Research Agency Research Articles

Is there a link between talcum powder, oxidative stress, and ovarian cancer risk?

The link between talcum powder use and cancer, particularly ovarian cancer, has been a topic of scientific research and legal debate for several years. Studies have suggested a potential association between long-term talcum powder use in the genital area and an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The following report includes up-to-date evidence to support the potential link between talcum powder use and the risk of developing ovarian cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, classified talc-based body powder as possibly carcinogenic to humans when used in the female genital area. However, other studies have not consistently supported this association and thus more research is needed to establish a clear and definitive link between talcum powder use and cancer. Despite this, recent molecular level data has linked talc to alterations in redox balance, gene mutations, and inflammatory responses. Specifically, we have identified a role for talc to induce the pro-oxidant state, inhibit apoptosis, and more importantly induced cellular transformation in normal ovarian cells. We presented unequivocal evidence to support our opinion that talc is not biologically inert and induces molecular changes that mimics the hallmarks of cancer.

A Scholarly Dialog on Recent Trends in National Institutes of Health's Funding for the Thyroid Field.

Background: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the major funding agency for biomedical research in the United States. To initiate a scholarly dialog about research and career development in the thyroid field, here we reviewed recent trends in NIH funding for this area. We used the Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool database to estimate the level of NIH extramural support during 2013-2022 (number of active grants/year and $amount/year weighed by the total number of active grants/year and $amount/year), provided by the NIH to the thyroid field. We determined that in 2013, the NIH supported ∼140 grants/year, totaling almost $50 million/year, the majority in the form of R01 grants. Within the thyroid field, support was evenly split between thyroid cancer and thyroid hormone metabolism and action subareas. In the subsequent years (2014-2022), the total number of active grants peaked at 150/year ($55 million) in 2014 but progressively decreased to about 100 active grants/year ($30 million) in 2022. This trend occurred while the NIH budget increased from $29 to $46 billion/year. Globally, the number of thyroid-related publications increased by ∼70% during the study period, and the fractional contribution of several countries remained relatively stable, except for China which increased by ∼600%. Remarkably, the fraction of thyroid-related publications in the United States sponsored by the NIH decreased from 5.5% to 3.1% of the global number. Conclusion: These results constitute a very concerning scenario for research and education in the thyroid field. We appeal to the NIH, the professional societies in endocrinology and thyroidology, and all other relevant stakeholders such as thyroid-related professionals and thyroid patients to engage in further discussions to identify the root causes of this trend and implement an action plan to stabilize and eventually reverse this situation.

Gastric cancer actionable genomic alterations across diverse populations worldwide and pharmacogenomics strategies based on precision oncology

Introduction: Gastric cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Global Cancer Statistics (GLOBOCAN) reported an age standardized global incidence rate of 9.2 per 100,000 individuals for gastric cancer in 2022, with a mortality rate of 6.1. Despite considerable progress in precision oncology through the efforts of international consortia, understanding the genomic features and their influence on the effectiveness of anti-cancer treatments across diverse ethnic groups remains essential.Methods: Our study aimed to address this need by conducting integrated in silico analyses to identify actionable genomic alterations in gastric cancer driver genes, assess their impact using deleteriousness scores, and determine allele frequencies across nine global populations: European Finnish, European non-Finnish, Latino, East Asian, South Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Amish. Furthermore, our goal was to prioritize targeted therapeutic strategies based on pharmacogenomics clinical guidelines, in silico drug prescriptions, and clinical trial data.Results: Our comprehensive analysis examined 275,634 variants within 60 gastric cancer driver genes from 730,947 exome sequences and 76,215 whole-genome sequences from unrelated individuals, identifying 13,542 annotated and predicted oncogenic variants. We prioritized the most prevalent and deleterious oncogenic variants for subsequent pharmacogenomics testing. Additionally, we discovered actionable genomic alterations in the ARID1A, ATM, BCOR, ERBB2, ERBB3, CDKN2A, KIT, PIK3CA, PTEN, NTRK3, TP53, and CDKN2A genes that could enhance the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies, as suggested by in silico drug prescription analyses, reviews of current pharmacogenomics clinical guidelines, and evaluations of phase III and IV clinical trials targeting gastric cancer driver proteins.Discussion: These findings underline the urgency of consolidating efforts to devise effective prevention measures, invest in genomic profiling for underrepresented populations, and ensure the inclusion of ethnic minorities in future clinical trials and cancer research in developed countries.

Abstract PO3-25-02: Circadian Rhythm Disruption Accelerates Aggressive Mammary Tumorigenesis by Altering Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract \Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, leading to over 650,000 deaths worldwide. The circadian rhythm is a 24-hour biological rhythm that controls most cellular, hormonal, and behavioral processes in living organisms, which is why perturbation of these rhythms is linked to several devastating diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In the mammary gland, circadian clocks regulate the rhythmic expression of numerous genes. Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD), which has been termed a "carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research in Cancer, is caused by different factors, one of them being shift work. Several epidemiological studies have revealed that women who work night shifts are predisposed to breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of circadian rhythm disruption on aggressive mammary tumorigenesis. To do this, we used genetically engineered mouse models of mammary tumors (HER2-tumor and triple-negative breast tumor, or TNBC). Chronic jetlag, which mimics shift work in mice and is known to cause CRD, was introduced in one group of mice by perturbing the normal light and dark cycles with an 8-hour advance every three days. Wheel-running, which is represented by an actogram, was used to confirm the circadian disruption in the CRD mice. CRD was found to accelerate tumor initiation with a significant increase in weight in the CRD group of mice. CRD enhanced tumor burden significantly compared to LD mice. Our results also showed high metastatic foci in the lungs of CRD mice compared to LD mice. A flow cytometry study showed a higher cancer stem cell population in CRD tumors. Mammosphere assays with tumor-derived cells showed that CRD increased the number and size of the mammospheres compared to the control tumors. The tumor cells were analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing, which showed that CRD alters the tumor microenvironment by developing more immunosuppressive and "cold" tumors. The tumor-derived organoids (tumoroid) showed resistance to chemotherapeutics. Finally, bioinformatics analysis using single-cell RNA seq data from human breast tumors (TNBC, ER/PR, and HER2) showed that the malignant cells in TNBC tumors had a significantly higher circadian rhythm disrupted score (CRD score) compared to ER/PR tumors. Taken together, our data showed how circadian rhythm disruption affects TNBC tumorigenesis and drug response by altering the tumor microenvironment. Citation Format: Olajumoke Ogunlusi, Mrinmoy Sarkar, Tristan Nguyen, Devon Boland, James Cai, Arhit Chakrabarti, Bani Mallick, Alex Keene, Tapasree Roy Sarkar. Circadian Rhythm Disruption Accelerates Aggressive Mammary Tumorigenesis by Altering Tumor Microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-25-02.

Enhancing children's participation in dental research: A commentary.

The concept of childhood has evolved over the years, inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, shifting from developmental models to a conception of childhood that recognizes children as moral agents. This evolution highlights the importance of respecting children's agency and their right to be heard in matters that are related to them. In conventional health research, however, children's voices are often inadequately accessed. In this commentary, we discuss the imperative to recognize children's agency in dental research and a shift from research on children to research with and by children. Moreover, we underscore the importance of actively seeking and listening to children's voices and recognizing their agency in shaping research and healthcare practices in the field of dentistry. Further, we explore the application of participatory research approaches in dental research and provide examples of studies that have involved children in various capacities. We conclude this commentary by emphasizing the potential benefits of participatory research in both qualitative and quantitative dental studies to promote deeper understanding, clearer communication, and stronger advocacy regarding children's interests. Primarily, we call for greater recognition of children's agency in dental research and advocate for more inclusive and child-centred research methodologies.

Aflatoxin B1 inhibited the development of primary myoblasts of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by degrading extracellular matrix

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been recognized as a major contaminant in food and animal feed and which is a common mycotoxin with high toxicity. Previous research has found that AFB1 inhibited zebrafish muscle development. However, the potential mechanism of AFB1 on fish muscle development is unknown, so it is necessary to conduct further investigation. In the present research, the primary myoblast of grass carp was used as a model, we treated myoblasts with AFB1 for 24h. Our results found that 5μM AFB1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration (P < 0.05), and 10μM AFB1 promoted lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release (P < 0.05). Reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein carbonyl (PC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased in 15, 5 and 10μM AFB1 (P < 0.05), respectively. Catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities were decreased in 10, 10 and 15μM AFB1 (P < 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, 15μM AFB1 induced oxidative damage by Nrf2 pathway, also induced apoptosis in primary myoblast of grass carp. Meanwhile, 15μM AFB1 decreased MyoD gene and protein expression (P < 0.05). Importantly, 15μM AFB1 decreased the protein expression of collagen Ⅰ and fibronectin (P < 0.05), and increased the protein levels of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) (P < 0.05). As a result, our findings suggested that AFB1 damaged the cell morphology, induced oxidative damage and apoptosis, degraded ECM components, in turn inhibiting myoblast development by activating the p38MAPK/urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs)/extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling pathway.

Canadian colorectal cancer screening programs: How do they measure up using the International Agency for Research on Cancer criteria for organized screening?

Abstract Background Canada has one of the highest incidences of colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide. CRC screening improves CRC outcomes and is cost-effective. This study compares Canadian CRC screening programs using essential elements of an organized screening program outlined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Methods We collaborated with the Cancer Screening in 5 continents (CanScreen5) program, an initiative of IARC. Standardized data collection forms were sent to representatives of provincial and territorial CRC screening programs. Twenty-five questions were selected to reflect IARC’s essential elements of an organized screening program. We performed a qualitative analysis of Canada’s CRC screening programs and compared programs within Canada and internationally. Results CRC screening programs exist in 10 provinces and 2 territories. None of the programs in Canada met all the essential criteria of an organized screening program outlined by IARC. Three programs do not send invitations to participate in screening. Among those that do, 4 programs do not include a stool test kit in the invitations. While all provinces met the essential elements for leadership, governance, finance, and access to essential services, there was more heterogeneity in the domains of service delivery as well as information systems and quality assurance. Conclusions There is considerable heterogeneity in the design of CRC screening programs in Canada and worldwide. Programs should strive to meet all the essential IARC criteria for organized screening if local resources allow, such as issuing invitations and implementing systems to track and compare outcomes to maximize screening program quality, effectiveness, and impact.

Sustainable Foods: Consumer Opinions and Behaviour towards Organic Fruits in Poland

By producing high quality food with a low environmental impact, organic farming plays an essential role in developing sustainable food systems. Over time, consumer interest in organic food is systematically growing, which results in a generally positive attitude towards organic products. Many studies that are devoted to analysing organic food consumers’ behaviour aim to generalise the studied trends to the population of a given country or region. Given the varying rates of organic market development between countries, there is a need for more narrowly focused research, which could more profoundly facilitate local development of organic market. The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of Polish consumers about organic fruit and to identify the socioeconomic and sociodemographic determinants of the propensity to choose and purchase organic fruit. Respondents were recruited via a market research agency using a consumer access panel. To collect responses, a formal, structured questionnaire was developed and distributed using the CAWI method. The general acceptance of price increases for organic apples amounts to less than around 30% (89% of responses). The effect of income and package size tend to interact with regard to the purchase preference of apples (p &lt; 0.001). The highest frequency of organic fruit purchases were indicated for physical stores, in particular supermarkets (5.35 times/month, 95%CI). A relationship between willingness to consume organic fruits and the self-described economic situation (p = 0.005), as well as true household income (p = 0.007), has been shown. A relationship between the frequency of organic fruit purchases and the number of household members (p = 0.006), as well as number of household members under the age of 18 (p = 0.011), has also been shown. Marketing techniques for organic products should emphasize family welfare and be directed at younger consumers, especially at retail outlets where customers are most likely to buy them, namely physical supermarkets, local grocery stores and discount stores.

First report of Colletotrichum incanum causing leaf spots on common bean in Europe (Slovenia).

A Phaseolus vulgaris L. leaf showing necrotic spots was collected in an experimental bean field in central Slovenia in August 2021. The field contained diverse common bean lines sourced from genebank collections, with each line represented by 10 plants. While symptomatic leaves were seen across various lines, the reported species derived exclusively from a Huasca Huallaga Colorado plant (single-seed descent, USDA accession PI153714, doi: 10.18730/H7P9N), a Peruvian landrace. After incubating the leaf for 2 d at ambient temperature in a moist chamber, setose acervuli developed producing curved, distally tapering and proximately truncated conidia. Single-spore cultures developed equally-shaped conidia measuring 14.5-21.5 (avg. 18.5) × 3-4 (avg. 3.5) μm (n=60) on corn meal agar when mounted in lactic acid. Obtained morphological characters and sequences of the partial actin (GenBank accession, OR208162), beta-tubulin (OR208164), and histone 3 (OR208165) gene identified the isolate as Colletotrichum incanum H.-C. Yang, J.S. Haudenshield & G.L. Hartman. Sequences were identical to those from CBS 133485 (= NRRL 62592, IL6A), ex-type strain of C. incanum (KC110823, KC110814, and KC110796). Partial sequences of the chitin synthase (CHS) gene (OR208163), not available for the ex-type strain, was identical to sequences of other C. incanum strains reported from China (KP145539, ON189040, and OQ613679-OQ613686) or differed in two nucleotide positions (OL471268 and OL471269). The strain from Slovenia was deposited in the CBS biobanks of the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute (Utrecht, The Netherlands) as CBS 150848. Pathogenicity of the strain was tested by spraying ca. 3×105 conidia as a watery spore suspension onto each leaf of 6 greenhouse-grown and 3 wk-old common bean plantlets (cv. KIS Amand). Nonsterile commercial substrate (Potgrond H, AGRO-FertiCrop) was used and natural light conditions at ambient temperatures (18-23°C) applied. Sterile water was sprayed on 6, equally grown negative control plants. Treated plants showed small brownish spots after 3 wks similar to those described by Yang et al. (2014) on soybean. Setose acervuli formed within 5 days after detached leaves were incubated in moist chambers. No acervuli formed on negative control plants. Conidia re-isolated from these acervuli and obtained cultures were morphologically identical to originally obtained conidia and cultures and those used for performing the pathogenicity test. Anthracnose is an important disease of common bean attributed to various races of C. lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magnus) Briosi & Cavara (Nunes et al. 2021). Reporting an additional agent potentially able to cause diseases in common bean and so far not known to occur in Europe is of high relevance as the various genetic bean lines used in Europe may show alternative susceptibility levels to it. However, symptoms caused by C. incanum seem to be less severe as those caused by C. lindemuthianum and the species belongs to the C. spaethianum species complex, whose members have so far not been considered as pathogens of economic importance (Talhinhas & Baroncelli 2021). Yang et al. (2014) based C. incanum on isolates from soybean petioles (USA) and associated it with common bean by re-identifying strain ATCC 64682 obtained by Tu (1990) in Canada. Database queries revealed that it was encountered also on sugar beet (USA; Hanson et al. 2023) and on various crop hosts in China (e.g., chili; Diao et al. 2017), but not in Europe. The work was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and conducted as part of research programs P4-0072 and P4-0431, financed by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency ARIS, and the Horizon 2020 project INCREASE funded by the European Union.

Bibliometric analysis of publications trends in Indonesian research institutions: A comparison of pre-integration (2015&amp;ndash;2021) and post-integration (2022&amp;ndash;2023) periods

Background: Institutional transformation &amp;ndash; integrating many disparate research insti-tutes into the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN, for Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional) &amp;ndash; was the most significant reform in the history of institutional gov-ernance in Indonesia. This integration policy aims to enable the state to strengthen the national research and innovation ecosystem and improve the performance of research institutions, one indicator of which is their output of publications reporting the results of research. Objectives: To compare the published output of research institutes before and after the integration of research institutions into BRIN. Methods: Relevant data retrieved through Scopus on 24 December 2023 and span-ning the period between 2015 and 2023 were analysed using Microsoft Excel, and col-laboration networks of authors and of countries were constructed using VOSviewer and examined for co-authors in different countries collaborating with first authors in Indonesia. Results: The number of publications increased annually over the period 2015&amp;ndash;2023. However, the annual rate of growth after (2021&amp;ndash;2023) the integration of research institutions was higher (36%) than that before (2015&amp;ndash;2021) the integration (30%). Conference papers (51%) dominated the pre-integration era, whereas articles (57%) dominated the post-integration era, and the number of reputable journals in which the research was published was greater after the integration. Conclusions: The period after the integration of research institutions saw enhanced research output in terms of the number of research publications, annual rate of growth in that number, and the number of reputable journals in which the publica-tions appeared.

Protective Effects of Melatonin against Carcinogen-Induced Oxidative Damage in the Thyroid

Melatonin, primarily synthesized in the pineal gland, plays a crucial role in regulating circadian rhythms and possesses significant antioxidative properties. By neutralizing free radicals and reducing oxidative stress, melatonin emerges as a promising agent for the prevention and therapy of many different disorders, including cancer. This paper reviews the relationship between the thyroid gland and melatonin, presenting experimental evidence on the protective effects of this indoleamine against oxidative damage to macromolecules in thyroid tissue caused by documented carcinogens (as classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC) or caused by potential carcinogens. Furthermore, the possible influence on cancer therapy in humans and the overall well-being of cancer patients are discussed. The article highlights melatonin’s essential role in maintaining thyroid health and its contribution to management strategies in patients with thyroid cancer and other thyroid diseases.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE BEHAVIOR OF CONDUCTING BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION ON WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE IN THE BANDUNG HEALTH CENTER AREA SERANG REGENCY IN 2023

Global Buren of Cancer data shows data on cancer patients in the world as many as 19.3 million cases. The highest number is in breast cancer patients totaling 2.261 million cases (Globocan, 2020). Data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2020, the number of new cases of breast cancer has increased and become the highest incidence of cancer in women, namely breast cancer with 665,339 new cases and 131,252 deaths from breast cancer worldwide (Globocan, 2020). The low desire of women to do BSE examination can be influenced by internal and external factors. Internal factors include knowledge, attitudes and family history of cancer. As for external factors, namely sources of information and parental support. This type of research is quantitative research with a research design using a cross sectional approach. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence the behavior of conducting breast self-examination in women of childbearing age in the Bandung Health Center area, Serang Regency in 2023. By using the total sampling technique, the determination of the sample obtained was as many as 120 mothers who met the inclusion criteria. Chi Square test results show a significant relationship between knowledge, education, the role of health workers, and information media with breast self-examination behavior (P−value 0.000).

Risk Factors for Anaemia, Iron Deficiency, and Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Women of Reproductive Age Using Logistic Regression

Women of reproductive age (WRA) are vulnerable to anaemia, iron deficiency (ID), or iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). To identify the factors influencing anaemia, ID, and IDA to WRA in Indonesia, logistic regression analysis was employed. This study aims to determine the prevalence of anaemia, ID, and AID among WRA, as well as to identify influencing factors and evaluate the classification results produced by Logistic Regression methods. The data used were obtained from the Research and Development Agency, Ministry of Health of Indonesia. Haemoglobin data, demographic, and socioeconomic data were derived from the Basic Health Research 2013, and ferritin (Fe) and CRP data used stored serum samples collected in 2013 and analyzed in 2016. The results of this study found that the prevalence of anaemia among WRA in Indonesia is 11%, ID 14%, and AID 9%. Significant factors influencing health conditions include BMI, marital status, family size, malaria, and ARI. Individuals with overweight or obesity have a lower chance of experiencing anaemia, ID, and IDA compared to those who are thin, while individuals who are divorced have a higher risk than those who are unmarried. Additionally, individuals affected by malaria or ARI also have a higher risk of experiencing anaemia. Consumption of animal protein and education also emerges as significant factors affecting ID conditions. Although the model using Multinomial Logistic Regression shows higher accuracy than the binary model, both still have weaknesses in identifying cases of anaemia, ID, and IDA with low sensitivity. Model evaluation indicates that despite proficiency in recognizing normal cases, they still struggle to detect cases of anaemia, ID, and IDA.

Needs and Experiences With Health Care Providers of Adult Rare Disease Patients and Caregivers of People With Rare Diseases: Protocol for a Qualitative Study

Background Rare diseases in Europe are defined as diseases with a prevalence of less than 5 per 10,000 people. Despite their individual rarity, the total number of rare diseases is considerable. Rare diseases are often chronic and complex, affecting physical, mental, and neurological health. People with rare diseases face challenges such as delayed diagnosis, limited medical support, and financial burden. Caregivers, usually family members, bear significant physical and emotional burdens. Understanding the experiences of patients with rare disease and their caregivers is critical to effective care, but this is still underresearched. Better support and understanding of the challenges faced by both patients and caregivers is clearly needed. Our study will explore the experiences and needs of people with rare diseases and caregivers of people with rare diseases in relation to accessing health services. Objective This study aims to explore the experiences of patients with rare disease and their caregivers with Slovenian health care providers and to create a theoretical model of needs and experiences. Methods This is a qualitative thematic analysis study, using the codebook approach. The study will conduct semi–open-ended interviews to understand the experiences and needs of people with rare diseases and caregivers of people with rare diseases in relation to accessing health services. The interview questions will be based on an extensive literature review. Data from the interviews will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and build a thematic map. Data will be analyzed by at least 2 coders. To ensure reliability, respondent validation will be conducted and negative cases investigated. Any discrepancies will be resolved by consulting the entire research team until a consensus is reached. Results This study was not specifically funded. However, author TČ is supported by grant number P3-0339 from the Slovenian Agency for Research and Innovation. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Republic of Slovenia (0120-47/2022/3), and recruitment is expected to begin in May 2024, with data analysis results anticipated by the end of 2025. Conclusions This study will fill an important research gap in Slovenia by exploring the needs and experiences of people living with rare diseases and their caregivers. The results will contribute to the broader field of rare diseases and add knowledge that can inform future research processes and intervention strategies. It also aims to identify neglected areas that have a significant impact on the lives of people with rare diseases. This study is important not only because it addresses the immediate needs of the Slovenian rare disease community, but also because it contributes to a discussion on patient-centered care, health policy design, and the inclusion of psychosocial components in health care. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/53362

First Report of Globisporangium (Pythium) mastophorum causing Damping-off / Root Rot on Parsley in Slovenia.

Pythium-like species cause damping-off symptoms of various hosts, including umbelliferous crops. In April 2023, parsley plantlets (Petroselinum crispum), showing stunted growth, yellowing, decayed roots and damping-off, were obtained from a nursery in central Slovenia, where parsley was grown in polystyrene trays in a greenhouse. Nearly 30% of plants were symptomatic. Sampled roots of ten plants contained ornamented oogonia (avg. 33.3 ± 1.4 µm in diam) with conical projections (5.2 ± 0.5 µm long) (Figure S1 A, B) in microscopically analyzed squash mounts. The pathogen was isolated from root pieces treated for surface disinfection with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 30 s, and washed with sterile water. Four 1-2 mm root pieces were taken from each of 10 plants, plated on the selective medium P5ARP, and incubated at 21 °C. Mycelia emerging from root pieces were transferred to carrot piece agar (CPA). Twenty-two equally looking oomycetous colonies were obtained; all sampled plants were infested. Oogonia formed by all colonies were similar to those observed on decayed roots and suggested that Globisporangium (Pythium) mastophorum is the causal disease agent. Analyses of partial β-tubulin (Kroon et al. 2004) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequences (Robideau et al. 2011) confirmed the identification. Obtained COI (Genbank accession number OR725417) sequence was 100% identical to that from G. mastophorum strain CBS 375.72 (EU350523), whereas the β-tubulin sequence (OR725416) corresponded to 99.6 % pairwise identity (KJ595502). Further, pathogenicity of an obtained isolate was tested on 4 wk-old curly leaf (cv. Petra F1) parsley. Half of a 7 d-old CPA culture, consisting of mycelium and oogonia, was finely cut and mixed with ca 50 ml of nonsterile commercial substrate (Potgrond H, AGRO-FertiCrop) in each of six 400 ml pots. Pots were filled with ca 300 ml additional substrate, into which 5 parsley seedlings were planted. Control plants were treated equally but with sterile CPA. Plantlets were watered with sterile tap water and held at ambient light conditions and temperature (night 18 °C - day 23 °C). After 14 d, inoculated plants started wilting and yellowing and showed stunted growth. After 21 d, roots were severely decayed and the seedlings damped-off (Figure S1 C). Four pieces each from 10 decayed roots were plated. Thirty-one pieces revealed pythium-like colonies. Obtained isolates were morphologically identical to the strain used for inoculation and identified as G. mastophorum. Control plants developed no foliar or root symptoms and no pythium-like species was obtained. Agricultural advisors observed occurrence of parsley damping-off also in other nurseries in Slovenia what may lead to spreading the pathogen to parsley in production fields and private gardens. The case emphasizes the need for implementing phytosanitary measures in order to eliminate primary inoculum. Reports from field-infected plants showed that G. mastophorum is a pathogen of parsley in Australia (Petkowski et al. 2013) and the USA (Tsuchida et al. 2018), and celery in the Czech Republic (Šafránková and Holková 2017). Others isolated G. mastophorum from parsley in The Netherlands (online database of the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, strain CBS 243.86). However, the here described case is, to the best of our knowledge, one of the rare documentations of damping-off due to G. mastophorum in Europe (Šafránková and Holková 2017) and the first in Slovenia. Funding: The work was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of Slovenia, and Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS Programs P4-0431 and P4-0072).

Global burden of bladder cancer mortality in 2020 and 2040 according to GLOBOCAN estimates

IntroductionIn 2020, bladder cancer (BC) was the seventh most prevalent cancer in the world, with 5-year prevalence of more than 1.7 million cases. Due to the main risk factors—smoking and chemical exposures—associated with BC, it is considered a largely preventable and avoidable cancer. An overview of BC mortality can allow an insight not only into the prevalence of global risk factors, but also into the varying efficiency of healthcare systems worldwide. For this purpose, this study analyzes the national mortality estimates for 2020 and projected future trends up to 2040.Materials and methodsAge-standardized mortality rates per 100,000 person-years of BC for 185 countries by sex were obtained from the GLOBOCAN 2020 database, operated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Mortality rates were stratified according to sex and Human Development Index (HDI). BC deaths were projected up to 2040 on the basis of demographic changes, alongside different scenarios of annually increasing, stable or decreasing mortality rates from the baseline year of 2020.ResultsIn 2020, nearly three times more men died from BC than women, with more than 210,000 deaths in both sexes combined, worldwide. Regardless of gender, more than half of the total BC deaths were from countries with a very high HDI. According to our projections, while the number of deaths for men can only increase up to 54% (from 159 to around 163–245 thousand), for women it is projected to increase two- to three-fold (from 50 to around 119–176 thousand) by 2040. The burden of BC mortality in countries with a very high HDI versus high HDI appears to converge by 2040 for both sexes.ConclusionOpposite mortality trends by gender highlight the urgent need for immediate interventions to expand anti-tobacco strategies, especially for women. The implementation of more strict occupational health and safety regulations could also prevent exposures associated with BC. Improving the ability to detect BC earlier and access to treatment can have a significant positive impact on reducing mortality rates, minimizing economic costs, and enhancing the quality of life for patients.

Exploring educators' perception regarding the field of educational research between 2025 and 2030

Educational research holds considerable importance as a discipline within the education system, as it significantly impacts the improvement of educational effectiveness and the promotion of novel pedagogical and learning approaches. Educational research plays an indispensable role in providing insights for educational policy formulation, advancing scholarly understanding, evaluating and refining instructional frameworks, and ultimately enhancing the standard of education as a whole. A quantitative inquiry was undertaken, which comprised the participation of 316 instructors, administrators, and researchers. As envisioned in 2045, the purpose of this study is to assess educators' perspectives on educational research fields from 2025 to 2030. The results of the study revealed that educators possess a moderate degree of knowledge, while devoting significant attention to areas including the development of human resources, educational policies and mechanisms, program and model creation, and educational assessment. Following this, it is imperative that school administrators and policymakers create a conducive atmosphere that empowers educators to recognize and participate in research, while simultaneously surmounting barriers that restrict research access, specifically those pertaining to resources and time. In addition, a thorough assessment and reorganization of the training procedure are imperative for the educational system. This involves cultivating partnerships between research agencies and educational management in an effort to improve the expertise of educators and advocate for a methodology grounded in research.

KEARIFAN LOKAL DALAM PENGELOLAAN KERBAU MOA PADA MASYARAKAT PULAU MOA PROVINSI MALUKU

The purpose of this study is a study of the application of local wisdom in the management of Moa buffalo. This research was conducted on Moa Island, Southwest Maluku Regency, Maluku Province. The research used survey method. The data collected consists of primary and secondary data. Primary data collection was carried out using FGD techniques and observations involving farmers, traditional stakeholders, saniri, soa heads, village heads, government representatives. Secondary data are obtained through the results of previous research and related agencies. Data is analyzed descriptively through several stages, namely surveys, research implementation, data analysis, discussion and conclusions. The results showed that until now local wisdom practices in the management of Moa buffalo that are passed down from generation to generation still exist which include the division of shepherd groups in East Moa based on soa or clan system and the use of buffalo as a tool of customary sanctions. The use of buffalo for traditional ceremonies is not judged based on the selling price but is determined based on body weight and amount in accordance with applicable customary rules. Moa buffalo is also used for dowry, house cover, medium of exchange (buying land and motor vehicles), marking on livestock (ear tags), grazing systems and housing (lutur). The use of buffalo for traditional death ceremonies is no longer used because it is considered burdensome for bereaved families.

Scenarios for a Scaling-up System for Organic Cassava Production in the Mekong River Basin: A Foresight Approach

Organic cassava flour and products are in high demand. However, the expansion of organic cassava (OCS) production is rather slow. To increase OCS production, extension workers, cassava flour mills, farmers, and researchers have been collaborating to support the farmers, but the planted areas have remained limited. This research aimed at understanding the current issues in scaling up the organic cassava production. The findings were subsequently used to formulate scenarios and recommendations for the collaborative scale-up of organic cassava production in the Mekong River Basin (MRB). We carried out a six-step foresight process with leaders of organic cassava farmers, the staff of organic cassava flour mills and factories, extension workers, the staff of research agencies, and local policy makers in Thailand. The results revealed two key factors or drivers of changes, namely, the degree of collaboration among stakeholders using multiple-view scenarios or a single-view situation and the degree of learning and communication about OCS that future stakeholders are likely to experience. Four possible scenarios for a scaling-up system of OCS production in the MRB were developed. The foresight process allowed for recognizing multiple views and opinions about the OCS production scaling-up process, considered as a whole system. The system was found to consist of various interdependent components. The process highlighted the need to increase the capacity and opportunities for productive collaboration in research and development. We concluded that the MRB members should issue a policy formulating a joint task force to coordinate the existing institutions’ plans and resources towards an actionable OCS production scaling-up system for the MRB in 2030.

Suspended accounts align with the Internet Research Agency misinformation campaign to influence the 2016 US election

The ongoing debate surrounding the impact of the Internet Research Agency’s (IRA) social media campaign during the 2016 U.S. presidential election has largely overshadowed the involvement of other actors. Our analysis brings to light a substantial group of suspended Twitter users, outnumbering the IRA user group by a factor of 60, who align with the ideologies of the IRA campaign. Our study demonstrates that this group of suspended Twitter accounts significantly influenced individuals categorized as undecided or weak supporters, potentially with the aim of swaying their opinions, as indicated by Granger causality.