The Silver Cyprinid Rastrineobola Argentea as the main diet source for rearing Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes

Background & objectives: All organisms that are cultured for laboratory bioassays need food for sustenance and amplification of the colony to such numbers that would not compromise the progress of the research at hand. For effective turnover rate in the population generation, the diet should be such that it is readily available and provide adequate nutrients to the organisms. The aim of this study was to test and evaluate the efficacy of Rastrineobola argentea as a diet source for rearing Anopheles arabiensis Patton mosquitoes for research. Methods: Crushed fish, Rastrineobola argentea and two other commercial larval feeds (Tetramin Baby fish food and baker’s yeast) were compared for their efficacy as diet sources for feeding Anopheles arabiensis mosquito larvae. The effects of these diet types were determined against fecundity, size, longevity and male mating competitiveness. Results: Mosquitoes raised on Tetramin Baby fish food laid larger egg batches (66.45 ± 5.03 mm) as compared to crushed fish (64.86 ± 4.93 mm) or bakers’ yeast (50.49 ± 4.25 mm). However, the number of eggs laid by the mosquitoes irrespective of the diet type did no differ significantly (p < 0.132). Mosquitoes raised on Tetramin Baby fish food were larger in size (3.06 ± 0.02 mm) as compared to those raised on crushed R. argentea (2.93 ± 0.01 mm) or baker’s yeast (3.00 ± 0.02 mm). The choice of diet was found to influence both mosquito size (p < 0.001) and fecundity (p < 0.013). Conclusion: This study found that crushed R. argentea is an effective mosquito larval diet and that it has the potential of being more effective than tetramin if refined further and supplements added. Keywords Rastrineobola argentea; Anopheles arabiensis; Fecundity; Longevity; Eclosio

Dynamic simulations on the mitochondrial fatty acid Beta-oxidation network

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The oxidation of fatty acids in mitochondria plays an important role in energy metabolism and genetic disorders of this pathway may cause metabolic diseases. Enzyme deficiencies can block the metabolism at defined reactions in the mitochondrion and lead to accumulation of specific substrates causing severe clinical manifestations. Ten of the disorders directly affecting mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation have been well-defined, implicating episodic hypoketotic hypoglycemia provoked by catabolic stress, multiple organ failure, muscle weakness, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Additionally, syndromes of severe maternal illness (HELLP syndrome and AFLP) have been associated with pregnancies carrying a fetus affected by fatty acid oxidation deficiencies. However, little is known about fatty acids kinetics, especially during fasting or exercise when the demand for fatty acid oxidation is increased (catabolic stress).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A computational kinetic network of 64 reactions with 91 compounds and 301 parameters was constructed to study dynamic properties of mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation. Various deficiencies of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase were simulated and verified with measured concentrations of indicative metabolites of screened newborns in Middle Europe and South Australia. The simulated accumulation of specific acyl-CoAs according to the investigated enzyme deficiencies are in agreement with experimental data and findings in literature. Investigation of the dynamic properties of the fatty acid β-oxidation reveals that the formation of acetyl-CoA – substrate for energy production – is highly impaired within the first hours of fasting corresponding to the rapid progress to coma within 1–2 hours. LCAD deficiency exhibits the highest accumulation of fatty acids along with marked increase of these substrates during catabolic stress and the lowest production rate of acetyl-CoA. These findings might confirm gestational loss to be the explanation that no human cases of LCAD deficiency have been described.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In summary, this work provides a detailed kinetic model of mitochondrial metabolism with specific focus on fatty acid β-oxidation to simulate and predict the dynamic response of that metabolic network in the context of human disease. Our findings offer insight into the disease process (e.g. rapid progress to coma) and might confirm new explanations (no human cases of LCAD deficiency), which can hardly be obtained from experimental data alone.</p

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and energy efficiency in weight loss diets

Carbohydrate restriction as a strategy for control of obesity is based on two effects: a behavioral effect, spontaneous reduction in caloric intake and a metabolic effect, an apparent reduction in energy efficiency, greater weight loss per calorie consumed. Variable energy efficiency is established in many contexts (hormonal imbalance, weight regain and knock-out experiments in animal models), but in the area of the effect of macronutrient composition on weight loss, controversy remains. Resistance to the idea comes from a perception that variable weight loss on isocaloric diets would somehow violate the laws of thermodynamics, that is, only caloric intake is important ("a calorie is a calorie"). Previous explanations of how the phenomenon occurs, based on equilibrium thermodynamics, emphasized the inefficiencies introduced by substrate cycling and requirements for increased gluconeogenesis. Living systems, however, are maintained far from equilibrium, and metabolism is controlled by the regulation of the rates of enzymatic reactions. The principles of nonequilibrium thermodynamics which emphasize kinetic fluxes as well as thermodynamic forces should therefore also be considered

Transfusion-transmitted infections

Although the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections today is lower than ever, the supply of safe blood products remains subject to contamination with known and yet to be identified human pathogens. Only continuous improvement and implementation of donor selection, sensitive screening tests and effective inactivation procedures can ensure the elimination, or at least reduction, of the risk of acquiring transfusion transmitted infections. In addition, ongoing education and up-to-date information regarding infectious agents that are potentially transmitted via blood components is necessary to promote the reporting of adverse events, an important component of transfusion transmitted disease surveillance. Thus, the collaboration of all parties involved in transfusion medicine, including national haemovigilance systems, is crucial for protecting a secure blood product supply from known and emerging blood-borne pathogens

The Relationship of the Video Addiction of the Game with the Needs of Socialization in Adolescents in the Tegal Gede Sub-district, Sumbersari

Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and development both physically, psychologically and intellectually. It is often found that many adolescents who experience problems in the stages of development, especially on the problem of addiction to this game that affects the phase of social development. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between video game addiction and the need to socialize in adolescents. The research design used descriptive correlation with cross-sectional approach with a population of 67 respondents. The sampling method using Cluster Random Sampling obtained a sample of 60 respondents. This research was conducted by giving questionnaires to teenagers who were playing video games to find out the level of video game addiction and to know the level of social needs. The results of this study were analyzed using the Spearman Rho Correlation test, it was found that video game addiction in adolescents was mild addiction as much as 28.3%, moderate addiction as much as 28.3%, and severe addiction as much as 43.3%. While the need for socializing results obtained low needs of 20.0%, medium needs of 55.0%, and high needs of 25.0%. From the results of the analysis of the two variables obtained p value = 0.002 (&lt;α = 0.05) then Ha is accepted which shows there is a relationship between video game addiction and the need to socialize in adolescents. It is recommended for adolescents to be wiser in following the time

The Relationship Of The Farmer\u27s Ergonomic Position With Pain Pain In Karang Tengah Village, Jember District

The agricultural sector is one type of work that has a high risk for workers. Extreme environmental conditions and the way and use of technology in managing land that is still traditional compared to other regions determine the level of health and safety of farmers. Ergonomics is the science, art and application of technology to harmonize or balance between all facilities used both in activity and rest with all abilities. The sampling technique used is the simple random sampling method. This study is a cross-sectional study. The population in this study was 80 respondents, a sample of 67 respondents. (0.05) which shows that there is a relationship between ergonomic position and low back pain in Karang Tengah Village, Jember Regency. This research shows that the role of occupational health nurses or Occupational Health Nursing (OHN) in agriculture must be increase