Kelas mutu sapi betina Peranakan Ongole berdasarkan uji performa kuantitatif pada sistem pemeliharaan tradisional di Kecamatan Kawangkoan Kabupaten Minahasa

  Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kelas mutu sapi betina Peranakan Ongole (PO), yang dipelihara secara tradisional melalui uji performa kuantitatif. Pengamatan ini dilakukan di beberapa desa di Kecamatan Kawangkoan, yaitu Desa Kanonang 3, Tondegesan Satu, dan Tondegesan Dua. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode survei, dimana terdapat 30 ekor sapi PO betina berumur 24-36 bulan yang dijadikan sebagai materi sampel. Penentuan sampel dilakukan dengan purposive sampling. Data observasi dianalisis dengan menggunakan metode deskriptif komparatif. Variabel yang diamati dalam penelitian ini adalah penampilan kuantitatif lingkar dada (LD), panjang badan (PB), tinggi pundak (TP), dan berat badan (BB) sapi. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa kinerja kuantitatif sapi PO yang terdiri dari LD, PB, dan TP secara berturut-turut adalah 162,8 cm, 145,4 cm, dan 137,5 cm. Sedangkan rata-rata berat badan adalah 344,9 kg. Performa tersebut menunjukkan bahwa sapi betina PO dalam penelitian ini termasuk dalam kelas mutu I berdasarkan rekomendasi Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI) 7651.5:2015. Disimpulkan bahwa performa kuantitatif sapi betina PO di Kecamatan Kawangkoan walaupun sistem pemeliharaan masih bersifat tradisional namun memenuhi kelas mutu I berdasarkan Standar Nasional Indonesia. Kata kunci: performa kuantitatif, sapi PO betina, sistem pemeliharaan tradisional

Accidental Inflation in the Landscape

We study some aspects of fine tuning in inflationary scenarios within string theory flux compactifications and, in particular, in models of accidental inflation. We investigate the possibility that the apparent fine-tuning of the low energy parameters of the theory needed to have inflation can be generically obtained by scanning the values of the fluxes over the landscape. Furthermore, we find that the existence of a landscape of eternal inflation in this model provides us with a natural theory of initial conditions for the inflationary period in our vacuum. We demonstrate how these two effects work in a small corner of the landscape associated with the complex structure of the Calabi-Yau manifold P^4_[1,1,1,6,9] by numerically investigating the flux vacua of a reduced moduli space. This allows us to obtain the distribution of observable parameters for inflation in this mini-landscape directly from the fluxes.Comment: 40 pages, 11 figure

Improved method for optical fiber temperature probe implantation in brains of free-moving rats

Available online 19 December 2018BACKGROUND:The localized monitoring of brain temperature is crucial to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain hyperthermia, such as that caused by stimulant drugs. Many animal studies investigating brain hyperthermia have utilized thermocouple electrodes for temperature measurement, however optical fiber sensors have proven to be an attractive alternative to conventional measurement techniques. Despite their advantages, optical fiber sensors in their current form have struggled to find effective use in studies involving free-moving animals. NEW METHOD:We have developed an improved optical fiber temperature probe and implantation method suitable for sensing in free-moving animals. By altering the structure of the probe, conventional guide cannulae can be used for stereotaxic implantation thus increasing ease-of-use and probe durability. RESULTS:The new probe structure was easily implanted and extremely durable both pre-experimentation and during sampling in vivo. Probe re-usability also allowed for increased experimental workflow. Rats administered MDMA showed pathological increases in brain temperature. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S):Thermocouples commonly used for temperature measurement in deep brain structures lack the advantages offered by optical fiber sensors. Unlike our improved design, previous optical fiber temperature probes were unable to be removed from the brains of rats without removing the dental cement affixing it to the skull. This made the probe susceptible to breakage and often resulted in the complete loss of the animal from the experiment. CONCLUSIONS:Our fiber temperature probe and revised implantation technique can be easily employed in brain thermorecording using advantageous optical fiber sensors suitable for use in awake free-moving animals.Stefan T. Musolino, Erik P. Schartner, Mark R. Hutchinson, Abdallah Sale

KIR genotype distribution among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Is there a role for KIR 2DS4 and KIR 2DS5 genes?

Introduction The function of natural killer (NK) cells is regulated by different antigen receptors including killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). In addition to their important role in fighting infection, natural killer cells produce cytotoxicity against some cancer cells. Studies demonstrated that NK cells have a reduced function in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Aim The aim of this study is to investigate KIR expression of NK cells in CLL patients to check for any association between KIR genotypes and this disease. Methods KIR genotype was analyzed for 120 healthy Lebanese patients and 56 CLL patients using the KIR Genotyping SSP kit. Results Among the 56 CLL patients, the AA, AB, and BB genotypes frequencies were, respectively, 38%, 46%, and 16% with an A:B ratio of 1.55:1. As for the controls, the AA, AB, and BB genotypes frequencies were, respectively, 39.17%, 50%, and 10.83% with an A:B ratio of 1.79:1. KIR 2DS4∗001/002 and KIR 2DS5 were found to be significantly more prevalent among CLL patients as compared to controls. Conclusion This is the first study that reports such an interesting prevalence of KIR genes in CLL necessitating further clinical and translational research pertaining to the pathophysiology of this disease. © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

KIR genotype distribution among patients with multiple myeloma: Higher prevalence of KIR 2DS4 and KIR 2DS5 genes

Introduction: Natural killer (NK) cells possess an antitumor activity against multiple myeloma cells proven by the susceptibility of plasmocytes to NK lysis. In the early stage of MM, the killing of MM cells is mediated by natural cytotoxicity receptors (NRC) and NKG2D-dependent pathway, while in the late stage, NK cells lose their killing potential against MM cells due to the high expression of HLA class I molecules on MM cells. Aim: The aim of this paper is to study KIR expression of NK cells in MM patients and in healthy controls, to check for any association between KIR genotypes and MM. Methods: KIR genotype was analyzed in 120 healthy Lebanese individuals and 34 MM patients using the KIR Genotyping SSP kit. Results: KIR 2DS4001/002 and KIR 2DS5 were found to be significantly more prevalent among MM patients as compared to controls. For MM patients, the AA, AB, and BB genotype frequencies were, respectively, 38.23%, 47.06% and 14.71% with an A:B ratio of 1.62:1. As for the healthy controls, the AA, AB, and BB genotype frequencies were, respectively, 39.17%, 50%, and 10.83% with an A:B ratio of 1.80:1. Conclusion: The interesting observation of the significant presence of KIR2DS4 and KIR2DS5 genes more among multiple myeloma patients than controls is worth further clinical, translational as well as survival research studies in these cases. © 2014

Mapping subnational HIV mortality in six Latin American countries with incomplete vital registration systems

BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a public health priority in Latin America. While the burden of HIV is historically concentrated in urban areas and high-risk groups, subnational estimates that cover multiple countries and years are missing. This paucity is partially due to incomplete vital registration (VR) systems and statistical challenges related to estimating mortality rates in areas with low numbers of HIV deaths. In this analysis, we address this gap and provide novel estimates of the HIV mortality rate and the number of HIV deaths by age group, sex, and municipality in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico.MethodsWe performed an ecological study using VR data ranging from 2000 to 2017, dependent on individual country data availability. We modeled HIV mortality using a Bayesian spatially explicit mixed-effects regression model that incorporates prior information on VR completeness. We calibrated our results to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.ResultsAll countries displayed over a 40-fold difference in HIV mortality between municipalities with the highest and lowest age-standardized HIV mortality rate in the last year of study for men, and over a 20-fold difference for women. Despite decreases in national HIV mortality in all countries-apart from Ecuador-across the period of study, we found broad variation in relative changes in HIV mortality at the municipality level and increasing relative inequality over time in all countries. In all six countries included in this analysis, 50% or more HIV deaths were concentrated in fewer than 10% of municipalities in the latest year of study. In addition, national age patterns reflected shifts in mortality to older age groups-the median age group among decedents ranged from 30 to 45years of age at the municipality level in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico in 2017.ConclusionsOur subnational estimates of HIV mortality revealed significant spatial variation and diverging local trends in HIV mortality over time and by age. This analysis provides a framework for incorporating data and uncertainty from incomplete VR systems and can help guide more geographically precise public health intervention to support HIV-related care and reduce HIV-related deaths.Peer reviewe

Mapping geographical inequalities in oral rehydration therapy coverage in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000-17

Background Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a form of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) for diarrhoea that has the potential to drastically reduce child mortality; yet, according to UNICEF estimates, less than half of children younger than 5 years with diarrhoea in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) received ORS in 2016. A variety of recommended home fluids (RHF) exist as alternative forms of ORT; however, it is unclear whether RHF prevent child mortality. Previous studies have shown considerable variation between countries in ORS and RHF use, but subnational variation is unknown. This study aims to produce high-resolution geospatial estimates of relative and absolute coverage of ORS, RHF, and ORT (use of either ORS or RHF) in LMICs. Methods We used a Bayesian geostatistical model including 15 spatial covariates and data from 385 household surveys across 94 LMICs to estimate annual proportions of children younger than 5 years of age with diarrhoea who received ORS or RHF (or both) on continuous continent-wide surfaces in 2000-17, and aggregated results to policy-relevant administrative units. Additionally, we analysed geographical inequality in coverage across administrative units and estimated the number of diarrhoeal deaths averted by increased coverage over the study period. Uncertainty in the mean coverage estimates was calculated by taking 250 draws from the posterior joint distribution of the model and creating uncertainty intervals (UIs) with the 2 center dot 5th and 97 center dot 5th percentiles of those 250 draws. Findings While ORS use among children with diarrhoea increased in some countries from 2000 to 2017, coverage remained below 50% in the majority (62 center dot 6%; 12 417 of 19 823) of second administrative-level units and an estimated 6 519 000 children (95% UI 5 254 000-7 733 000) with diarrhoea were not treated with any form of ORT in 2017. Increases in ORS use corresponded with declines in RHF in many locations, resulting in relatively constant overall ORT coverage from 2000 to 2017. Although ORS was uniformly distributed subnationally in some countries, within-country geographical inequalities persisted in others; 11 countries had at least a 50% difference in one of their units compared with the country mean. Increases in ORS use over time were correlated with declines in RHF use and in diarrhoeal mortality in many locations, and an estimated 52 230 diarrhoeal deaths (36 910-68 860) were averted by scaling up of ORS coverage between 2000 and 2017. Finally, we identified key subnational areas in Colombia, Nigeria, and Sudan as examples of where diarrhoeal mortality remains higher than average, while ORS coverage remains lower than average. Interpretation To our knowledge, this study is the first to produce and map subnational estimates of ORS, RHF, and ORT coverage and attributable child diarrhoeal deaths across LMICs from 2000 to 2017, allowing for tracking progress over time. Our novel results, combined with detailed subnational estimates of diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality, can support subnational needs assessments aimed at furthering policy makers' understanding of within-country disparities. Over 50 years after the discovery that led to this simple, cheap, and life-saving therapy, large gains in reducing mortality could still be made by reducing geographical inequalities in ORS coverage. Copyright (c) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe