Dry/wet cycling reduces spore germination and viability in six peatland bryophytes.

Dry/wet cycling driven by water level fluctuation in wetlands may strongly influence the destiny of seeds. However, how dry/wet cycling affects spore survival and germinability in peatland bryophytes is poorly understood. Six peatland bryophytes, three hummock- and three hollow-dwelling Sphagnum species, were chosen as study species. We tested the effects of dry (60% air RH)/wet (waterlogging) cycle frequency (once per 12, 8 or 4 days for low, medium or high, respectively) and ratio (3:1, 1:1 or 1:3 dry:wet time per cycle) on spore germinability, viability, dormancy percentage and protonema development. Dry/wet cycling significantly reduced spore germination percentage and viability and slowed protonema development in all Sphagnum species, being more pronounced with higher dry/wet cycling frequencies. The hummock species S. capillifolium and S. fuscum had higher spore germination percentage after the continuous dry treatment, while the hollow species S. angustifolium, S. squarrosum and S. subsecundum showed the opposite response, compared to the continuously wet treatment. Except for S. squarrosum, spore viability was higher after the dry than after the wet treatment. Spore viability and dormancy percentage were higher after a dry/wet ratio of 1:3 than after ratios of 3:1 and 1:1. Our study shows that both germinability and viability of bryophyte spores are reduced by dry/wet cycling (especially when frequent) in peatlands. This emphasizes the need to ensure constant water levels and low frequencies of water level fluctuation, which are relevant in connection with wetland restoration, to promote Sphagnum spore survival and establishment in peatlands after disturbances.

Effectiveness of Zingiber officinale to reduce inflammation markers and the length of stay of patients with community-acquired pneumonia: An open-label clinical trial.

Examination of the interleukin 6 (IL-6) and procalcitonin levels, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) might could help to diagnosis and predict the duration of therapy and prognosis of pneumonia cases. Zingiber officinale var rubrum could be used as an adjunct therapy in infectious diseases as it has anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of study was to assess the effect of Z. officinale on levels of IL-6 dan procalcitonin, NLR, and the length of hospitalization of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). An open-label clinical trial was conducted among CAP cases regardless of the etiology at Dr Moewardi Hospital and Universitas Sebelas Maret Hospital, Surakarta, Indonesia from July to September 2022. A total of 30 inpatient CAP cases were recruited and were randomly divided into two groups: (1) received Z. officinale capsule 300 mg daily for five days in addition to CAP standard therapy; and (2) received CAP standard therapy only, as control group. The data were compared using a paired Student t-test, Chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test as appropriate. In Z. officinale group, the mean difference between post-and pre-treatment as follow: IL-6 level was 9.93 pg/mL, procalcitonin level -471.31 ng/mL, and NLR value -4.01. In control group, the difference was 18.94 pg/mL for IL-6, 339.39 ng/mL for procalcitonin, and 1.56 for NLR. The change of IL-6 was not statistically significant between treatment and control groups with p=0.917. The changes of procalcitonin level and NLR were significant between treatment and control group with p=0.024 and p=0.007, respectively, of which the treatment had better improvement. In addition, our data indicated that the length of stay was not statistically significant between the treatment and control groups (4.13 vs 4.47 days, p=0.361). In conclusion, Z. officinale could reduce serum inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin and NLR but it has little impact in reducing IL-16 level and the length of hospitalization of CAP patients.

Effects of secretome supplementation on interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, procalcitonin, and the length of stay in acute exacerbation COPD patients.

Acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is associated with significant poor survival. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) therapy has been a promising treatment for COPD; therefore, it has the potential to be an additional therapy for AECOPD. Its potential is associated with its secretome since it has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulator activities. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the secretome as an adjuvant therapy in reducing the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), procalcitonin, and the length of stay in AECOPD patients. A clinical control trial study was conducted among 28 moderate and severe AECOPD patients who were hospitalized from January to February 2023. The control group (n=14) received standard therapy of AECOPD while the treatment group (n=14) received standard therapy plus secretome 1 ml twice daily for three days. The levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and procalcitonin were measured at admission and on the fourth day of treatment. The length of stay was calculated from the time the patient was admitted until the patient was discharged from hospital. The data were compared using a paired Student t-test, chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney test as appropriate. In the treatment group, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and procalcitonin after the treatment reduced 13.09 pg/mL, 5.00 pg/mL and 751.26 pg/mL, respectively compared to pre-treatment. In contrast, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and procalcitonin increased 48.56 pg/mL, 44.48 pg/mL and 346.96 pg/mL, respectively after four days of treatment. There was a significant reduction of IL-6, TNF-α and procalcitonin in treatment group compared to the control group with p=0.022, p=0.009 and p=0.001, respectively. However, there was no significant reduction of the length of stay (p=0.072). In conclusion, administration of secretome to AECOPD patients could reduce the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and procalcitonin.

Catalytic cracking of bio-oil to organic liquid product (OLP).

The main objective of this paper is to find the optimum operating condition to upgrade the EFB-derived pyrolysis oil (bio-oil) to liquid fuel, mainly gasoline using Taguchi Method. From the analysis that has been done, it is found that the optimum operating condition for heterogeneous catalytic cracking process is at 400 degrees C, 15min of reaction time using 30g of catalyst weight where operating at this condition produced the highest yield of gasoline fraction which is 91.67 wt.%. This observation proves that EFB-derived pyrolysis oil could be upgraded via heterogeneous catalytic cracking to produce gasoline.