Physiological Efficiency of some Weeds Species under Hill Farming Systems of Subtropical Meghalaya

Weeds are integral part of any farming system. Weeds are more aggressive in their ability to utilize limited moisture and nutrients in the soil relative to cultivated crops. Weeds grow more profusely in high rainfall areas such as subtropical Meghalaya owing to favourable climatic conditions which favours the growth of weeds particularly in uplands and limits the crop yields due to increased crop-weed competition for nutrients and light. The weed species such as Ageratum conyzoides, Spilanthus acmella, Galinsoga parviflora, Bidens pilosa, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Polygonum capitatum, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Amaranthus spinosus and Mikania micrantha are very common in most of the cultivated crops. These weeds are also very common in grazing lands, wastelands, agroforestry systems, abandoned fields etc. in northeast India and some of them are also consumed as green vegetables by the local inhabitants. Most of these weeds are also a menace in fodder cultivation and managing grasslands. A high rate of photosynthesis is always associated with higher productivity, unless sink capacity is limiting. However, studies on photosynthesis and its associated parameters in relation to crop-weed competition are limited. Therefore, an attempt was made to study the photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and other associated parameters in major crops and the associated weed species under hill environment

Inadequate Regulation Contributes to Mislabeled Online Cannabidiol Products

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Veterans Affairs San Diego, RTI international, Americans for Safe Access, Palo Alto University and Johns Hopkins University analyzed the content of 84 cannabidiol (CBD) products purchased on the internet and compared the results to their advertised concentrations

Soil Quality Parameters and Carbon Stock as Influenced by Fodder Grasses and Organic Amendments in an Alfisol of Northeastern India

Intensive tillage, cultivation along the slope, low input, minimal nutrient replacement and high rainfall are among major causes of land degradation in the north eastern hill (NEH) region (Ghosh et al. 2009). Maintaining and enhancing soil quality are crucial to sustaining agricultural productivity and environmental quality (Lal, 2004). Continuous cropping, without use of conservation-effective measures, has negative effects on the soil and environment (e.g., loss of SOC, soil erosion, water pollution). Thus, soil management methods are needed that enhance use efficiency of inputs, reduce losses and minimize adverse impacts on the environment (Bilalis et al. 2009). Perennial grasses provide year- round ground cover, which reduces run-off and soil erosion from sloping land (Ghosh et al. 2009). Cultivation of forages in degraded and sloping lands not only supply green palatable fodders to livestocks but also rehabilitates the degraded soils by improving physico-chemical properties. Forages have strong root systems compared to field crops (such as rice, maize etc.), protect soil and improve aggregation (Ghosh et al. 2009). Soils under perennial grasses and those which are undisturbed for a long time are potential C sinks because the grasses add organic matter (OM) to soils through root growth, and decline in OM decomposition because of lack of tillage. Further, conversion of degraded cropland soils to forages and perennial grasses lead to C sequestration (Grandy and Robertson, 2007). Thus, present investigation was conducted with the objective to assess the impact of perennial forage grasses and organic amendments on soil properties and C-sequestration potential

Modeling correlation indices between bladder and Foley's catheter balloon dose with CT-based planning using limited CT slices in intracavitary brachytherapy for carcinoma of cervix

Purpose: To derive and validate an index to correlate the bladder dose with the catheter balloon dose using limited computed tomography (CT) slices. Materials and Methods: Applicator geometry reconstructed from orthogonal radiographs were back-projected on CT images of the same patients for anatomy-based dosimetric evaluation. The correlation indices derived using power function of the catheter balloon dose and the bladder volume dose were validated in 31 patients with cervical cancer. Results: There was significant correlation between International Commission on Radiation Units (ICRU)-38 balloon reference dose (Dr) and the dose received by 25% bladder volume (D 25 ) (P < 0.0001). Significant correlation was also found between the reference dose of mid-balloon point (D rm ) and the dose to D 25 (P < 0.0001). Average percentage difference [100 x (observed index - expected index) / expected index] of observed value of I\u2032 25 (index for the dose to D25 bladder with respect to mid-balloon reference point) from that of expected value was 0.52%, when the index was modeled with reference dose alone. Similarly the average percentage difference for I\u203210cc (index for the dose to 10 cc volume of bladder with respect to mid balloon point) was 0.84%. When this index was modeled with absolute bladder volume and reference dose, standard deviation of the percentage difference between observed and expected index for D rm reduced by approximately 2% when compared to D r . Conclusion: For clinical applications, correlation index modeled with reference dose and volume predicts dose to absolute volume of bladder. Correlation index modeled with reference dose gives a good estimate of dose to relative bladder volume. From our study, we found D rm to be a better indicator of bladder dose than D r

Validation of EpiTRAQ, a transition readiness assessment tool for adolescents and young adults with epilepsy

ObjectiveTo design and validate a transition readiness assessment tool for adolescents and young adults with epilepsy and without intellectual disability.MethodsWe adapted a general transition readiness assessment tool (TRAQ) to add epilepsy‐relevant items based on concepts in current epilepsy quality measures. The adapted tool, EpiTRAQ, maintained the original structure and scoring system. Concurrent with clinical implementation in pediatric and adult epilepsy clinics at an academic medical center, we assessed the validity and reliability of this adapted tool for patients 16‐26 years of age. This process included initial validation with 302 patients who completed EpiTRAQ between October 2017 and May 2018; repeat validation with 381 patients who completed EpiTRAQ between June 2018 and September 2019; and retest reliability among 153 patients with more than one completed EpiTRAQ.ResultsMean scores were comparable between initial and repeat validation populations (absolute value differences between 0.05 and 0.1); internal consistency ranged from good to high. For both the initial and repeat validation, mean scores and internal consistency demonstrated high comparability to the original TRAQ validation results. Upon retest, few patients rated themselves with a lower score, while the majority rated themselves with higher scores.SignificanceEpiTRAQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing transition readiness in adolescents and young adults with epilepsy and without intellectual disability.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162789/2/epi412427_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162789/1/epi412427.pd

A Phase II Basket Trial of Dual Anti-CTLA-4 and Anti-PD-1 Blockade in Rare Tumors (DART SWOG 1609) in Patients with Nonpancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

PurposeImmune checkpoint blockade has improved outcomes across tumor types; little is known about the efficacy of these agents in rare tumors. We report the results of the (nonpancreatic) neuroendocrine neoplasm cohort of SWOG S1609 dual anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 blockade in rare tumors (DART).Patients and methodsWe performed a prospective, open-label, multicenter phase II clinical trial of ipilimumab plus nivolumab across multiple rare tumor cohorts, with the (nonpancreatic) neuroendocrine cohort reported here. Response assessment by grade was not prespecified. The primary endpoint was overall response rate [ORR; RECIST v1.1; complete response (CR) and partial response (PR)]; secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), stable disease >6 months, and toxicity.ResultsThirty-two eligible patients received therapy; 18 (56%) had high-grade disease. Most common primary sites were gastrointestinal (47%; N = 15) and lung (19%; N = 6). The overall ORR was 25% [95% confidence interval (CI) 13-64%; CR, 3%, N = 1; PR, 22%, N = 7]. Patients with high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma had an ORR of 44% (8/18 patients) versus 0% in low/intermediate grade tumors (0/14 patients; P = 0.004). The 6-month PFS was 31% (95% CI, 19%-52%); median OS was 11 months (95% CI, 6-∞). The most common toxicities were hypothyroidism (31%), fatigue (28%), and nausea (28%), with alanine aminotransferase elevation (9%) as the most common grade 3/4 immune-related adverse event, and no grade 5 events.ConclusionsIpilimumab plus nivolumab demonstrated a 44% ORR in patients with nonpancreatic high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma, with 0% ORR in low/intermediate grade disease

Effect of Cannabidiol on Drop Seizures in the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

Background: Cannabidiol has been used for treatment-resistant seizures in patients with severe early-onset epilepsy. We investigated the efficacy and safety of cannabidiol added to a regimen of conventional antiepileptic medication to treat drop seizures in patients with the Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, a severe developmental epileptic encephalopathy. Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 30 clinical centers, we randomly assigned patients with the Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (age range, 2 to 55 years) who had had two or more drop seizures per week during a 28-day baseline period to receive cannabidiol oral solution at a dose of either 20 mg per kilogram of body weight (20-mg cannabidiol group) or 10 mg per kilogram (10-mg cannabidiol group) or matching placebo, administered in two equally divided doses daily for 14 weeks. The primary outcome was the percentage change from baseline in the frequency of drop seizures (average per 28 days) during the treatment period. Results: A total of 225 patients were enrolled; 76 patients were assigned to the 20-mg cannabidiol group, 73 to the 10-mg cannabidiol group, and 76 to the placebo group. During the 28-day baseline period, the median number of drop seizures was 85 in all trial groups combined. The median percent reduction from baseline in drop-seizure frequency during the treatment period was 41.9% in the 20-mg cannabidiol group, 37.2% in the 10-mg cannabidiol group, and 17.2% in the placebo group (P=0.005 for the 20-mg cannabidiol group vs. placebo group, and P=0.002 for the 10-mg cannabidiol group vs. placebo group). The most common adverse events among the patients in the cannabidiol groups were somnolence, decreased appetite, and diarrhea; these events occurred more frequently in the higher-dose group. Six patients in the 20-mg cannabidiol group and 1 patient in the 10-mg cannabidiol group discontinued the trial medication because of adverse events and were withdrawn from the trial. Fourteen patients who received cannabidiol (9%) had elevated liver aminotransferase concentrations. Conclusions: Among children and adults with the Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, the addition of cannabidiol at a dose of 10 mg or 20 mg per kilogram per day to a conventional antiepileptic regimen resulted in greater reductions in the frequency of drop seizures than placebo. Adverse events with cannabidiol included elevated liver aminotransferase concentrations. (Funded by GW Pharmaceuticals; GWPCARE3 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02224560.

The impact of hypsarrhythmia on infantile spasms treatment response: Observational cohort study from the National Infantile Spasms Consortium

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141801/1/epi13937_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141801/2/epi13937.pd

Crisis Standard of Care: Management of Infantile Spasms during COVID‐19

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156180/2/ana25792_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156180/1/ana25792.pd