Life cycle assessment research and application in Indonesia

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - This paper presents a review of the research and application of life cycle assessment (LCA) in Indonesia over the last 20 years and...     

Role of sensory nerves in the cutaneous vasoconstrictor response to local cooling in humans

Local cooling (LC) causes a cutaneous vasoconstriction (VC). In this study, we tested whether there is a mechanism that links LC to VC nerve function via sensory nerves. Six subjects participated. Local skin and body temperatures were controlled with Peltier probe holders and water-perfused suits, respectively. Skin blood flow at four forearm sites was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry with the following treatments: untreated control, pretreatment with local anesthesia (LA) blocking sensory nerve function, pretreatment with bretylium tosylate (BT) blocking VC nerve function, and pretreatment with both LA and BT. Local skin temperature was slowly reduced from 34 to 29 degrees C at all four sites. Both sites treated with LA produced an increase in cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) early in the LC process (64 +/- 55%, LA only; 42 +/- 14% LA plus BT; P < 0.05), which was absent at the control and BT-only sites (5 +/- 8 and 6 +/- 8%, respectively; P > 0.05). As cooling continued, there were significant reductions in CVC at all sites (P < 0.05). At control and LA-only sites, CVC decreased by 39 +/- 4 and 46 +/- 8% of the original baseline values, which were significantly (P < 0.05) more than the reductions in CVC at the sites treated with BT and BT plus LA (-26 +/- 8 and -22 +/- 6%). Because LA affected only the short-term response to LC, either alone or in the presence of BT, we conclude that sensory nerves are involved early in the VC response to LC, but not for either adrenergic or nonadrenergic VC with longer term LC.     

Limited Addition of the 6-Arm β1,2-linked N-Acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) Residue Facilitates the Formation of the Largest N-Glycan in Plants

The most abundant N-glycan in plants is the paucimannosidic N-glycan with core β1,2-xylose and α1,3-fucose residues (Man₃XylFuc(GlcNAc)₂). Here, we report a mechanism in Arabidopsis thaliana that efficiently produces the largest N-glycan in plants. Genetic and biochemical evidence indicates that the addition of the 6-arm β1,2-GlcNAc residue by N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II (GnTII) is less effective than additions of the core β1,2-xylose and α1,3-fucose residues by XylT, FucTA, and FucTB in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, analysis of gnt2 mutant and 35S:GnTII transgenic plants shows that the addition of the 6-arm non-reducing GlcNAc residue to the common N-glycan acceptor GlcNAcMan₃(GlcNAc)₂ inhibits additions of the core β1,2-xylose and α1,3-fucose residues. Our findings indicate that plants limit the rate of the addition of the 6-arm GlcNAc residue to the common N-glycan acceptor as a mechanism to facilitate formation of the prevalent N-glycans with Man₃XylFuc(GlcNAc)₂ and (GlcNAc)₂Man₃XylFuc(GlcNAc)₂ structures.     

Genetic mapping and haplotype analysis of a locus for quantitative resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium graminearum</Emphasis> in soybean accession PI 567516C

Key message

A major novel quantitative disease resistance locus, qRfg_Gm06, for Fusarium graminearum was genetically mapped to chromosome 6. Genomic-assisted haplotype analysis within this region identified three putative candidate genes.

Abstract

Fusarium graminearum causes seed, root rot, and seedling damping-off in soybean which contributes to reduced stands and yield. A cultivar Magellan and PI 567516C were identified with low and high levels of partial resistance to F. graminearum, respectively. Quantitative disease resistance loci (QDRL) were mapped with 241 F_7:8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross of Magellan?×?PI 567516C. Phenotypic evaluation for resistance to F. graminearum used the rolled towel assay in a randomized incomplete block design. The genetic map was constructed from 927 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. One major QDRL qRfg_Gm06 was detected and mapped to chromosome 6 with a LOD score of 20.3 explaining 40.2% of the total phenotypic variation. This QDRL was mapped to a?~400 kb genomic region of the Williams 82 reference genome. Genome mining of this region identified 14 putative candidate disease resistance genes. Haplotype analysis of this locus using whole genome re-sequencing (WGRS) of 106 diverse soybean lines narrowed the list to three genes. A SNP genotyping Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) assay was designed for one of the genes and was validated in a subset of the RILs and all 106 diverse lines.

     

Wild Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) feeding rates and the Marginal Value Theorem

The Marginal Value Theorem (MVT) is an integral supplement to Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT) as it seeks to explain an animal's decision of when to leave a patch when food is still available. MVT predicts that a forager capable of depleting a patch, in a habitat where food is patchily distributed, will leave the patch when the intake rate within it decreases to the average intake rate for the habitat. MVT relies on the critical assumption that the feeding rate in the patch will decrease over time. We tested this assumption using feeding data from a population of wild Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) from Gunung Palung National Park. We hypothesized that the feeding rate within orangutan food patches would decrease over time. Data included feeding bouts from continuous focal follows between 2014 and 2016. We recorded the average feeding rate over each tertile of the bout, as well as the first, midpoint, and last feeding rates collected. We did not find evidence of a decrease between first and last feeding rates (Linear Mixed Effects Model, n = 63), between a mid-point and last rate (Linear Mixed Effects Model, n = 63), between the tertiles (Linear Mixed Effects Model, n = 63), nor a decrease in feeding rate overall (Linear Mixed Effects Model, n = 146). These findings, thus, do not support the MVT assumption of decreased patch feeding rates over time in this large generalist frugivore.     

Osteoclasts recycle via osteomorphs during RANKL-stimulated bone resorption

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Sago Palm (Metroxylon Sagu, Arecaceae) production in the Eastern Archipelago of Indonesia: Variation in morphological characteristics and pith dry-matter yield

Eleven local varieties of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) in southeast and north Sulawesi and in northern Maluku were studied: one variety with a weak black band on the back of the petiole: three varieties with a brown band on the back of the petiole: seven bandless varieties comprising two spineless, four short spine and one long spine types. Large variation in morphological characteristics and pith dry-matter yield were estimated at 13 to 34% and 55%, respectively. The difference in pith dry-matter yield is mainly attributed to trunk diameter and dry-matter percentage of pith. Trunk diameter was not affected by the length of growth period, which might reflect the palm’s own characteristics, such as genetic background and growth environment. The dry-matter percentage of pith was not related to any characteristics measured. The pith dry-matter yield was highest in the short spine type, followed by the spineless and the long spine types.

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Produksi Palma Sagu (Metroxylon Sagu, Arecaceae) Di Kepulauan Timur Indonesia: Keragaman Karakteristik Morfologi Dan Hasil Bahan Kering Empulur Batang

Résumé  Dalam survey tersebut dipelajari sebelas varitas sagu lokal (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) di Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, dan Maluku Utara: satu varitas dengan pita sedikit hitam pada bagian belakang dari tulang daun: tiga varitas dengan pita coklat pada bagian belakang belakang dari tulang daun: tujuh varitas tanpa pita terdiri dari dua varitas tanpa duri, empat varitas duri pendek dan satu varitas duri panjang. Terdapat adanya keragaman pada karakteristik morfologi dan hasil bahan kering empulur batang yang diperkirakan beriurut-turut berkisar 13 sampai 34% dan 55%. Perbedaan pada hasil bahan kering empulur batang terutama tergantung pada diameter batang dan proporsi kering empulur batang. Diameter batang tidak dipengaruhi oleh panjangnya periode tumbuh; namun nampaknya lebih terkait dengan gambaran karakteristik khusus, seperti latar belakang genetik dan lingkungan tumbuhnya.Persen bobot kering empulur batang tidak ada hubungannya dengan berbagai karakteristik yang diteliti. Hasil bahan kering empulur batang tertinggi adalah pada tipe duri pendek (511kg/batang), diikuti tipe tanpa duri (417kg/batang) dan tipe duri panjang (329kg/batang).

     

Ectomycorrhizal fungi promote growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shorea balangeran</Emphasis> in degraded peat swamp forests

Shorea balangeran is an important component of peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia and is an important source of timber. However, S. balangeran has been decreasing in number due to overexploitation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of inoculation of native ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi on growth of S. balangeran in degraded peat swamp forest. Spores of Boletus sp., Scleroderma sp., and Strobilomyces sp. were collected from natural peat swamp forest in Indonesia. Seedlings of S. balangeran were inoculated with or without (control) spores and grown in sterilized peat soil under nursery conditions for 6 months. Then, the seedlings were transplanted into a degraded peat swamp forest and grown for 40 months. ECM colonization was 59–67% under nursery conditions and increased shoot height and weight. Shoot height, stem diameter, and survival rates were higher in inoculated seedlings than in control 40 months after transplantation. The results suggest that inoculation of native ECM fungi onto native tree species is useful for reforestation of degraded peat swamp forests.     

Limbic Neurons Shape Sex Recognition and Social Behavior in Sexually Naive Males

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Effects of Introducing Xpert MTB/RIF on Diagnosis and Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in Indonesia: A Pre-Post Intervention Study

Background

In March 2012, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) was introduced in three provincial public hospitals in Indonesia as a novel diagnostic to detect tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance among high risk individuals.

Objective

This study assessed the effects of using Xpert in place of conventional solid and liquid culture and drug-susceptibility testing on case detection rates, treatment initiation rates, and health system delays among drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Methods

Cohort data on registration, test results and treatment initiation were collected from routine presumptive patient registers one year before and one year after Xpert was introduced. Proportions of case detection and treatment initiation were compared using the Pearson Chi square test and median time delays using the Mood’s Median test.

Results

A total of 975 individuals at risk of drug-resistant TB were registered in the pre-intervention year and 1,442 in the post-intervention year. After Xpert introduction, TB positivity rate increased by 15%, while rifampicin resistance rate reduced by 23% among TB positive cases and by 9% among all tested. Second-line TB treatment initiation rate among rifampicin resistant patients increased by 19%. Time from client registration to diagnosis was reduced by 74 days to a median of a single day (IQR 0–4) and time from diagnosis to treatment start was reduced by 27 days to a median of 15 days (IQR 7–51). All findings were significant with p<0.001.

Conclusion

Compared to solid and liquid culture and drug-susceptibility testing, Xpert detected more TB and less rifampicin resistance, increased second-line treatment initiation rates and shortened time to diagnosis and treatment. This test holds promise to improve rapid case finding and management of drug-resistant TB patients in Indonesia.