Prognostic Significance of Carbonic Anhydrase IX Expression in Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Hypoxia is a characteristic of many solid tumors and an adverse prognostic factor for treatment outcome. Hypoxia increases the expression of carbonic anhydrase IX, an enzyme that is predominantly found on tumor cells and is involved in maintaining the cellular pH balance. Many clinical studies investigated the prognostic value of carbonic anhydrase IX expression, but most have been inconclusive, partly due to small numbers of patients included. The present meta-analysis was therefore performed utilizing the results of all clinical studies to determine the prognostic value of carbonic anhydrase IX expression in solid tumors. Renal cell carcinoma was excluded from this meta-analysis due to an alternative mechanism of upregulation. 958 papers were identified from a literature search performed in Pubmed and Embase. These papers were independently evaluated by two reviewers and 147 studies were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis revealed strong significant associations between CAIX expression and all endpoints: overall survival (HR=1.76, 95%CI 1.58 – 1.98), disease-free survival (HR=1.87, 95%CI 1.62 – 2.16), locoregional control (HR=1.54, 95%CI 1.22 – 1.93), disease-specific survival (HR=1.78, 95%CI 1.41 – 2.25), metastasis-free survival (HR=1.82, 95%CI 1.33 – 2.50), and progression-free survival (HR=1.58, 95%CI 1.27 – 1.96). Subgroup analyses revealed similar associations in the majority of tumor sites and types. In conclusion, these results show that patients having tumors with high carbonic anhydrase IX expression have higher risk of locoregional failure, disease progression, and higher risk to develop metastases, independent of tumor type or site. The results of this meta-analysis further support the development of a clinical test to determine patient prognosis based on CAIX expression and may have important implications for the development of new treatment strategies

An Assessment of Agricultural Cooperatives: Historical Perspectives, Challenges and Opportunities For Socially and Historically Disadvantaged, Minority, And Small-Scale Farmers

A cooperative is an economically attractive model that allows its members to be owners and users who share profits equally. Thus, the cooperative is considered a successful model to use for socially and historically disadvantaged, minority, and small-scale farmers. An agricultural cooperative empowers such farmers to increase their bargaining power in the marketplace, reduce production and transaction costs, expand current marketing opportunities, and establish new markets that may not be otherwise accessible to an individual producer. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to assess agricultural cooperatives. It discusses nine items that closely examine the appertaining issues related to agricultural cooperatives. It concludes with three key recommendations. The first is a mechanism to support newly formed agricultural cooperatives. The second is free access to agricultural education for agricultural cooperative members. The third and final is public recognition of well-performing agricultural cooperatives to encourage them to keep up the hard work

A Transformative Partnership between Socially and Historically Disadvantaged Farmers, 1890 Land Grant Institutions, and Walmart

Ensuring a sustainable future for socially and historically disadvantaged farmers (SHDFs) remains a central mission of many 1890 land grant universities. As major corporations adopt socially responsible and sustainable policies they are exploring new partnerships, including those with the aforementioned farmers and institutions. This article explores the opportunity presented by the partnership between Tuskegee University and Walmart during 2011, 2012, and 2013 that focused on assisting SHDFs to work together to expand their produce marketing opportunities to include large commercial retailers. This article provides perspective for the articles that follow in this issue of the Professional Agricultural Workers Journal (PAWJ). The articles focus specifically on microirrigation and solar powered pumps, integrated pest management, farm and food safety certification, challenges of forming the new cooperative, the role of Black women farmers, and progress made by the Sustainable Agriculture Consortium. Key Words: Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Cooperative, Small Farmers, Corporate Sustainabilit

UNDERSTANDING MOTIVATION LOSS AND BEHAVIORAL DISENGAGEMENT OF TERTIARY STUDENTS IN FLEXIBLE LEARNING: A SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY PERSPECTIVE

Purpose – Flexible learning is a delivery modality associated with positive outcomes, but its use at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with dark student experiences, such as poor interest and dishonesty among students. To understand how and why many tertiary students lost their motivation and became disengaged in pandemic-era flexible learning, this qualitative research was designed. Methodology – A total of 27 tertiary students in five separate groups volunteered to be interviewed. A focus group discussion protocol was developed based on the propositions of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and this protocol produced about eight hours of narrative data in audio form. The researcher performed thematic analysis to make sense of the transcriptions of the data, and the initial codes and themes were subjected to an external audit for purposes of methodological integrity. Findings – Eight need-thwarting behaviors of key social agents emerged, such as instructors’ rigid and negligent behaviors, peers’ indifferent and selfish behaviors, and burdensome behaviors of people at home. These behaviors were tied to participants’ cognitive appraisals of psychological need frustration that emerged in eight themes, which comprised having problems balancing school and home obligations, believing that outputs were misevaluated, and feelings of disconnection from peers. These appraisals could be related to seven themes of motivation and engagement issues reported by participants, notably amotivation, poor concentration, low effort, and dishonesty. Significance – The findings highlight the importance of addressing these need frustrations in order to improve tertiary students’ motivation and engagement in academic tasks delivered through flexible learning in higher education

Characteristics of contralateral carcinomas in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer larger than 1 cm

Purpose: Traditionally, total thyroidectomy has been advocated for patients with tumors larger than 1 cm. However, according to the ATA and NCCN guidelines (2015, USA), patients with tumors up to 4 cm are now eligible for lobectomy. A rationale for adhering to total thyroidectomy might be the presence of contralateral carcinomas. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of contralateral carcinomas in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) larger than 1 cm. Methods: A retrospective study was performed including patients from 17 centers in 5 countries. Adults diagnosed with DTC stage T1b-T3 N0-1a M0 who all underwent a total thyroidectomy were included. The primary endpoint was the presence of a contralateral carcinoma. Results: A total of 1

Assessing The Impact of Cluster Farming Initiatives on Small and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Ranchers, and Forestland Owners: A Case of The Southeastern Region of The United States

Farming in clusters is an economically viable practice to sustain small, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and forestland owners with their agricultural operations. The objectives of the study were to strengthen the capacity of clientele on cluster farming and to lower production and marketing costs by sharing input costs. Clusters were created and interventions were provided by project partners through several activities, including workshops, meetings, field days, loans, and materials/equipment. The results showed that 29 clusters involving 224 farmers, and 14 cooperatives involving 410 farmers were formed and strengthened. The number of farmers participating in workshops, training programs, field days, and meetings were, respectively, 4,921, 3,095, 1,426, and 1,285. The results also revealed that 190 producers received access to farm loans, mobile and stationary cold storage facilities, and marketing materials. Additionally, 930 farmers strengthened their knowledge and skills, and changed their behavior due to the implementation of the cluster farming approach

Extending Sustainable Irrigation Opportunities to Socially and Historically Disadvantaged Farmers in the Alabama Black Belt to Support Commercial-Level Production

This paper focuses on providing sustainable irrigation opportunities to socially and historically disadvantaged farmers (SHDFs). The ability to provide steady production capacity through the use of renewable energy sources and microirrigation is innovative, in that it demonstrated how to develop and utilize a sustainable irrigation system in both energy and water conservation. This venture is also innovative in that it sought to provide SHDFs with irrigation in a state in which irrigation in agriculture is minimal, while at the same time, offsetting the energy costs that normally accompany irrigation. Several farmers are profiled in their participation in the irrigation program. The lessons learned will provide a starting point for a more permanent research, educational, and outreach partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and SHDF clientele. This relationship will lead to further strengthening the relationships between Tuskegee University and both participating farmers and USDA agencies. Key Words: Irrigation, Small Farmers, Agricultural Sustainability, Solar Energy, Black Bel

Identifying the winter grounds of the recently described Barbary Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus baeticatus ambiguus)

The Iberian and North African populations of reed warblers have been described recently as a separate taxon, ambiguus, forming a sister clade to the Sahelian subspecies minor of African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus. Although the breeding range of ambiguus has been identified, the migration strategy of its populations remained unknown. We deployed geolocators and sampled the innermost primary from breeding adults in Spain for stable hydrogen (d2H) analyses and also analysed stable carbon (d13C) and nitrogen (d15N) isotopes in feathers collected in two reed warbler taxa (Acrocephalus scirpaceus and Acrocephalus baeticatus ambiguus) in Morocco, to identify the moulting and wintering sites of these populations. Ring recoveries, geolocator tracks and probabilistic assignments to origin from d2H values indicate that Spanish ambiguus are likely to moult south of the Sahara and winter in West Africa, probably from Mauretania to southern Mali and Ivory Coast. Moroccan ambiguus, however, undergo post-breeding moult north of the Sahara, and possibly then migrate to West Africa. With other populations of ambiguus breeding from Algeria to Libya and probably wintering further east in the Sahelian belt, the Barbary Reed Warbler can therefore be considered a trans-Saharan migrant, with a post-breeding moult strategy that varies between populations, and probably structured according to breeding latitude

Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperative Launched

The Walmart Initiative was designed to provide technical support to train at least 200 farmers on best practices in marketing produce to larger companies and corporations like Walmart. This support was provided through specialized training, workshops, informational group meetings, and overall awareness of market opportunities. The specialized training included Food Safety Standards and Food Safety Certification requirements, effective production techniques, harvesting, grading, packaging, refrigeration/cold chain requirements, transportation, fiscal responsibility, financial management, record-keeping, and insurance and product liability. As part of a five state initiative, Tuskegee University identified and assisted in the formation of the Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperative comprised of members from several regions throughout the State of Alabama. The Cooperative received training necessary to understand the importance of farmers working together, internal management and controls, sharing of knowledge, resources and experience, doing business at higher volumes/quantities, and operating at a higher level of quality assurance; thus, improving marketing opportunities. Key Words: Cooperative, Produce Marketing, Small Farmers, Walmart Initiativ