalation of extreme climate events worldwide, prosocial responses from community members, volunteers, and organizations are becoming increasingly important to alleviate the impact of disasters. Nevertheless, the potential for prosocial responses from neighboring regions not immediately impacted by disaster has received limited attention, and particularly, very little is known about the interrelationship between prosocial responses and different socioeconomic and built environment features. This study investigated prosocial responses in regions of Florida not immediately impacted (FNII) during Hurricane Ian in 2022, using Twitter data and empirically assessed their interrelationship with various socioeconomic and built environment features. The correlation results revealed that prosocial responses and sentiments are interrelated with socioeconomic and built environment features and vary on spatial and temporal scales in regions of FNII. Specifically, the findings showed that communities with higher socioeconomic status and improved built environment facilities exhibited more prosocial responses. Moreover, the best-performed regression model, with an R2 value of 0.931, can precisely predict prosocial response-related tweets using socioeconomic and built environment features. Finally, the time series clustering analysis sheds light on socioeconomic and built environment disparities that impact prosocial responses; notably, counties with more advanced educational attainment display increased prosocial responses.

Assessing Climate Change Dangers within the South Florida Region of US Southeast

Assessing Climate Change Dangers within the South Florida Region of US Southeast

Some Value-Added Met-Ocean Products to the RAMMB’s TC Surface Analysis for Marine Meteorological Applications

In the realm of air-sea interaction and marine meteorology, during a tropical cyclone (TC) worldwide since 2006, the Regional and Mesoscale Meteorological Branch (RAMMB) has issued surface wind analysis. Based on this TC’s isotach (line of equal wind speed) analysis, in this paper, much more meteorological-oceanographic (met-ocean) products are developed and value-added to these isotachs. They are, for marine meteorology, overwater friction velocity, wind stress, atmospheric vorticity and the mean vertical velocity, and for oceanography, significant wave height, drift-current velocity, wind-stress tide and wave set-up. Furthermore, in order to estimate the wind-stress induced storm surges, two case studies are presented. They are the Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;Nargis which devastated Myanmar in May 2008 from the Bay of Bengal and in August 2023 Hurricane Idalia which impacted northeastern Gulf of Mexico coastal region of Florida.

Gap-free 16-year (2005–2020) sub-diurnal surface meteorological observations across Florida

The sub-tropical, flat, peninsular region of Florida is subject to a unique climate with extreme weather events that impact agriculture, public health, and management of natural resources. Meteorological data at high temporal resolutions especially in tropical latitudes are essential to understand diurnal and semi-diurnal variations of climate, which are considered as the fundamental modes of climate variations of our Earth system. However, many meteorological datasets contain gaps that limit their use for validation of models and further detailed observational analysis. The objective of this paper is to apply a set of data gap filling strategies to develop a gap-free dataset with 15-minute observations for the sub-tropical region of Florida. Using data from the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), methods of linear interpolation, trend continuation, reference to external sources, and nearest station substitution were applied to fill the data gaps depending on the extent of the gap. The outcome of this study provides continuous, publicly accessible surface meteorological observations for 30 FAWN stations at 15-minute intervals for years 2005–2020.

Assessing the status of biological control of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) in the southeastern USA

ABSTRACT Air potato, Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoreaceae), is an invasive vine that climbs into vegetation outcompeting native species and altering ecosystems in the southeastern USA. The biological control agent, Lilioceris cheni Gressitt and Kimoto (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), has been released in Florida since 2011 and in other states including Georgia (2015), Louisiana (2016), Texas (2017), Mississippi (2018), and Alabama (2018) to manage air potato. Despite the wide distribution of the weed and mass rearing efforts, there are no studies documenting the establishment of L. cheni outside of Florida. The objectives of this study were to document the beetle release efforts by several agencies and determine the establishment and impact of L. cheni across the southeastern USA. Using community science reports and field surveys, we documented the distribution of air potato and L. cheni. Results demonstrated that the distribution of air potato extends to temperate regions from South Carolina and Georgia to subtropical regions of Louisiana, Texas, and Florida. Surveys showed that the beetle is present across all states with releases, and numbers fluctuated between 6 and 37 beetles counted per 30-surveyor-minutes. Most sites sampled had moderate to high beetle damage (scales of 3–4 out of 5), and air potato cover was low to moderate (2–3 out of 5). However, air potato was still abundant in some areas, which suggests the need for additional beetle releases and/or the use of other tactics to achieve management goals.

Optimization of macronutrient and micronutrient concentrations in roots and leaves for Florida HLB-affected sweet orange trees

Florida sweet orange production has declined largely due to Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. The causative agent, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) bacteria, lowers tree performance by reducing water and nutrient uptake. HLB-affected trees have a fibrous root density loss of about 30 to 50%, which increases as HLB symptoms develop in the canopy. Currently, no guidelines exist for optimal nutrient concentrations in citrus roots. This study aimed to develop root nutrient and fertilization guidelines for HLB-affected sweet orange trees. The research was conducted on two sites with 5- to 6-year-old ‘Valencia’ sweet orange trees grafted on ‘Swingle’ rootstock. The two sites were representative of the different soil characteristics of the state of Florida, namely Ridge and Flatwood regions. Seven treatments were tested using a randomized complete block design. The Ridge soils site has a high density of trees of about 1359 trees ha−1 while the Flatwoods soils site of southwest Florida has a lower tree density of about 716 trees ha−1. The experiment began in May 2019 and concluded in May 2021. Foliar, root and soil samples were collected from both sites twice a year and nutrient concentrations were analyzed. No significant patterns were observed; however, differences in soil nutrients were found between sites. The obtained data represent trends that could become significant over a longer-term study which encompasses the two different citrus-growing regions in Florida. These lengthier trials are especially needed in the age of HLB in order to curb the declining citrus production.

Reconstruction of climate-induced environmental changes in the eastern Gulf of Mexico based on foraminifera sediment assemblages

Foraminifera assemblages are powerful bioindicators of environmental change and were analyzed in a sediment core collected from the Marquesas Keys, located in the southwestern region of the Florida Keys. The composition and abundance of foraminifera tests within the top 85 cm of the sediment core, dated with 14C and 210Pb, revealed changes in foraminifera assemblages in 1990 CE, 1939 CE, and 1872 CE. Based on the ecological preferences of the dominant species, changes in salinity and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) cover may have influenced foraminifera species composition. These changes were likely caused by variation in precipitation patterns in the eastern Gulf of Mexico region associated with shifts in the major ocean-atmosphere teleconnections such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) along with tropical storms and hurricanes. Prolonged periods of the negative phases of these climate phenomena coincided with shifts in foraminifera assemblages. Despite a generally negative impact of the ocean-atmosphere teleconnections on the South Florida region, a well-developed epiphytic assemblage was recorded in the studied core. The assemblage was recorded in the uppermost part of the core and dated to the period between 1990 and 2010 CE. This implies that a dense SAV community was present within the Marquesas Keys Mooney Harbor since at least the early 1990.

A Comparative Study between ‘Parson Brown’ and ‘Hamlin’ Sweet Oranges Growing under Endemic Huanglongbing Conditions in Florida

Citrus greening, or huanglongbing (HLB), caused by the phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CaLas), threatens the global citrus industry. Field observations have demonstrated that some citrus cultivars are more tolerant to the CaLas pathogen than others. ‘Parson Brown’ is an early maturing sweet orange variety that has consistently exhibited minimal leaf and fruit drop in the field compared with the ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange under similar conditions. This study aimed to understand performance of the ‘Parson Brown’ cultivar in several locations across the citrus production regions of Florida. Results indicated that the CaLas bacterial titer in both cultivars were similar with the quantitative polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold values ranging between 24.99 and 28.61 in ‘Hamlin’ and between 25.48 and 30.89 in ‘Parson Brown’. Leaves from the ‘Parson Brown’ trees however demonstrated higher chlorophyll content and total phenolic compounds in most of the locations. We also detected higher relative expression of CsPR1 and CsPR2 transcripts in ‘Parson Brown’ leaves in the first sampling period (March) and the fourth period (November). Additionally, Phloem protein 2 transcripts were downregulated in ‘Parson Brown’ leaves compared with ‘Hamlin’ at all locations. The ‘Hamlin’ juice had higher acidity, whereas ‘Parson Brown’ juice demonstrated a higher Brix to acidity ratio and juice color. The oil content in the juice ranged between 0.020% and 0.042%, and there was variation in the oil content between the locations, which could indicate clonal differences. ‘Parson Brown’ juice however contained higher limonin and nomilin content than ‘Hamlin’ juice in most of the locations. Taken together, the current results confirmed the enhanced tolerance of ‘Parson Brown’ trees to HLB when compared with ‘Hamlin’ in all sampled locations.

BASELINE SUSCEPTIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ADULTICIDES TO LOCAL AEDES TAENIORHYNCHUS FROM COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA.

The black salt marsh mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus, is the primary nuisance mosquito in the coastal regions of Florida. This study aimed to establish the baseline susceptibility of Ae. taeniorhynchus to adulticide products used for mosquito control by the Collier Mosquito Control District (CMCD). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bottle bioassay was used to test technical-grade and formulated products, and Merus 3.0® was evaluated in semifield cage trials through aerial applications. The results revealed the baseline susceptibility of Ae. taeniorhynchus to the tested materials and the effectiveness of Merus 3.0 to effectively control the Ae. taeniorhynchus. The study provides important information for the development of an integrated mosquito management strategy for controlling Ae. taeniorhynchus mosquito populations in southwest Florida.

STUDI LITERATUR TANAMAN WALISONGO (Schefflera arboricola) SEBAGAI TANAMAN PENETRALISIR POLUSI UDARA DAN BIOAKTIVITASNYA

Air pollution can cause health problems either directly or indirectly. This air pollution can occur indoors or outdoors. One type of plant that can reduce air pollution is the walisongo plant. In Indonesia, the walisongo plant (Schefflera arboricola) is also called the umbrella tree, which is a member of the Araliaceae family and has the potential as a medicinal ingredient. Information about this plant is still limited, so this research is essential to do. This research is a literature study research. The data was obtained online using the keywords walisongo plant or Schefflera arboricola. The data obtained were reviewed and synthesized. The walisongo plant originated from Taiwan and Hainan (China), spreading to various regions in Asia, tropical Africa, Florida, and Hawaii. This plant is easy to cultivate naturally (seeds) and artificially (cuttings and grafts). This plant is useful as an ornamental plant and an air biofilter to function as a neutralizer of air pollution. In addition, this plant has bioactive compounds found in its leaves and stems. The walisongo plant can be used as a neutralizer of air pollution, and its bioactive compounds can be used as medicinal ingredients.