Encouraging the use of more efficient irrigation technology is often viewed as an effective, politically feasible method to reduce the consumptive use of water for agricultural production. Despite ...its pervasive recommendation, it is not clear that increasing irrigation efficiency will lead to water conservation in practice. In this paper, we evaluate the effect of a widespread conversion from traditional center pivot irrigation systems to higher efficiency dropped-nozzle center pivot systems that has occurred in western Kansas. State and national cost-share programs subsidized the conversion. On an average, the intended reduction in groundwater use did not occur; the shift to more efficient irrigation technology has increased groundwater extraction, in part due to shifting crop patterns.
Subjective cognitive decline is proposed to be associated with future mild cognitive impairment and dementia. A better understanding of the roles of self-reported and informant-reported subjective ...cognitive complaints can provide a more delicate picture in dementia recognition and early diagnosis.
To evaluate the accuracy of self-reported and informant-reported subjective cognitive complaints and the relation of subjective cognitive complaints and neuropsychological function in cognitively unimpaired, mild cognitive impairment and populations with dementia.
We conducted a cross-sectional survey and evaluate the relations between subjective cognitive complaint scores and cognitive function in the different diagnostic groups.
We recruited individuals diagnosed with cognitively unimpaired or mild cognitive impairment or dementia with Alzheimer's clinical syndrome from a memory clinic in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan.
Participants, age greater than 50 years old, were enrolled in this study. Participants' informants were also enrolled for the cognitive questionnaire assessment.
Participants' and informants' subjective cognitive complaint scores were collected based on a 12-item questionnaire. Neuropsychological assessments of global cognitive function, memory, language, executive function, visuospatial function and calculation were performed. The relations between subjective cognitive complaint scores and cognitive function in the different diagnostic groups were assessed by linear regression model.
There were 1536 individuals and 1028 informants enrolled in this study. Self-reported subjective cognitive complaint scores from early and late mild cognitive impairment and dementia with Alzheimer's clinical syndrome participants showed no significant differences, but informants' subjective cognitive complaint scores showed a significant increase. Informant-reported subjective cognitive complaint scores related to neuropsychological tests in population with dementia. Neither self-reported nor informant-reported subjective cognitive complaint scores related to neuropsychological tests in cognitively unimpaired and mild cognitive impairment populations.
Self-reported subjective cognitive complaints alone may not be sufficient to demonstrate clinical significance in different stages of cognitive impairment. Incorporating informant-reported subjective cognitive complaints, along with considering individual's anxiety and depressive status, are crucial in assessing cognitive statuses in clinical practice.
Purpose
Numerous biomarkers of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are associated with renal prognosis but head-to-head comparisons are lacking. This study aimed to examine the association of soluble tumor ...necrosis factor receptor type 1 (sTNFR1), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), endocan, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), and renal outcomes of patients with or without clinical signs of DKD.
Methods
A total of 312 patients were enrolled in a prospective observational study that excluded individuals with estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m
2
. Composite renal outcomes included either a > 30% decline in eGFR and worsening albuminuria or both from consecutive tests of blood/urine during a 3.5-year follow-up period.
Results
Higher sTNFR1 and FGF-21, rather than endocan and NT-pro-BNP, levels were associated with renal outcomes but the significance was lost after adjusting for confounders. However, sTNFR1 levels ≥ 9.79 pg/dL or FGF-21 levels ≥ 1.40 pg/dL were associated with renal outcomes after adjusting for the confounders (hazard ration HR 2.76, 95% confidence interval CI 1.36–5.60,
p
= 0.005 for sTNFR1 level; HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.03–3.69,
p
= 0.03 for FGF-21 level). The combination of both levels exhibited even better association with renal outcomes than did either one alone (adjusted HR 4.45, 95% CI 1.86–10.65,
p
= 0.001). The results were consistent among patients with preserved renal function and normoalbuminuria.
Conclusion
Both sTNFR1 and FGF-21 levels were associated with renal outcomes of in patients with type 2 diabetes, and the combination of the abovementioned markers exhibits better predictability.
Abstract Heart transplantation (HT) is the standard therapy used to treat end-stage heart disease. Taiwan Organ Registry and Sharing Center (TORSC) is a registry and database of organ donations and ...transplantations. To understand the profiles of heart donors and recipients is crucial for efficient utilization. Data was provided by the TORSC and 487 HT were performed from 2005 to 2010. The main causes of donor brain death were head injury (n = 243; 51.1%) and cerebrovascular accidents/strokes (n = 147; 30.9%). The mean age of the recipients was 46.3 ± 14.6 years, and 80.3% were men (n = 391). Physicians and nurses were responsible for most organ procurement. In multivariate analysis, considering donor and recipient gender, donor and recipient age, and donor-to-recipient weight ratio as independent variables, factors that were significantly predictive of graft survival were donor age (hazard rate HR, 1.02; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.00–1.03; P = .01) and recipient age (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01–1.04; P < .01). Our results showed that age is a determinant of allograft survival and healthcare professionals are the primary impetus for obtaining consent for organ donation.
Summary
Acute phase response (APR), including myalgia, influenza-like symptoms, headache, arthralgia, and pyrexia, is the most common adverse reaction to initial zoledronic acid infusion. ...Dexamethasone plus acetaminophen is effective in significantly reducing the incidence and severity of APR.
Introduction
Acute phase response (APR), including myalgia, influenza-like symptoms, headache, arthralgia, and pyrexia, is due to immunomodulatory actions and is the most common adverse reaction to zoledronic acid (ZOL). The aims of our study were to compare the differences between acetaminophen and dexamethasone plus acetaminophen on the incidence and severity of APRs and to clarify the clinical factors related to APR with initial ZOL infusion.
Methods
Patients with osteoporosis receiving their first ZOL infusion (
N
= 96) were assigned into two groups and given either acetaminophen (58 patients, control group) or acetaminophen plus dexamethasone (38 patients, study group). APRs were assessed through telephone interviews 2 weeks later post-infusion. Clinical, demographic, and serologic data were recorded.
Results
There was a significant increase in the incidence and severity of any APR in the control group than the study group (67% vs. 34%,
p
= 0.003; 0.69 ± 0.50 vs. 0.34 ± 0.48,
p
= 0.001). Among the APRs, only myalgia incidence and score were significantly higher in the control group than in the study group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that previous use of osteoporosis medication and participation in the study group was negatively related to the occurrence of any APR or myalgia. Advanced age was shown to significantly increase myalgia. Study group participants had significantly reduced severity of myalgia. The adherence for redosing ZOL was significantly higher in the study group.
Conclusion
Dexamethasone plus acetaminophen is effective in significantly reducing the incidence and severity of APR, especially myalgia, and increasing adherence following initial ZOL infusion.
This cutting-edge study delves into regional magmatism in northern Taiwan through advanced 3-D P- and S-wave frequency-dependent attenuation tomography. Positioned at the dynamic convergence boundary ...between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, Taiwan experiences moderate earthquakes and intriguing volcanic activity, with a focus on the Tatun volcano group. Employing the Formosa seismic array for high-resolution results, our research identifies high-attenuation anomalies (low Q) beneath the northern Taiwan volcanic zone (NTVZ) and offshore submarine volcanoes, indicative of potential hydrothermal activities and magma reservoirs at varying depths. Additionally, we explore low-attenuation anomalies (high Q) in the forearc region of the Ryukyu subduction zone, suggestive of partial saturation linked to serpentinization processes resulting from seawater infiltration or forearc mantle hydration. These findings shed light on the complex geological features and provide essential insights into the crustal properties of northern Taiwan, contributing to a deeper understanding of its magmatic evolution and tectonic processes.
Abstract
tRNAscan-SE has been widely used for transfer RNA (tRNA) gene prediction for over twenty years, developed just as the first genomes were decoded. With the massive increase in quantity and ...phylogenetic diversity of genomes, the accurate detection and functional prediction of tRNAs has become more challenging. Utilizing a vastly larger training set, we created nearly one hundred specialized isotype- and clade-specific models, greatly improving tRNAscan-SE’s ability to identify and classify both typical and atypical tRNAs. We employ a new comparative multi-model strategy where predicted tRNAs are scored against a full set of isotype-specific covariance models, allowing functional prediction based on both the anticodon and the highest-scoring isotype model. Comparative model scoring has also enhanced the program's ability to detect tRNA-derived SINEs and other likely pseudogenes. For the first time, tRNAscan-SE also includes fast and highly accurate detection of mitochondrial tRNAs using newly developed models. Overall, tRNA detection sensitivity and specificity is improved for all isotypes, particularly those utilizing specialized models for selenocysteine and the three subtypes of tRNA genes encoding a CAU anticodon. These enhancements will provide researchers with more accurate and detailed tRNA annotation for a wider variety of tRNAs, and may direct attention to tRNAs with novel traits.
Microbial life inhabits deeply buried marine sediments, but the extent of this vast ecosystem remains poorly constrained. Here we provide evidence for the existence of microbial communities in ∼40° ...to 60°C sediment associated with lignite coal beds at ∼1.5 to 2.5 km below the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean off Japan. Microbial methanogenesis was indicated by the isotopic compositions of methane and carbon dioxide, biomarkers, cultivation data, and gas compositions. Concentrations of indigenous microbial cells below 1.5 km ranged from <10 to ∼104 cells cm–3. Peak concentrations occurred in lignite layers, where communities differed markedly from shallower subseafloor communities and instead resembled organotrophic communities in forest soils. This suggests that terrigenous sediments retain indigenous community members tens of millions of years after burial in the seabed.
Summary
Porphyromonas gingivalis is a bacterial species that causes destruction of periodontal tissues. Additionally, previous evidence indicates that GroEL from P. gingivalis may possess biological ...activities involved in systemic inflammation, especially inflammation involved in the progression of periodontal diseases. The literature has established a relationship between periodontal disease and cancer. However, it is unclear whether P. gingivalis GroEL enhances tumor growth. Here, we investigated the effects of P. gingivalis GroEL on neovasculogenesis in C26 carcinoma cell‐carrying BALB/c mice and chick eggs in vivo as well as its effect on human endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in vitro. We found that GroEL treatment accelerated tumor growth (tumor volume and weight) and increased the mortality rate in C26 cell‐carrying BALB/c mice. GroEL promoted neovasculogenesis in chicken embryonic allantois and increased the circulating EPC level in BALB/c mice. Furthermore, GroEL effectively stimulated EPC migration and tube formation and increased E‐selectin expression, which is mediated by eNOS production and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase activation. Additionally, GroEL may enhance resistance against paclitaxel‐induced cell cytotoxicity and senescence in EPC. In conclusion, P. gingivalis GroEL may act as a potent virulence factor, contributing to the neovasculogenesis of tumor cells and resulting in accelerated tumor growth.
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