Evaluation of some fungal diseases and yield of groundnut in groundnut-based cropping systems

A study on the evaluation of some fungal diseases and yield of groundnut in groundnut-based cropping systems was conducted in 2002 and 2003 planting seasons. Analysis of variance indicated that intercropping was highly significant on leaf spot disease severity 0.76; 0.75, rust 2.75; 2.69, as well as percentage defoliation 78.42%; 78.10% in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Plant population was significant on leaf spot severity 4.52, 4.60 rust 2.76; 366 and defoliation 226.5; 441.1 fungal as well as yield, while interactions were not significant on the fungal diseases and yield. Sole groundnut recorded significantly high severity of the fungal diseases investigated but low yield, when groundnut was intercropped with maize and melon and recorded the lowest yield in 2002 and 2003 respectively. 250,000 plants/ha recorded the lowest severity of the diseases investigated, while 444,444 plants/ha recorded the highest. Sole groundnut also recorded the highest percentage defoliation 79.37%, 79.25% when groundnut was intercropped with maize recorded the lowest 77.06%; 77.60%. 250,000 plants/ha had the lowest defoliation when 444,444 plants/ha had the highest 80.75% 82.13% in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Sole groundnut recorded the lowest in the majority of yields when intercropped with maize and with melon recorded a high yield and yield components in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The microorganisms identified were Cercospora spp., Aspergillus linked and Blastomyces.     

Seasonality and coronary heart disease deaths in United States firefighters

United States firefighters have a high on-duty fatality rate, and coronary heart disease is the leading cause. Seasonality affects the incidence of cardiovascular events in the general population, but its effects on firefighters are unknown. This study statistically examined the seasonal and annual variation of all on-duty coronary heart disease deaths among US firefighters between 1994 and 2004 using the chi-square distribution and Poisson regression model of the monthly fatality counts. It also examined the effect of ambient temperature (apparent as well as wind chill temperature) on coronary heart disease fatalities during the study span using a time-stratified, case-crossover study design. When grouped by season, we observed the distribution of the 449 coronary heart disease fatalities to show a relative peak in winter (32%) and relative nadir in spring (21%). This pattern was significantly different (p=0.005) from the expected distribution under the null hypothesis of season having no effect. The pattern persisted in additional analyses, stratifying the deaths by the type of duty in which the firefighters were engaged at the time of their deaths. In the Poisson regression model of the monthly fatality counts, the overall goodness-of-fit between the actual and predicted case counts was excellent (χ₄²=16.63; p=0.002). Two distinct peaks were detected: one in January-February and the other in August-September. Overall temperature was not associated with increased risk of on-duty death. After allowing for different effects of temperature in mild/hot versus cold periods, a 1°C increase was not protective in cold weather; nor did it increase the risk of death in warmer weather. The findings of this study reveal statistical evidence for excess coronary heart disease deaths among firefighters during winter; however, the temporal pattern of coronary heart disease deaths was not linked to temperature variation. The seasonal pattern was also found to be independent of duty-related risks.     

Seasonality and Coronary Heart Disease Deaths in United States Firefighters

United States firefighters have a high on‐duty fatality rate, and coronary heart disease is the leading cause. Seasonality affects the incidence of cardiovascular events in the general population, but its effects on firefighters are unknown. This study statistically examined the seasonal and annual variation of all on‐duty coronary heart disease deaths among US firefighters between 1994 and 2004 using the chi‐square distribution and Poisson regression model of the monthly fatality counts. It also examined the effect of ambient temperature (apparent as well as wind chill temperature) on coronary heart disease fatalities during the study span using a time‐stratified, case‐crossover study design. When grouped by season, we observed the distribution of the 449 coronary heart disease fatalities to show a relative peak in winter (32%) and relative nadir in spring (21%). This pattern was significantly different (p=0.005) from the expected distribution under the null hypothesis of season having no effect. The pattern persisted in additional analyses, stratifying the deaths by the type of duty in which the firefighters were engaged at the time of their deaths. In the Poisson regression model of the monthly fatality counts, the overall goodness‐of‐fit between the actual and predicted case counts was excellent (χ₄²=16.63; p=0.002). Two distinct peaks were detected: one in January–February and the other in August–September. Overall temperature was not associated with increased risk of on‐duty death. After allowing for different effects of temperature in mild/hot versus cold periods, a 1°C increase was not protective in cold weather; nor did it increase the risk of death in warmer weather. The findings of this study reveal statistical evidence for excess coronary heart disease deaths among firefighters during winter; however, the temporal pattern of coronary heart disease deaths was not linked to temperature variation. The seasonal pattern was also found to be independent of duty‐related risks.     

Phytopathological strategies to combat some diseases of plantain for improved nutrition,income generation and poverty alleviation

The problem of micronutrient deficiencies in the diet of indigenous people of Imo State can be solved not only by improving the diet, but also by identifying nutritious foods as well as making such foods available both in quantities and qualities that needed to improve health. Plantain is widely consumed in many ways such as baked, fried, boiled, steamed, dried or eaten raw and the management demand for plantain make production expensive and out of the reach of resource for poor indigenes. Plantain production must cope with numerous environmental challenges particularly with fungal, bacteria, viral and nematode pathogens as well as pests and non-pathogenic diseases which reduce plantain production. Plantain is highly rich in iron, zinc and β-carotene whose deficiencies are commonly reported in children and women of reproductive age. The most serious disease of plantain is the black Sigatoka caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis. Others include Fusarium wilt, anthracnose, bacteria wilt, fruit rot, burrowing nematode Radopholus similis and bract mosaic. There had been scientific approaches to combat these diseases such as use of chemicals, biological enhancement, crop sanitation, use of alternative and collateral hosts as well as genetic manipulations.     

Hypertension-causing Mutations in Cullin3 Protein Impair RhoA Protein Ubiquitination and Augment the Association with Substrate Adaptors

Cullin-Ring ubiquitin ligases regulate protein turnover by promoting the ubiquitination of substrate proteins, targeting them for proteasomal degradation. It has been shown previously that mutations in Cullin3 (Cul3) causing deletion of 57 amino acids encoded by exon 9 (Cul3Δ9) cause hypertension. Moreover, RhoA activity contributes to vascular constriction and hypertension. We show that ubiquitination and degradation of RhoA is dependent on Cul3 in HEK293T cells in which Cul3 expression is ablated by either siRNA or by CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. The latter was used to generate a Cul3-null cell line (HEK293T^Cul3KO). When expressed in these cells, Cul3Δ9 supported reduced ubiquitin ligase activity toward RhoA compared with equivalent levels of wild-type Cul3 (Cul3WT). Consistent with its reduced activity, binding of Cul3Δ9 to the E3 ubiquitin ligase Rbx1 and neddylation of Cul3Δ9 were impaired significantly compared with Cul3WT. Conversely, Cul3Δ9 bound to substrate adaptor proteins more efficiently than Cul3WT. Cul3Δ9 also forms unstable dimers with Cul3WT, disrupting dimers of Cul3WT complexes that are required for efficient ubiquitination of some substrates. Indeed, coexpression of Cul3WT and Cul3Δ9 in HEK293T^Cul3KO cells resulted in a decrease in the active form of Cul3WT. We conclude that Cul3Δ9-associated ubiquitin ligase activity toward RhoA is impaired and suggest that Cul3Δ9 mutations may act dominantly by sequestering substrate adaptors and disrupting Cul3WT complexes.