Vision and visual history in elite-/near-elite level cricketers and rugby-league players

Background: The importance of optimal and/or superior vision for participation in high-level sport remains the subject of considerable clinical research interest. Here we examine the vision and visual history of elite/near-elite cricketers and rugby-league players. Methods: Stereoacuity (TNO), colour vision, and distance (with/without pinhole) and near visual acuity (VA) were measured in two cricket squads (elite/international-level, female, n=16; near-elite, male, n=23) and one professional rugby-league squad (male, n=20). Refractive error was determined, and details of any correction worn and visual history were recorded. Results: Overall, 63% had their last eye-examination within 2 years. However, some had not had an eye examination for 5 years, or had never had one (near-elite-cricketers: 30%; rugby-league players: 15%; elite-cricketers: 6%). Comparing our results for all participants to published data for young, optimally-corrected, non-sporting adults, distance VA was ~1 line of letters worse than expected. Adopting α=0.01, the deficit in distance-VA deficit was significant, but only for elite-cricketers (p0.02 for all comparisons). On average, stereoacuity was better than in young adults, but only in elite-cricketers (p<0.001; p=0.03, near-elite-cricketers; p=0.47, rugby-league -players). On-field visual issues were present in 27% of participants, and mostly (in 75% of cases) comprised uncorrected ametropia. Some cricketers (near-elite: 17.4%; elite: 38%) wore refractive correction during play but no rugby-league player did. Some individuals with prescribed correction choose not to wear it when playing. Conclusion: Aside from near stereoacuity in elite-cricketers, these basic visual abilities were not better than equivalent, published data for optimally-corrected adults. 20-25% exhibited sub-optimal vision, suggesting that the clearest possible vision might not be critical for participation at the highest levels in the sports of cricket or rugby-league. Although vision could be improved in a sizeable proportion of our sample, the impact of correcting these, mostly subtle, refractive anomalies on playing performance is unknown

Stroke genetics informs drug discovery and risk prediction across ancestries

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of stroke - the second leading cause of death worldwide - were conducted predominantly in populations of European ancestry(1,2). Here, in cross-ancestry GWAS meta-analyses of 110,182 patients who have had a stroke (five ancestries, 33% non-European) and 1,503,898 control individuals, we identify association signals for stroke and its subtypes at 89 (61 new) independent loci: 60 in primary inverse-variance-weighted analyses and 29 in secondary meta-regression and multitrait analyses. On the basis of internal cross-ancestry validation and an independent follow-up in 89,084 additional cases of stroke (30% non-European) and 1,013,843 control individuals, 87% of the primary stroke risk loci and 60% of the secondary stroke risk loci were replicated (P < 0.05). Effect sizes were highly correlated across ancestries. Cross-ancestry fine-mapping, in silico mutagenesis analysis(3), and transcriptome-wide and proteome-wide association analyses revealed putative causal genes (such as SH3PXD2A and FURIN) and variants (such as at GRK5 and NOS3). Using a three-pronged approach(4), we provide genetic evidence for putative drug effects, highlighting F11, KLKB1, PROC, GP1BA, LAMC2 and VCAM1 as possible targets, with drugs already under investigation for stroke for F11 and PROC. A polygenic score integrating cross-ancestry and ancestry-specific stroke GWASs with vascular-risk factor GWASs (integrative polygenic scores) strongly predicted ischaemic stroke in populations of European, East Asian and African ancestry(5). Stroke genetic risk scores were predictive of ischaemic stroke independent of clinical risk factors in 52,600 clinical-trial participants with cardiometabolic disease. Our results provide insights to inform biology, reveal potential drug targets and derive genetic risk prediction tools across ancestries.</p

Stroke genetics informs drug discovery and risk prediction across ancestries

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of stroke — the second leading cause of death worldwide — were conducted predominantly in populations of European ancestry1,2. Here, in cross-ancestry GWAS meta-analyses of 110,182 patients who have had a stroke (five ancestries, 33% non-European) and 1,503,898 control individuals, we identify association signals for stroke and its subtypes at 89 (61 new) independent loci: 60 in primary inverse-variance-weighted analyses and 29 in secondary meta-regression and multitrait analyses. On the basis of internal cross-ancestry validation and an independent follow-up in 89,084 additional cases of stroke (30% non-European) and 1,013,843 control individuals, 87% of the primary stroke risk loci and 60% of the secondary stroke risk loci were replicated (P < 0.05). Effect sizes were highly correlated across ancestries. Cross-ancestry fine-mapping, in silico mutagenesis analysis3, and transcriptome-wide and proteome-wide association analyses revealed putative causal genes (such as SH3PXD2A and FURIN) and variants (such as at GRK5 and NOS3). Using a three-pronged approach4, we provide genetic evidence for putative drug effects, highlighting F11, KLKB1, PROC, GP1BA, LAMC2 and VCAM1 as possible targets, with drugs already under investigation for stroke for F11 and PROC. A polygenic score integrating cross-ancestry and ancestry-specific stroke GWASs with vascular-risk factor GWASs (integrative polygenic scores) strongly predicted ischaemic stroke in populations of European, East Asian and African ancestry5. Stroke genetic risk scores were predictive of ischaemic stroke independent of clinical risk factors in 52,600 clinical-trial participants with cardiometabolic disease. Our results provide insights to inform biology, reveal potential drug targets and derive genetic risk prediction tools across ancestries

Verteilung mikrobieller Resistenzgene: ein sozioökonomischer und soziokultureller Ausblick

The appearance of resistance to many first-line antimicrobial agents presents a critical challenge to the successful treatment of bacterial infections. Antimicrobial resistant bacteria and resistance genes are globally distributed, but significant variations in prevalence have been observed in different geographical regions. This article discusses possible relationships between socioeconomic and sociocultural factors and regional differences in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their associated resistance genes. Findings indicate that the few studies that have been conducted to understand relationships between socioeconomic and sociocultural factors and antimicrobial resistance have focused on patterns of phenotypic antibiotic resistance. Yet, a critical need exists for molecular studies of human influences on bacterial resistance and adaptation. We propose that the results of these studies, coupled with well-coordinated culturally appropriate interventions that address specific socioeconomic and sociocultural needs may be necessary to reduce the scourge of antimicrobial resistance in both developing and developed countries.Das Auftreten von Resistenzen gegen viele First-Line Antibiotika ist eine schwierige Herausforderung, um bakterielle Infektionen erfolgreich zu behandeln. Zwar sind resistente Bakterien und folglich deren Resistenzgene global verteilt, jedoch sind deutliche Unterschiede bezüglich des Auftretens in verschiedenen geografischen Regionen beobachtet worden. In diesem Artikel werden mögliche sozioökonomische und soziokulturelle Faktoren sowie regionale Unterschiede in Bezug auf das Auftreten von resistenten Bakterien und ihren dazu gehörigen Resistenzgenen diskutiert. Untersuchungen zeigen, dass sich die wenigen Studien, die bisher durchgeführt worden sind, um Beziehungen zwischen sozioökonomischen sowie soziokulturellen Faktoren und Resistenzen zu verstehen, bisher auf phänotypische Antibiotikaresistenzen konzentriert haben. Daher werden molekular-basierte Studien des menschlichen Einflusses auf bakterielle Resistenz und Anpassung benötigt. Wir schlagen vor, dass die Ergebnisse dieser Studien gekoppelt mit gut koordinierter, kulturell angemessener Berücksichtigung sozioökonomischer sowie soziokultureller Bedürfnissen notwendig ist, um die Geißel antimikrobieller Resistenzen sowohl in entwickelten als auch in Entwicklungsländern zu reduzieren

Long-term effect of tillage, nitrogen fertilization and cover crops on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content

No-tillage, N fertilization and cover crops are known to play an important role in conserving or increasing SOC and STN but the effects of their interactions are less known. In order to evaluate the single and combined effects of these techniques on SOC and STN content under Mediterranean climate, a long term experiment started in 1993 on a loam soil (Typic Xerofluvent) in Central Italy. The experimental variants are: conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT), four N fertilization rates (N0, N1, N2 and N3) and four soil cover crop (CC) types (C – no cover crop; NL – non-legume CC; LNL – low nitrogen supply legume CC, and HNL – high nitrogen supply legume CC). The nitrogen fertilization rates (N0, N1, N2 and N3) were: 0, 100, 200, 300 kg N ha1 for maize (Zea mays, L.); 0, 60, 120,180 kg N a1 for durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.); 0, 50, 100, 150 kg N ha1 for sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). From 1993 to 2008, under the NT system the SOC and STN content in the top 30 cm soil depth increased by 0.61 and 0.04 Mg ha1 year1 respectively. In the same period, the SOC and STN content under the CT system decreased by a rate of 0.06 and 0.04 Mg ha1 year1 respectively. During the experimental period, N1, N2 and N3 increased the SOC content in the 0–30 cm soil layer at a rate of 0.14, 0.45 and 0.49 Mg ha1 year1. Only the higher N fertilization levels (N2 and N3) increased STN content, at a rate of 0.03 and 0.05 Mg ha1 year1. NL, LNL and HNL cover crops increased SOC content by 0.17, 0.41 and 0.43 Mg C ha1 year1 and 0.01, +0.01 and +0.02 Mg N ha1 year1. Significant interactions among treatments were evident only in the case of the N fertilization by tillage system interaction on SOC and STN concentration in the 0–10 cm soil depth in 2008. The observed SOC and STN variations were correlated to C returned to the soil as crop residues, aboveground cover crop biomass and weeds (C input). We conclude that, under our Mediterranean climate, it is easier to conserve or increase SOC and STN by adopting NT than CT. To reach this objective, the CT system requires higher N fertilization rates and introduction of highly productive cover crop

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Not AvailableMonotonous rice-wheat cropping system with conventional management practices have resulted in declining soil quality and biota in addition to low input factor productivity and farmer’s profitability in western Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of India. Conservation agriculture (CA) based sustainable intensification (SI) is required to improve the soil quality while improving the productivity and profitability. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of CA based management practices such as zero tillage (ZT), direct seeding of rice (DSR), crop diversification, residue recycling and legume integration for SI in comparison to conventional management on soil quality and biota in cereal (rice and maize) based cropping systems. Fourteen treatments were included in which four treatments (T1–T4) with rice–wheat and two treatments (T11–T12) with maize-wheat system were based on conventional management, while six treatments (T5–T10) with rice–wheat and two (T13–T14) with maize-wheat were based on CA management practices. Conservation agriculture based SI of maize-wheat-mungbean (T14) recorded lower soil bulk density (1.33 Mgm−3). Soil organic carbon (OC) was increased by 83% and 72% with CA based rice-wheat-mungbean (T10) and maize-wheat-mungbean (T14) system, respectively and it was at par with T9 and T12 compared to farmer’s practice (T1) (4.6 g kg−1). Mean microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were 213% and 293% higher with T14 over T1 (646 and 201 μg g−1 dry soil), respectively. However, T10 recorded 117% and 171% higher MBC and MBN, respectively compared to T1. Dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) were improved by 210% and 49% under T14; 140% and 42% under T10 compared to T1 (180 μg TPF g−1 soil 24 h−1 and 144 μg p-nitrophenol g−1h−1), respectively. Mean number of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were increased by 28%, 68%, 98% respectively, under T14 relative to T1, and at par with T12 and T10. Most abundant micro-arthropod group belonged to Collembola followed by Acari and Protura, irrespective of treatments. Higher soil quality index (SQI) was observed in T10 (0.82), followed by T14 and T6 treatment (0.76). Sustainable intensification of rice and maize based systems (T10 and T14) recorded 39% higher system yield compared to T1 (11.12 Mg ha−1). CA-based sustainable intensification of rice/maize systems improved soil quality and biota, hence resulted higher system yield in alluvial soils of IGP. Conservation agriculture based SI of maize-wheat-mungbean system was found to be the best alternative option than rice–wheat system to achieve sustainable productivity while improving the soil quality index (35%) and conservation of natural resources.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableExcessive pumping of groundwater over the years to meet the high irrigation water requirement of rice-wheat system has resulted in over exploitation of groundwater in the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of India. Replacement of traditional rice with less water crops such as maize under conservation agriculture (CA) based management (tillage, crop establishment and residue management) practices are required to promote sustainable intensification. Furthermore, inefficient nutrient management practices are responsible for low crop yields and nutrient use efficiencies in MW system. A 3-year field experiment was conducted in farmer’s participatory strategic research mode at Taraori, Karnal, India to evaluate the effects of tillage and crop establishment (TCE) methods, residue management, mungbean integration, and nutrient management practices on crop yields, water productivity and profitability of MW system. The main plot treatments included four combinations of TCE, residue and mungbean integration [conventional tillage (CT), conventional tillage with mungbean (CT + MB), permanent bed (PB) and permanent bed with MB (PB + MB] with three nutrient management practices [farmer’s fertilizer practice (FFP), recommended dose of fertilize (RDF) and site specific nutrient management (SSNM)] using Nutrient Expert® as sub plot treatments. System productivity, water use efficiency (WUE) and net returns under PB + MB were significantly increased by 28.2–30.7%, 27.8–31.0% and 36.8–40.5% compared to CT respectively, during three years of experimentation. Integration of MB in MW system contributed 24.9 and 27.6% increases in system productivity and net returns compared with no MB, respectively. SSNM based nutrient management increased the mean (averaged across 3 yrs) system productivity, WUE and net returns of MW system by 13.4%, 13.3% and 15.3% compared with FFP, respectively. Study showed that conservation agriculture based sustainable intensification (PB + MB) and SSNM approach provided opportunities for enhancing crop and water use efficiency, and profitability of MW system in North-West IGP of India.Not Availabl