Lipid lowering and anti-atherosclerotic properties of Tinospora crispa aqueous extract on high-cholesterol diet-induced hyperlipidemic rabbits

This study was aimed to investigate the hypocholestrolemic and anti-atherosclerotic properties of Tinospora crispa aqueous extract (TCAE) on rabbits for 10  weeks. The hyperlipidemic rabbits were induced and the rabbit were given different concentration of TCAE (200, 450 and 600 mg/kg). Results from lipid analysis  show that the level of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and LDL-C on the hyperlipidemic rabbits were reduced with the treatment of TCAE while HDL level  was elevated. Through plasma analysis, the activity of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphates (ALP) were also reduced with the treatment of  TCAE compared to hyperlipidemia group. All group of rabbits tested with TCAE again had significantly higher (p < 0.05) total  antioxidant status (TAS), glutathione  peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Among the concentrations of TCAE tested, medium dose showed more potent effect in reducing blood  serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels and increasing HDL-C level compared to low and high dosages counterparts. No foam cell formation was visible in aorta of rabbits treated with TCAE in dose dependent manner. However, there was visible foam cell formation in the aorta of hyperlipidemia group. In conclusion, this study suggests that supplementation of 450 mg/kg of T. crispa extract would be able to reduce or retard the progression of atherosclerotic plaque development induced by dietary cholesterol.Key words: Hypocholesterolemia, Tinospora crispa, anti-atherosclerotic properties, cardiovascular diseases

Simmulation of a virtual transducer using potentiometer

This work attempts to design and implement in hardware a transducer with a nonlinear response using potentiometer. Potentiometer is regarded as a linear transducer, while a the response of a nonlinear transducer can be treated as a concatenation of linear segments made out of the response curve of an actual nonlinear transducer at the points of inflections being exhibited by the nonlinear curve. Each straight line segment is characterized by its slope and a constant, called the y-intercept, which is ultimately realized by a corresponding electronic circuit. The complete circuit diagram is made of three stages: (i) the input stage for range selection, (ii) a digital logic to make appropriate selection, (iii) a conditioning circuit for realizing a given straight-line segment identified by its relevant slope and reference voltage. The simulation of the circuit is carried using MULTISIM, and the designed circuit is afterward tested to verify that variations of the input voltage give us an output voltage very close to the response pattern envisaged in the analytical stage of the design. The utility of this work lies in its applications in emulating purpose built transducers that could be used to nicely emulate a transducer in a real world system that is to be controlled by a programmable digital system

Transformasi E-Government Menuju E-Governance Dalam Proses Pelayanan Publik Pada Media Centre Pemerintahan Kota Surabaya

E-Gov adalah penggunaan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi, khususnya internet, untuk memberikan pelayanan publik secara lebih nyaman, berorientasi pada pelanggan, hemat biaya, dan sama sekali berbeda dan (dengan) cara yang lebih baik. Penyelenggaraan e-Gov pada Pemkot Surabaya dapat dibedakan menjadi 3 kategori,yakni 1) e-Gov dibidang Pengelolaan Keuangan Daerah disebut Sistem Informasi Manajemen Sumberdaya Pemerintahan (SimASdaP), 2) e-Gov untuk pelayanan perijinan (Surabaya Single Window disingkat SSW) dan 3) e-Gov untuk warga (pelayanan dan komunikasi masyarakat). Baik SimAsdaP maupun SSW bertujuan untuk menciptakan efiisiensi.Pada SimASdaP pola konektifitas e-Gov adalah G2G (Government to Government), pada SSW pola konektifitasnya G2B (Government to Business).Penyelenggaraan e-Gov pada Pemerintahan Kota Surabaya yang fokusnya berawal pada upaya penciptaan efisiensi pelayanan publik, sebagaimana tujuan dari program SiMasDaP dan SSW diperluas menuju e-Gov yang terfokus pada citizen centric service yakni menuju e-Governance belum terselenggara secara maksimal.Tingkat partisipasi elektronik (e-participation) warga yang memanfaatkan layanan e-Gov masih rendah dan keberadaan program program layanan media centre juga belum populer dimana pengguna layanan online (berbasis web) baru sebesar 39,23% dari total pengguna layanan publik yang ada. Berdasarkan latar belakang diatas, penelitian ini merumuskan 3 permasalah yaitu Bagaimanakah transformasi e-Gov menuju e-Governance dalam proses pelayanan publik pada Media Center Pemerintahan Kota Surabaya? Bagaimana orientasi penyelenggaraan e-Gov pada proses pelayanan publik Media Center pemerintahan kota Surabaya? Bagaimanakah model transformasi e-Gov menuju e-Governance dalam proses pelayanan publik pada Media Center Pemerintahan Kota Surabaya ? Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mendeskripsikan, menganalisis dan menginterpretasikan: (1) proses transformasi e-Government menuju e-Governance pada Media Center Pemerintah Kota Surabaya dan (2) orientasi layanan e-Gov pada Media Center Pemerintah Kota Surabaya sehingga akhirnya dapat membangun sebuah model transformasi e-Gov menuju e- Governance dalam proses pelayanan publik pada Media Center pemerintah kota Surabaya Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan lokus riset pada Media Center Kantor Dinas Komunikasi dan Informatika (DINKOMINFO) Pemerintah Kota Surabaya. Adapun fokus penelitian ini adalah (1) Proses transformasi e-Gov menuju e-Governance dalam pelayanan publik yang diselenggarakan oleh Media Center Pemkot Surabaya,(2) Orientasi penyelenggaraan e-Gov dalam proses pelayanan publik, (3) membangun model transformasi e-Gov menuju e-Governance dalam proses pelayanan publik pada Media Centre Dinkominfo Pemkot Surabaya.Teknik Pengumpulan Data dilakukan dengan Wawancara, Observasi dan Dokumentasi. Teknik analisis data menggunakan A Nine-Step Process for Analyzing Qualitative Data Hasil penelitian lapangan menyimpulkan bahwa proses transformasi e-Gov dalam proses pelayanan publik yang diselenggarakan Dinkominfo Pemkot Surabaya secara political will mengarah kepada e-Governance khususnya ada upaya untuk mengakomodasi partisipasi warga melalui pembentukan Media Centre dengan program layanan bernama e-sapawarga. Penyelenggaraan e-Gov pada Media Centre masih berada pada tahap umum dalam pengembangan e-Gov yakni tahap kehadiran (presence),interaksi (interaction) dan transaksi (transaction). Transformasi e-Gov yang dilakukan tergolong transformasi instrumental dimana perubahan yang dilakukan lebih terpusat pada praktek operasional dan manajemen layanan, dengan maksud untuk meningkatkan efisiensi. Layanan e-Gov yang diselenggarakan sudah berorientasi pada upaya pemberdayaan warga, upaya menumbuhkan partisipasi masyarakat dan pembentukan masyarakat informasi akan tetapi masih belum memadai dari segi penyediaan infrastruktur TIK dan masih belum maksimal dalam melibatkan peran komunitas informasi masyarakat Penelitian ini merekomendasikan sebuah model dimana untuk mewujudkan transformasi e-Government menuju e-Governance yang efektif diperlukan kepemimpinan yang kuat, pemberdayaan warga dibidang TIK,pemanfaatan kemajuan TIK dan pelibatan Kelompok Informasi Masyaraka

Socio-demographic determinants of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in migrant workers of Peninsular Malaysia

Background The number of migrants working in Malaysia has increased sharply since the 1970’s and there is concern that infectious diseases endemic in other (e.g. neighbouring) countries may be inadvertently imported. Compulsory medical screening prior to entering the workforce does not include parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among migrant workers in Peninsular Malaysia by means of serosurveys conducted on a voluntary basis among low-skilled and semi-skilled workers from five working sectors, namely, manufacturing, food service, agriculture and plantation, construction and domestic work. Methods A total of 484 migrant workers originating from rural locations in neighbouring countries, namely, Indonesia (n = 247, 51.0%), Nepal (n = 99, 20.5%), Bangladesh (n = 72, 14.9%), India (n = 52, 10.7%) and Myanmar (n = 14, 2.9%) were included in this study. Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 57.4% (n = 278; 95% CI: 52.7–61.8%) with 52.9% (n = 256; 95% CI: 48.4–57.2%) seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG only, 0.8% (n = 4; 95% CI: 0.2–1.7%) seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgM only and 3.7% (n = 18; 95% CI: 2.1–5.4%) seropositive with both IgG and IgM antibodies. All positive samples with both IgG and IgM antibodies showed high avidity (> 40%), suggesting latent infection. Age (being older than 45 years), Nepalese nationality, manufacturing occupation, and being a newcomer in Malaysia (excepting domestic work) were positively and statistically significantly associated with seroprevalence (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of this study suggest that better promotion of knowledge about parasite transmission is required for both migrant workers and permanent residents in Malaysia. Efforts should be made to encourage improved personal hygiene before consumption of food and fluids, thorough cooking of meat and better disposal of feline excreta from domestic pets

Dose-response relationship between arsenic exposure and the serum enzymes for liver function tests in the individuals exposed to arsenic: a cross sectional study in Bangladesh

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic arsenic exposure has been shown to cause liver damage. However, serum hepatic enzyme activity as recognized on liver function tests (LFTs) showing a dose-response relationship with arsenic exposure has not yet been clearly documented. The aim of our study was to investigate the dose-response relationship between arsenic exposure and major serum enzyme marker activity associated with LFTs in the population living in arsenic-endemic areas in Bangladesh.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 200 residents living in arsenic-endemic areas in Bangladesh were selected as study subjects. Arsenic concentrations in the drinking water, hair and nails were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The study subjects were stratified into quartile groups as follows, based on concentrations of arsenic in the drinking water, as well as in subjects' hair and nails: lowest, low, medium and high. The serum hepatic enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were then assayed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Arsenic concentrations in the subjects' hair and nails were positively correlated with arsenic levels in the drinking water. As regards the exposure-response relationship with arsenic in the drinking water, the respective activities of ALP, AST and ALT were found to be significantly increased in the high-exposure groups compared to the lowest-exposure groups before and after adjustments were made for different covariates. With internal exposure markers (arsenic in hair and nails), the ALP, AST and ALT activity profiles assumed a similar shape of dose-response relationship, with very few differences seen in the higher groups compared to the lowest group, most likely due to the temporalities of exposure metrics.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study demonstrated that arsenic concentrations in the drinking water were strongly correlated with arsenic concentrations in the subjects' hair and nails. Further, this study revealed a novel exposure- and dose- response relationship between arsenic exposure metrics and serum hepatic enzyme activity. Elevated serum hepatic enzyme activities in the higher exposure gradients provided new insights into arsenic-induced liver toxicity that might be helpful for the early prognosis of arsenic-induced liver diseases.</p

Children’s and adolescents’ rising animal-source food intakes in 1990–2018 were impacted by age, region, parental education and urbanicity

Animal-source foods (ASF) provide nutrition for children and adolescents’ physical and cognitive development. Here, we use data from the Global Dietary Database and Bayesian hierarchical models to quantify global, regional and national ASF intakes between 1990 and 2018 by age group across 185 countries, representing 93% of the world’s child population. Mean ASF intake was 1.9 servings per day, representing 16% of children consuming at least three daily servings. Intake was similar between boys and girls, but higher among urban children with educated parents. Consumption varied by age from 0.6 at <1 year to 2.5 servings per day at 15–19 years. Between 1990 and 2018, mean ASF intake increased by 0.5 servings per week, with increases in all regions except sub-Saharan Africa. In 2018, total ASF consumption was highest in Russia, Brazil, Mexico and Turkey, and lowest in Uganda, India, Kenya and Bangladesh. These findings can inform policy to address malnutrition through targeted ASF consumption programmes.publishedVersio

Incident type 2 diabetes attributable to suboptimal diet in 184 countries

The global burden of diet-attributable type 2 diabetes (T2D) is not well established. This risk assessment model estimated T2D incidence among adults attributable to direct and body weight-mediated effects of 11 dietary factors in 184 countries in 1990 and 2018. In 2018, suboptimal intake of these dietary factors was estimated to be attributable to 14.1 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI), 13.8–14.4 million) incident T2D cases, representing 70.3% (68.8–71.8%) of new cases globally. Largest T2D burdens were attributable to insufficient whole-grain intake (26.1% (25.0–27.1%)), excess refined rice and wheat intake (24.6% (22.3–27.2%)) and excess processed meat intake (20.3% (18.3–23.5%)). Across regions, highest proportional burdens were in central and eastern Europe and central Asia (85.6% (83.4–87.7%)) and Latin America and the Caribbean (81.8% (80.1–83.4%)); and lowest proportional burdens were in South Asia (55.4% (52.1–60.7%)). Proportions of diet-attributable T2D were generally larger in men than in women and were inversely correlated with age. Diet-attributable T2D was generally larger among urban versus rural residents and higher versus lower educated individuals, except in high-income countries, central and eastern Europe and central Asia, where burdens were larger in rural residents and in lower educated individuals. Compared with 1990, global diet-attributable T2D increased by 2.6 absolute percentage points (8.6 million more cases) in 2018, with variation in these trends by world region and dietary factor. These findings inform nutritional priorities and clinical and public health planning to improve dietary quality and reduce T2D globally.publishedVersio

Inovasi Perpustakaan dalam Menyediakan Kebutuhan Informasi untuk Mahasiswa Universitas Brawijaya di Era Pandemi Covid-19 (Studi Kasus pada Perpustakaan Universitas Brawijaya)

Perpustakaan Universitas Brawijaya merupakan perpustakaan yang terletak di Kota Malang, berada dibawah naungan Universitas Brawijaya. Perpustakaan Universitas Brawijaya memiliki berbagai prestasi diantaranya Akreditasi “A” oleh Perpustakaan Nasional Republik Indonesia, dan bersertifikat ISO 9001: 2008. Selain prestasi tersebut juga memiliki permasalahan yaitu kurang maksimalnya layanan yang diberikan, meskipun saat ini telah terjadi suatu wabah virus Covid- 19 yang saat ini sudah ditetapkan sebagai Pandemi Covid-19, hal tersebut tidak boleh dijadikan alasan. Lain daripada hal itu, diduga permasalahan tersebut juga disebabkan oleh faktor internal dari perpustakaan seperti dari SDM (Sumber Daya Manusia), hardware-software atau birokrasinya. Oleh karenanya penelitian ini bermaksud mengetahui, mendeskripsikan dan menganalisis permasalahan yang ada. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Pengumpulan data melakukan observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Teknik penentuan informan dalam penelitian ini menggunakan purposive sampling dan simple random sampling. Adapun analisis data yang digunakan yaitu analisis deskriptif dengan menguraikan, menginterpretasikan dan pada akhinya diambil satu kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian ini disebutkan bahwa SDM (Sumber Daya Manusia) yang terbatas, kurangnya perhatian yang serius dari organisasi yang menaungi seperti tersendatnya anggaran hal ini secara tidak langsung mempengaruhi pengadaan barang. Lain daripada hal itu dari sisi eksternal juga masih ada permasalahan seperti kurangya informasi mahasiswa dalam mengakses layanan yang disediakan perpustakaan sehingga layanan perpustakaan menjadi kurang maksimal