The Lifetime Health and Economic Burden of Smokeless Tobacco use in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan: Results From ASTRAMOD.

INTRODUCTION: Under the current policy landscapes, the lifetime health and economic burden of smokeless tobacco (ST) products, consumed by over 297 million ST users in South Asia, is unknown. The aim of this study was to estimate the lifetime health effects and costs attributable to current and future ST use in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan where the majority of ST users live. AIMS AND METHODS: We developed a Markov-based state-transition model (ASTRAMOD) to predict the lifetime costs of treatment of four diseases (oral, pharyngeal, esophageal cancers, and stroke) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), attributable to the current and future use of ST under existing ST policy scenario. Country-specific Global Adult Tobacco Surveys, life tables, and meta-analyses of South Asian and South East Asian studies were used to populate the model. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis evaluated the uncertainty in model predictions. RESULTS: If there were no change in the current ST policies, the lifetime ST-attributable treatment costs would be over US$19 billion in India, over US$1.5 billion in Bangladesh, and over US$3 billion in Pakistan. For all countries, the attributable costs are higher for younger cohorts with costs declining with increasing age for those over 50. The model predicted that a typical 15-year-old male adoloscent would gain 0.07-0.18 life years, avert 0.07-0.19 DALYs, and generate a cost-savings of US$7-21 on healthcare spending if ST policies were changed to eliminate ST use. CONCLUSIONS: Policy interventions aimed at decreasing the uptake of ST and increasing quitting success have the potential to substantially decrease the economic and health burden of ST. IMPLICATIONS: This study provides the most comprehensive estimates of the lifetime health and economic burden of ST by 5-year age and sex cohorts. This is also the first study that highlights the scale of health and economic burden of ST in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan if there were no changes in the current ST policies. Policymakers and practitioners can use the reported data to justify their decisions to improve current ST policies and practices in their country. Researchers can use the ASTRAMOD methodology to estimate the impact of future ST policy changes.

Optimizing methanol synthesis from CO2 using graphene-based heterogeneous photocatalyst under RSM and ANN-driven parametric optimization for achieving better suitability.

Assessment of the performance of linear and nonlinear regression-based methods for estimating in situ catalytic CO2 transformations employing TiO2/Cu coupled with hydrogen exfoliation graphene (HEG) has been investigated. The yield of methanol was thoroughly optimized and predicted using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) model after rigorous experimentation and comparison. Amongst the different types of HEG loading from 10 to 40 wt%, the 30 wt% in the HEG-TiO2/Cu assisted photosynthetic catalyst was found to be successful in providing the highest conversion efficiency of methanol from CO2. The most influencing parameters, HEG dosing and inflow rate of CO2, were found to affect the conversion rate in the acidic reaction regime (at pH of 3). According to RSM and ANN, the optimum methanol yields were 36.3 mg g-1 of catalyst and 37.3 mg g-1 of catalyst, respectively. Through the comparison of performances using the least squared error analysis, the nonlinear regression-based ANN showed a better determination coefficient (overall R2 > 0.985) than the linear regression-based RSM model (overall R2 ∼ 0.97). Even though both models performed well, ANN, consisting of 9 neurons in the input and 1 hidden layer, could predict optimum results closer to RSM in terms of agreement with the experimental outcome.

Efficacy of perioperative systemic tranexamic acid along with topical hemocoagulase in decreasing axillary drain output in breast cancer patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, superiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Excess and prolonged axillary drainage is a frequent nuisance following axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer patients. No consensus exists about the best method to prevent this consistently and reliably. Tranexamic acid (TA) has been found to reduce the amount and duration of drainage, but the reduction is not optimal. We hypothesized that systemic administration of TA along with the topical application of hemocoagulase (H) to the axillary dissection bed may decrease the cumulative axillary drain output and shorten the requirement of drainage after ALND as compared to placebo. PATIENT AND METHODS: Seventy women undergoing ALND for breast carcinoma were randomized into two groups, the intervention (TA + H) group and the control (C) group. The cumulative drain output (primary objective), duration of drainage, incidence of seroma formation after drain removal, number of seroma aspirations required, volume of seroma aspirated, and incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) were compared. RESULTS: The mean cumulative output in the TA + H group was significantly lower than the C group (290 ± 200 mL vs. 552 ± 369 mL, p < 0.001). Axillary drains were removed significantly earlier in the TA + H group (6.6 ± 2.2 vs. 11.7 ± 6.0 days, p < 0.001), but the incidence of seroma formation (p = 0.34), number of aspirations required (p = 0.33), volume of seroma aspirated (p = 0.47), and the incidence of SSI (p = 0.07) were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative systemic administration of tranexamic acid along with topical application of H to the axillary dissection bed is effective in reducing cumulative axillary drain output after ALND. This strategy may also facilitate earlier removal of suction drains.

An overview of techniques for monitoring and compensating tool wear in micro-electrical discharge machining.

Micro-electrical discharge machining (µEDM) is severely affected by tool wear and its process variants, which can lead to compromised precision and dimensional disruptions in micro-part production. Several attempts have been made to address this problem by suggesting offline and online (real-time) tool wear compensation strategies. Research efforts in this area have intensified over the last 20 years. However, most methods proposed were applicable only for a few work-tool combinations and in limited input process parametric settings. Instead of tool wear compensation, several research articles have focused on strategies to reduce the negative impact of tool wear on the quality of fabricated parts. The present study systematically reviews various investigations conducted in this area and aims to add cutting-edge compensation for tool wear to future inquiries. The articles reviewed here are explored in detail. Critical findings/innovations are classified into four categories: tool wear in µEDM, tool wear compensation techniques, and offline and online compensation methods.

How Does Tobacco Use Affect the Cognition of Older Adults? A Propensity Score Matching Analysis Based on a Large-Scale Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco is a well-established risk factor for cancer, but its association with other morbidities needs consideration. The low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) with unprecedented demographic transformation lack evidence on tobacco use and its impact on cognitive health. AIMS AND METHODS: Using a propensity score matching approach, we utilized data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India. Study employed 1:1 nearest neighbor matching with the replacement methodology. We estimated the odds of the poor cognitive score and tobacco use among older adults based on five different models for ever tobacco user, former tobacco user, current tobacco user, current smokers, and current smokeless tobacco users with reference to never tobacco users. RESULTS: The estimated average treatment effect for the treated and the untreated group has shown a higher likelihood of cognitive decline among ever (OR -0.26; 95%CI -0.43 to -0.09), current (OR -0.28; 95%CI -0.45 to -0.10), and former (OR -0.53; 95%CI -0.87 to -0.19) tobacco users compared to never tobacco users. The finding further suggests the odds of lower cognitive scores among older adults who were smokers (OR -0.53; 95%CI -0.87 to -0.19) and smokeless tobacco users (OR -0.22; 95%CI -0.43 to -0.01) as compared to never tobacco users. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions designed to prevent the incidence of cognitive impairment should focus on limiting the use of tobacco. Strategies under the tobacco-free generation initiative should be amplified in order to prevent future generations from productivity loss, premature ageing and to promote healthy aging. IMPLICATIONS: Evidence of a definitive association between tobacco consumption and cognition among older adults is sporadic in LMICs. Though tobacco is a risk factor for various diseases including cancer, the extent of its impact on cognitive health among the older population is limited. This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting poor cognitive outcomes among older adults who smoke tobacco and/or consume smokeless tobacco as compared to never-tobacco users. Our findings emphasize the need to accelerate programmes related to tobacco-free generation in LMICs to reach a higher quality of life and healthy aging in pursuit of achieving the sustainable development goal of "good health and well-being."

From concept to reality: Transforming agriculture through innovative rhizosphere engineering for plant health and productivity.

The plant rhizosphere is regarded as a microbial hotspot due to a wide array of root exudates. These root exudates comprise diverse organic compounds such as phenolic, polysaccharides, flavonoids, fatty acids, and amino acids that showed chemotactic responses towards microbial communities and mediate significant roles in root colonization. The rhizospheric microbiome is a crucial driver of plant growth and productivity, contributing directly or indirectly by facilitating nutrient acquisition, phytohormone modulation, and phosphate solubilization under normal and stressful conditions. Moreover, these microbial candidates protect plants from pathogen invasion by secreting antimicrobial and volatile organic compounds. To enhance plant fitness and yield, rhizospheric microbes are frequently employed as microbial inoculants. However, recent developments have shifted towards targeted rhizosphere engineering or microbial recruitments as a practical approach to constructing desired plant rhizospheres for specific outcomes. The rhizosphere, composed of plants, microbes, and soil, can be modified in several ways to improve inoculant efficiency. Rhizosphere engineering is achieved through three essential mechanisms: a) plant-mediated modifications involving genetic engineering, transgenics, and gene editing of plants; b) microbe-mediated modifications involving genetic alterations of microbes through upstream or downstream methodologies; and c) soil amendments. These mechanisms shape the rhizospheric microbiome, making plants more productive and resilient under different stress conditions. This review paper comprehensively summarizes the various aspects of rhizosphere engineering and their potential applications in maintaining plant health and achieving optimum agricultural productivity.

Trends in age of tobacco use initiation over time in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: analysis of cross-sectional nationally representative surveys.

OBJECTIVE: Tobacco use begins at an early age and typically leads to a long-term addiction. The age of initiation for tobacco use is not well studied in South Asia, where 22% of tobacco smokers and 81% of smokeless tobacco (SLT) users reside. METHODS: Data from the nationally representative Global Adult Tobacco Surveys in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan were analysed to examine patterns of initiation among smokers and smokeless tobacco users. RESULTS: Data on 94 651 individuals were analysed, of which 13 396 reported were ever daily smokers and 17 684 were ever SLT users. The proportion of individuals initiating tobacco use before the age of 15 years has increased over time. The rates of SLT initiation among those aged 15-24 years increased markedly in Bangladesh (by 7.8%) and Pakistan (by 37.7%) between 1983 and 1999-2000. Among males, the increase in SLT initiation was higher in individuals aged below 15 years compared with other age groups in India and Bangladesh. Smoking initiation among females aged below 15 years has also significantly increased in India over time. Compared with the initiation of tobacco smoking before the age of 15 years, a greater increase in the proportion of SLT users was observed in urban areas. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the proportion of youth initiating tobacco (both smoking and smokeless) before the age of 15 years has increased over time in all three countries. Moreover, variations in age at initiation for different types of tobacco products across countries, and by rurality, were noticeable. Younger youths (aged up to 15 years) should therefore be a priority population for tobacco control interventions. Strategies such as raising the legal age of tobacco sale and use to 21 years, and, other measures under WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), may prevent underage use and avert lifelong addiction to tobacco products.

Tobacco exposure among antenatal women in India: Challenges in tobacco screening & cessation counselling.

Links between tobacco use and poor pregnancy outcomes are well established. Despite various tobacco control measures taken by the government, nearly 5-8 per cent of pregnant women consume tobacco in India. Antenatal check-ups are an opportunity to assess and assist women in quitting tobacco during pregnancy. This review highlights the challenges faced in identifying pregnant tobacco users and providing cessation counselling to them in a formal healthcare setup in the Indian context. For this narrative review, open access databases like PubMed and Google Scholar were searched, using the following search terms: challenges, quitting tobacco use, smokeless tobacco, pregnancy and India. Original articles published between 2010 and July 2022 were included in the English language with available free full text. Out of the thirty articles found to be eligible, seven were included in the review. Official websites of the National Health Mission and National Tobacco Control Programme were also searched to retrieve available data on health education and training material for healthcare workers: medical officers, Auxiliary Nurse and Midwives (ANMs), Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and list of tobacco cessation centres. This review identified the factors such as myths surrounding tobacco use, lack of targeted screening, inadequate training of healthcare workers and inaccessibility of cessation services, which are posing as challenges in controlling tobacco use in this vulnerable section of the population. Specific strategies to address these issues at the micro, meso and macro levels can prove to be vital in controlling tobacco use in pregnant women. This review also identified the vital role of gynaecologists and healthcare workers such as ANMs and ASHA in identifying and providing brief tobacco cessation counselling to pregnant users.

A cooperativity between virus and bacteria during respiratory infections.

Respiratory tract infections remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The burden is further increased by polymicrobial infection or viral and bacterial co-infection, often exacerbating the existing condition. Way back in 1918, high morbidity due to secondary pneumonia caused by bacterial infection was known, and a similar phenomenon was observed during the recent COVID-19 pandemic in which secondary bacterial infection worsens the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) condition. It has been observed that viruses paved the way for subsequent bacterial infection; similarly, bacteria have also been found to aid in viral infection. Viruses elevate bacterial infection by impairing the host's immune response, disrupting epithelial barrier integrity, expression of surface receptors and adhesion proteins, direct binding of virus to bacteria, altering nutritional immunity, and effecting the bacterial biofilm. Similarly, the bacteria enhance viral infection by altering the host's immune response, up-regulation of adhesion proteins, and activation of viral proteins. During co-infection, respiratory bacterial and viral pathogens were found to adapt and co-exist in the airways of their survival and to benefit from each other, i.e., there is a cooperative existence between the two. This review comprehensively reviews the mechanisms involved in the synergistic/cooperativity relationship between viruses and bacteria and their interaction in clinically relevant respiratory infections.

Breast carcinoma presenting with upper limb lymphedema - A rare case.

Lymphedema (LE) in a breast cancer patient usually results from axillary lymph node dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and/or axillary radiotherapy. Although lymphatic obstruction and consequent LE can occur due to axillary lymph node involvement, such presentation in breast cancer patients has rarely been reported. This report describes the case of a 50-year-old lady with right breast carcinoma who presented with right upper limb lymphedema. Surprisingly, she did not have any bulky axillary lymphadenopathy that could have accounted for lymphedema of the upper limb, but a suspicious breast mass was present on clinical examination. Diagnosis of breast cancer on clinical examination can be challenging in such patients due to breast edema and careful imaging of the breast and axilla with appropriate imaging tools (mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, PET mammography) should be resorted to before excluding malignancy. Lymphoscintigraphy confirmed the findings of lymphedema in the right upper limb and revealed uptake in the epitrochlear lymph nodes of the contralateral limb suggesting that she might had pre-existing widespread "subclinical lymphedema" which presented as "clinical lymphedema" in right upper limb after axillary lymph node/lymphatic involvement by right breast carcinoma.

Progress in gene editing tools, implications and success in plants: a review.

Genetic modifications are made through diverse mutagenesis techniques for crop improvement programs. Among these mutagenesis tools, the traditional methods involve chemical and radiation-induced mutagenesis, resulting in off-target and unintended mutations in the genome. However, recent advances have introduced site-directed nucleases (SDNs) for gene editing, significantly reducing off-target changes in the genome compared to induced mutagenesis and naturally occurring mutations in breeding populations. SDNs have revolutionized genetic engineering, enabling precise gene editing in recent decades. One widely used method, homology-directed repair (HDR), has been effective for accurate base substitution and gene alterations in some plant species. However, its application has been limited due to the inefficiency of HDR in plant cells and the prevalence of the error-prone repair pathway known as non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). The discovery of CRISPR-Cas has been a game-changer in this field. This system induces mutations by creating double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the genome and repairing them through associated repair pathways like NHEJ. As a result, the CRISPR-Cas system has been extensively used to transform plants for gene function analysis and to enhance desirable traits. Researchers have made significant progress in genetic engineering in recent years, particularly in understanding the CRISPR-Cas mechanism. This has led to various CRISPR-Cas variants, including CRISPR-Cas13, CRISPR interference, CRISPR activation, base editors, primes editors, and CRASPASE, a new CRISPR-Cas system for genetic engineering that cleaves proteins. Moreover, gene editing technologies like the prime editor and base editor approaches offer excellent opportunities for plant genome engineering. These cutting-edge tools have opened up new avenues for rapidly manipulating plant genomes. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of plant genetic engineering, focusing on recently developed tools for gene alteration and their potential applications in plant research.

A microscopic scenario on recovery mechanisms under waterlogging and submergence stress in rice.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Adaptive traits in rice responding to flooding, a compound stress, are associated with morpho-anatomical and physiological changes which are regulated at the genetic level. Therefore, understanding submergence stress tolerance in rice will help development of adapted cultivars that can help mitigate agricultural losses. Rice is an important dietary component of daily human consumption and is cultivated as a staple crop worldwide. Flooding is a compound stress which imposes significant financial losses to farmers. Flood-affected rainfed rice ecosystems led to the development of various adaptive traits in different cultivars for their optimal growth and survival. Some cultivars can tolerate hypoxia by temporarily arresting elongation and conserving their energy sources, which they utilize to regrow after the stress conditions subside. However, few other cultivars rapidly elongate to escape hypoxia using carbohydrate resources. These contrasting characters are regulated at the genetic level through different quantitative trait loci that contain ERF transcription factors (TFs), Submergence and Snorkels. TFs can simultaneously activate the transcription of various genes involved in stress and development responses. These TFs are of prime importance because the introgressed and near-isogenic lines showed promising results with increased submergence tolerance without affecting yield or quality. However, the entire landscape of submergence tolerance is not entirely depicted, and further exploration in the field is necessary to understand the mechanism in rice completely. Therefore, this review will highlight the significant adaptive traits observed in flooded rice varieties and how they are regulated mechanistically.

Soft Tissue and Lower Limb Muscle Metastases from Breast Carcinoma: An Unreported Entity.

Soft tissue metastasis from carcinoma breast is rare, and still rarer is metastasis to skeletal muscles. So far, soft tissue metastasis from breast carcinoma has been reported only in a small number of case series and case reports. To the best of our knowledge, no case of breast cancer metastasizing to the lower limb muscles has been reported. It is important to differentiate soft tissue metastasis from primary soft tissue malignancy, as the management and prognosis of these differ markedly. Here, we present a case of breast cancer metastasizing to the soft tissue at multiple sites including the right thigh muscles.

Pretilachlor-induced physiological, biochemical and morphological changes in Indian paddy field agroecosystem inhabited Anabaena doliolum.

Pretilachlor is a systemic, pre-emergence herbicide applied in the paddy fields to kill narrow and broadleaf weeds. The present study evaluates the toxicity of pretilachlor on the non-target diazotrophic free-living cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum, commonly found in the paddy fields of eastern Uttar Pradesh (India) and used as a biofertilizer. A.doliolum was subjected to several doses (0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 20 and 40 µg/ml) of pretilachlor and its effects were examined in terms of alterations in cellular morphology, ultrastructure, physiology, and biochemical attributes. The treatment of pretilachlor decreased the growth, total pigment content and photosynthetic efficiency of the test organism in a dose-dependent manner. The decline in growth was observed on 20th day at 2, 5, 7, 10, 20 and 40 µg/ml of pretilachlor concentration by 4, 9, 26, 47, 71 and 92%, respectively. Furthermore, Chlorophyll a and phycocyanin levels were noticeably declined. As a result, the photosynthetic performance also registered a similar decline as measured by chlorophyll fluorescence. However, carotenoid content increased by 13%, 41% and 53% at 5, 10 and 20 µg/ml on 5th day reflecting its protective property. A marked increase in fluorescence intensity and malondialdehyde content by 2.65 and 2.45 folds at 10 and 20 µg/ml on 7th day was registered. The enzymatic antioxidants (SOD and CAT) and a concurrent increase in glutathione reductase activity were registered (1.75 and 2.11-fold at 20 and 40 µg/ml on 5th day), indicating pretilachlor mediated ROS generation. Moreover, ultrastructural studies done by SEM and TEM revealed plasma membrane and thylakoid membrane damage and fragmentation. These findings have contributed to the broader comprehension of the stress responses triggered by pretilachlor in cyanobacteria. Moreover, they can aid in the evaluation of the detrimental impact of pretilachlor on A. doliolum, given their crucial function as a nitrogen contributor in paddy fields.

Estimating the weight of consumed tobacco product waste in various Indian states: a novel method to assess the potential burden of tobacco product waste.

INTRODUCTION: The direct morbidity and mortality caused by tobacco are well documented, but such products also contribute to a range of environmental pollutants resulting from tobacco product waste. No previous studies have yet quantified tobacco product waste in a low-income and middle-income country (LMIC). This study estimates the potential annual waste generated due to consumption of smoked and smokeless tobacco products in India and its states. METHODOLOGY: We systematically collected samples of smoked and smokeless tobacco products from 33 districts of 17 Indian states/union territories. Stratified weights of plastic, paper, foil and filter packaging components, and gross empty package weights were recorded. Prevalence of smoking and smokeless tobacco use at national and state-level estimates was derived from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2016-2017) to quantify waste potentially generated by tobacco products. RESULTS: We included 222 brands of tobacco products (70 cigarette, 94 bidi and 58 smokeless tobacco brands) in the final analysis. A total of 170 331 (±29 332) tonnes of waste was estimated to be generated annually, out of which 43.2% was plastic, 3.6% was foil and 0.8% was filter. Two-thirds of the overall waste was contributed by smokeless products alone. Maximum waste was generated in Uttar Pradesh (20.9%; 35 723.7±6151.6 tonnes), Maharashtra (8.9%; 15 116.84±2603.12 tonnes) and West Bengal (8.6%; 14 636.32±2520.37 tonnes). CONCLUSION: This study provides first of its kind national-level evidence on the types (plastic, paper, foil and filter) and quantity of waste potentially generated by use of tobacco products in India. Similar studies from other LMICs can serve to raise consciousness about many negative environmental impacts of tobacco products and need for policies to address them.

Determinants of initiation, continuation and cessation of smokeless tobacco use among pregnant and lactating women: a qualitative study from low-income communities in urban India.

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer and leads to adverse reproductive health outcomes among women and newborns. This study examines the factors associated with initiation, continuation and cessation of SLT use among women in the reproductive age so as to formulate and include prevention and cessation interventions from its inception. The study was conducted in urban low-income communities in India. Using snowball and purposive sampling techniques, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 pregnant and 22 lactating women who currently used SLT products. Data were analysed using thematic analysis with the help of QSR NVivo software. Findings revealed that factors such as people influencing usage change with different life stages including pre-marital and post-marital periods. Perceived health benefits, altered taste preferences during pregnancy and social influences were also studied. Women were found to be more aware of the harmful effects of tobacco during pregnancy than during breastfeeding. Social stigma around women consuming tobacco acted as a major driving factor for cessation. Most of the participants were willing to quit but were not aware of any technique or programme for cessation. The findings of the study highlight the need to develop behavioural change intervention tools, which are culturally and locally appropriate and have a gender-sensitive approach. Different socio-cultural factors associated with initiation/cessation at different life stages should also be taken into consideration while developing these tools.

Application of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing for abiotic stress management in crop plants.

Abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, cold, heat, and heavy metals, extensively reducing global agricultural production. Traditional breeding approaches and transgenic technology have been widely used to mitigate the risks of these environmental stresses. The discovery of engineered nucleases as genetic scissors to carry out precise manipulation in crop stress-responsive genes and associated molecular network has paved the way for sustainable management of abiotic stress conditions. In this context, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-Cas (CRISPR/Cas)-based gene-editing tool has revolutionized due to its simplicity, accessibility, adaptability, flexibility, and wide applicability. This system has great potential to build up crop varieties with enhanced tolerance against abiotic stresses. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on understanding the mechanism of abiotic stress response in plants and the application of CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene-editing system towards enhanced tolerance to a multitude of stresses including drought, salinity, cold, heat, and heavy metals. We provide mechanistic insights on the CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing technology. We also discuss applications of evolving genome editing techniques such as prime editing and base editing, mutant library production, transgene free and multiplexing to rapidly deliver modern crop cultivars adapted to abiotic stress conditions.