Purification of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides and antihypertensive effect generated from Indonesian traditional fermented beef (Cangkuk).

Objective: Traditional fermented meat products can be considered a source of bioactive peptides. Cangkuk, a traditional Indonesian fermented beef product is one source of ACE inhibitory peptides. This study aimed to identify ACE-inhibitory peptides from Cangkuk and analyze their antihypertensive effects. Methods: The water-soluble fraction of Cangkuk was fractionated to obtain ACE-inhibitory peptides using an ethanol solvent at several concentrations and solid-phase extraction with an OASIS HLB cartridge followed by purification with RP-HPLC. HPLC-MS was used to identify target peptides, followed by automatic protein sequencer analysis to detect peptide sequences. Antihypertensive effects were analyzed on the water-soluble fraction and synthesized peptides. The animal model was comprised of 14-16-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) [~320 g average body weight] with mean systolic blood pressures (SBPs) higher than 190 mm Hg. All oral doses of peptides were 1 mL in volume. Distilled water was used as a control. The antihypertensive activities of the sample and control were observed by measuring the SBP at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h after oral administration. Results: Two sequences of ACE inhibitory peptides were found, EAPLNPKANR (IC50 value of 44.6 µmol L-1) and IVG (IC50 value of 97.3 µmol L-1). The water-soluble fraction demonstrated an antihypertensive effect on SHRs after oral administration at 100 mg kg-1 body weight, maximally lowering the SBP by 14.9 mm Hg 8 h after administration. The tripeptide IVG showed the highest reduction of SBP, 24.76±2.1 mm Hg 8 h after administration. The decapeptide EAPLNPKANR showed the highest reduction of SBP, 21.0 ±1.9 mm Hg, 8 h after administration. All the samples differed significantly from the control (p<0.01). Conclusion: Cangkuk has potential as a functional food ingredient acting as an antihypertensive agent.

Non-parametric multiple inputs prediction model for magnetic field dependent complex modulus of magnetorheological elastomer.

This study introduces a novel platform to predict complex modulus variables as a function of the applied magnetic field and other imperative variables using machine learning. The complex modulus prediction of magnetorheological (MR) elastomers is a challenging process, attributable to the material's highly nonlinear nature. This problem becomes apparent when considering various possible fabrication parameters. Furthermore, traditional parametric modeling methods are limited when applied to solve larger-scale cases involving large databases. Consequently, the application of non-parametric modeling such as machine learning has gained increasing attraction in recent years. Therefore, this work proposes a data-driven approach for predicting multiple input-dependent complex moduli using feedforward neural networks. Besides excitation frequency and magnetic flux density as operating conditions, the inputs consider compositions and curing conditions represented by magnetic particle weight percentage and the curing magnetic field, respectively. Extreme learning machines and artificial neural networks were used to train the models. The simulation results obtained at various curing conditions and other inputs confirm that the predicted complex modulus has high accuracy with an R2 of about 0.997, as compared to the experimental results. Furthermore, the predicted complex modulus pattern and magnetorheological effect agree with the experimental data using both the learned and unlearned data.

Defining malaria risks among forest workers in Aceh, Indonesia: a formative assessment.

BACKGROUND: Following a dramatic decline of malaria cases in Aceh province, geographically-based reactive case detection (RACD) was recently evaluated as a tool to improve surveillance with the goal of malaria elimination. While RACD detected few cases in households surrounding index cases, engaging in forest work was identified as a risk factor for malaria and infections from Plasmodium knowlesi-a non-human primate malaria parasite-were more common than expected. This qualitative formative assessment was conducted to improve understanding of malaria risk from forest work and identify strategies for targeted surveillance among forest workers, including adapting reactive case detection. METHODS: Between June and August, 2016, five focus groups and 18 in-depth interviews with forest workers and key informants were conducted in each of four subdistricts in Aceh Besar and Aceh Jaya districts. Themes included: types of forest activities, mobility of workers, interactions with non-human primates, malaria prevention and treatment-seeking behaviours, and willingness to participate in malaria surveys at forest work sites and using peer-referral. RESULTS: Reported forest activities included mining, logging, and agriculture in the deep forest and along the forest fringe. Forest workers, particularly miners and loggers, described often spending weeks to months at work sites in makeshift housing, rarely utilizing mosquito prevention and, upon fever, self-medicating and seeking care from traditional healers or pharmacies rather than health facilities. Non-human primates are frequently observed near work sites, and most forest work locations are within a day's journey of health clinics. Employers and workers expressed interest in undertaking malaria testing and in participating in survey recruitment by peer-referral and at work sites. CONCLUSIONS: Diverse groups of forest workers in Aceh are potentially exposed to malaria through forest work. Passive surveillance and household-based screening may under-estimate malaria burden due to extended stays in the forest and health-seeking behaviours. Adapting active surveillance to specifically target forest workers through work-site screening and/or peer-referral appears promising for addressing currently undetected infections.

Enhancement of Particle Alignment Using Silicone Oil Plasticizer and Its Effects on the Field-Dependent Properties of Magnetorheological Elastomers.

The existing mold concept of fabricating magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) tends to encounter several flux issues due to magnetic flux losses inside the chamber. Therefore, this paper presents a new approach for enhancing particle alignment through MRE fabrication as a means to provide better rheological properties. A closed-loop mold, which is essentially a fully guided magnetic field inside the chamber, was designed in order to strengthen the magnetic flux during the curing process with the help of silicone oil (SO) plasticizers. The oil serves the purpose of softening the matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the surface morphology of the fabricated MRE samples. The field-dependent dynamic properties of the MREs were measured several ways using a rheometer, namely, strain sweep, frequency sweep, and magnetic field sweep. The analysis implied that the effectiveness of the MRE was associated with the use of the SO, and the closed-loop mold helped enhance the absolute modulus up to 0.8 MPa. The relative magnetorheological (MR) effects exhibited high values up to 646%. The high modulus properties offered by the MRE with SO are believed to be potentially useful in industry applications, particularly as vibration absorbers, which require a high range of stiffness.

Combustion performance and exhaust emissions fuelled with non-surfactant water-in-diesel emulsion fuel made from different water sources.

Non-surfactant water-in-diesel emulsion fuel (NWD) is an alternative fuel that has the potential to reduce major exhaust emissions while simultaneously improving the combustion performance of a diesel engine. NWD comprises of diesel fuel and water (about 5% in volume) without any additional surfactants. This emulsion fuel is produced through an in-line mixing system that is installed very close to the diesel engine. This study focuses mainly on the performance and emission of diesel engine fuelled with NWD made from different water sources. The engine used in this study is a direct injection diesel engine with loads varying from 1 to 4 kW. The result shows that NWD made from tap water helps the engine to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 32%. Rainwater reduced it by 29% and seawater by 19%. In addition, all NWDs show significant improvements in engine performance as compared to diesel fuel, especially in the specific fuel consumption that indicates an average reduction of 6%. It is observed that all NWDs show compelling positive effects on engine performance, which is caused by the optimum water droplet size inside NWD.

Embolisation of External Jugular Vein Aneurysm: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Venous aneurysms are not as common as their arterial counterpart. The choice of management is debatable. Case Report: We present the case of a teenage boy with left external jugular vein aneurysm treated by endovascular technique. Embolisation was done using pushable microcoils with access via the femoral vein and direct puncture. CONCLUSION: This form of treatment provides a less-invasive option with a more concrete evaluation of the venous abnormality and its drainage during venous aneurysm occlusion.

Single lobe disease in cases of advanced endemic goiter: a new phenotype.

OBJECTIVES: To report a new phenotype of advanced endemic goiter that affects only one lobe of the thyroid gland. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 60 patients from the west of Sudan with long-standing unilateral simple endemic goiter that required obectomy, with emphasis on the gross appearance, measurements and cytological features of the contralateral lobe. RESULTS: Out of 60 patients with unilateral goiter, 50 (83%) were found to have the disease on the ipsilateral lobe only (monolobar goiter). The contralateral lobe in these 50 patients showed no nodularity, and its volume was within the normal limits. All patients with monolobar disease had total lobectomy on the affected side, and postoperatively they continued to have normal blood levels of T3, T4 and TSH. CONCLUSION: We report a new phenotype of advanced endemic goiter that affects only one lobe of the thyroid gland, and in the presence of a structurally and functionally normal contralateral lobe.