Pengelompokan Kecamatan Di Kabupaten Toraja Utara Berdasarkan Hasil Produksi Pertanian Menggunakan Analisis Gerombol

Peran sektor pertanian dalam pembangunan ekonomi antara lain. Sebagai penyedia pangan, sebagai sumber tenaga kerja bagi sektor perekonomian lain, sebagai sumber kapital bagi pertumbuhan ekonomi modern khususnya dalam tahap awal pembangunan, sebagai sumber devisa dan masyarakat pedesaan merupakan pasar bagi produk yang dihasilkan dari sektor indutri di perkotaan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengelompokan Kecamatan di Kabupaten Toraja Utara berdasarkan potensi sektor pertanian. Dalam penelitian ini menggunakan analisis gerombol dengan metode single linkage dan menggunakan pengukuran jarak squared euclidean. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa pada sektor pertanian di Toraja Utara terbentuk empat gerombol

Assessment of Post-harvest Handling Practices: Knowledge and Losses of Fruits in Bagamoyo District of Tanzania

The harvesting practices, knowledge and post-harvest losses of fruits along the supply chain in Bagamoyo District were investigated. 142 farmers, 50 retailers and 10 wholesalers dealing with fruits were involved in the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. The results indicate that, 90.14%  of the respondents harvested fruits when they are just ripe and the great market losses were reported to occur due to rotting (microbial) at 63%, physiological at 20% and 17% by insects and rodents. Along the supply chain, mechanical damage was observed to be the major type of loss during harvesting (79%) and transportation (56%) while microbial damage was observed by majority (67%) during marketing. Poor infrastructure from farm to the market was observed to account for large percentage of losses in the market. The findings also shows that all farmers (100%) interviewed have no knowledge on post-harvest losses and management. In the view of the findings, it can be concluded that, post-harvest handling practices and knowledge of stakeholders involved in fruit sub sector in the country are not good enough to prevent the losses. It is therefore imperative to improve educational knowledge, skills and fruits quality from the field to reduce post-harvest losses. Keywords: Post-harvest practices, knowledge, losses, fruit

How long-distance truck drivers and villagers in rural southeastern Tanzania think about heterosexual anal sex: a qualitative study

Objective: To explore ideas of truck drivers and villagers from rural Tanzania about heterosexual anal sex (HAS) and the associated health risks. Methods: Qualitative study using 8 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 2 focus group discussions (FGDs) with truck drivers and 16 IDIs and 4 FGDs with villagers from the Morogoro region. Study participants included 24 women and 46 men. Data analysis was performed thematically employing standard qualitative techniques. Results: Reasons why men would practice HAS included sexual pleasure, the belief that anal sex is safer than vaginal sex, alternative sexual practice, exploration and proof of masculinity. Reasons why women would practice HAS included financial need, retaining a partner, alternative for sex during menses, pregnancy prevention and beauty enhancement because HAS is believed to ‘fatten the female buttocks’. Most participants believed that condoms are not needed during HAS. This was linked to the ideas that infections only ‘reside in wet places’ (vagina) and that the anus is not ‘conducive’ for condom use; condoms reduce ‘dryness’ and ‘friction’ (pleasure) and may ‘get stuck inside’. Conclusions: The study participants reported practices and ideas about HAS that put them at risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Greater attention to education about HAS is urgently needed in Tanzania, where this sexual practice is still regarded as a taboo. This study offers useful information that could be included in sex education programmes

Kualitas Produk, Strategi Promosi dan Harga Pengaruhnya terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Kartu Simpati Telkomsel di Kota Manado

Sarana komunikasi yang tersedia saat ini sangat memudahkan bagi masyarakat dalam berkomunikasi, sehingga menjadikan dunia ini seakan sangat sempit dengan diiringi kemajuan ilmu pengetahuan dan sarana teknologi yang canggih yang berakibat pada perkembangan disegala bidang. Salah satunya di bidang telekomunikasi dalam hal persaingan antar Perusahaan telekomunikasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh kualitas produk, strategi promosi dan harga terhadap keputusan pembelian kartu Simpati di kota Manado. Metode penelitian yang digunakan asosiatif, yang bertujuan untuk melihat keterhubungan antar variabel. Teknik penarikan sampel menggunakan teknik accidental sampling, dan jumlah sampel yang digunakan adalah 100 responden. Teknik analisis menggunakan regresi linear berganda. Hasil penelitian menunjukan terdapat pengaruh yang positif dan signifikan antara variabel kualitas produk, strategi promosi, dan harga terhadap keputusan pembelian Kartu Simpati Telkomsel di kota Manado. Harga merupakan variabel yang dominan pengaruhya terhadap keputusan pembelian konsumen terhadap produk kartu Simpati

LEVERAGING FROM GENOTYPE BY ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION FOR BREAD WHEAT PRODUCTION in EASTERN AFRICA

Developing high yielding and stable genotypes for wide and specific adaptation is important in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) production. The objective of this study was to exploit the gains from genotype by environment interaction for increased bread wheat production in eastern Africa. Thirty-three advanced bread wheat lines, along with two check varieties (Danda\u2019a and Hidasse) were evaluated at ten locations in Ethiopia and Kenya. The experiment was laid out in alpha lattice design in three replications. The analysis of variance for AMMI model of grain yield showed that environment, genotypes and genotype by environment interaction (GEI) effects were highly significant (P<0.01), and accounted for 62.4, 4.8 and 15.8% of the total sum of squares variations, respectively. High environmental and significant GEI indicated that the environment had major influence for inconsistent performance. Grain yield of the genotypes ranged from 1.58 t ha-1 (G30) to 9.05 t ha-1 (G31). Genotypes G31, G18 and G35 were the best performing lines across environments. The AMMI biplot, using the first two principal components, showed that testing sites Njoro and Arsi-Robe highly discriminated the tested genotypes. Njoro was negatively interacting with high yielding genotypes, and was a different environment from any of the testing locations of Ethiopia for these sets of genotypes. It may be difficult to develop high yielding and stable varieties for the two countries, but one should look for specific adaptation. Genotypes G31 and G18 produced high grain yield, with low stability across locations which were favouring high yielding environments. However, G21 and G8 had above mean grain yield and good stability across locations. Therefore, wheat breeding for specific adaptability is very important to exploit the genetic advantage of specific genotypic performances across the region. However, extensive testing considering many locations across East African countries is vital for delineating and exploiting wheat environments for marked developments.Le d\ue9veloppement de vari\ue9t\ue9s stables et a rendements \ue9lev\ue9s dans le but d\u2019adoption a grande \ue9chelle, est important dans la production du bl\ue9 tendre ( Triticum aestivum L.). L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude est d\u2019exploiter l\u2019effet de l\u2019interaction entre g\ue9notypes et environnements (IGE) pour accroitre la production du bl\ue9 tendre en Afrique de l\u2019Est. Trente-trois lign\ue9es avanc\ue9es de bl\ue9 tendre ensemble avec deux vari\ue9t\ue9s de r\ue9f\ue9rence (Danda\u2019a and Hidasse) ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9valu\ue9es dans dix locations. Le plan exp\ue9rimental \ue9tait en treillis alpha avec trois r\ue9p\ue9titions. La m\ue9thode de l\u2019interaction des effets additifs and multiplicative (AMMI) avait \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9e pour le rendement en grain. L\u2019analyse des variances selon ce mod\ue8le a montr\ue9 que l\u2019environnement, le g\ue9notype et l\u2019interaction des deux ont des effets significatifs sur le rendement en grains (P<0,01), et contribuent respectivement, 62,4\ua0; 4,8 et 15,8% \ue0 la variation totale. Un effet important de l\u2019environnement et une interaction significative indiquent que l\u2019environnement a un r\uf4le majeur dans les diff\ue9rences de rendements. Les rendements en grains des g\ue9notypes testes varient de 1.58 t ha-1 (G30) a 9.05 t ha-1 (G31). Les g\ue9notypes G31, G18 et G35 \ue9taient de fa\ue7on g\ue9n\ue9rale, les plus performants. Le biplot g\ue9n\ue8re par AMMI a montr\ue9 que les sites Njoro and Arsi-Robe discriminent nettement les g\ue9notypes test\ue9s. Njoro \ue9tait n\ue9gativement corr\ue9l\ue9 avec les g\ue9notypes a rendement \ue9lev\ue9 et constituait un environnement diff\ue9rent de toutes les autres locations de l\u2019Ethiopie ou ces g\ue9notypes ont \ue9t\ue9 testes. Il peut s\u2019av\ue9rer difficile de d\ue9velopper des vari\ue9t\ue9s \ue0 haut rendement et stable dans les deux pays, mais l\u2019on doit rechercher des vari\ue9t\ue9s adapt\ue9es \ue0 chaque milieu. Les g\ue9notypes G31 et G18 ont eu des rendements \ue9lev\ue9s mais n\u2019ont pas \ue9t\ue9 stables dans les milieux qui se sont av\ue9r\ue9s \ue0 haut rendement. N\ue9anmoins, G21 et G8 ont eu des rendements plus \ue9lev\ue9s que la moyenne et se sont montres stables d\u2019un milieu \ue0 un autre. Il s\u2019ensuit donc que le d\ue9veloppement de vari\ue9t\ue9 de bl\ue9 tendre adapt\ue9 \ue0 chaque milieu serait une bonne approche pour une exploitation efficiente des avantages g\ue9n\ue9tiques des g\ue9notypes \ue0 haute performance. N\ue9anmoins, il est important de faire des essais extensifs prenant en compte plusieurs localit\ue9s des pays de l\u2019Afrique de l\u2019Est afin d\u2019explorer et identifier les milieux propices au bl\ue9 tendre

BIOAKTIVITAS JAMUR Aspergillus flavus YANG BERSIMBION DENGAN ASCIDIAN Eudistoma sp.

Ascidian is a marine invertebrate that produce bioactive compounds such as antibacterial and antifungal. The purpose of this study was to obtain symbiotic fungi isolates, ethyl acetate extracts from ascidian symbiotic isolates, and to determine the antibacterial and antifungal activities of ethyl acetate extracts of symbiotic isolates using the diffusion method (disc diffusion Kirby and Bauer) against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and against the Candida albicans fungus. The results obtained 1 ascidian species which was cultured to obtain pure isolates, the pure isolates were tested molecularly and the results showed that the isolate was Aspergillus flavus, then the isolates were grown on rice medium and extracted. The results of the fungal extract showed the presence of antibacterial and antifungal activity against Escherichia coli by 10 mm, Staphylococcus aureus by 19 mm and against the Candida albicans by 13.5 mm. Keywords : Ascidian, Eudistoma sp., Aspergillus flavus, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Symbiotic.                                                  AbstrakAscidian merupakan avertebrata laut yang dapat menghasilkan senyawa bioaktif yang seperti antibakteri dan antijamur. Tujuan dari penelitian ini yaitu mendapatkan isolat jamur simbion dari ascidian, mendapatkan ekstrak etil asetat dari isolat jamur simbion ascidian, dan menguji aktivitas antibakteri dan antijamur ekstrak etil asetat isolat jamur simbion dengan metode difusi agar (disc diffusion Kirby and Bauer) terhadap bakteri Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus dan terhadap jamur Candida albicsans. Hasil penelitian didapatkan 1 jenis ascidian yang kemudian dikultur untuk mendapatkan isolat murni, isolat murni diuji secara molekuler dan didapati hasil bahwa isolat tersebut merupakan jamur Aspergillus flavus. Isolat tersebut kemudian ditumbuhkan pada media nasi dan diekstrak. Hasil ekstrak jamur tersebut menunjukkan adanya aktivitas antibakteri dan antijamur terhadap bakteri Escherichia coli sebesar 10 mm, Staphylococcus aureus sebesar 19 mm dan terhadap jamur Candida albicsans 13,5 mm. Kata kunci : Ascidian, Eudistoma sp., Aspergillus flavus, Antibakteri, Antijamur, Simbion

The potential of chalcone-capped gold nanoparticles for the management of diabetes mellitus

Searching for new natural bioactive capping agents represent an urgent priority in the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Additionaly, the biosaftey of metal nanparticles is a major concern especially in medical applications. Recently, the use of pharmacollogicaly active natural products as capping agents has been deployed to avoid toxic effects during the nanoparticles preparation and to enhance their drugability compared with convential drugs. Helichrysum foetidum is a South African medicinal plant used in folk medicine for the treatment of different human pathologies, and it is known to contain a variety of bioactive compounds. Herein, the total extract and two pure chalcones, helichrysetin and helichrysin, isolated from the same plant were successfully used to synthesize quasi-monodispersed gold nanoparticles in the size range of 2–12 nm. The bio-evaluation of samples indicated that the AuNP/capping agent conjugates are biostable, and have different biological profiles from the total extract/pure compounds. The enzymatic inhibition assays showed significant inhibition by the total extract, helichrysetin and their gold nanoparticles. Interestingly, a similar activity was observed for glucose uptake in HEK293 treated cells. On the other hand, all the tested samples relatively demonstrated no cytotoxicity when tested against the HaCaT keratinocytes. In conclusion, the study demonstrated potential enhancement of glucose uptake in mammalian kidney cells, and inhibition of carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes by green synthesized gold nanoparticles of H. foetidum. It also provides a therapeutic appraisal of AuNPs/chalcones conjugate towards the development of antidiabetes drugs derived from H. foetidum and its gold nanoparticles

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial adaptive shift during pituitary tumoral growth

The cellular transformation of normal functional cells to neoplastic ones implies alterations in the cellular metabolism and mitochondrial function in order to provide the bioenergetics and growth requirements for tumour growth progression. Currently, the mitochondrial physiology and dynamic shift during pituitary tumour development are not well understood. Pituitary tumours present endocrine neoplastic benign growth which, in previous reports, we had shown that in addition to increased proliferation, these tumours were also characterized by cellular senescence signs with no indication of apoptosis. Here, we show clear evidence of oxidative stress in pituitary cells, accompanied by bigger and round mitochondria during tumour development, associated with augmented biogenesis and an increased fusion process. An activation of the Nrf2 stress response pathway together with the attenuation of the oxidative damage signs occurring during tumour development were also observed which will probably provide survival advantages to the pituitary cells. These neoplasms also presented a progressive increase in lactate production, suggesting a metabolic shift towards glycolysis metabolism. These findings might imply an oxidative stress state that could impact on the pathogenesis of pituitary tumours. These data may also reflect that pituitary cells can modulate their metabolism to adapt to different energy requirements and signalling events in a pathophysiological situation to obtain protection from damage and enhance their survival chances. Thus, we suggest that mitochondria function, oxidative stress or damage might play a critical role in pituitary tumour progression.Fil: Sabatino, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Grondona, Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Sosa, Liliana del Valle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Mongi Bragato, Bethania del Carmen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Carreño, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Juarez, Andrea Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: da Silva, Rodrigo A.. Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil; BrasilFil: Remor, Aline. Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil; BrasilFil: de Bortoli, Lucila. Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil; BrasilFil: Paula Martins, Roberta de. Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil; BrasilFil: Pérez, Pablo Aníbal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica; ArgentinaFil: Petiti, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica; ArgentinaFil: Gutiérrez, Silvina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Alicia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica; ArgentinaFil: Latini, Alexandra. Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil; BrasilFil: de Paul, Ana Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica; Argentin

Parvovirus B19 infection in Tunisian patients with sickle-cell anemia and acute erythroblastopenia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human parvovirus B19 is the etiologic agent of erythema infectiosum in children. It is also associated with other clinical manifestations in different target groups. Patients with chronic hemolytic anemia are at high risk of developing acute erythroblastopenia following infection by the virus. They usually become highly viremic and pose an increased risk of virus transmission. Close monitoring of such high risk groups is required for epidemiologic surveillance and disease prevention activities. Here we report a molecular epidemiological study on B19 virus infection in Tunisian patients with chronic hemolytic anemia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was conducted on 92 young chronic hemolytic anemia patients who attended the same ward at the National Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of Tunis and 46 controls from a different hospital. Screening for IgM and IgG anti-B19 antibodies was performed using commercially available enzyme immunoassays and B19 DNA was detected by nested PCR in the overlapping <it>VP1/VP2 </it>region. DNA was sequenced using dideoxy-terminator cycle sequencing technology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Anti-parvovirus B19 IgG antibodies were detected in 26 of 46 sickle-cell anemia patients, 18 of 46 β-thalassemia and 7 of 46 controls. Anti-parvovirus B19 IgM antibodies were detected only in 4 of the sickle-cell anemia patients: two siblings and two unrelated who presented with acute erythroblastopenia at the time of blood collection for this study and had no history of past transfusion. B19 DNA was detected only in sera of these four patients and the corresponding 288 bp nested DNA amplicons were sequenced. The sequences obtained were all identical and phylogenetic analysis showed that they belonged to a new B19 virus strain of Genotype1.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A new parvovirus B19 strain of genotype1 was detected in four Tunisian patients with sickle-cell anemia. Virus transmission appeared to be nosocomial and resulted in acute erythroblastopenia in the four patients. The possibility of independent transmission of this B19 variant to the patients is unlikely in light of the present epidemiological data. However this possibility cannot be ruled out because of the low genetic variability of the virus.</p