Fill Duration Research Articles

Prescribers of opioids for head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors.

12085 Background: Older HNC survivors often experience post-treatment pain, and they have concerningly high rates of unsafe opioid prescribing per CDC guidelines (e.g., high doses, concurrent benzodiazepines). Because interventions to improve opioid safety should target providers who prescribe opioids to HNC survivors, we aimed to identify post-treatment opioid prescriber specialty. Methods: Using the national linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry and Medicare claims data, we identified adults age >65 diagnosed 2014-2017 with stage I-III HNC and who had ≥6 months treatment-free follow-up prior to censoring at further treatment, new cancer, hospice, death, or end 2019. Each opioid fill was assigned to a prescriber specialty: oncology (medical, radiation), surgery, primary care (internal medicine, family practice, geriatrics), pain, or other. Prescriber patterns (number of fills, duration of fill, annual opioid receipt) were summarized across follow-up and stratified by year. Multinomial logistic regression models captured trends in prescribing, accounting for clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Among 5547 HNC survivors, 2951 (53%) had ≥1 opioid fill (median 2.1 years follow-up). Primary care providers (PCPs) prescribed 49% of all fills (46%-53% each year). PCPs prescribed opioids to 49% of survivors with ≥1 opioid fill, a greater share than other specialties. PCPs prescribed longer supplies of opioids (median 30 days/fill and median 45 days/year) than oncologists or surgeons. The likelihood of an opioid being prescribed by an oncologist or surgeon was ≥5 times lower than by a PCP. Over follow-up, rates of opioid prescribing by oncologists decreased relative to rates of prescribing by PCPs (Table). Conclusions: Primary care involvement in opioid prescribing remains high over post-treatment HNC survivorship. Interventions to address unsafe opioid prescribing for HNC survivors should target the primary care setting, as is typical for opioid-reduction efforts in the non-cancer population. [Table: see text]

QTL mapping reveals malt barley quality improvement in two dryland environments associated with extended grain fill and seminal root traits

AbstractTo achieve malt grade and receive full price, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crops must meet standards for certain quality traits including percent plump and protein. Terminal drought stress reduces quality and is projected to worsen in barley cultivation areas, underscoring the need for varieties that maintain good malt production with unreliable precipitation. The stay‐green trait extends the grain fill phase between heading and maturity and has been linked to stable quality under dry conditions. However, this relationship can be inconsistent and is not well understood. To effectively leverage a longer grain fill phenotype for drought adaptation, a better grasp of its genetics and environmental interaction is needed. Stay‐green root system differences have been observed and could be at play. We performed correlation and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis on grain fill duration, grain quality, and seminal root traits using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population segregating for stay‐green. Agronomic data were collected in four field trials at two distinct semiarid locations, and roots were measured in a greenhouse assay. Earlier heading and later maturity led to improved quality in both locations and more consistent quality between locations. Earlier heading had a greater influence on quality in the drier environment, while later maturity was more impactful in the less dry environment. We observed co‐locations of seminal root trait QTLs with grain fill duration and grain quality. These QTLs lay the groundwork for further investigation into root phenotypes associated with stay‐green and the deployment of these traits in breeding for drought adaptation.

Medication fill duration in pediatric hypertension: adherence, blood pressure control, and disparities.

Medication nonadherence is a barrier to hypertension control. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends prescribing 90-day fills for maintenance medications yet antihypertensives are often dispensed as 30-day fills. Our objectives were to examine how often patients receive 30-day supplies of medication despite prescriptions for longer duration and to examine the effect of medication fill duration on adherence and hypertension control. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients with hypertension over a 3-year period. For each patient, days prescribed per fill were compared to days dispensed per fill using pharmacy reports and insurance claim data. Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) was calculated to estimate adherence. Hypertension control was determined by provider assessment of control and blood pressure measurement at the final visit. Final cohort included 449 patients. A total of 70% had at least one prescription for ≥ 90days but only 37% had at least one dispense for ≥ 90days. There was no difference in the likelihood of being prescribed a 90-day fill by insurance type (public vs. private); however, patients with public insurance were less likely to be dispensed a 90-day fill (OR = 0.068, p < 0.001). Patients who received 90-day fills had better adherence (median PDC 77.5% vs. 58.1%, p < 0.001) and were more likely to have hypertension control based on provider assessment. Longer fill duration is associated with improved adherence and hypertension control. Patients with public insurance are markedly less likely to be dispensed 90-day fills, a modifiable barrier to improving adherence.

NDVI and grain fill duration are important to be considered in breeding for terminal heat stress tolerance in wheat

AbstractTerminal heat stress is a major constraint for taking a profitable crop of wheat by small and marginal farmers in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains of south Asia. Hence, breeders remain in constant search for heat‐tolerant genotypes. This study was done with the purpose to find out high‐yielding wheat genotypes that perform stably under terminal heat stress as well as to conclude an easy phenotyping trait for this objective. A cross (HUW 234 × HUW 468) was made using two popular cultivars of the eastern Gangetic Plains of India. HUW 234 carries terminal heat tolerance whereas, HUW 468 is high yielding but suffers from terminal heat stress when planted late. So obtained 167 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were exposed to both timely sown (TS) and late sown (LS) conditions at three locations for two consecutive years 2016–17 and 2017–18 at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) and Pusa, Samastipur (Bihar). Combined ANOVA revealed that normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at anthesis stage (NDVI_AH) and grain filling duration (GFD) was significant for genotype (G), environment (E) and genotype × environment interaction (GEI). Likewise, differences were significant for grain yield (GY) and 1000‐grain weight (TGW). AMMI analysis revealed similar results. However, NDVI_AH showed low variation under heat stressed late sown conditions. Furthermore, the which‐won‐where model and mean versus stability identified the best performing, above‐average yielding and stable lines across the environments. Correlation among measured traits revealed that NDVI_AH had a significant association with GY in most of the environments. Several lines that performed superior to better parent for GY also showed higher values for NDVI_AH and GFD. The study demonstrates that NDVI_AH and GFD appear to be important traits to be considered while breeding for terminal heat stress tolerance in wheat.

Relationships between roots, the stay‐green phenotype, and agronomic performance in barley and wheat grown in semi‐arid conditions

AbstractStay‐green is a phenotype that crop breeders could use to improve drought adaptation. It increases the duration of grain fill in several species including barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maintaining yield in semi‐arid conditions. Evidence from controlled environment experiments suggests a connection between stay‐green and root systems. These belowground structures are understudied and thus represent opportunity for crop improvement if relationships to agronomics can be understood. Minirhizotrons facilitate study of these relationships by allowing repeated nondestructive root measurements in field conditions. However, this is time‐consuming, and proxies would be useful for increasing throughput capacity of root research. Here we present results from field trials with minirhizotrons in a semi‐arid environment, as well as greenhouse seedling assays conducted on stay‐green and non‐stay‐green barley and wheat lines. In barley, stay‐green and greater yield were primarily associated with greater deep root length and delayed root senescence, whereas in wheat, yield was most strongly correlated with total root length, and root system differences for stay‐green were not as apparent. We speculate that the physiology of stay‐green is different between these two species, and that barley may use a more efficient root system to withstand drought whereas wheat relies on a larger one. Several seedling traits related consistently to field root traits, but correlation directions were often opposite between barley and wheat. The connections between traits presented here could be useful for breeders seeking to improve crop adaptation to drought, but more genotypes and environments will need to be tested.

Field Study of the Effects of Two Different Environmental Conditions on Wheat Productivity and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Induction (OJIP) Parameters

Wheat is one of the main cereal crops for ensuring food supply. Thus, increasing grain yield is a major target for plant breeders, where insights into wheat productivity can be gained by studying the activity of the components of photosynthetic apparatus. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the agronomical performance of three winter wheat varieties and test photosynthetic efficiency over two different locations. Chlorophyll fluorescence was used to evaluate the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) (TR0/ABS) and performance index on absorption basis (PIabs) of flag leaves and glumes of heads at the flowering stage until the mid-senescence stage. The grain yield of all varieties on average was significantly higher at Osijek compared to Tovarnik. Variety Tika Taka exhibited the highest yield reduction (27.1%) at Tovarnik compared to Osijek, followed by El Nino (20.5%) and Vulkan (18.7%), respectively. A higher amount of precipitation in June at Tovarnik provoked higher Fusarium head blight disease intensity, which could be seen as the bleaching of plant heads at the plots and resulted in an earlier decrease in photosynthetic activity. Therefore, earlier senescence and contracted grain fill duration could occur.

Delaying or delivering: identification of novel NAM-1 alleles that delay senescence to extend wheat grain fill duration.

Senescence is a complex trait under genetic and environmental control, in which resources are remobilized from vegetative tissue into grain. Delayed senescence, or ‘staygreen’ traits, can confer stress tolerance, with extended photosynthetic activity hypothetically sustaining grain filling. The genetics of senescence regulation are largely unknown, with senescence variation often correlated with phenological traits. Here, we confirm staygreen phenotypes of two Triticum aestivum cv. Paragon ethyl methane sulfonate mutants previously identified during a forward genetic screen and selected for their agronomic performance, similar phenology, and differential senescence phenotypes. Grain filling experiments confirmed a positive relationship between onset of senescence and grain fill duration, reporting an associated ~14% increase in final dry grain weight for one mutant (P<0.05). Recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations segregating for the timing of senescence were developed for trait mapping purposes and phenotyped over multiple years under field conditions. Quantification and comparison of senescence metrics aided RIL selection, facilitating exome capture-enabled bulk segregant analysis (BSA). Using BSA we mapped our two staygreen traits to two independent, dominant, loci of 4.8 and 16.7 Mb in size encompassing 56 and 142 genes, respectively. Combining association analysis with variant effect prediction, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms encoding self-validating mutations located in NAM-1 homoeologues, which we propose as gene candidates.

Combined effects of a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein and a NAC transcription factor extend grain fill duration and improve malt barley agronomic performance.

Two key barley genes independently control anthesis and senescence timing, enabling the manipulation of grain fill duration, grain size/plumpness, and grain protein concentration. Plant developmental processes such as flowering and senescence have direct effects on cereal yield and quality. Previous work highlighted the importance of two tightly linked genes encoding a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein (HvGR-RBP1) and a NAC transcription factor (HvNAM1), controlling barley anthesis timing, senescence, and percent grain protein. Varieties that differ in HvGR-RBP1 expression, 'Karl'(low) and 'Lewis'(high), also differ in sequence 1KB upstream of translation start site, including an ~ 400bp G rich insertion in the 5'-flanking region of the 'Karl' allele, which could disrupt gene expression. To improve malt quality, the (low-grain protein, delayed-senescence) 'Karl' HvNAM1 allele was introgressed into Montana germplasm. After several seasons of selection, the resulting germplasm was screened for the allelic combinations of HvGR-RBP1 and HvNAM1, finding lines combining 'Karl' alleles for both genes (-/-), lines combining 'Lewis' (functional, expressed) HvGR-RBP1 with 'Karl' HvNAM1 alleles ( ±), and lines combining 'Lewis' alleles for both genes (+ / +). Field experiments indicate that the functional ('Lewis,' +) HvGR-RBP1 allele is associated with earlier anthesis and with slightly shorter plants, while the 'Karl' (-) HvNAM1 allele delays maturation. Genotypes carrying the ± allele combination therefore had a significantly (3days) extended grain fill duration, leading to a higher percentage of plump kernels, slightly enhanced test weight, and lower grain protein concentration when compared to the other allele combinations. Overall, our data suggest an important function for HvGR-RBP1 in the control of barley reproductive development and set the stage for a more detailed functional analysis of this gene.

Timing of sacral neurostimulation is important for increasing bladder capacity in the anesthetized rat.

We assessed the effects of limited application of sacral neurostimulation (SNS) during bladder filling on bladder capacity using our previously published SNS model in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were urethane anesthetized (1.2 g/kg sc) and implanted with jugular venous and transvesical bladder catheters. L6/S1 nerve trunks were isolated bilaterally, and two electrodes were placed on each exposed nerve. True bladder capacity (TBC) was determined using stable single-fill cystometrograms. In the first series of experiments, SNS was applied at the onset of bladder filling for 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the previous control filling cycle duration (n = 10). In the second series of experiments, SNS was applied during the first, second, third, and fourth 25% and the first and second 50% of the control fill. In the first series, a significant increase in TBC was observed only when SNS was applied for 75% or 100% of the control fill duration (30% and 35%, respectively, P < 0.05). In the second series, significant increases in TBC only occurred during the fourth 25% period and second 50% period (32% and 43%, respectively, P < 0.001). Results from the second series also revealed an increase in subsequent single-fill bladder capacities (TBC) only when SNS was applied during the second 50% of the prior fill cycle. These data indicate that the application of SNS during the final 50% of the bladder fill cycle is necessary and sufficient for increasing bladder capacity.

Association of Grain Filling Duration and Leaf Activity with the Grain Yield in Field-Grown Temperate Japonica Rice

Association of Grain Filling Duration and Leaf Activity with the Grain Yield in Field-Grown Temperate Japonica Rice

Evaluating heat tolerance of a complete set of wheat‐Aegilops geniculata chromosome addition lines

AbstractHeat stress limits wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield potential in many areas of the world, and wild relatives represent an important novel source of genetic tolerance. In a previous study of various Aegilops species, an accession of Aegilops geniculata, TA2899, was reported to be heat tolerant. Prior to that, a complete set of wheat‐Ae. geniculata chromosome addition lines were developed using the same accession. The objective of this study was to screen the full set of addition lines to identify the chromosome(s) which carried the heat tolerance. The addition lines, Chinese Spring, as well as heat tolerant, and susceptible controls were screened twice for post‐anthesis heat tolerance in growth chambers. Genotypes varied for temperature treatment (p &lt; .05), but no differences were found between Chinese Spring and the addition lines. Additionally, no genotypes were superior to positive controls for grain fill duration. The proposed reason is that the TA2899 which was previously identified as heat tolerant should be reclassified as Aegilops peregrina. This is supported by spike morphology and marker correlations using genotyping‐by‐sequencing. Despite negative results, the methodology is valid and the results remain important to report, if for no other reason than to prevent another researcher from investigating this question.

Effect of Irrigation Withholding in Reproductive Stages and Biofertilizers on Quantity and Quality of Yield and Grain Filling Duration of Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

Effect of Irrigation Withholding in Reproductive Stages and Biofertilizers on Quantity and Quality of Yield and Grain Filling Duration of Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

Relationship among Heterosis, Combining Ability and SSR Based Genetic Distance in Single Cross Hybrids of Maize (Zea Mays L)

Relationship among Heterosis, Combining Ability and SSR Based Genetic Distance in Single Cross Hybrids of Maize (Zea Mays L) Combining ability and heterosis for different morphological and quality traits were studied under three environments using 10 inbred lines, 45 single cross hybrids and three commercial hybrids as checks at SHIATS, Allahabad, India during monsoon, 2014. Ten simple sequence markers (SSR) were used to quantify genetic distance, which was further used to analyse relationship with combining ability and heterosis in single cross hybrids. Pearson’s correlation and linear regression were analysed to identify the important factors determining heterosis and per se performance of hybrids. Variances due to general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were found to be significant for all but their interaction with environments were significant only for morphological traits. SSR marker bnlg 1523 was found as a potential marker for discriminating maize inbred lines at molecular level as it has high PIC (0.71) and gene diversity (0.74). Significant positive association were recorded for per se performance with mid parent heterosis (MPH) and best parent heterosis (BPH) along with high coefficient of determination for days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, days to 50% maturity, seed fill duration, number of grain rows/cob, number of grains/row, 100 seed weight, grain yield/plant, starch, protein and oil content. Moreover, F1’s grain yield showed significant positive relationship with varying degree to MPH, BPH and SCA of hybrids in all environments. Correlation of SSR based genetic distance with heterosis and combining ability was significant positive for oil content but non-significant positive or negative for other traits indicating the significant role of SSR based genetic distance for determining heterosis and combining ability of oil content. Besides, SCA was found as a key determinant for heterosis and mean performance of all morphological and quality traits...

Genetic Diversity Analysis in Sub-tropical Maize (Zea Mays L.) germplasm

The present investigation was conducted to examine the genetic diversity existing among 50 genotypes of maize, during Rabi-2014sown under randomized block design with three replications. The data were recorded for sixteen quantitative characters to obtain estimates of variability, heritability, genetic advance and genetic divergence. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for all the characters studied except for number of cobs per plant. High estimates of GCV and PCV were observed for leaf area indexfollowed by leaf area per plant and number of grains per row. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for leaf area per plant and plant height. MahalanobisD 2 analysis revealed considerable amount of diversity in the material. The 50genotypes were grouped into 8 heterogeneous clusters. Among these clusters,Cluster Ihad maximum number of genotypes (14 genotypes).On the basis of mean performance genotypesHKI 193-1-1, R-13-1, TARUN 83-1-32, R-13-1-17 was found to be the best genotypes in Allahabad agro-climatic conditions. The characters such as leaf area per plant, plant height, days to 50 % tasseling, days to 50 % silking, seed fill duration and cob height showed high heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance which indicates that there is more chance of inheritance from progeny to their offspring, therefore these characters should be given top priority for effective selection.The present investigation revealed that ClusterVI and VIIIwere most diverse.Genotypes constituted in these clusters may be used as parents for future

Effect of Transplanting Times on Rate and Duration of Grain Filling, Final Grain Weight and Grain Yield of Rice Cultivars

Effect of Transplanting Times on Rate and Duration of Grain Filling, Final Grain Weight and Grain Yield of Rice Cultivars

Discrimination of maize (Zea maysL.) inbreds for morphophysiological and yield traits byD2 statistics and principal component analysis (PCA)

To discriminate maize inbred lines based on morpho-physiological and yield traits using D statistics and principal component analysis (PCA), fifty five genotypes available at Department of Genetics and Plant breeding, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture Science and Technology, Allahabad were tested during Rabi 2013-14 under irrigation condition in Randomized Block Design with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for 18 characters studied among the genotypes. The D statistics displayed that cluster I, being largest group, comprises 37 maize genotypes followed by cluster II (13), III (3), IV (1) and V (1). The maximum intra-cluster distance was obtained for cluster I (624.35) while cluster IV and V showed Null values for it indicating homogeneous nature of the genotypes within the cluster. Further more, maximum inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster IV and V (22331.82) followed by clusters III and V (15174.83) and clusters II and IV 14480.99). D statistics and principal component analysis (PCA) emphasized that days to 50 per cent tasseling, silking and maturity, anthesis-silking interval, seed fill duration, cob weight, 100 seed weight and grain yield/plant were major contributing traits for total genetic diversity. Research results indicated that the inbreds under study are highly diversified and hence, high heterotic hybrids would be resulted through the crossing of diverse lines clubbed under different clusters as parent in any breeding programme aimed to enhance grain yield.

Effect of irrigation levels and bed-system of planting on seed fill duration, seed growth rate, yield and yield components of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) under semiarid condition

Effect of irrigation levels and bed-system of planting on seed fill duration, seed growth rate, yield and yield components of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) under semiarid condition

Partitioning of Accumulated Dry Matter Along the Seed Fill Duration of some Wheat Varieties (Triticumaestivuml.)

Seven wheat varieties were cultivated during the winter seasons of 2013 and 2014 in Sulaimani Crop Research Center - Bakrajo. A Field experiment was conducted each year as CRBD with three replications.The most important vegetative and reproductive criteria were studied as well as dry matter accumulation and its partitioing through destructive samples. They were taken every 10 days in order to study the partitioning of assimilates to different parts of the plant leaf, stem, and spike under different environmental factors of the two years.The influence of the duration length of seed filling on the accumulated dry matter and its partitioning to the spike, the Spike Partitioning Coefficient and growth parameters such as Seed Growth Rate (SGR) and Seed Filling Duration (SFD)were studied. Environmental factors were influenced the Dry matter accumulation and the partitioning of assimilates as well as the length of the growth stages especially SFD.

The incidence of unexplained visual loss following removal of silicone oil.

To assess the incidence and clinical features of unexpected visual loss after removal of silicone oil (ROSO). A retrospective cross-sectional observational study of 421 consecutive eyes, which underwent silicone oil removal at one institution over a 2-year period. Fourteen (3.3%) patients, (12 male, mean age of 53.1 years) suffered unexplained visual loss. In these eyes, the mean duration of silicone oil fill was 141 days (range 76-218). The mean loss of visual acuity was 3.7 (range 2-6) Snellen lines (SL) at 1 month, 3.5 (2-6) SL at 3 months and 2.91 (0-6) SL at 6 months. The change from preoperative visual acuity was statistically significant at all visits (P=0.02). Subgroup analysis of 20 fovea-sparing giant retinal tear (GRT) detachments, observed 10 (50%) cases of visual loss after ROSO. Electrodiagnostic testing suggested predominantly macular dysfunction, with optic nerve involvement in one case. Five of the 14 cases had variable recovery of vision. There is a 3.3% overall incidence of visual loss following ROSO with a high rate (50%) observed in maculae on GRT detachments. Although recovery of visual acuity is seen in a minority of cases, visual loss after ROSO remains a serious and unexplained concern for vitreoretinal surgeons.

Tillage, Residue, Fertilizer and Weed Management on Phenology and Yield of Spring Maize in Terai, Nepal

With the aim of developing crop management technologies that reduce the yield gap of maize (Zea mays L.) in Nepal, a study was carried-out to determine whether the grain yield of maize could be manipulated through tillage, residue, and nutrient and weed management practices. The effect of tillage (conventional and no tillage), residue (residue retained and residue removed), fertilizer (recommended doses of fertilizer and farmers’ doses of fertilizer) and weed management practices (herbicide use and manual weeding) on phenology and grain yield of maize were investigated under maize-rice cropping system in Rampur, Nepal during 2013. The experimental results revealed that no tillage had significant effect on grain yield (6.64 Mg ha-1) and phenological parameters like days to silking, physiological maturity and seed fill duration. Similarly, residue retained treatment had significant effect on grain yield (7.02 Mg ha-1) and phenological parameters. Research dose of fertilizer had significant effect on phenological parameters and grain yield (8.42 Mg ha-1). However, weed management factor did not influence significantly on grain yield and phenological parameters. The grain yield increased in no tillage by 23.19% over conventional tillage, residue retained by 39.84% over residue removed, recommended doses of fertilizer by 132.60% over farmer dose of fertilizer. Thus, no tillage, residue retention, recommended doses of fertilizer and use of herbicide for weed management can be alternative technologies for sustainable higher grain yield. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i3.11001Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(3): 328-335