Use of rainfall indices to analyze the effects of phosphate rocks on millet in the Sahel

Two critical factors that explain low crop productivity in the Sahelian agro-ecozone are inadequate moisture and poor soils, particularly phosphorus (P) deficiency. The purpose of this long-term study was to explore the use of both local phosphate rock (PR) and inorganic P on yields and risk of millet returns under the uncertain rainfall regimes in the Sahel. Using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Percent Confidence Limits (PCL) of the mean rainfall, the 10-year experimental period was grouped into rainfall classes. Results showed that the inorganic P fertilizers, that is, single superphosphate and triple superphosphate (SSP+N and TSP) gave the highest average yields. Also, millet yield increased with increasing P rates. However, typical farmers in the Sahel barely use P rates above 20 kg ha-1 in view of the high cost of imported fertilizers. A low application rate of the local PR, 10 kg P ha-1, increased millet yield between 44 and 67%. Stability analysis using yields from 15 farmers’ fields indicated that the traditional method of growing millet was the least stable (s.e. = 225) and had the lowest yield (314 kg ha-1). Generally, millet responded to P better when the preseason (May-June) were wet than dry, except where the non-acidulated PR (PRA) was applied every year (R2=0.99, P < 0.01) for both dry and wet preseasons. Risk analysis showed that acidulated PR regardless of rates gave the highest millet returns over variable cost of P fertilizer. The study recommends the promotion PR in order to guarantee stable yields and income for small farmers in the Sahel

Trend and stability analyses of millet yields treated with fertilizer and crop residues in the Sahel

Pearl millet (Penisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) is a major food crop grown on impoverished sandy soils in the Sahel. A 9-year long-term study was undertaken in the Sahel to test the hypothesis that integrated use of millet crop residues retained on farm fields after harvest and mineral fertilizers results in greater and more sustainable yields and conserve soil fertility better than either the use of residue or fertilizer alone. The four treatments compared were: (1) control (crop residue removed and no fertilizer applied), (2) crop residue alone, (3) 30 kg N+13 kg P ha-1 (fertilizer) alone and (4) crop residue+fertilizer. Use of crop residue+fertilizer increased grain yield fourfold over the control; use of fertilizer doubled millet yield relative to the control and crop residues resulted in 1.2 times more yield than the control. Crop residues significantly improved nutrient-use efficiency of the applied fertilizer. Sustainability yield index (SYI), a measure of an upward trend in yield over time, was greatest in crop residue+fertilizer plots as are soil organic carbon, available P and pH. Stability analysis indicated that crop residue+fertilizer treatment gave in greater yields and returns over fertilizer cost in the various seasons than either crop residue or fertilizer

Simulated weather variables effects on millet fertilized with phosphate rock in the Sahel

The Sudano–Sahelian agroecological zone is characterized by low and variable rainfall regimes and P deficiency. The present study complements previous research efforts and the objective was (i) to use the Newhall Simulation Model (NSM) to characterize three ICRISAT research sites, and (ii) to use output of NSM to develop an empirical model to guide efficient use of rainfall and fertilizers. The results show that length of the periods that rainfall exceeded evapotranspiration was larger in Bengou than in Gobery and Sadoré. Total positive moisture balance during the three growing seasons was 85.7 mm at Bengou and 19.7 mm at Sadoré. The model explained 52% of the variability in millet yields based on curvilinear response to P fertilizer, standardized May–June (Rmj) rainfall, and the number of wet days in the year (BW3). Yields appear more sensitive to BW3 than to Rmj. Their respective elasticity coefficients (E c ) were 0.62 and 0.09. Assessment of the model using R2=0.76 and the D-index = 0.85 showed reasonable agreement between model estimation and actual field yields. The study demonstrates the application of simulation models as a cost-effective means in terms of time and funds to agronomic researc

Standardized precipitation index and nitrogen rate effects on crop yields and risk distribution in

Abstract Crop performance in rainfed cropping systems generally is dependent on rainfall amount and distribution. The objective of this study was to analyze the long-term consequences of rainfall expressed as a standardized precipitation index (SPI) and fertilizer nitrogen (N) on yields and risk probabilities of maize in the udic-ustic moisture regimes in the Great Plains in Nebraska. The SPI is a precipitation index for classifying drought stress conditions. The study was conducted on a Kennebec silt loam (Cumulic Hapludoll) over an 11-year period, 1986-1996, using monoculture maize (Zea mays L.) and maize in rotation with soybean (Glycine max.(L.) Merr.) in combination with N fertilizer levels between 0 and 160 kg ha −1 . Maize yields in monoculture ranged from 4.8 to 5.7 Mg ha −1 , and from 6.4 to 6.8 Mg ha −1 in rotation. The differences in yields between monoculture and rotation were larger at low N rates and decreased as N fertilizer increased above 40 kg ha −1 . Current year&apos;s maize yields either exhibited a weak or no response to N fertilizer in years when the preceding preseason (October-April) and the previous growing season (May-August) were dry (negative SPI value). Regression of yield as the dependent variable and the 12-month April SPI as the independent variable explained up to 64% of yield variability in a curvilinear relationship. Optimum SPI values were in the range of −1.0 to 1.0, substantiating the adaptability and performance of crops under mild stress as proposed by other scientists. Prediction of subsequent yields using past SPI data was relatively better in rotations (R 2 =41-50%) than in monoculture (R 2 =15-40%). Risk, calculated as the lower confidence limit of maize returns over variable cost of fertilizer, was less in rotations than in monoculture, and in both cropping systems returns were maximized with the application of N fertilizer at 40 kg ha −1 . Used with other criteria, the SPI can be a practical guide to choice of crops, N levels, and management decisions to conserve water in rainfed systems

Enhancing life cycle product design decision-making processes: insights from normal accident theory and satisficing framework

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a computational tool used in sustainable product design decision making, faces challenges in the interpretation phase, where conclusions are drawn for improvement recommendations. This necessitate the need to incorporate into LCA management-relevant theoretical underpinnings to strengthen decision-making processes. Comparative LCA case studies of lead-based piezoelectric material (lead zirconate titanate – PZT) and lead-free alternatives (potassium sodium niobate – KNN, sodium bismuth titanate – NBT), was employed to demonstrate how two theoretical lenses, namely Normal Accident Theory (NAT) and Satisficing Framework, are used inductively to enhance decision making regarding unintended consequences in the value chain revealed by LCA outputs. The environmental analysis reveals NAT attributes of interactive complexity and tight coupling in piezoelectric materials, based on systems’ predictability, observability, and applicability, leading to the introduction of Environmental Impact Accident (EIA) as a new concept. EIA facilitates early assessment of the associated complexities influencing the sustainability credentials of piezoelectric materials, informing mitigation strategies. However, a conundrum is created when considering multiple objectives that conflict or trade-off between alternative piezoelectric materials with different environmental and health impacts across the value chain but was resolved using the Satisficing Framework. The paper concludes by proposing theoretical and practical policy options for incorporating LCA into product life cycle decision making

Enhancing life cycle product design decision-making processes : insights from normal accident theory and the satisficing framework

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a computational tool for enabling sustainable product design decision making, faces challenges in the interpretation phase, where conclusions are drawn for improvement recommendations. This necessitate the need to incorporate into LCA management-relevant theoretical underpinnings to strengthen decision-making processes. Comparative LCA case studies of lead-based piezoelectric material (lead zirconate titanate – PZT) and lead-free alternatives (potassium sodium niobate – KNN, sodium bismuth titanate – NBT), was employed to demonstrate how two theoretical lenses, namely Normal Accident Theory (NAT) and the Satisficing Framework, are used inductively to enhance decision making regarding unintended consequences in the value chain. By operationalising NAT, which has hitherto focused on the consequences of physical accidents, as a life cycle engineering-based methodology, NAT attributes of interactive complexity and tight coupling was revealed in piezoelectric materials, based on environmental systems’ predictability, observability, and applicability. This led to the introduction of Environmental Impact Accident (EIA) as a new concept, facilitating an early assessment of the associated complexities influencing the sustainability credentials of piezoelectric materials whilst informing mitigation strategies. However, when considering multiple objectives that conflict or trade-off between alternative piezoelectric materials with different environmental and health impacts across the value chain, a conundrum is created but resolved using the Satisficing Framework. The paper concludes by proposing theoretical and practical policy options for incorporating LCA into product life cycle decision making

KLK3 SNP-SNP interactions for prediction of prostate cancer aggressiveness.

Risk classification for prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness and underlying mechanisms remain inadequate. Interactions between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may provide a solution to fill these gaps. To identify SNP-SNP interactions in the four pathways (the angiogenesis-, mitochondria-, miRNA-, and androgen metabolism-related pathways) associated with PCa aggressiveness, we tested 8587 SNPs for 20,729 cases from the PCa consortium. We identified 3 KLK3 SNPs, and 1083 (P < 3.5 × 10-9) and 3145 (P < 1 × 10-5) SNP-SNP interaction pairs significantly associated with PCa aggressiveness. These SNP pairs associated with PCa aggressiveness were more significant than each of their constituent SNP individual effects. The majority (98.6%) of the 3145 pairs involved KLK3. The 3 most common gene-gene interactions were KLK3-COL4A1:COL4A2, KLK3-CDH13, and KLK3-TGFBR3. Predictions from the SNP interaction-based polygenic risk score based on 24 SNP pairs are promising. The prevalence of PCa aggressiveness was 49.8%, 21.9%, and 7.0% for the PCa cases from our cohort with the top 1%, middle 50%, and bottom 1% risk profiles. Potential biological functions of the identified KLK3 SNP-SNP interactions were supported by gene expression and protein-protein interaction results. Our findings suggest KLK3 SNP interactions may play an important role in PCa aggressiveness

Management of Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer: Report from the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2021.

BACKGROUND: Innovations in treatments, imaging, and molecular characterisation in advanced prostate cancer have improved outcomes, but various areas of management still lack high-level evidence to inform clinical practice. The 2021 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) addressed some of these questions to supplement guidelines that are based on level 1 evidence. OBJECTIVE: To present the voting results from APCCC 2021. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The experts identified three major areas of controversy related to management of advanced prostate cancer: newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), the use of prostate-specific membrane antigen ligands in diagnostics and therapy, and molecular characterisation of tissue and blood. A panel of 86 international prostate cancer experts developed the programme and the consensus questions. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The panel voted publicly but anonymously on 107 pre-defined questions, which were developed by both voting and non-voting panel members prior to the conference following a modified Delphi process. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The voting reflected the opinions of panellists and did not incorporate a standard literature review or formal meta-analysis. The answer options for the consensus questions received varying degrees of support from panellists, as reflected in this article and the detailed voting results reported in the Supplementary material. CONCLUSIONS: These voting results from a panel of experts in advanced prostate cancer can help clinicians and patients to navigate controversial areas of management for which high-level evidence is scant. However, diagnostic and treatment decisions should always be individualised according to patient characteristics, such as the extent and location of disease, prior treatment(s), comorbidities, patient preferences, and treatment recommendations, and should also incorporate current and emerging clinical evidence and logistic and economic constraints. Enrolment in clinical trials should be strongly encouraged. Importantly, APCCC 2021 once again identified salient questions that merit evaluation in specifically designed trials. PATIENT SUMMARY: The Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference is a forum for discussing current diagnosis and treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer. An expert panel votes on predefined questions focused on the most clinically relevant areas for treatment of advanced prostate cancer for which there are gaps in knowledge. The voting results provide a practical guide to help clinicians in discussing treatment options with patients as part of shared decision-making

The p21-Dependent Radiosensitization of Human Breast Cancer Cells by MLN4924, an Investigational Inhibitor of NEDD8 Activating Enzyme

Radiotherapy is a treatment choice for local control of breast cancer. However, intrinsic radioresistance of cancer cells limits therapeutic efficacy. We have recently validated that SCF (SKP1, Cullins, and F-box protein) E3 ubiquitin ligase is an attractive radiosensitizing target. Here we tested our hypothesis that MLN4924, a newly discovered investigational small molecule inhibitor of NAE (NEDD8 Activating Enzyme) that inactivates SCF E3 ligase, could act as a novel radiosensitizing agent in breast cancer cells. Indeed, we found that MLN4924 effectively inhibited cullin neddylation, and sensitized breast cancer cells to radiation with a sensitivity enhancement ratio (SER) of 1.75 for SK-BR-3 cells and 1.32 for MCF7 cells, respectively. Mechanistically, MLN4924 significantly enhanced radiation-induced G2/M arrest in SK-BR-3 cells, but not in MCF7 cells at early time point, and enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis in both lines at later time point. However, blockage of apoptosis by Z-VAD failed to abrogate MLN4924 radiosensitization, suggesting that apoptosis was not causally related. We further showed that MLN4924 failed to enhance radiation-induced DNA damage response, but did cause minor delay in DNA damage repair. Among a number of tested SCF E3 substrates known to regulate growth arrest, apoptosis and DNA damage response, p21 was the only one showing an enhanced accumulation in MLN4924-radiation combination group, as compared to the single treatment groups. Importantly, p21 knockdown via siRNA partialy inhibited MLN4924-induced G2/M arrest and radiosensitization, indicating a causal role played by p21. Our study suggested that MLN4924 could be further developed as a novel class of radiosensitizer for the treatment of breast cancer