Development of Gocing Storage Method for Cocoyam

Lack of good storage reduces the shelf life of harvested cocoyam (Colocasia spp and Xanthosoma spp) corms and cormels. This is a major challenge facing cocoyam farmers, processors, and marketers in Nigeria. The National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria, which has a national mandate to research into root and tubers crops of economic importance, has developed the ‘Gocing Storage’ for improved storage of cocoyam. The paper highlights this improved method of storing cocoyam as an advancement in cocoyam research, to reduce loss of cocoyam in storage, and make highly quality cocoyam available to consumers, processors and marketers throughout the year.Gocing Storage; Cocoyam; NRCRI and Nigeria

Development of Gocken Multiplication Technology for Cocoyam

Low multiplication ratio of cocoyam {Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Xanthosoma mafafa (tannia)} and scarcity of planting materials are major constraints militating against sustainable cocoyam production. During harvesting and processing of cocoyam, very small cormels weighing about 7.0 g (micro cormels) and less are discarded as wastes. These ‘wastes’ usually sprout in the wet season to constitute environmental problem. The Gocken Multiplication Technology is a new technology developed at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria, for very rapid multiplication of cocoyam by recycling ‘wastes’ of cocoyam (≤7.0 g cormels) in cocoyam production. The technology utilizes a seed rate of about 0.35 - 0.45 t/ha compared to 1.0-2.0 t/ha currently in use. Total corm + cormel yield ranged from 7.34-15.5t/ha. Similarly, seed harvest multiplication ratio (SHMR) ranged from 19.0-39.0, while available yield ranged from 89.5-94.7 %. Economic analysis showed that the benefit cost ratio was 4.24:1.0, indicating that the technology is profitable by returning N4.24 to every N1.00 spent.Gocken; very rapid multiplication; technology and cocoyam

Development of Gocing Storage Method for Cocoyam

Lack of good storage reduces the shelf life of harvested cocoyam (Colocasia spp and Xanthosoma spp) corms and cormels. This is a major challenge facing cocoyam farmers, processors, and marketers in Nigeria. The National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria, which has a national mandate to research into root and tubers crops of economic importance, has developed the ‘Gocing Storage’ for improved storage of cocoyam. The paper highlights this improved method of storing cocoyam as an advancement in cocoyam research, to reduce loss of cocoyam in storage, and make highly quality cocoyam available to consumers, processors and marketers throughout the year

Development of Gocing Storage Method for Cocoyam

Lack of good storage reduces the shelf life of harvested cocoyam (Colocasia spp and Xanthosoma spp) corms and cormels. This is a major challenge facing cocoyam farmers, processors, and marketers in Nigeria. The National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria, which has a national mandate to research into root and tubers crops of economic importance, has developed the ‘Gocing Storage’ for improved storage of cocoyam. The paper highlights this improved method of storing cocoyam as an advancement in cocoyam research, to reduce loss of cocoyam in storage, and make highly quality cocoyam available to consumers, processors and marketers throughout the year

Development of Gocken Multiplication Technology for Cocoyam

Low multiplication ratio of cocoyam {Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Xanthosoma mafafa (tannia)} and scarcity of planting materials are major constraints militating against sustainable cocoyam production. During harvesting and processing of cocoyam, very small cormels weighing about 7.0 g (micro cormels) and less are discarded as wastes. These ‘wastes’ usually sprout in the wet season to constitute environmental problem. The Gocken Multiplication Technology is a new technology developed at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria, for very rapid multiplication of cocoyam by recycling ‘wastes’ of cocoyam (≤7.0 g cormels) in cocoyam production. The technology utilizes a seed rate of about 0.35 - 0.45 t/ha compared to 1.0-2.0 t/ha currently in use. Total corm + cormel yield ranged from 7.34-15.5t/ha. Similarly, seed harvest multiplication ratio (SHMR) ranged from 19.0-39.0, while available yield ranged from 89.5-94.7 %. Economic analysis showed that the benefit cost ratio was 4.24:1.0, indicating that the technology is profitable by returning N4.24 to every N1.00 spent

Ceramide-induced integrated stress response overcomes Bcl-2 inhibitor resistance in acute myeloid leukemia.

Inducing cell death by the sphingolipid ceramide is a potential anti-cancer strategy, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. Here, we show that triggering accumulation of ceramide in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells by inhibition of sphingosine kinase induces an apoptotic integrated stress response (ISR) through protein kinase R-mediated activation of the master transcription factor ATF4. This leads to transcription of the BH3-only protein, Noxa, and degradation of the pro-survival Mcl-1 protein on which AML cells are highly dependent on for survival. Targeting this novel ISR pathway in combination with the Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax synergistically killed primary AML blasts, including those with venetoclax-resistant mutations, as well as immunophenotypic leukemic stem cells, and reduced leukemic engraftment in patient-derived AML xenografts. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic insight into the anti-cancer effects of ceramide and pre-clinical evidence for new approaches to augment Bcl-2 inhibition in the therapy of AML and other cancers with high Mcl-1 dependency.Alexander C. Lewis, Victoria S. Pope, Melinda N. Tea, Manjun Li, Gus O. Nwosu, Thao M. Nguyen, Craig T. Wallington-Beddoe, Paul A. B. Moretti, Dovile Anderson, Darren J. Creek, Maurizio Costabile, Saira R. Ali, Chloe A. L. Thompson-Peach, B. Kate Dredge, Andrew G. Bert, Gregory J. Goodall, Paul G. Ekert, Anna L. Brown, Richard D'Andrea, Nirmal Robinson, Melissa R. Pitman, Daniel Thomas, David M. Ross, Briony L. Gliddon, Jason A. Powell, and Stuart M. Pitso

Targeting the integrated stress response in hematologic malignancies.

While numerous targeted therapies have been recently adopted to improve the treatment of hematologic malignancies, acquired or intrinsic resistance poses a significant obstacle to their efficacy. Thus, there is increasing need to identify novel, targetable pathways to further improve therapy for these diseases. The integrated stress response is a signaling pathway activated in cancer cells in response to both dysregulated growth and metabolism, and also following exposure to many therapies that appears one such targetable pathway for improved treatment of these diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of the integrated stress response in the biology of hematologic malignancies, its critical involvement in the mechanism of action of targeted therapies, and as a target for pharmacologic modulation as a novel strategy for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.Gus O. Nwosu, Jason A. Powell, and Stuart M. Pitso

Epidemiological mapping of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis for intervention strategies in Nigeria

Helminth infections caused by schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are among the most prevalent afflictions of humans who live in areas of poverty in the developing world. The level of morbidity and mortality caused by these helminthes requires urgent intervention. This study reports on the epidemiological mapping and intervention strategies for the control of schistosomiasis and STH in Nigeria. Epidemiological survey on the prevalence of schistosomiasis and STH was conducted in Nigeria between November 2013 and May 2015 in 19 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), covering 2,160 schools /communities in 433 LGAs. Urine and faecal samples were collected from 108,472 pupils comprising 57,670 (53.2%) males and 50,802 (46.8%) females of age range 5 to 16 years. The samples were analysed using urine filtration and KatoKatz techniques. The target population for intervention was determined using the World Health Organization Guidelines for intervention strategies. Prevalence of 9.5% and 27% were recorded for schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis respectively from the pupils sampled. Highest prevalence of 26.1% was recorded in Niger State for schistosomiasis while the lowest was in Rivers State (0.1%). STH had highest prevalence in Akwa Ibom State (58.4%) and lowest in Yobe State (1.4%). Niger State also had the highest prevalence for co-infection (8.96%). Based on the prevalence of schistosomiasis observed, a total of 202 LGAs fall within the low risk category, 153 moderate and four LGAs were high risk category. The high risk LGAs were located in Niger and Kebbi States. Case-based management is required for STH in 191 LGAs while 177 LGAs fall within the low-risk and 60 LGAs were in the high risk categories. The findings of this study highlighted the treatment interventions required to facilitate scale up of appropriate mass administration of medicine, water, sanitation and hygiene intervention in the 19 States of the Federation and the FCT. Keywords: Schistosomiasis; soil-transmitted helminthiasis; prevalence; intervention strategy; risk; control; treatment