TEKNOLOGI PRODUKSI NATA DE COCO BERBAHAN BAKU ORGANIK: Production Technology of Organic Nata De Coco

ABSTRACT Production research technology of nata de coco organic aims to find an alternative nitrogen source model to replace Urea Fertilizer (ZA) to produce quality nata de coco products and to implement this model in the community (UKM NATA de COCO). The benefit of this research is to produce quality nata de coco products and contain a source of fiber (dietary fiber). The quantitative Research Methods (laboratory experiments), with Phase I research carried out trough laboratory test with Treatment A = 10 liters of coconut water + 50 ml of bean sprouts extract; Treatment B = 10 liters of coconut water + 50 ml mung bean extract; Treatment C = basic ingredients of coconut water 10 liters + coconut milk 50 ml and Treatment D = basic ingredients of coconut water 10 liters + ZA Food Grade 20 grams + the palm tree sap and treatment E = basic ingredients of coconut water + ZA Non FOod Grade (control). The quality parameters of nata de coco studied were water content, rendemen, crude fiber content, thickness, color and weight of the pellicle. Next Phase II Research: Implementation of Alternative Nitrogen Substituted Urea Fertilizer (ZA) source models in Natural Cellulose Small Business (nata de Coco) in Airmadidi District, North Minahasa Regency. The results of the research: (1). Nitrogen sources are obtained from natural / organic ingredients such as: bean sprouts extract, green bean extract, coconut milk, as an alternative to Urea (ZA) fertilizer which can be used by bacteria Acetobacter xylinum to form natural cellulose pellicles, and a source of Acetobacter xylinum from the sap of the Enau tree. (2). A quality nata de coco product is obtained by providing a model for the use of “Food Grade” N sources in small businesses that produce nata de coco in Airmadidi District, North Minahasa Regency.   Keywords: dietary fiber, nata de coco, organic   ABSTRAK         Penelitian Teknologi Produksi Nata De Coco Berbahan Baku Organik   bertujuan untuk mendapatkan model sumber nitrogen alternatif pengganti Pupuk Urea (ZA) guna menghasilkan produk nata de coco yang berkualitas serta dapat mengimplementasikan model ini kepada masyarakat (UKM Nata de Coco).  Manfaat penelitian ini guna menghasilkan produk nata de coco yang berkualitas dan mengandung sumber serat (dietary fiber).  Metode Penelitian secara kuantitatif (eksperimen laboratorium), dengan Penelitian Tahap I dilakukan melalui uji laboratorium dengan  Perlakuan A =  bahan dasar air kelapa 10 liter + ekstrak tauge 50 ml; Perlakuan B = bahan dasar air kelapa 10 liter + ekstrak kacang hijau 50 ml; Perlakuan C = bahan dasar air kelapa 10 liter + santan kelapa 50 ml dan Perlakuan D = bahan dasar air kelapa 10 liter + ZA Food Grade 20 Gram + Nira Pohon Enau dan Perlakuan E = bahan dasar air kelapa + ZA Non Food Grade (Kontrol).Parameter kualitas nata de coco yang diteliti yaitu: kadar air, rendeman, kadar serat kasar, ketebalan,   warna dan berat pelikel.  Selanjutnya Penelitian Tahap II: Implementasi model sumber nitrogen alternatif pengganti Pupuk Urea (ZA) pada Usaha Kecil nata de coco di Kecamatan Airmadidi Kabupaten Minahasa Utara. Hasil penelitian  yang dihasilkan: (1).  Diperoleh   Sumber Nitrogen dari bahan alami/organik seperti : ekstrak tauge, ekstrak kacang  hijau, santan kelapa,  sebagai alternatif pengganti   Pupuk Urea (ZA) yang dapat digunakan  oleh bakteri Acetobacter xylinum dalam  menmbentuk pelikel selulosa alami, dan sumber Acetobacter xylinum dari nira pohon Enau. (2). Diperoleh   produk  nata de coco   yang  berkualitas dengan memberikan  model penggunaan sumber N “Food Grade” pada Usaha Kecil yang   memproduksi nata de  coco  di Kecamatan Airmadidi Kabupaten   Minahasa Utara.   Kata kunci: dietary fiber, nata de coco, organi

Perovskite Photovoltaic Modules: Life Cycle Assessment of Pre-industrial Production Process

Photovoltaic devices based on perovskite materials have a great potential to become an exceptional source of energy while preserving the environment. However, to enter the global market, they require further development to achieve the necessary performance requirements. The environmental performance of a pre-industrial process of production of a large-area carbon stack perovskite module is analyzed in this work through life cycle assessment (LCA). From the pre-industrial process an ideal process is simulated to establish a benchmark for pre-industrial and laboratory-scale processes. Perovskite is shown to be the most harmful layer of the carbon stack module because of the energy consumed in the preparation and annealing of the precursor solution, and not because of its Pb content. This work stresses the necessity of decreasing energy consumption during module preparation as the most effective way to reduce environmental impacts of perovskite solar cells

Diagnostic value of exome and whole genome sequencing in craniosynostosis

Background Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures, occurs in ~1 in 2250 births, either in isolation or as part of a syndrome. Mutations in at least 57 genes have been associated with craniosynostosis, but only a minority of these are included in routine laboratory genetic testing. Methods We used exome or whole genome sequencing to seek a genetic cause in a cohort of 40 subjects with craniosynostosis, selected by clinical or molecular geneticists as being high-priority cases, and in whom prior clinically driven genetic testing had been negative. Results We identified likely associated mutations in 15 patients (37.5%), involving 14 different genes. All genes were mutated in single families, except for IL11RA (two families). We classified the other positive diagnoses as follows: commonly mutated craniosynostosis genes with atypical presentation (EFNB1, TWIST1); other core craniosynostosis genes (CDC45, MSX2, ZIC1); genes for which mutations are only rarely associated with craniosynostosis (FBN1, HUWE1, KRAS, STAT3); and known disease genes for which a causal relationship with craniosynostosis is currently unknown (AHDC1, NTRK2). In two further families, likely novel disease genes are currently undergoing functional validation. In 5 of the 15 positive cases, the (previously unanticipated) molecular diagnosis had immediate, actionable consequences for either genetic or medical management (mutations in EFNB1, FBN1, KRAS, NTRK2, STAT3). Conclusions This substantial genetic heterogeneity, and the multiple actionable mutations identified, emphasises the benefits of exome/whole genome sequencing to identify causal mutations in craniosynostosis cases for which routine clinical testing has yielded negative results

Fine-mapping of prostate cancer susceptibility loci in a large meta-analysis identifies candidate causal variants

Prostate cancer is a polygenic disease with a large heritable component. A number of common, low-penetrance prostate cancer risk loci have been identified through GWAS. Here we apply the Bayesian multivariate variable selection algorithm JAM to fine-map 84 prostate cancer susceptibility loci, using summary data from a large European ancestry meta-analysis. We observe evidence for multiple independent signals at 12 regions and 99 risk signals overall. Only 15 original GWAS tag SNPs remain among the catalogue of candidate variants identified; the remainder are replaced by more likely candidates. Biological annotation of our credible set of variants indicates significant enrichment within promoter and enhancer elements, and transcription factor-binding sites, including AR, ERG and FOXA1. In 40 regions at least one variant is colocalised with an eQTL in prostate cancer tissue. The refined set of candidate variants substantially increase the proportion of familial relative risk explained by these known susceptibility regions, which highlights the importance of fine-mapping studies and has implications for clinical risk profiling. © 2018 The Author(s).Prostate cancer is a polygenic disease with a large heritable component. A number of common, low-penetrance prostate cancer risk loci have been identified through GWAS. Here we apply the Bayesian multivariate variable selection algorithm JAM to fine-map 84 prostate cancer susceptibility loci, using summary data from a large European ancestry meta-analysis. We observe evidence for multiple independent signals at 12 regions and 99 risk signals overall. Only 15 original GWAS tag SNPs remain among the catalogue of candidate variants identified; the remainder are replaced by more likely candidates. Biological annotation of our credible set of variants indicates significant enrichment within promoter and enhancer elements, and transcription factor-binding sites, including AR, ERG and FOXA1. In 40 regions at least one variant is colocalised with an eQTL in prostate cancer tissue. The refined set of candidate variants substantially increase the proportion of familial relative risk explained by these known susceptibility regions, which highlights the importance of fine-mapping studies and has implications for clinical risk profiling. © 2018 The Author(s).Peer reviewe

An integrative cross-omics analysis of DNA methylation sites of glucose and insulin homeostasis

Despite existing reports on differential DNA methylation in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, our understanding of its functional relevance remains limited. Here we show the effect of differential methylation in the early phases of T2D pathology by a blood-based epigenome-wide association study of 4808 non-diabetic Europeans in the discovery phase and 11,750 individuals in the replication. We identify CpGs in LETM1, RBM20, IRS2, MAN2A2 and the 1q25.3 region associated with fasting insulin, and in FCRL6, SLAMF1, APOBEC3H and the 15q26.1 region with fasting glucose. In silico cross-omics analyses highlight the role of differential methylation in the crosstalk between the adaptive immune system and glucose homeostasis. The differential methylation explains at least 16.9% of the association between obesity and insulin. Our study sheds light on the biological interactions between genetic variants driving differential methylation and gene expression in the early pathogenesis of T2D

Association between depressive symptoms and fibrosis markers: The Cardiovascular Health Study

OBJECTIVE: Fibrosis plays an important role in heart failure (HF) and other diseases that occur more frequently with increasing age. Depression is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and other age-related diseases. This study examined the association between depressive symptoms and fibrosis markers in adults aged 65 years and above. METHODS: Fibrosis markers and depressive symptoms were assessed in 870 participants (age=80.9±5.9, 49% women) using a case-control design based on heart failure status (307 HF patients and 563 age- and sex-matched controls, of whom 284 with CVD risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or hypercholesterolemia) and 279 controls without these CVD risk factors). Fibrosis markers were procollagen type I (PIP), type I collagen (CITP), and procollagen type III (PIIINP). Inflammation markers included C-reactive protein, white blood cell counts and fibrinogen. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale using a previously validated cut-off point for depression (CES-D ≥ 8). Covariates included: demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: Depression was associated with higher levels of PIP (median=411.0, inter quartile range (IQR)=324.4–472.7 ng/mL vs. 387.6, IQR=342.0–512.5 ng/mL, p=0.006) and CITP (4.99, IQR=3.53–6.85, vs. 4.53, IQR=3.26–6.22 μg/L, p=0.024), but not PIIIINP (4.07, IQR = 2.75–5.54 μg/mL vs. 3.58, IQR=2.71–5.01 μg/mL, p=0.29) compared to individuals without depression. Inflammation markers were also elevated in depressed participants (CRP, p=0.014; WBC, p=0.075; fibrinogen, p=0.074), but these inflammation markers did not account for the relationship between depression and fibrosis markers. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is associated with elevated fibrosis markers and may therefore adversely affect heart failure and other age-related diseases in which extra-cellular matrix formation plays a pathophysiological role

Potential impact of encounter patient decision aids on the patient-clinician dialogue: a qualitative study on Dutch and American medical specialists' experiences

OBJECTIVES: To examine the experiences among Dutch and American clinicians on the impact of using encounter patient decision aids (ePDAs) on their clinical practice, and subsequently to formulate recommendations for sustained ePDA use in clinical practice. DESIGN: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with clinicians who used 11 different ePDAs (applicable to their specialty) for 3 months after a short training. The verbatim transcribed interviews were coded with thematic analysis by six researchers via ATLAS.ti. SETTING: Nine hospitals in the Netherlands and two hospitals in the USA. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five clinicians were interviewed: 16 Dutch medical specialists from four different disciplines (gynaecologists, ear-nose-throat specialists, neurologists and orthopaedic surgeon), 5 American gynaecologists and 4 American gynaecology medical trainees. RESULTS: The interviews showed that the ePDA potentially impacted the patient-clinician dialogue in several ways. We identified six themes that illustrate this: that is, (1) communication style, for example, structuring the conversation; (2) the patient's role, for example, encouraging patients to ask more questions; (3) the clinician's role, for example, prompting clinicians to discuss more information; (4) workflow, for example, familiarity with the ePDA's content helped to integrate it into practice; (5) shared decision-making (SDM), for example, mixed experiences whether the ePDA contributed to SDM; and (6) content of the ePDA. Recommendations to possibly improve ePDA use based on the clinician's experiences: (1) add pictorial health information to the ePDA instead of text only and (2) instruct clinicians how to use the ePDA in a flexible (depending on their discipline and setting) and personalised way adapting the ePDA to the patients' needs (e.g., mark off irrelevant options). CONCLUSIONS: ePDAs contributed to the patient-clinician dialogue in several ways according to medical specialists. A flexible and personalised approach appeared appropriate to integrate the use of ePDAs into the clinician's workflow, and customise their use to individual patients' needs