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Spirulina is a species of blue green algae that contains many phenolic compounds, phytonutrients and pigments which have potential as a feed additives to improve the physical and chemical quality of eggs. The present study evaluated the effect of spirulina flour-based feed additive supplementation during the late growth to the early egg-laying period on Tegal-laying ducks' physical and chemical egg quality. A total of 25 ducks were randomly divided into 5 treatments; the control group treated with standard feed (P0), P1, P2, P3, and P4 were treated with standard feed supplemented by spirulina flour-based feed additive at concentrations of 0.3%, 0.6%,1.2%, and 2.4%, respectively for four weeks. Physical quality indicators included the Haugh unit, yolk index, weight measurements, eggshell thickness, and shape index. Chemical quality indicators assessed albumen protein content, egg yolk cholesterol, and -carotene levels. This research revealed that spirulina flour, added at concentrations between 0.30% and 2.40%, significantly enhanced the egg quality of Tegal-laying ducks compared to the control group. This study concludes that spirulina flour can be used as a feed additive to improve the physical and chemical quality of Tegal-laying ducks’ egg. The novelty of this research is spirulina flour has the potential to be used as a feed additive to increases the albumen protein levels, increases -carotene, and reduces egg yolk cholesterol in eggs of Tegal-laying ducks. Spirulina flour can be a potential source of feed additive for various other local ducks in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of pengging ducks is determined by optimizing the function of the body's organs. The feed consumed greatly determines the growth and development of the internal organs in the pengging duck. Nanochitosan is a polysaccharide that has potential as a feed additive which functions to increase feed digestibility, nutrient absorption, promote growth to help optimize the function of visceral organs. This study aims to analyze the effect of nanochitosan as a feed additive on the function of the visceral organs of pengging ducks in terms of the weight of the visceral organs. The visceral organs studied included the ventriculus, intestines, liver, pancreas, spleen, and heart. This study was designed in a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatments (0; 2.5; 5; 7.5; 10 g nanochitosan/kg feed) with 5 replications. Nanochitosan feed additive treatment was given for 8 week. Variables that were measured in this study included weight of ventriculus, intestinal, liver, pancreas, spleen, and heart of pengging ducks. The research data showed that nanochitosan as a feed additive had no significant effect on visceral weight of pengging ducks (P>0.05). The conclusion of this study is that nanochitosan as a feed additive does not cause changes in the function of the visceral organs based on the indication of the weight of the visceral organs measured, namely the ventricles, intestines, liver, pancreas, spleen, and heart. The novelty of this research is the use of nanochitosan as a feed additive to improve the performance of penging ducks by maintaining the size of the visceral organs. It is hoped that the results of this research on nanochitosan feed additive can be used by local laying duck farms in Indonesia because it is safe and as an effort to improve the performance and productivity of ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanochitosan is a polysaccharide that can be used as a feed additive to improve the chemical quality of eggs. Protein and cholesterol levels are indicators of the chemical quality of eggs that affect egg weight. This study aims to analyze the effect of nanochitosan as a feed additive on improving the chemical quality of eggs in terms of protein content, cholesterol content, egg white weight, egg yolk weight, and duck egg weight. This study was designed in a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatments (0; 2.5; 5; 7.5; 10 g nanochitosan/kg feed) with 5 replications. Treatment of feed was given for 8 weeks. Variables measured included protein content, cholesterol level, egg white weight, egg yolk weight, and duck egg weight. Data was analyzed using ANOVA at 5% significance. The results showed that nanochitosan as a feed additive had a significant effect on increasing protein content, egg white weight, egg yolk weight, egg weight and cholesterol reduction. The conclusion of this study is that nanochitosan can be used as a feed additive that has potential to improve the chemical quality of duck eggs. The novelty of this research is the use of nanochitosan as a feed additive to improve the performance of livestock in increasing protein levels and reducing cholesterol levels in pengging duck eggs. The results of this study are expected to open up opportunities regarding the use of nanochitosan as a feed additive in various other local ducks in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anomaly of the pectoral fin is caused by an inappropriate amount of oxygen and ammonia within the water, which is expected to be resolved by the combination usage of an aerator and filter. This study aimed to analyze the combination usage of an aerator and filter with different amounts toward the growth of Nile tilapia's pectoral fin. This study used a 2×2 factorial completely randomized design consisting of 4 treatments (ANF, AANF, AF, and AAF) with 6 replications. The measurement variable of the pectoral fin includes length, width, weight, and the ratio of the pectoral fin's length with the total size of the fish. The measurement was analyzed using two way-ANOVA and continued with the LSD test. The results of the combination usage of the aerator and filter revealed a significant effect (P<0.05) on the pectoral fin length, pectoral fin width, pectoral fin weight, and ratio of pectoral fin length to total body length. The research's conclusion was the combination of usage aerator and filter had a positive impact on the growth of Nile tilapia's pectoral fin. The study's novelty is the combination usage of an aerator and filter with a different number to promote the growth of the cell within the pectoral fin of Nile tilapia. This research would benefit people through the discovery of the combination usage of an aerator and filter to improve the growth of Nile tilapia's pectoral fin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flora biodiversity has been known to have a vital function in reducing carbon emissions in the air and contributing oxygen in significant levels to the environment. PT. Pertamina (Persero) Fuel Terminal Boyolali (FTB) has an important role in the conservation programs, protection of flora biodiversity, and environmental management. This study aims to analyze carbon stocks found in trees, plants cover soil, litter, necromas, and carbon in the soil and evaluate conservation of flora and fauna. This study uses a purposive random sampling method of carbon sources followed by the determination of carbon stocks in three conservation areas managed by PT. FTB, namely in the Wonopotro Forest, in the Pepe River watershed, and Pertamina's operational area. The samples from carbon sources include trees, litter, ground cover plants, necromas, and soil. The trees and necromas carbon sources sampling at each location was carried out at 2 stations with a size of 10 x 50 m2. Meanwhile, the sampling of litter, ground cover plants, and soil was carried out at 2 stations, each consisting of 3 plots. The results showed that the total carbon stock in the conservation areas was 1,688,0791 tons. The Pepe River watershed has the highest total carbon stock, which was 1,466,0928 tons/ha. The FTB and Wonopotro Forest, respectively, have about 180.7569 and 41.2294 tons/ha. The novelty of this research is the method of calculating carbon stocks in a conservation area that can be used as a database for assessing environmental management performance to the preservation of biological resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pertussis cases have been reported most frequently in developed countries, but they are predicted to be the most prevalent in developing countries. Indonesia, a developing country, routinely conducts case-based surveillance for pertussis. We reviewed the data on pertussis cases and close contacts based on clinical sample documents examined in the National Reference Laboratory for pertussis, Indonesia (2016–2020). Our objective was to analyze the laboratory and epidemiological aspects of pertussis cases and close contacts, particularly to evaluate the implementation of a 5-year case-based surveillance of pertussis in Indonesia. Data were collected from sample documents and annual laboratory reports between January 2016 and December 2020. We analyzed the proportion of pertussis cases and close contacts by geographic region, year, age, and sex. We used the χ2 test to correlate the laboratory and epidemiological data. In total, 274 clinical cases of pertussis and 491 close contacts were recorded in 15 provinces. The peak number of cases occurred in 2019, with a positivity rate (percentage of laboratory-confirmed cases) of 41.23% (47/114). Clinical cases were dominated by infants aged <1 year (55.5%), and 52.9% of them were aged <6 months. Similarly, 72.3% (68/94) of the laboratory-confirmed cases were infants. Both clinical cases and positivity rates tended to be higher in females (155 cases, 38.1%) than in males (119 cases, 29.4%). No confirmed cases were found in children aged ≥10 years, although positive results still occurred in close contact. Age-group and laboratory-confirmed cases were correlated (p = 0.00). Clinical and confirmed cases of pertussis occurred mostly in the early age group and may be lower in those aged ≥10 years, especially in confirmed cases. New policies are needed for pertussis prevention at an early age, as well as the application of serology tests to increase laboratory-confirmed cases in children aged ≥10 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to find out characteristics and patterns of the spread of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolated from Jakarta and the surrounding areas, using the whole genome sequencing (WGS) technique and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach. Materials and methods: The study samples consisted of 86 C. diphtheriae isolates, which were isolated from diphtheria patients and close contacts of patients. The DNA sequencing was carried out using the WGS technique. Data conversion applied the U-gene software. Molecular typing was conducted through the MLST approach, then followed by online data analysis. Results: The results showed that as many as 43 (50%) of all samples examined were new types with the same allele profile, namely 9-1-13-4-3-3-4. New sequence type C. diphtheriae is registered in the MLST global database as ST534 based on the allele profile. The tox gene analysis in 43 isolates with ST534 indicated that there were three mutation positions, all of which were silent mutations. Conclusion: The main cause of diphtheria in Jakarta and the surrounding areas is a new sequence type of C. diphtheriae registered as ST534. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthrax is a deadly disease caused by Bacillus antracis that damages the lymphatic and vascular systems of animals and humans. Anthrax prevention in Indonesia has been done but has many shortcomings among them is a lot of dead animal raises after vaccination and relatively expensive. The azadirachtin bioactive compound produced by neem endophytic microbes is known to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis bacteria, thus potentially as an anti-anthrax agent. Other bacteria that have the same pathogens as B. antrachis are Methycillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) so that it is used as a research object. The aim of this research is to obtain the active biomaterials from selected neem leaf endophytes to be tested in S. aureus MRSA as bacteria with Anthrax pathogens. The method used in this research is the isolation, selection, and extraction of Neem endophytes. The process of isolation is done by growing on the general media and the selection process on special media. The bioactive extraction process uses 1000 rpm centrifuge and screening on MRSA culture medium. Inhibitory zone tests were used to determine the effect of endophytic biopsy in inhibiting MRSA growth. The result of the research is that the bioactive endophytes of neem are able to inhibit MRSA growth which is characterized by the formation of drag zone around the endophytic bioactive. Thus it can be concluded that the use of neem endophytes can be a new solution to eradicate the presence of anthrax disease in the livestock and people in Indonesia with safe research methods, relatively inexpensive and ineffective vaccine replacements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host genetic factors, such as the genes for various cytokines and adhesion molecules, play a significant role in determining susceptibility to malaria infection. Polymorphisms in host genes have been correlated with malaria infection in both African and Asian regions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between both cytokine and adhesion molecule genotypes with susceptibility to malaria infection in humans. Ten cytokine polymorphism loci (IL4 + 33, IL4-590, IL6-174, IL10-1082, IL10-1035, IL12p40, TNF-238, TNF-308, TNF-1031, and TNF-β) and three adhesion molecule polymorphism loci (CD36 exon 10, ICAM-1 Kilifi, and ICAM-1 exon 6) were genotyped using PCR–RFLP analysis. We conducted this study on 178 asymptomatic malaria subjects and 122 uninfected subjects. Results showed that certain CD36 exon 10 and IL10-3575 polymorphisms were associated with asymptomatic infection. The heterozygous (GT) and homozygous (GG) genotypes for CD36 exon 10 are associated with an increased risk of malaria infection. On the other hand, the homozygous genotype (AA) for IL10-3575 reduced the risk of asymptomatic malaria infection. No significant differences were found for the other polymorphisms studied. We also found that a polymorphism in CD36 exon 10 was strongly associated with asymptomatic malaria caused specifically by Plasmodium vivax. These findings suggest that the G allele of CD36 exon 10 is associated with an increased risk of asymptomatic malaria infection. On the other hand, the genotype AA for IL10-3575 was associated with a reduced risk of malaria infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death marked by iron and lipid ROS accumulation. GPX4 is one of the glutathione peroxidases known to regulate ferroptosis tightly. On the other hand, Nrf2 also plays a vital role in ferroptosis as it targets genes related to oxidant defense. Herein, we employed beas-2 human epithelial cells treated with a low concentration of RSL3 to induce ferroptosis. To study the protective role of Nrf2, we used ML385 as its specific inhibitor. A combination of ML385 and a low concentration of RSL3 synergistically induced more toxicity to RSL3. Furthermore, we found that mitochondrial ROS is elevated in ML385 and RSL3 combination group. In addition, Mito TEMPOL application successfully prevents the upregulation of mitochondrial ROS, lipid ROS, reduces the toxicity of RSL3, restores the antioxidant capacity of the cells, and mitochondrial functions reflected by mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) expression. Altogether, our study demonstrated that Nrf2 inhibition by ML385 induces more toxicity when combined with RSL3 through the elevation of mitochondrial ROS and disruption of mitochondrial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]