Search

Background: The available evidence suggests that inflammatory responses, in both systemic and oral tissue, contribute to the pathology of COVID-19 disease. Hence, studies of inflammation biomarkers in oral fluids, such as saliva, might be useful to better specify COVID-19 features. Methods: In the current study, we performed quantitative real-time PCR to measure salivary levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in saliva obtained from patients diagnosed with mild COVID-19, in a diabetic group (DG; n = 10) and a non-diabetic group (NDG; n = 13). All participants were diagnosed with periodontitis, while six participants with periodontitis but not diagnosed with COVID-19 were included as controls. Results: We found increases in salivary total protein levels in both the DG and NDG compared to control patients. In both groups, salivary CRP and IL-6 levels were comparable. Additionally, the levels of salivary CRP were significantly correlated with total proteins, in which a strong and moderate positive correlation was found between DG and NDG, respectively. A linear positive correlation was also noted in the relationship between salivary IL-6 level and total proteins, but the correlation was not significant. Interestingly, the association between salivary CRP and IL-6 levels was positive. However, a moderately significant correlation was only found in COVID-19 patients with diabetes, through which the association was validated by a receiver operating curve. Conclusions: These finding suggest that salivary CRP and IL-6 are particularly relevant as potential non-invasive biomarker for predicting diabetes risk in mild cases of COVID-19 accompanied with periodontitis.

Indonesia is a country with a rich array of traditional meals renowned for their health benefits and potential to serve as functional foods, including dadih. Several studies have shown that dadih is a traditional fermented product from Indonesia, with various culinary applications. In addition, it is typically produced from fermented buffalo milk, which forms an unchanged or broken lump when fermented at room temperature. This product is also widely consumed by the Minangkabau ethnic group in Central Sumatra (nowadays known as the provinces of West Sumatra, Riau, Kepulauan Riau, and Jambi), holding a significant position in their culinary practices. Dadih is often traditionally processed through spontaneous fermentation in bamboo containers without the need for additional inoculation with buffalo milk. The indigenous dadih lactic acid bacteria has been evaluated to have several advantages, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antimutagenic, hypocholesterolemic, and antimicrobial properties, by various mechanisms. In addition, this product offers significant nutritional content, promoting digestive health and enhancing the body's resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study examines the role of female puppeteers in cultural diplomacy through the performing arts of wayang skin in Central Java. Wayang leather, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, functions as a medium of cultural communication rich in educational, moral, and historical values. The role of female puppeteers, despite facing patriarchal challenges, is increasingly growing thanks to the use of digital technology such as social media. This study uses a qualitative approach with a case study method, using interviews, observations, and documentation analysis to understand the contribution of female puppeteers in promoting Indonesian culture at the global level. The results show that female puppeteers not only maintain traditional arts, but also introduce new, more inclusive narratives in cultural diplomacy. Through platforms such as YouTube, female puppeteers are able to reach global audiences, strengthen Indonesia's positive image, and influence international perceptions of gender equality in art and culture. This study enriches the literature on cultural diplomacy by highlighting the power of femininity as soft power in international relations, especially in facing the challenges of modernization and cultural globalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Business Model Canvas and value chain have significantly impacted how companies and entrepreneurs develop their business strategies. Both the Business Model Canvas and the value chain provide a simple, visual approach to effectively map out the key elements of a business. They have also been used as foundational models for ecosystem business models. Ecosystem business models are created by integrating the Business Model Canvas and the pie model, known as the Integrated Business Model. Another method for generating an ecosystem business model is integrating the value chain and the pie model, known as the service-dominated business model radar. Ecosystem business models with an organizational approach also provide a broad view of the roles of each organization, divided into five actors: governor, input provider, aggregator, enabler, and end user. In this research, the perspective of the ecosystem business model originates from an ecological analogy. The ecological concept consists of community ecology and ecosystem ecology. Community ecology relates to the types of actors that play roles in the ecosystem, while ecosystem ecology pertains to the value chain processes within the ecosystem. This research will discuss the advantages and limitations of the Business Model Canvas, the value chain, and organizations as foundational models for ecosystem business models, as well as opportunities to create new ecosystem business models based on the concepts of community ecology and ecosystem ecology. The new business model developed will be applied to electric vehicles in sustainable tourism areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Constitutional Court has made a decision on regional head nominations in the Pilkada, which is an integral part of the broader general election system in Indonesia. This study analyzes the legal, political, and social implications of the decision and explores the paradigm shift in nomination, the impact on political party structures, and public reactions to these changes to create a more inclusive and participatory political climate. The study used a qualitative approach, employing a combination of legal analysis and a conceptual approach, focusing on the development and understanding of relevant legal concepts, such as democracy, political participation, and the nomination system. The results of the study suggest that lowering the nomination threshold could strengthen democracy in Indonesia by offering more opportunities for small parties and independent candidates, thereby creating an inclusive and representative election system that reflects diverse public aspirations. Moreover, the study could examine the long-term implications of these electoral reforms on political and social stability, analyzing how increased representation influences public trust in the political system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malang is one of the areas in East Java - Indonesia that has the potential to experience flooding caused by high rainfall. Floods have a negative impact on both agriculture and public health. Therefore, it is necessary to create a rainfall prediction model in Malang that supports the creation of an early warning system for flood disasters. In this research, a machine learning approach was used, namely the Long Short Term Memory model, to model monthly rainfall at three stations in Malang Regency, namely Abd. Saleh Airbase Station, Karangkates Station and Karangploso Station. Several inputs were tried, namely rainfall lag from the station itself and from neighboring stations as well as other weather variables, namely air humidity, air pressure and air temperature. The results obtained from this research are the best LSTM model for Abd. Saleh Airbase Station rainfall in is similar to the best LSTM model for Karangploso Station rainfall, namely a LSTM model with input rainfall lag 6 for the station itself. Meanwhile, the best model for Karangkates Station rainfall is a model with input rainfall lag 1, lag 4 and lag 6 from the three stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fe toxicity often inhibits rice growth on acid sulfate soils in tropical coastal lowlands. Previous studies in plant physiology and breeding have focused on high‐Fe stress, but not on growth recovery after stress alleviation. Aims: The objective of this study was to elucidate the morphophysiological characteristics in rice growth recovery from high‐Fe stress. Methods: We evaluated the seedling growths of Taichung65 (T65) (Fe toxicity‐tolerant) and Ciherang (susceptible) in hydroponic culture, during the period of high‐Fe stress (250 mg Fe2+ L−1 for 12 or 18 days) and after stress alleviation. Results: The plant growth rate during recovery was negatively correlated with the leaf bronzing score (damage symptoms due to Fe toxicity) at the end of high‐Fe stress, which in turn was negatively correlated with the shoot Fe concentration. After 18‐day stress, T65 showed greater growth recovery than Ciherang, attributable to its higher net assimilation rate, higher transpiration rate (water uptake/green leaf area), and greater increase in total root length during recovery. In particular, T65 showed vigorous lateral root development in nodal roots that emerged during the stress period and vigorous growth of nodal roots that emerged during recovery. Conclusions: Our results suggest that tolerance to high‐Fe stress confers an advantage in growth recovery. It is likely that tolerance to Fe toxicity contributes not only to the maintenance of green leaf area at the end of stress but also to quick root growth recovery, leading to vigorous water uptake and high photoassimilation capacity after stress alleviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]