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The Importance of Motorcycle Taxi Transport of Agricultural Products and Operator Income in Indonesia

Aims: The purpose of this research is to analyze the operator profile, operational transportation profile and operational costs, as well as the additional income of the operator. Background: South Sulawesi, Indonesia, is known as the city of rice or rice granaries with extensive agricultural areas or rice fields, but road infrastructure is still limited, and there are still many unconnected road networks and the absence of fast, cheap and efficient modes of transportation for agricultural products that can operate. In addition, the level of education and skills of the community is low; limited employment opportunities cause unemployment. Therefore, farming communities create jobs by modifying their two-wheeled motorcycle and becoming operators of motorcycle taxis transporting agricultural products as a livelihood to earn additional income. Objective: The object of the study is motorcycle taxis operator as a means of transporting agricultural products operating in the Sidenreng Rappang Regency, with a very large agricultural area. Methods: The interview survey is conducted on motorcycle taxi operators. A total of 227 operator respondents were surveyed randomly using a survey form that had been previously designed and tested. Primary data is collected through interview surveys which are analyzed and described. Results and Discussion: The results of the study show that the majority of operators have a relatively low education profile, 96% with an education level below high school, 99% working as an operator is a side job, 100% of taxi motorcycles are owned by themselves, the time spent per motorcycle taxi transporting to the destination on average between 100 – 200 minutes per 1,000 – 3,000 kg, operating time used per day is 98% less than 5 hours, operator operating costs per day on average IDR30,600 (equivalent to US$2.1/day), provide additional income per day of IDR173,400 (equivalent to US$12/day) or month between IDR3,500,000 – IDR4,500,000 (equivalent to US$ 241 – US$ 310/month). Conclusion: Motorcycle taxis are one of the solutions for transporting agricultural products in this region and created additional jobs become operators to increase income.

Reconstruction of Niet Ontvankelijke Verklaard Verdict In the Law of Civil Procedure as a Manifestation of Fast, Simple, Low Cost and Complete Principle of Justice

Dispute resolution through court is more favorable because the binding decisions of judges can resolve cases. This study discusses ratio legis of niet ontvankelijke verklaard in the law of civil procedure and in the formulation of the delimitation of the judge in giving niet ontvankelijke verklaard in the fast, simple, low cost, and complete settlement of civil disputes. This study used legal research methods with legislation and conceptual approaches. The result of the study showed that The limitation of the judge in examining the lawsuit that does not meet the formal requirements and decides the lawsuit is inadmissible (niet onvankelijk verklaard), in the absence of fast, simple, low-cost, and complete civil disputes, as stated in the Draft Bill of the Law of Civil Procedure, which is essentially related to the types of exceptions that can become the basis for the judge in determining the lawsuit to be inadmissible (niet onvankelijk verklaard). Indonesia's current civil procedure laws, HIR and RBg, do not specifically outline the standards that a judge must employ to declare that a matter is inappropriate for filing (niet onvankelijk verklaard). Before making a ruling that is not admissible (niet onvankelijk verklaard) in the settlement, the judge must be aware of his or her restrictions in this situation. As stated in the Draft Bill of the Law of Civil Procedure, the judge is limited in examining lawsuits that do not meet the formal requirements and deciding that the lawsuit is inadmissible (niet onvankelijk verklaard), in the absence of quick, easy, inexpensive, and comprehensive civil disputes. This limitation is essentially related to the types of exceptions that can become the basis for the judge in determining that the lawsuit is inadmissible (niet onvankelijk verklaard)

Suncus murinus as a novel model animal that is suitable for elucidating the mechanism of daily torpor.

Torpor, a state of lowered body temperature due to active reduction of the metabolic rate, has potential medical benefits. The aim of this study was to establish a novel laboratory animal that enter torpor without imposing complex conditions. When house musk shrews (Suncus murinus) were kept at an ambient temperature of 24°C, most of the animals did not enter daily torpor. However, when the ambient temperature was lowered to below 20°C, all of the shrews showed torpor in the absence of fasting and short-day photoperiod. The shrews that were exposed to a stepwise decrease in ambient temperature from 24°C to 8°C entered torpor even after returning them to a room kept at 24°C. In conclusion, this study indicates that Suncus murinus may be a suitable model animal for elucidating the mechanism of daily torpor. Elucidation of the mechanisms of torpor by using this model may be useful for inducing a state of artificial hibernation in various species including humans.

Fasting is not required for measuring plasma lipid levels in rabbits.

Plasma lipid and glucose levels are important parameters for evaluating the onset and development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In clinical and experimental studies of humans or mice, fasting is often required before testing plasma lipid and glucose levels. The rabbit is a valuable animal model for cardiovascular disease research. However, whether fasting is necessary for measuring plasma lipid and glucose levels in rabbits remains unclear. In the current study, 12 healthy Japanese white rabbits (males weighing 2.5-3.0 kg) were randomly divided into a chow diet group (n = 6) and a high cholesterol diet group (n = 6). They were fed either a standard chow diet or a chow diet supplemented with 0.5% cholesterol and 3% corn oil for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose were measured before and after various fasting durations (8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 h). The results showed that there were no significant differences in lipid levels between the fasting and non-fasting samples, whereas glucose levels were lower after 8 h of fasting than in the absence of fasting. Moreover, the glucose levels were restored to normal after 8 h of refeeding. These results indicate that fasting does not affect plasma lipid values in rabbits but that fasting is important for determining the glucose level in rabbits. These findings may be helpful for future rabbit experiments and beneficial for animal welfare.

Absolute quantitation of poly(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid using spectrofluorometry in recombinant Escherichia coli.

Poly(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) is a biodegradable natural polymer produced by microorganisms and plants under nitrogen deprivation and physiological stress. Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches are underway to develop strains that can produce PHB and its co-polymers. One of the major limitations to the scaling and success of strain development for biosynthesis of PHB is the absence of fast, accurate, quantitative and scalable methods to estimate PHB in polymer producing cells. In this study, a Nile red-based spectrofluorometric method is developed for absolute quantitation of PHB in recombinant Escherichia coli. The method is a modification of an existing Nile red-based method currently only used for relative quantitation. The two added steps of sonication and ethanol extraction increase the dynamic range of the assay and limit of detection/quantitation. Sonication of PHB standards provides uniform distribution of surface area to volume ratios. This ensures reproducibility and accuracy (lower %relative error) of quantitative staining of granules by Nile red even in a higher dynamic concentration range of 125–1000 µg/ml. Ethanolic extraction of the PHB bound Nile red allows higher recovery and accurate absolute quantitation. To reproduce high recovery and ensure accuracy and precision of the analytical method directly using cells, a protein digestion step was added. This accounted for fluorescence from over-expressed protein and resulted in screening of nonproducers of PHB amongst samples. Thus, the method developed is rapid, accurate, and reproducible, requires low sample volumes and processing compared to other conventional methods. This method is scalable to other PHA’s and diverse plastics.

Attempt to correlate simulations and measurements of turbine performance under pulsating flows for automotive turbochargers

The paper attempts to correlate simulations and measurements of turbine performance under pulsating flows for automotive turbochargers. Under real automotive powertrain conditions, turbochargers are subjected to pulsating flows, due to the motion of the engine’s valves. Experiments on a purpose-built 2.2 L diesel engine gas-stand have allowed the quantification of unsteady pulsating turbine performance. Temperature, pressure and mass flow measurements are fundamental for the characterisation of turbine performance. An adequate sampling frequency of the instruments and acquisition rates are highly important for the quantification of unsteady turbomachine performance. In the absence of fast, responsive sensors for monitoring mass flow and temperature, however, appropriate considerations would have to be taken into account when making estimates of turbine performance under pulsating flows. A 1D model of the engine gas-stand has been developed and validated against experimental data. A hybrid unsteady/quasi-steady turbine model has been adopted to identify unsteadiness at the turbine inlet and outlet. To evaluate isentropic turbine efficiency and reduce the influence of external heat transfer upon measurements, the turbine inlet temperature has been measured experimentally in the vicinity of the turbine rotor in the inlet section, upstream of the turbine tongue. The hybrid unsteady/quasi-steady turbine model considers the presence of unsteady flows in the turbine inlet and outlet, leaving the rest of the turbine to react quasi-steadily. Virtual sensors and thermocouples have been implemented in a 1D model to correlate experimental time-averaged temperature measurements.

¿Es útil el ultrasonido en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda en pacientes con sobrepeso/obesidad?

Acute appendicitis is the most frequent cause of surgical acute abdomen. Although the diagnosis is made by clinical signs and symptoms, images play an important role especially in borderline cases or suspected another abdominal pathology. Ultrasound is the first diagnostic tool, although not the gold standard, is widely available in medical centers, it is cheap, has no ionizing radiation and does not require the administration of iodinated contrast media. However, there are technical factors that limit this study: the absence of fasting, marked interposition of bowel loops and the presence of abundant adipose tissue, it attenuates the ultrasound, making the viewing of the appendix is inaccessible for proper diagnosis. Because of this, ultrasound, should not be considered diagnostic as a quick tool first line for diagnosis in patients with overweight and obesity. Tomography, the opposite occurs, in whom an increase in visceral fat content displays the appendix more effectively by the contrast it provides with intestinal adjacent structures.

Enhanced recovery simulation in colorectal surgery: design of virtual online patients.

The aim of the present study was to design virtual patients (VP) involving enhanced recovery programs (ERP) in colorectal surgery, in order to train surgical residents in peri-operative care. Indeed, ERP have changed perioperative care and improved patients outcomes in colorectal surgery. Training, using online VP with different pre- and post-operative cases, may increase implementation of ERP. Pre- and post-operative cases were built in the virtual world of Second Life™ according to a linear string design method. All pre- and post-operative cases were storyboarded by a colorectal surgeon in accordance with guidelines in both ERP and colorectal surgery, and reviewed by an expert in colorectal surgery. Four pre-operative and five post-operative cases of VP undergoing colorectal surgery were designed, including both simple and complex cases. Comments were provided through case progression to allow autonomic practice (such as "prescribed", "this is not useful" or "the consultant does not agree with your decision"). Pre-operative cases involved knowledge in colorectal diseases and ERP such as pre-operative counseling, medical review, absence of bowel preparation in colonic surgery, absence of fasting, minimal length incision, and discharge plan. Post-operative cases involved uneventful and complicated outcomes in order to train in both simple implementation of ERP (absence of nasogastric tube, epidural analgesia, early use of oral analgesia, perioperative nutrition, early mobilization) and decision making for more complex cases. Virtual colorectal patients have been developed to train in ERP through pre- and post-operative cases. Such patients could be included in a whole pathway care training involving technical and non-technical skills.

A Novel Non-canonical Forkhead-associated (FHA) Domain-binding Interface Mediates the Interaction between Rad53 and Dbf4 Proteins

Forkhead-associated (FHA) and BRCA1 C-terminal (BRCT) domains are overrepresented in DNA damage and replication stress response proteins. They function primarily as phosphoepitope recognition modules but can also mediate non-canonical interactions. The latter are rare, and only a few have been studied at a molecular level. We have identified a crucial non-canonical interaction between the N-terminal FHA1 domain of the checkpoint effector kinase Rad53 and the BRCT domain of the regulatory subunit of the Dbf4-dependent kinase that is critical to suppress late origin firing and to stabilize stalled forks during replication stress. The Rad53-Dbf4 interaction is phosphorylation-independent and involves a novel non-canonical interface on the FHA1 domain. Mutations within this surface result in hypersensitivity to genotoxic stress. Importantly, this surface is not conserved in the FHA2 domain of Rad53, suggesting that the FHA domains of Rad53 gain specificity by engaging additional interaction interfaces beyond their phosphoepitope-binding site. In general, our results point to FHA domains functioning as complex logic gates rather than mere phosphoepitope-targeting modules.

The Transcription Factor ATF4 Promotes Skeletal Myofiber Atrophy during Fasting

Prolonged fasting alters skeletal muscle gene expression in a manner that promotes myofiber atrophy, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we examined the potential role of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a transcription factor with an evolutionarily ancient role in the cellular response to starvation. In mouse skeletal muscle, fasting increases the level of ATF4 mRNA. To determine whether increased ATF4 expression was required for myofiber atrophy, we reduced ATF4 expression with an inhibitory RNA targeting ATF4 and found that it reduced myofiber atrophy during fasting. Likewise, reducing the fasting level of ATF4 mRNA with a phosphorylation-resistant form of eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha decreased myofiber atrophy. To determine whether ATF4 was sufficient to reduce myofiber size, we overexpressed ATF4 and found that it reduced myofiber size in the absence of fasting. In contrast, a transcriptionally inactive ATF4 construct did not reduce myofiber size, suggesting a requirement for ATF4-mediated transcriptional regulation. To begin to determine the mechanism of ATF4-mediated myofiber atrophy, we compared the effects of fasting and ATF4 overexpression on global skeletal muscle mRNA expression. Interestingly, expression of ATF4 increased a small subset of five fasting-responsive mRNAs, including four of the 15 mRNAs most highly induced by fasting. These five mRNAs encode proteins previously implicated in growth suppression (p21(Cip1/Waf1), GADD45alpha, and PW1/Peg3) or titin-based stress signaling [muscle LIM protein (MLP) and cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP)]. Taken together, these data identify ATF4 as a novel mediator of skeletal myofiber atrophy during starvation.

Microarray Analysis Reveals Up-Regulation of Retinoic Acid and Hepatocyte Growth Factor Related Signaling Pathways by Pro-Insulin C-Peptide in Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells: Antagonism of the Pro-Fibrotic Effects of TGF-β1

Microarray Analysis Reveals Up-Regulation of Retinoic Acid and Hepatocyte Growth Factor Related Signaling Pathways by Pro-Insulin C-Peptide in Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells: Antagonism of the Pro-Fibrotic Effects of TGF-β1

The Transcription Factor ATF4 Promotes Skeletal Myofiber Atrophy during Fasting

Prolonged fasting alters skeletal muscle gene expression in a manner that promotes myofiber atrophy, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we examined the potential role of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a transcription factor with an evolutionarily ancient role in the cellular response to starvation. In mouse skeletal muscle, fasting increases the level of ATF4 mRNA. To determine whether increased ATF4 expression was required for myofiber atrophy, we reduced ATF4 expression with an inhibitory RNA targeting ATF4 and found that it reduced myofiber atrophy during fasting. Likewise, reducing the fasting level of ATF4 mRNA with a phosphorylation-resistant form of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α decreased myofiber atrophy. To determine whether ATF4 was sufficient to reduce myofiber size, we overexpressed ATF4 and found that it reduced myofiber size in the absence of fasting. In contrast, a transcriptionally inactive ATF4 construct did not reduce myofiber size, suggesting a re...

Interaction between repeated restraint stress and concomitant midazolam administration on sweet food ingestion in rats.

Emotional changes can influence feeding behavior. Previous studies have shown that chronically stressed animals present increased ingestion of sweet food, an effect reversed by a single dose of diazepam administered before testing the animals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response of animals chronically treated with midazolam and/or submitted to repeated restraint stress upon the ingestion of sweet food. Male adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups: controls and exposed to restraint 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 40 days. Both groups were subdivided into two other groups treated or not with midazolam (0.06 mg/ml in their drinking water during the 40-day treatment). The animals were placed in a lighted area in the presence of 10 pellets of sweet food (Froot loops). The number of ingested pellets was measured during a period of 3 min, in the presence or absence of fasting. The group chronically treated with midazolam alone presented increased ingestion when compared to control animals (control group: 2.0 +/- 0.44 pellets and midazolam group: 3.60 +/- 0.57 pellets). The group submitted to restraint stress presented an increased ingestion compared to controls (control group: 2.0 +/- 0.44 pellets and stressed group: 4.18 +/- 0.58 pellets). Chronically administered midazolam reduced the ingestion in stressed animals (stressed/water group: 4.18 +/- 0.58 pellets; stressed/midazolam group: 3.2 +/- 0.49 pellets). Thus, repeated stress increases appetite for sweet food independently of hunger and chronic administration of midazolam can decrease this behavioral effect.

Adrenomedullectomy prevents the suppression of pulsatile luteinising hormone release during fasting in female rats.

Fasting inhibits the pulsatile secretion of luteinising hormone (LH) in female rats, an effect which is potentiated by the presence of oestradiol (E2). We have previously described various pharmacological or surgical treatments that can rapidly restore the pulses in a fasting animal. Nevertheless, the central and peripheral mechanisms that mediate this suppression of the pulses remain unclear. We have recently shown that adrenomedullectomy prevents the suppression of LH pulses by insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, a state which activates the sympathoadrenal axis. The present study was undertaken to establish whether this axis might contribute to the loss of the pulses that occurs in ovariectomised E2-treated rats that have been fasted for 48 h. Following sham adrenomedullectomy LH pulses were observed in animals fed ad libitum; after 48 h of fasting the animals that had received this sham procedure showed a significant suppression of LH levels and LH pulse frequency. In contrast, adrenomedullectomy prevented the inhibition of the pulses by 48 h of fasting; it had no effect on the pulses in the absence of fasting. These results suggest that adrenomedullary activity plays a significant role in the fasting-induced suppression of LH pulses in rats.

Effect of Restraint Stress on Feeding Behavior of Rats

Ely, D. R., V. Dapper, J. Marasca, J. B. CorrÊA, G. D. Gamaro, M. H. Xavier, M. B. Michalowski, D. Catelli, R. Rosat, M. B. C. Ferreira and C. Dalmaz. Effect of restraint stress on feeding behavior of rats. Physiol Behav 61(3) 395–398, 1997.—The expression of appetite reflects the complex functioning of a psychobiological system organized in different levels closely related to each other, in which emotional changes can influence feeding behavior. Benzodiazepines are widely used as anxiolytics and can change behaviors caused by stress. The aim of the present study was to verify the feeding behavior of rats, submitted or not to fasting, after acute and chronic restraint stress. We also evaluated the response to the ingestion of sweet food of chronically restrained animals after the administration of diazepam. Male adult Wistar rats were exposed to restraint 1 h/day for 50 days in the chronic model. In the acute model, there was a single exposure. Four hours after the stress, the animals were placed in a lightened area in the presence of 10 pellets of sweet food (Froot Loops™). The number of ingested Froot Loops™ was measured during a period of 3 min, in the presence or absence of fasting. The groups acutely stressed showed ingestion similar to that of the control group, whether they had been fasted or not. The chronically stressed animals showed increased ingestion of sweet food. Diazepam given 60 min before the test session of the stressed rats reduced the ingestion of these animals to control levels. Thus, the chronic stress increases appetite for sweet food, independently of hunger, and diazepam is able to reverse this behavior.

Gallbladder sludge formation after bone marrow transplant: sonographic observations.

We prospectively studied 12 patients before and after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with serial sonography to evaluate gallbladder sludge formation. Patients were studied on four separate occasions to assess the gallbladder for sludge and stones: prior to BMT and conditioning chemoradiation, and on days 3, 13, and 28 after BMT. During two of the sonographic studies, gallbladder volume measurements were made before and after administration of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP) and the ejection fraction (EF) was calculated. Medical records were reviewed for symptoms of cholecystitis, narcotic use, and dietary intake. Sludge and/or stones developed in eight of 12 patients (67%), and in four patients sludge was observed by day 3 post-BMT. Ejection fraction was normal (> 50%) pre-BMT in six of the eight patients who developed sludge, and in four of these six post-BMT. Furthermore, five of the eight patients developed sludge and/or stones in the absence of fasting and/or narcotic use. We conclude that gallbladder sludge develops frequently and early in BMT patients and may resolve or progress to stone formation. We did not demonstrate a relationship between impaired contractility and the development of sludge and/or stones, nor did we find a strong association between sludge formation and conditions presumed to cause gallbladder stasis, such as narcotic use and fasting. These findings suggest that other factors apart from impaired gallbladder contractility may play a role in the formation of sludge in the BMT patient.

NORMAL SERUM-LIPIDS IN RENAL-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

In contrast to previous reports, most patients (78%) with a successful renal transplant being followed up at the University of Kentucky Medical Center had a normal serum-lipid profile. The patients with hyperlipidæmia (22%) had normal fasting insulin levels; they received similar immunosuppressive therapy but were significantly older and more obese than those with normal lipids. This lower prevalence of hyperlipidæmia and the absence of fasting hyperinsulinæmia are tentatively attributed to the use of alternate-day corticosteroid therapy in stable renal-transplant patients. If confirmed, the relative infrequency of hyperlipidæmia in patients on alternate-day corticosteroid therapy would be an additional advantage of that therapy over a daily regimen.

THE EFFECTS OF STARVATION, HIGH FAT DIETS, AND KETONE INFUSIONS ON URIC ACID BALANCE.

Studies of factors arising during fasting which could influence uric acid excretion were carried out in 15 patients. Potassium supplementation and alkalinization did not influence the decreased urinary excretion of uric acid found during fasting, whereas probenecid and glucose administration effected a prompt uricosuria. Glomerular filtration rate was not altered by 7 days of fasting, but changes in uric acid balance appeared to be related to changes in ketone concentrations. The effect of ketosis in the absence of fasting was studied by feeding high fat diets in 6 subjects and ketone infusions in 5 others. In both groups uric acid clearance was depressed. It is postulated that ketones compete with uric acid for a common tubular secretory site, the magnitude of the changes in ketones precluding normal uric acid secretion.