DSpace 9

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DSpace is the world leading open source repository platform that enables organisations to:

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    Fish Lipids Functionality in Health and Disease
    (Asian food science journal, 2022-12-22) Lokuruka, Michael N. I.
    Aim: This literature review discusses the roles of fish lipids in health and disease. Duration and Location: It was done between July 2021 and September 2022 by the author at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Karatina University, Kenya. Results: Adipocyte overabundance can result in cholesterol plaque deposition in arterial walls, which is a risk factor for diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Cholesterol is required for many cellular processes and its availability in oligodendrocytes may be the limiting factor in brain maturation, myelination and neurotransmission. The ω-3 and 6 fatty acids regulate cholesterol metabolism, blood clotting and control inflammation. They are important for brain activity, structure and function, form nerve cell membranes, and insulate neurons. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and decosapentaenoic acid (DPA) are associated with reduced risk of CVD, cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death by reducing small, dense, low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) particles, which are more atherogenic and hence can shift some sdLDL to larger more buoyant LDL particles that are likely to reduce the risk of CVD. EPA is anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, reduces platelet aggregation, increases vasodilation and lowers plasma triglycerides. DHA is necessary for cognitive development and visual function, while DPA reduces platelet aggregation, improves lipid metabolism, reduces endothelial cell migration and improves resolution of chronic inflammation. Conclusion: Regular intake of EPA and DHA is important for nursing or pregnant women, as a child needs DHA to form the brain and other parts of the nervous system up to about 2 years of age. While regular intake of the ω-3 FA seems beneficial for brain health and alleviation of major mental-depression, further research is needed to better understand their roles in brain health and in related dystrophies. Also, the roles of DPA vis-a-vis those of EPA and DHA require further investigation.
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    The Rosy and not too Rosy Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids’ Intake
    (African journal of food agriculture nutrition and development, 2024-11) Lokuruka, Michael
    The omega-3 fatty acids are some of the most talked about nutrients in human nutrition, currently. While we desire to experience optimal well-being from the intake of the recommended levels of the omega 3 fatty acids, their excessive consumption can result in some undesirable effects, just as there are also unpleasant effects from the intake of low amounts in diets, such as dry scaly skin. However, their normal levels in diets pose no risks on human nutrition and metabolism.
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    Effects of induced mutagenesis and single crossing on agronomic traits of wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.)
    (Journal of Agriculture and Life Science, 2015-12-02) Birithia, R. K.; Githinji, G. G.
    Wheat is a major food crop worldwide and ranks second after maize in Kenya. Mutation breeding is extensively applied as supplements to conventional plant breeding as a source of increasing variability and could confer a specific improvement without significantly altering its phenotype. The present experiment was set out to determine the effects of induced mutagenesis on agronomic traits in mutant wheat. The experiment was carried out at the University of Eldoret under green house conditions from May-August 2013. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The following parameters were used for the study; number of tillers, plant height, number of spikelet’s/spike, spike length and days to 50% heading. The data obtained were analyzed by Genstat software and mean separated by Duncan multiple range tests. It was found that mutation had a significant effect on number of tillers, plant height, spike length and days to heading at P<.001.
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    First Report of Iris yellow spot virus Infecting Onion in Kenya and Uganda
    (APS Online publications, 2011-08-11) Birithia, R.; Subramanian, S.; Pappu, H. R.; Sseruwagi, P.; Muthomi, J. W.; Narla, R. D.
    Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the key vegetables produced by small-holder farmers for the domestic markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. Biotic factors, including infestation by thrips pests such as Thrips tabaci Lindeman, can inflict as much as 60% yield loss. Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV; family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus) transmitted by T. tabaci is an economically important viral pathogen of bulb and seed onion crops in many onion-growing areas of the world (2,4). In Africa, IYSV has been reported in Reunion (1) and South Africa (3). In September 2009, symptoms suspected to be caused by IYSV were observed on onions and leeks cultivated in Nairobi, Kenya. Symptoms consisted of spindle-shaped, straw-colored, irregular chlorotic lesions with occasional green islands on the leaves. The presence of the virus was confirmed with IYSV-specific Agdia Flash kits (Agdia Inc., Elkart, IN). Subsequently, surveys were undertaken in small-holder farms in onion production areas of Makueni (January 2010) and Mwea (August 2010) in Kenya and Kasese (January 2010) and Rwimi (January 2010) in Uganda. The incidence of disease in these locations ranged between 27 and 72%. Onion leaves showing symptoms of IYSV infection collected from both locations tested positive for the virus by double-antibody sandwich-ELISA with IYSV-specific antiserum (Agdia Inc). IYSV infection was confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR with primers IYSV-465c: 5'-AGCAAAGTGAGAGGACCACC-3' and IYSV-239f: 5'-TGAGCCCCAATCAAGACG3' (3) as forward and reverse primers, respectively. Amplicons of approximately 240 bp were obtained from all symptomatic test samples but not from healthy and water controls. The amplicons were cloned and sequenced from each of the sampled regions. Consensus sequence for each isolate was derived from at least three clones. The IYSV-Kenya isolate (GenBank Accession No. HQ711616) had the highest nucleotide sequence identity of 97% with the corresponding region of IYSV isolates from Sri Lanka (GenBank Accession No. GU901211), followed by the isolates from India (GenBank Accession Nos. EU310287 and EU310290). The IYSV-Uganda isolate (GenBank Accession No. HQ711615) showed the highest nucleotide sequence identity of 95% with the corresponding region of IYSV isolates from Sri Lanka (GenBank Accession No. GU901211) and India (95% with GenBank Accession Nos. EU310274 and EU310297). To our knowledge, this is the first report of IYSV infecting onion in Kenya and Uganda. Further surveys and monitoring of IYSV incidence and distribution in the region, along with its impact on the yield, are under investigation. References: (1) L. J. du Toit et al. Plant Dis. 91:1203, 2007. (2) D. H. Gent et al. Plant Dis. 88:446, 2004. (3) H. R. Pappu et al. Plant Dis 92:588, 2008. (4) H. R. Pappu et al. Virus Res. 141:219, 2009.
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    Analysis of Iris yellow spot virus replication in vector and non-vector thrips species
    (British society for Plant Pathology, 2013-04-01) Birithia, Rael K.; Subramanian, Sevgan; Pappu, H. R.; Muthomi, J; Narla, R. D.
    Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV, genus Tospovirus) is a viral disease of bulb and seed onion crops and is transmitted by Thrips tabaci. Foliage damage of up to 75% has been reported in Kenya and Uganda. In this study, the rate of IYSV replication in the larva, pupa and adult stages of T. tabaci and other non-vector thrips species and colour forms such as Frankliniella occidentalis, F. schultzei (dark) and F. schultzei (pale) was evaluated by monitoring relative levels of nucleocapsid (N) and non-structural (NSs) proteins using N- and NSs-specific antibodies. The effect of IYSV replication on mortality of thrips was also determined. N protein levels increased in all three stages of IYSV-fed T. tabaci, indicating replication of IYSV. In IYSV-fed non-vector thrips, the increase of N protein levels in the larval stage was lower than IYSV-fed T. tabaci but higher than their healthy counterparts. The N protein levels did not increase at pupal and adult stages. NSs protein was not detected in first instar of either vector or non-vector thrips species. After a 4 h post-acquisition period, a significant increase in NSs proteins was only observed in IYSV-fed T. tabaci, clearly differentiating vectors and non-vectors of IYSV. IYSV replication did not influence the survival of the vector thrips species, T. tabaci populations or the non-vector thrips species. This study indicates the effectiveness of monitoring non-structural proteins such as NSs, compared to nucleocapsid proteins, for differentiating vectors and non-vectors of IYSV.