Aplikasi Sistem Irigasi Tetes Berbasis Mikrokontroler Arduino dalam Budidaya Tanaman Pakcoy (Brassica rapa l.)

The purpose of this study was to examine the application of a drip irrigation system based on an Arduino microcontroller in the cultivation of pakcoy (Brassica rapa l.) and the development of pakcoy plant growth, which included plant height and mass/weight of pakcoy plants. The data or information gathered during the study was classified based on the research objectives, observed using experimental methods, and processed using quantitative descriptive analysis. In this study, the microcontroller has passed the testing stages, including soil moisture sensor V1.2, ultrasonic sensor, DHT11 sensor, and GY-49 lux light sensor, which are working well so they can be implemented. The application of the Arduino microcontroller-based drip irrigation system using a soil moisture sensor works to detect based on the determined soil moisture limit value, namely the 60% setting point limit. Plant growth using a drip irrigation system based on a microcontroller resulted in plant height with an average value of 19.60 cm/plant and a mass weight of pakcoy plant yielding a total average harvest of 48.2 g/plant

The Ratio of Hemoglobin to Red Cell Distribution Width: A Strong Predictor of Clinical Outcome in Patients with Heart Failure

Background: Hemoglobin (Hb) is a standard and widely available clinical parameter that predicts clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is also a routinely measured clinical parameter that is predictive of clinical outcomes in HF. The ratio between Hb and RDW has yet to be evaluated in HF. Methods: We evaluated the predictive value of the Hb/RDW ratio on clinical outcomes in patients with HF. All patients diagnosed with chronic HF at a health maintenance organization were evaluated for Hb/RDW ratio and followed for cardiac-related hospitalizations and death. Results: The study cohort included 6888 HF patients. The mean Hb/RDW ratio was 0.85 ± 0.18; median was 0.85 (interquartile range 0.72–0.98). Patients with a lower Hb/RDW ratio were more likely to be women and had more comorbidities. The overall two year-mortality rate was 23.2%. Decreasing quantiles of the Hb/RDW ratio were associated with reduced survival rates and reduced event-free survival from death or cardiovascular-hospitalizations. Multivariable Cox regression analysis after adjustment for significant predictors demonstrated that low Hb/RDW ratio was a significant predictor of mortality, with a graded increased risk as Hb/RDW ratio decreased. Lower Hb/RDW ratio was also a significant independent predictor of the combined endpoint of death or cardiovascular hospitalizations. A sensitivity analysis evaluating Hb/RDW ratio as a continuous parameter using restricted cubic splines demonstrated a continuous increase in the mortality risk with decreasing Hb/RDW ratio, p < 0.0001 for the linear model. Conclusions: Hb/RDW ratio is a significant prognostic tool for predicting HF mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations

A DJ-1 Based Peptide Attenuates Dopaminergic Degeneration in Mice Models of Parkinson's Disease via Enhancing Nrf2.

Drugs currently used for treating Parkinson's disease patients provide symptomatic relief without altering the neurodegenerative process. Our aim was to examine the possibility of using DJ-1 (PARK7), as a novel therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. We designed a short peptide, named ND-13. This peptide consists of a 13 amino acids segment of the DJ-1-protein attached to 7 amino acids derived from TAT, a cell penetrating protein. We examined the effects of ND-13 using in vitro and in vivo experimental models of Parkinson's disease. We demonstrated that ND-13 protects cultured cells against oxidative and neurotoxic insults, reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation, activated the protective erythroid-2 related factor 2 system and increased cell survival. ND-13 robustly attenuated dopaminergic system dysfunction and in improved the behavioral outcome in the 6-hydroxydopamine mouse model of Parkinson's disease, both in wild type and in DJ-1 knockout mice. Moreover, ND-13 restored dopamine content in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse model. These findings validate DJ-1 as a promising therapeutic target in Parkinson's disease and identify a novel peptide with clinical potential, which may be significant for a broader range of neurological diseases, possibly with an important impact for the neurosciences

ND-13 administration attenuates 6-OHDA toxicity in DJ-1 knockout mice.

<p>(A) IV administration of ND-13 (1.5 mg/Kg dissolved in 200μl saline, 4 hours before 6-OHDA lesioning) significantly reduced the rotational behavior induced by amphetamine injection, 2 and 4 weeks after 6-OHDA striatal lesioning in 6-OHDA hemiparkinsonian transgenic DJ-1 knockout mice. Results are shown as averages ± SD. (# p<0.05, as compared to naïve mice, * p<0.05, as compared to vehicle-treated 6-OHDA mice). (B) IV administration of ND-13 restores dopamine levels, as measured by HPLC in 6-OHDA lesioned DJ-1 knockout mice. Dopamine levels were measured in each cerebral hemisphere of naïve DJ-1 knockout mice (control), or mice lesioned by 6-OHDA treated by ND-13 or vehicle. The dopamine level in the right (6-OHDA lesioned) hemisphere is presented as a percentage of the normal left hemisphere. IV administration of ND-13 (1.5 mg/Kg dissolved in 200 μl, 4 hours before 6-OHDA) statistically restored dopamine levels, as compared to vehicle-treated 6-OHDA mice. Results are shown as averages ± SD. * p<0.05 as compared to vehicle-treated 6-OHDA DJ-1 knockout mice.</p

ND-13 increased activation of the Nrf2 after exposure to 6-OHDA.

<p>(A) Quantitative real time PCR analysis of the mRNA levels of Nrf2, (B) HO-1, (C) NQO-1 and (D) GCLC levels of PC-12 cells, 5 hours after exposure to increasing doses of 6-OHDA (0–50 μM). Real time PCR was done in triplicate. GAPDH was used as a housekeeping gene. Real time PCR was done by the ddCT method. Experiments were repeated 3 times. Results are shown as averages ±SD. * p<0.05.</p

ND-13 restores dopamine levels and tyrosine hydroxylase in 6-OHDA hemiparkinsonian mice.

<p>(A) Dopamine levels in brains of naïve (control) mice or mice lesioned by 6-OHDA were measured by HPLC. Dopamine level in the right (6-OHDA lesioned) hemisphere is presented as percentage of the normal left hemisphere. IV injection of the ND-13 (1.5 mg/Kg dissolved in 200 μl, 4 hours before 6-OHDA) or SC injection of ND-13 (3 mg/Kg dissolved in 100 μl saline, 6 hours before and 1 hour after 6-OHDA lesioning) restored dopamine levels as compared to vehicle treated 6-OHDA mice (# p<0.05, as compared to naïve mice, * p<0.05, as compared to vehicle-treated 6-OHDA mice). (B) IV administration of ND-13 (1.5 mg/Kg dissolved in 200μl saline, 4 hours before 6-OHDA lesioning) markedly reduced the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) staining in the 6-OHDA-lesioned (right) substantia nigra in wild type c57/bl6 mice, as compared to vehicle-treated 6-OHDA mice. TH staining in the left (unlesioned) substantia nigra did not show significant differences.</p

ND-13 reduced the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and activated the Nrf2 anti-oxidant system.

<p>(A) Exposure to hydrogen peroxide resulted in intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species, as quantified by the DCF assay. Pretreatment with ND-13 resulted in significantly decreased accumulation of reactive oxygen species. The time dependent effect was examined by increasing the time between ND-13 treatment and the oxidative insult. ND-13 showed significant effects when applied up to 6 hours before hydrogen peroxide exposure. Cells were washed before toxin application. (B) ND-13 induced nuclear translocation of Nrf-2, as quantified by cell fractionation and the Nrf2 activity kit (TransAM) on nuclear extracts. Results are shown as averages ± SD. * p<0.05. (C-F) Pretreatment with ND-13 induced early and increased expression of Nrf-2-dependent mRNA of antioxidant genes when cells were exposed to the neurotoxin 6-OHDA. (C) Quantitative real time PCR analysis of the mRNA levels of Nrf2, (D) NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase-1, GCLC (E) and HO-1 (F) levels in PC-12 cells, 2 hours after exposure to increasing doses of 6-OHDA (0–50 μM). Real time PCR was done in triplicate, by the ddCT method, with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase used as a housekeeping gene. Experiments were repeated 3 times. Results are shown as averages ±SD. * p<0.05. (G, H) Western blots of HO-1 protein levels in cells exposed to increasing doses of 6-OHDA (0–50 μM) for 8 hours. ND-13 pretreated cells showed increased HO-1 protein levels (normalized versus beta-actin levels) after exposure to 6-OHDA.</p