Evaluation and identification of high yielding trees in Nigerian cocoa germplasm

Forty four Nigerian cocoa clones which are being conserved in the field gene banks of Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station, Vittal, Karnataka were assessed for their growth and yield performance. Six year old trees were observed for their morphological characters and annual pod yields were compiled over eight years from five to twelve years of age after planting. Pod and bean characteristics were also studied for all the clones. Precocious, potential high yielders were identified from their vigorous growth habit in the introduced environment with sturdy stems and optimal canopy spread. Among the clones, NC-37, NC-23, NC-26, NC-50, NC-20, NC-51, NC-27 and NC-25 were identified as heavy bearers with an average of 61.9, 53.3, 49.4, 48.4, 45.1, 44.2, 43.9 and 43.0 pods per tree per year respectively and with high dry bean yields of more than one kilogram per tree per year. These clones recorded single bean weight of more than 1 gram, 10-15 per cent shelling percentage and more than 50 percent fat which made them suitable for industries as well

Studies on genetic uniformity of Chowghat Green Dwarf and Malayan Green Dwarf varieties of coconut using molecular and morphometric methods

Two coconut varieties viz., Chowghat Green Dwarf (CGD) and Malayan Green Dwarf (MGD) were subjected to morphometric and molecular studies to assess their genetic uniformity. Since both these varieties possess traits for high yield and resistance to root (wilt) disease, they have already been released for cultivation in the root (wilt) disease prevalent tracts. Forty two CGD palms from ‘disease hotspots’ were analyzed using 43 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers. Monomorphic bands were detected in all the CGD samples with 41 primers, which is an indication of its genetic uniformity. A single CGD palm showed polymorphism with two SSR primers. Forty eight MGD palms were analyzed using 24 SSR primers. The MGD palms clustered at 62 per cent similarity. Analysis of morphological and fruit component characters of CGD and MGD population revealed that both the populations were phenotypically uniform. Breeding behaviour studies revealed that both CGD and MGD were predominantly self pollinated, like other dwarf varieties of coconut. There was complete overlapping of male and female phases in almost 96 per cent of CGD palms. Almost 100 per cent self-pollination was ensured in these palms as male phase prolonged even after completion of female phase. However, only 60 per cent of the MGD palms showed complete overlapping and in the remaining 40 per cent palms, there was only partial overlapping of male and female phases. From the present study, it is inferred that breeding behavior and genetic uniformity could be highly correlated in coconut. Collection of seed nuts preferably from mother palms with overlapping of male and female phases could possibly ensure production of true to type progenies in dwarf varieties of coconut. Present study also indicated that molecular markers like SSRs may be used to identify genetically pure mother palms for varietal improvement programmes in coconut

Development of a Dwarf x Tall coconut hybrid ‘Kalpa Samrudhi’

An evaluation trial conducted over 28 years on coconut hybrid combinations has resulted in identification of a superior, high yielding Dwarf x Tall hybrid, named as ‘Kalpa Samrudhi’ involving IND 058S as female parent and IND 069S as male parent. The results revealed that the hybrid is better performing over other hybrids and local control with higher fruit yield (117 fruits palm-1 year-1), high copra out turn (25.72 kg palm-1 year-1 or 4.5 t ha-1 year-1 copra) and estimated oil recovery of 3.04 tonnes ha-1 under rainfed conditions of Kerala. The palms of the hybrid are semi tall, take an average of 45 months for initiation of flowering under rainfed conditions, possess good tender nut water quality (TSS 6o Brix) and higher quantity (346 mL per tender nut). The tender nut water has Na content of 35.1 ppm and K content of 2370 ppm. The hybrid recorded 30.27 per cent more nut yield, 66.05 per cent more copra yield and 73.71 per cent more oil yield over another released Dwarf x Tall hybrid ‘Chandra Sankara’. The seedlings of the hybrid are more vigorous, producing higher number of leaves within 12 months, having higher leaf area and dry weight indicating precocity in growth and development. The flowering, morphological and fruit component traits of the hybrid were compared with parental palms. The characteristics of this hybrid and its performance indicate potential to increase the production and productivity of coconut

Membrane Tension Orchestrates Rear Retraction in Matrix-Directed Cell Migration

In development, wound healing, and cancer metastasis, vertebrate cells move through 3D interstitial matrix, responding to chemical and physical guidance cues. Protrusion at the cell front has been extensively studied, but the retraction phase of the migration cycle is not well understood. Here, we show that fast-moving cells guided by matrix cues establish positive feedback control of rear retraction by sensing membrane tension. We reveal a mechanism of rear retraction in 3D matrix and durotaxis controlled by caveolae, which form in response to low membrane tension at the cell rear. Caveolae activate RhoA-ROCK1/PKN2 signaling via the RhoA guanidine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Ect2 to control local F-actin organization and contractility in this subcellular region and promote translocation of the cell rear. A positive feedback loop between cytoskeletal signaling and membrane tension leads to rapid retraction to complete the migration cycle in fast-moving cells, providing directional memory to drive persistent cell migration in complex matrices. © 2019 The AuthorsCell migration through 3D matrix is critical to developmental and disease processes, but the mechanisms that control rear retraction are poorly understood. Hetmanski et al. show that differential membrane tension allows caveolae to form at the rear of migrating cells and activate the contractile actin cytoskeleton to promote rapid retraction. © 2019 The Author

The pathogenesis of mucositis: updated perspectives and emerging targets

Published online: 8 July 2019Mucositis research and treatment are a rapidly evolving field providing constant new avenues of research and potential therapies. The MASCC/ISOO Mucositis Study Group regularly assesses available literature relating to pathogenesis, mechanisms, and novel therapeutic approaches and distils this to summary perspectives and recommendations. Reviewers assessed 164 articles published between January 2011 and June 2016 to identify progress made since the last review and highlight new targets for further investigation. Findings were organized into sections including established and emerging mediators of toxicity, potential insights from technological advances in mucositis research, and perspective. Research momentum is accelerating for mucositis pathogenesis, and with this has come utilization of new models and interventions that target specific mechanisms of injury. Technological advances have the potential to revolutionize the field of mucositis research, although focused effort is needed to move rationally targeted interventions to the clinical setting.J. Bowen, N. Al-Dasooqi, P. Bossi, H. Wardill, Y. Van Sebille, A. Al-Azri, E. Bateman, M. E. Correa, J. Raber-Durlacher, A. Kandwal, B. Mayo, R. G. Nair, A. Stringer, K. ten Bohmer, D. Thorpe, R. V. Lalla, S. Sonis, K. Cheng, S. Elad . On behalf of The Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO

Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950–2019: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Accurate and up-to-date assessment of demographic metrics is crucial for understanding a wide range of social, economic, and public health issues that affect populations worldwide. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 produced updated and comprehensive demographic assessments of the key indicators of fertility, mortality, migration, and population for 204 countries and territories and selected subnational locations from 1950 to 2019. Methods: 8078 country-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 938 surveys, 349 censuses, and 238 other sources were identified and used to estimate age-specific fertility. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate age-specific fertility rates for 5-year age groups between ages 15 and 49 years. With extensions to age groups 10–14 and 50–54 years, the total fertility rate (TFR) was then aggregated using the estimated age-specific fertility between ages 10 and 54 years. 7417 sources were used for under-5 mortality estimation and 7355 for adult mortality. ST-GPR was used to synthesise data sources after correction for known biases. Adult mortality was measured as the probability of death between ages 15 and 60 years based on vital registration, sample registration, and sibling histories, and was also estimated using ST-GPR. HIV-free life tables were then estimated using estimates of under-5 and adult mortality rates using a relational model life table system created for GBD, which closely tracks observed age-specific mortality rates from complete vital registration when available. Independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated by an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys and antenatal clinic serosurveillance and other sources were incorporated into the estimates in countries with large epidemics. Annual and single-year age estimates of net migration and population for each country and territory were generated using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model that analysed estimated age-specific fertility and mortality rates along with 1250 censuses and 747 population registry years. We classified location-years into seven categories on the basis of the natural rate of increase in population (calculated by subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate) and the net migration rate. We computed healthy life expectancy (HALE) using years lived with disability (YLDs) per capita, life tables, and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty was propagated throughout the demographic estimation process, including fertility, mortality, and population, with 1000 draw-level estimates produced for each metric. Findings: The global TFR decreased from 2•72 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2•66–2•79) in 2000 to 2•31 (2•17–2•46) in 2019. Global annual livebirths increased from 134•5 million (131•5–137•8) in 2000 to a peak of 139•6 million (133•0–146•9) in 2016. Global livebirths then declined to 135•3 million (127•2–144•1) in 2019. Of the 204 countries and territories included in this study, in 2019, 102 had a TFR lower than 2•1, which is considered a good approximation of replacement-level fertility. All countries in sub-Saharan Africa had TFRs above replacement level in 2019 and accounted for 27•1% (95% UI 26•4–27•8) of global livebirths. Global life expectancy at birth increased from 67•2 years (95% UI 66•8–67•6) in 2000 to 73•5 years (72•8–74•3) in 2019. The total number of deaths increased from 50•7 million (49•5–51•9) in 2000 to 56•5 million (53•7–59•2) in 2019. Under-5 deaths declined from 9•6 million (9•1–10•3) in 2000 to 5•0 million (4•3–6•0) in 2019. Global population increased by 25•7%, from 6•2 billion (6•0–6•3) in 2000 to 7•7 billion (7•5–8•0) in 2019. In 2019, 34 countries had negative natural rates of increase; in 17 of these, the population declined because immigration was not sufficient to counteract the negative rate of decline. Globally, HALE increased from 58•6 years (56•1–60•8) in 2000 to 63•5 years (60•8–66•1) in 2019. HALE increased in 202 of 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2019. Interpretation: Over the past 20 years, fertility rates have been dropping steadily and life expectancy has been increasing, with few exceptions. Much of this change follows historical patterns linking social and economic determinants, such as those captured by the GBD Socio-demographic Index, with demographic outcomes. More recently, several countries have experienced a combination of low fertility and stagnating improvement in mortality rates, pushing more populations into the late stages of the demographic transition. Tracking demographic change and the emergence of new patterns will be essential for global health monitoring. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990�2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a standardised and comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of risk factor exposure, relative risk, and attributable burden of disease. Methods: GBD 2019 estimated attributable mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years of life lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 87 risk factors and combinations of risk factors, at the global level, regionally, and for 204 countries and territories. GBD uses a hierarchical list of risk factors so that specific risk factors (eg, sodium intake), and related aggregates (eg, diet quality), are both evaluated. This method has six analytical steps. (1) We included 560 risk�outcome pairs that met criteria for convincing or probable evidence on the basis of research studies. 12 risk�outcome pairs included in GBD 2017 no longer met inclusion criteria and 47 risk�outcome pairs for risks already included in GBD 2017 were added based on new evidence. (2) Relative risks were estimated as a function of exposure based on published systematic reviews, 81 systematic reviews done for GBD 2019, and meta-regression. (3) Levels of exposure in each age-sex-location-year included in the study were estimated based on all available data sources using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression method, or alternative methods. (4) We determined, from published trials or cohort studies, the level of exposure associated with minimum risk, called the theoretical minimum risk exposure level. (5) Attributable deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs were computed by multiplying population attributable fractions (PAFs) by the relevant outcome quantity for each age-sex-location-year. (6) PAFs and attributable burden for combinations of risk factors were estimated taking into account mediation of different risk factors through other risk factors. Across all six analytical steps, 30 652 distinct data sources were used in the analysis. Uncertainty in each step of the analysis was propagated into the final estimates of attributable burden. Exposure levels for dichotomous, polytomous, and continuous risk factors were summarised with use of the summary exposure value to facilitate comparisons over time, across location, and across risks. Because the entire time series from 1990 to 2019 has been re-estimated with use of consistent data and methods, these results supersede previously published GBD estimates of attributable burden. Findings: The largest declines in risk exposure from 2010 to 2019 were among a set of risks that are strongly linked to social and economic development, including household air pollution; unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing; and child growth failure. Global declines also occurred for tobacco smoking and lead exposure. The largest increases in risk exposure were for ambient particulate matter pollution, drug use, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body-mass index. In 2019, the leading Level 2 risk factor globally for attributable deaths was high systolic blood pressure, which accounted for 10·8 million (95 uncertainty interval UI 9·51�12·1) deaths (19·2% 16·9�21·3 of all deaths in 2019), followed by tobacco (smoked, second-hand, and chewing), which accounted for 8·71 million (8·12�9·31) deaths (15·4% 14·6�16·2 of all deaths in 2019). The leading Level 2 risk factor for attributable DALYs globally in 2019 was child and maternal malnutrition, which largely affects health in the youngest age groups and accounted for 295 million (253�350) DALYs (11·6% 10·3�13·1 of all global DALYs that year). The risk factor burden varied considerably in 2019 between age groups and locations. Among children aged 0�9 years, the three leading detailed risk factors for attributable DALYs were all related to malnutrition. Iron deficiency was the leading risk factor for those aged 10�24 years, alcohol use for those aged 25�49 years, and high systolic blood pressure for those aged 50�74 years and 75 years and older. Interpretation: Overall, the record for reducing exposure to harmful risks over the past three decades is poor. Success with reducing smoking and lead exposure through regulatory policy might point the way for a stronger role for public policy on other risks in addition to continued efforts to provide information on risk factor harm to the general public. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Persistent sacrococcygeus ventralis muscle in an adult human pelvic wall: A variation for surgeons to note

Occurrence of abnormal muscles in the pelvic wall is very rare. During a routine dissection of the pelvic wall, an abnormal muscle referred to as sacrococcygeus ventralis was noted in a 65-year-old South Indian cadaver. The fleshy fibers of the muscle were arising from the lateral part of the ventral surface of the sacrum at the level of S3 segment. The muscle passed downwards in front of the S4 and S5 sacral segments, halfway through its course it became tendinous and finally became inserted in the ventral surface of the coccyx. Sacrococcygeus ventralis is a muscle which is well developed in animals where it acts on their tail. In human beings, sacrococcygeus ventralis is seen only during fetal life. A rare case of its persistence in an adult pelvic wall is reported and discussed here