Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Relationship between Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Advanced Breeding Lines of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aim: Present study endeavors to explore the genetic variability for various agro-morphological and quality traits as well as to delineate the association between grain yield and its yield attributing components Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design Place and Duration of Study: Division of Plant Breeding and Genetics, She-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu during kharif 2020. Methodology: A experiment was carried out to determine the association between grain yield and yield attributing components among advanced breeding lines of rice to establish a well grounded selection criteria for developing rice varieties with improved grain yield. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was found to be relatively greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for most of traits indicating role of environment in the phenotypic expression of traits. Characters viz., plant height, total number of tillers per plant, number of effective tillers per plant, panicle length and grain yield per plant exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance indicating their efficient inheritance from preceding generations. Results: Association studies indicated that characters viz., Plant height, total number of tillers per plant, number of effective tillers per plant, panicle length, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant had a significant positive relationship with grain yield per plot indicating their role in breeding rice varieties for higher grain yield. Conclusion: Cause and effect relationship revealed that traits viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, total number of tillers per plant, days to maturity, panicle length and grain yield per plant can be exploited for indirect selection for improving grain yield.
Prevalence, risk factors and causes of hearing loss among adults 50 years and older in Santiago, Chile: results from a rapid assessment of hearing loss survey

Abstract Objective Among a representative sample of adults aged 50 years and older too (i) determine the prevalence of hearing loss, (ii) evaluate probable causes and risk factors of hearing loss, and (iii) assess the association between hearing loss measured by audiometry and self-report. Design A population-based survey of adults aged 50 and older in Santiago, Chile using the Rapid Assessment of Hearing Loss (RAHL) survey. Study sample 538 participants completed a questionnaire, which included questions on socio-demographic and health characteristics and self-reported hearing loss. Hearing and possible cause of hearing loss was assessed using pure tone audiometry (0.5–4.0 kHz), tympanometry, and otoscopy. Results The prevalence of any level of hearing loss in adults aged 50 years and older was 41% (95% CI 33.2, 49.2). In terms of aetiologies, 89.3% of ears with mild or worse hearing loss were classified as sensorineural. Otoscopy was abnormal in 10.7% of subjects with impacted earwax being the most common finding (4.4%) followed by chronic otitis media (3.5%). Hearing aid usage was 16.6%. Older age, lower socioeconomic position, lack of education, and solvent exposure were significantly associated with hearing loss. Conclusion Hearing loss among individuals aged over 50 years was common in Santiago, Chile.
Clinical effects of a single dose of cannabinoids to patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract This phase II clinical trial investigates a one-time oromucosal dose of tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol (THC/CBD) in 23 patients with indolent leukemic B cell lymphomas. Primary endpoint was a significant reduction in leukemic B cells. Grade 1 − 2 adverse events were seen in 91% of the patients; most common were dry mouth (78%), vertigo (70%), and somnolence (43%). After THC/CBD a significant reduction in leukemic B cells (median, 11%) occurred within two hours (p = .014), and remained for 6 h without induction of apoptosis or proliferation. Normal B cells and T cells were also reduced. CXCR4 expression increased on leukemic cells and T cells. All effects were gone by 24 h. Our results show that a single dose of THC/CBD affects a wide variety of leukocytes and only transiently reduce malignant cells in blood. Based on this study, THC/CBD shows no therapeutic potential for indolent B cell lymphomas (EudraCT trial no. 2014-005553-39).
From information to public preparedness in the Cascadia Subduction Zone: Examining risk communication outcomes in Metropolitan Portland, OR

A Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) earthquake will cause widespread damage along the Pacific Northwest (PNW) coast of the United States. It is, therefore, crucial to understand how to reduce future impacts across this region and assess current levels of household preparedness. Here, we examine whether decades of risk and preparedness campaigns have established protective knowledge and promoted hazard adjustments for residents of the Portland, Oregon metropolitan (PDX) region, an area where risk and preparedness campaigns have been increasing over the last decade. We also explore how PDX preparedness levels compare to those in other PNW regions using analogous data from multiple surveys over a 20-year time interval and assess PDX respondent’s perceptions of risk information sources. We find that 63% of PDX residents do not intend to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” (DCHO) when earthquake shaking starts and that, although residents are generally aware of earthquake hazards in the area, they are less aware of the specific risks for their homes. Furthermore, PDX residents’ preparedness levels seem to be comparable to those recently surveyed in Washington, but somewhat less than those surveyed two decades ago in California, though more comprehensive data are needed to verify these results. We also find that people rate risk information provided by emergency managers and their websites as more accurate, understandable, relevant, and new than other sources. Our results suggest that significant gaps remain in translating broad awareness of the CSZ earthquake into personal knowledge and preparedness. This work provides guidance to PDX emergency educators for more targeted messaging and provides methods to measure preparedness variables in other regions for future comparisons. By paying close attention to preparedness gaps, local officials can use their limited resources more effectively to develop strategies to inform their communities and improve preparedness before a major earthquake strikes.
Transforming Growth Factor-β Activated Kinase 1 (Tak1) Is Activated in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Mediates Tumor Progression, and Predicts Unfavorable Outcome

Simple Summary Chronic inflammation is known to drive cancer initiation and progression in the liver and other organs. In different genetic mouse models, the role of the pro-inflammatory kinase Tak1 in liver cancer development has been controversial so far. To clarify the role of Tak1 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we investigated the expression of Tak1 in a large and clinicopathologically well-characterized patient cohort with HCC. In human livers and HCCs, Tak1 is predominantly present in its isoform Tak1A localizing to the cell nucleus. Tak1 is upregulated in HCCs of the diethylnitrosamine mouse model as well as in human HCCs, independent of etiology, and is further induced in distant metastases. Overexpression of the isoform Tak1A in the HCC cell line Huh7 resulted in increased tumor cell migration, whereas overexpression of full-length Tak1 had no significant effect. In human HCCs, high nuclear Tak1 expression is associated with vascular invasion and short overall survival. Abstract Although knowledge on inflammatory signaling pathways driving cancer initiation and progression has been increasing, molecular mechanisms in hepatocarcinogenesis are still far from being completely understood. Hepatocyte-specific deletion of the MAPKKK Tak1 in mice recapitulates important steps of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development, including the occurrence of cell death, steatohepatitis, dysplastic nodules, and HCCs. However, overactivation of Tak1 in mice upon deletion of its deubiquitinase Cyld also results in steatohepatitis and HCC development. To investigate Tak1 and Cyld in human HCCs, we created a tissue microarray to analyze their expression by immunohistochemistry in a large and well-characterized cohort of 871 HCCs of 561 patients. In the human liver and HCC, Tak1 is predominantly present as its isoform Tak1A and predominantly localizes to cell nuclei. Tak1 is upregulated in diethylnitrosamine-induced mouse HCCs as well as in human HCCs independent of etiology and is further induced in distant metastases. A high nuclear Tak1 expression is associated with short survival and vascular invasion. When we overexpressed Tak1A in Huh7 cells, we observed increased tumor cell migration, whereas overexpression of full-length Tak1 had no significant effect. A combined score of low Cyld and high Tak1 expression was an independent prognostic marker in a multivariate Cox regression model.
Speaking for the Public: Representation and Audience Participation during the 1997 British General Election Campaign

Audience-participation programs are designed to provide interaction between politicians and voters. Through voters' questions, politicians gain a valuable gauge of public opinion. However, for this to happen, participants must be representative of the general public. Previous U.S. research suggests that this is not the case, but this failure may be caused by that country's commercialized media structure. Callers to the premiere British election phone-in program, Election Call, broadcast by the noncommercial BBC, are compared with members of the general public to determine whether its participants are socially and politically representative of the general public. The results are negative, at least in part because simply reflecting the public mood would conflict with the rules and norms of public-interest broadcasting.
Clinicopathological Profile of Thyroid Carcinoma in Young Patients: An Indonesian Single-Center Study

Introduction Thyroid cancer is the third most common cancer that occurs in children and adolescents. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid malignancy. Although the mortality rate of thyroid malignancy in children is usually low, the disease recurrence is higher in children with more severe clinical presentation than in adults. This study aimed to determine the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics and outcome of pediatric and adolescent patients with thyroid malignancy in Indonesia. Methods The retrospective study included all patients diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma aged <20 years, from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019. Twenty-nine subjects fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. We retrieved baseline characteristics, pathology features, TSH and fT4 status, radioactive iodine therapy data, and patients' outcomes. Then, data were analyzed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact method. Results We identified 29 eligible subjects, including 3 boys and 26 girls. The most common type of thyroid carcinoma was PTC (96.5%), and follicular type (31%) was the predominant variant of PTC. Lymph node involvement occurred in 24% of patients, while distant metastasis occurred in 17.2% of patients with PTC. Twenty-four (82.7%) patients had stage 1 disease. Disease recurrence was recorded in 31% of patients during the study period with a median follow-up time of 24 months. Conclusion PTC is the most frequent type of thyroid carcinoma among children and adolescents. This malignancy has a low mortality rate, but the recurrence rate remains high among younger patients than adults even during a short-term follow-up analysis. Distant metastasis and lymph node involvement are commonly found in this age group.
Sex disparities in the effect of statins on lipid parameters

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Real-world evidence on a potential statin effect modification by sex is inconclusive, especially for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to quantify the differences in the effect of statins on lipid parameters between men and women. The PharmLines Initiative linked the Lifelines Cohort Study and the IADB.nl prescription database. This database covers a representative population from the Netherlands. We selected participants aged ≥40 years at the index date: the date of the first prescription of any statin monotherapy in the study period 2006 to 2017. Multivariate regression modeling was used to compare the difference of the mean percentage change of lipid parameters (% mean difference [MD]) from baseline to follow-up measurement between the sexes. Out of 5366 statin users from approximately 50,000 participants available in the final linked database, 685 were statin initiators. At baseline, women had significantly higher levels of mean total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) than men (all P values <.01). At follow-up, women had a significantly higher mean percentage change of HDL-C compared to men (adjusted % MD 5.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.42-8.75, P < .01). There was no significant sex difference in other parameters, nor in the proportion of men and women who achieved LDL-C ≤2.5 mmol/L. Statins appear to have a greater effect on increasing HDL-C levels in women than men while showing similar effect on other lipid parameters in both sexes. Men should not be treated differently than women.
Urinary levels of pro-fibrotic transglutaminase 2 (TG2) may help predict progression of chronic kidney disease

Renal clinical chemistry only detects kidney dysfunction after considerable damage has occurred and is imperfect in predicting long term outcomes. Consequently, more sensitive markers of early damage and better predictors of progression are being urgently sought, to better support clinical decisions and support shorter clinical trials. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is strongly implicated in the fibrotic remodeling that drives chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesized that urinary TG2 and its ε-(γ-glutamyl)-lysine crosslink product could be useful biomarkers of kidney fibrosis and progression. Animal models: a rat 4-month 5/6th subtotal nephrectomy model of CKD and a rat 8-month streptozotocin model of diabetic kidney disease had 24-hour collection of urine, made using a metabolic cage, at regular periods throughout disease development. Patients: Urine samples from patients with CKD (n = 290) and healthy volunteers (n = 33) were collected prospectively, and progression tracked for 3 years. An estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) loss of 2–5 mL/min/year was considered progressive, with rapid progression defined as > 5 mL/min/year. Assays: TG2 was measured in human and rat urine samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ε-(γ-glutamyl)-lysine by exhaustive proteolytic digestion and amino acid analysis. Urinary TG2 and ε-(γ-glutamyl)-lysine increased with the development of fibrosis in both animal model systems. Urinary TG2 was 41-fold higher in patients with CKD than HVs, with levels elevated 17-fold by CKD stage 2. The urinary TG2:creatinine ratio (UTCR) was 9 ng/mmol in HV compared with 114 ng/mmol in non-progressive CKD, 1244 ng/mmol in progressive CKD and 1898 ng/mmol in rapidly progressive CKD. Both urinary TG2 and ε-(γ-glutamyl)-lysine were significantly associated with speed of progression in univariate logistic regression models. In a multivariate model adjusted for urinary TG2, ε-(γ-glutamyl)-lysine, age, sex, urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR), urinary protein:creatinine ratio (UPCR), and CKD stage, only TG2 remained statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined an 86.4% accuracy of prediction of progression for UTCR compared with 73.5% for UACR. Urinary TG2 and ε-(γ-glutamyl)-lysine are increased in CKD. In this pilot investigation, UTCR was a better predictor of progression in patients with CKD than UACR. Larger studies are now warranted to fully evaluate UTCR value in predicting patient outcomes.
Operationalizing Implementation Science in Nutrition: The Implementation Science Initiative in Kenya and Uganda

Abstract Background Implementation science (IS) has the potential to improve the implementation and impact of policies, programs, and interventions. Most of the training, guidance, and experience has focused on implementation research, which is only 1 part of the broader field of IS. In 2018, the Society for Implementation Science in Nutrition borrowed concepts from IS in health to develop a broader and more integrated conceptual framework, adapted to the particular case of nutrition and with language and concepts more familiar to the nutrition community: it is called the IS in Nutrition (ISN) framework. Objective The purpose of this research was to generate knowledge concerning challenges and strategies in operationalizing the ISN framework in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. Methods The ISN framework was operationalized in partnership with country teams in Kenya and Uganda over a 3-y period as part of the Implementation Science Initiative. An action research methodology (developmental evaluation) was used to provide timely feedback to the country teams, facilitate adaptations and adjustments, and generate the data presented in this article concerning challenges and strategies. Results Operationalization of the ISN framework proceeded by first articulating a set of guiding principles as touchstones for the country teams and further articulating 6 components of an IS system to facilitate development of work streams. Challenges and strategies in implementing these 6 components were then documented. The knowledge gained through this experience led to the development of an IS system operational model to assist the application of IS in other LMIC settings. Conclusions Future investments in IS should prioritize a system- and capacity-building approach in order to realize its full potential and become institutionalized at country level. The operational model can guide others to improve the implementation of IS within a broad range of programs.
The impact of Movement Control Order during the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle behaviours and body weight changes: Findings from the MyNutriLifeCOVID-19 online survey

Background The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns have affected daily lives of the communities worldwide. This study aims to determine the lifestyle behaviours and their associations with body weight changes among Malaysian adults during the Movement Control Order (MCO) due to COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A total of 1319 Malaysian adults participated in this cross-sectional online survey. Information on anthropometric data including body weight and height, and lifestyle behaviours including eating pattern, physical activity, and sleep pattern were self-reported by the respondents. A multivariable generalised linear mixed model was used to assess the associations between lifestyle behaviours and body weight changes with adjustment of confounding factors; namely, age, sex, ethnicity, and body weight status before MCO. Results During MCO, 41.2% of the respondents perceived that their eating patterns were healthier, but 36.3% reduced their physical activities, and 25.7% had a poorer sleep quality. Further, the proportion of adults who reported having lose weight (32.2%) was almost similar to those who reported having gained weight (30.7%). Lifestyle behaviours including less frequent practice of healthy cooking methods and lunch skipping were associated with weight gain, while less frequent consumption of high fat foods, more frequent physical activity, and good sleep latency were associated with lower risk of weight gain. In contrast, practicing healthy eating concept, skipped lunch, and more frequent physical activity were significantly associated with weight loss. Conclusion Lifestyle behaviours were associated with body weight changes during MCO. While the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown is necessary to prevent further spread of the disease, promoting healthy lifestyle practices during lockdown should be implemented for a healthy weight and better health.
Antimalarial Activity of Solvent Fractions of the Stem Bark of Periploca linearifolia Quart.-Dill. & A.Rich. (Asclepiadaceae) Against Plasmodium berghei in Mice

Background Currently, malaria elimination is intimidated by the emergence of antimalarial drug and insecticide resistance. This scenario urges scientists to develop new antimalarial drugs, where plant-based compounds are the major candidates. Objective The objective of this experiment was to examine the antimalarial activities of the solvent fractions of the stem bark of P. linearifolia in mice. Methods The dried hydromethanolic extract was treated with n-hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate solvents based on increasing order of polarity. For the suppressive test, after three hours post-inoculation of P. berghei, the first group was administered the vehicle 2 mL/100 g. The second group was given chloroquine 25 mg/kg, whereas the remaining nine groups were administered 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of each of the chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions. Furthermore, the aqueous fraction was evaluated using Rane’s model for the curative test. The result was statistically analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results were considered significant at P < 0.05. Results In the suppressive test, the solvent fractions suppressed parasitemia level significantly (P < 0.01 for 100 mg/kg, P < 0.001 for 200 and 400 mg/kg of the aqueous and P < 0.01 for 200 mg/kg, P < 0.001 for 400 mg/kg of chloroform fractions) as compared to vehicle-treated mice, whereas in the curative model 400 mg/kg of the aqueous fraction (P < 0.01) showed a significant parasitemia level reduction. Conclusion The results of this study indicated that the solvent fractions have promising antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium berghei, which is consistent with the earlier in vivo study of the hydromethanolic extract.