IL-6 and IL-10 Levels in Rats Blood Plasma as Immune Responses Post Radioiodine (I-131) Administration.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of oral administration of radioiodine (I-131) on the immune responses (interleukin 6 and 10) as biodosimetry markers and to support clinical trials of I-131 solution. METHODS: The design of this study was an in vivo experimental study using twenty-seven male rats (Rattus norvegicus strain Sprague-Dawley) given 100 µL of I-131 solution at a dose of 260 µCi. Blood plasma was taken at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 3, 24, 48, 120, and 168 hours post oral I-131 administration, respectively. Rats without radioiodine administration as a control group. The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Statistical analysis was carried out with one-way ANOVA using SPSS version 25 software. RESULT: IL-6 level began to significantly increase at 0.25 hours post administration of I-131 (14.4 pg/mL ± 2.52 pg/mL, p=0.02). During 7 days of observation, IL-6 levels had 2 peaks of highly significant increase at 0.5 hours (43.57 ± 5.28, p<0.001) and 120 hours (24.08 ± 2.69, p<0.001 compared to control (5.44 ± 0.95 pg/mL). IL-10 level began to significantly increase at 0.25 hours (30.32 ± 3.22 pg/mL, p=0.03) compared to controls (20.61 ± 1.59 pg/mL). CONCLUSION: The highest increase in IL-6 and IL-10 levels occurred respectively in the first 0.5 hours 8 times and in the first 0.25 hours 1.47 times compared to controls. Internal irradiation with radioiodine resulted in a significant increase in immune cells in exposed blood plasma characterized by the production of the cytokines IL-6 and IL-10. This appears to be a response of immune cells to reduce or stop inflammatory reactions through the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines in an effort to prevent excessive inflammatory responses that can damage cells and tissues.

Systematic literature review of postponed elections during COVID-19: Campaigns, regulations, and budgets.

The postponement of elections during the COVID-19 pandemic reflects a decline in global democracy. The policy of postponing elections due to health concerns, regulatory changes, and economic crises lacks empirical evidence. Several studies suggest that holding elections in countries that proceed with them does not significantly impact the spread of COVID-19. The acceleration of COVID-19 transmission is not limited to countries holding elections; it affects all countries, including those postponing them. Moreover, countries that continue to hold elections have turned this challenge into a COVID-19 mitigation strategy. This study aimed to analyze the findings of original research on election execution during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on campaign activities, regulatory changes, and election budgeting. It employed systematic literature review using 12 articles from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The results show that conducting elections during the COVID-19 pandemic does not contribute to the spread of the virus. This is evident through the adoption of blended campaign strategies by the candidates. Election committees have adjusted voting procedures, including increasing the number of polling stations, tightly scheduling voter arrivals, and visiting red zone lockdown areas to prevent mass mobilization. The increase in election budgets during an economic crisis is not solely for the elections themselves but also for reinforcing health protocols. This research recommends a reconsideration of election postponements and advocates for conducting elections during the COVID-19 pandemic to uphold democracy. Furthermore, future research should explore the social and political implications, as well as the long-term consequences for democracy, which result from the implementation of soft campaign strategies and voting system modifications on a global scale, all in the pursuit of preserving democracy.

Impact of a spatial repellent intervention on Anopheles kdr insecticide resistance allele in Sumba, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of insecticide resistance and outdoor transmission in malaria-endemic areas underlines the urgent need to develop innovative tools, such as spatial repellents (SR), that may circumvent this residual transmission. With limited options for effective insecticides, regular resistance monitoring is warranted for selecting and using appropriate tools. This study evaluates the pyrethroid knockdown resistance (kdr) allele before and after implementing a transfluthrin-based spatial repellent (SR) intervention in placebo-treated clusters. METHODS: This study looks at the frequency distribution of the kdr allele in Sumba Island from June 2015 to August 2018. Insecticide susceptibility tests were carried out on female Anopheles sp. aged 3-5 days against permethrin 21.5 µg/ml, deltamethrin 12.5 µg/ml, and transfluthrin 10 µg/ml using CDC bottle assay. PCR sequencing of representative samples from adult mosquito collections and insecticide tests revealed the presence of kdr mutations (L1014F and L1014S) in the VGSC gene. RESULTS: A total of 12 Anopheles species, Anopheles tesselatus, Anopheles. aconitus, Anopheles barbirostris, Anopheles kochi, Anopheles annularis, Anopheles maculatus, Anopheles sundaicus, Anopheles flavirostris, Anopheles balabacensis, Anopheles indefinitus, Anopheles subpictus, and Anopheles vagus were analysed. Anopheles vagus and An. sundaicus predominated in the larval populations. Susceptibility assays for all insecticides identified fully susceptible phenotypes in all species examined. Anopheles increasing frequency of kdr mutant alleles during the 3 year SR deployment was observed in both SR-treated and placebo areas, a statistically significant increase occurred in each arm. However, it is unclear how significant SR is in causing the increase in mutant alleles. The L1014S, knockdown resistance east type (kdr-e) allele was detected for the first time among the mosquito samples in this study. The L1014F, knockdown resistance west type (kdr-w) allele and heteroduplex form (wild-type-mutant) were found in almost all Anopheles species examined, including An. vagus, An. aconitus, An. subpictus, An. tesselatus, An. annularis, An. flavirostris and An. sundaicus. CONCLUSION: The presence of fully susceptible phenotypes over time, along with an increase in the frequency distribution of the L1014F/S mutations post-intervention, suggest drivers of resistance external to the study, including pyrethroid use in agriculture and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). However, this does not negate possible SR impacts that support resistance. More studies that enable the comprehension of possible SR-based drivers of resistance in mosquitoes need to be conducted.

Costs and scale-up costs of community-based Oral HIV Self-Testing for female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of individuals who know their HIV status in Indonesia (66% in 2021) still remains far below the first 95% of UNAIDS 2030 target and were much lower in certain Key Populations (KPs) particularly Female Sex Workers (FSW) and Male having Sex with Male (MSM). Indonesia has implemented Oral HIV Self-testing (oral HIVST) through Community-based screening (HIV CBS) in addition to other testing modalities aimed at hard-to-reach KPs, but the implementation cost is still not analysed. This study provides the cost and scale up cost estimation of HIV CBS in Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia. METHODS: We estimated the societal cost of HIV CBS that was implemented through NGOs. The HIV CBS's total and unit cost were estimated from HIV CBS outcome, health care system cost and client costs. Cost data were presented by input, KPs and areas. Health care system cost inputs were categorized into capital and recurrent cost both in start-up and implementation phases. Client costs were categorized as direct medical, direct non-medical cost and indirect costs. Sensitivity and scenario analyses for scale up were performed. RESULTS: In total, 5350 and 1401 oral HIVST test kits were distributed for HIV CBS in Jakarta and Bali, respectively. Average total client cost for HIV CBS Self testing process ranged from US$1.9 to US$12.2 for 1 day and US$2.02 to US$33.61 for 2 days process. Average total client cost for HIV CBS confirmation test ranged from US$2.83 to US$18.01. From Societal Perspective, the cost per HIVST kit distributed were US$98.59 and US$40.37 for FSW and MSM in Jakarta andUS$35.26 and US$43.31 for FSW and MSM in Bali. CONCLUSIONS: CBS using oral HIVST approach varied widely along with characteristics of HIV CBS volume and cost. HIV CBS was most costly among FSW in Jakarta, attributed to the low HIV CBS volume, high personnel salary cost and client cost. Future approaches to minimize cost and/or maximize testing coverage could include unpaid community led distribution to reach end-users, integrating HIVST into routine clinical services via direct or secondary distribution and using social media network.

Intimate partner violence and factors influencing HIV status disclosure among women living with HIV in Indonesia: a cross-sectional study.

The disclosure of HIV status poses challenges, and women living with HIV often face intimate partner violence as a result of revealing their HIV status. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of intimate partner violence and HIV status disclosure among women living with HIV in Indonesia, as well as the factors associated with disclosure. A total of 283 women with HIV participated in an online survey, and descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed. The findings revealed that women reported experiencing physical (9.54%), sexual (6.01%), mental (23.67%), and economic (14.49%) abuse. HIV status disclosure varied among different individuals, with higher rates observed for partners (71.2%), other family members (65.02%), close friends (37.10%), and lower rates for health workers (1.77%). Factors such as employment status and partner's HIV status influenced disclosure to partners, while the duration of knowing one's HIV status, experiences of intimate partner violence, and perceived barriers influenced disclosure to both family and non-family members. To mitigate the negative consequences of HIV status disclosure, targeted health promotion efforts should prioritize partners, family members, and non-family members, focusing on enhancing knowledge and awareness about HIV, including the impact of violence.

Sit-to-walk strategy classification in healthy adults using hip and knee joint angles at gait initiation.

Forward continuation, balance, and sit-to-stand-and-walk (STSW) are three common movement strategies during sit-to-walk (STW) executions. Literature identifies these strategies through biomechanical parameters using gold standard laboratory equipment, which is expensive, bulky, and requires significant post-processing. STW strategy becomes apparent at gait-initiation (GI) and the hip/knee are primary contributors in STW, therefore, this study proposes to use the hip/knee joint angles at GI as an alternate method of strategy classification. To achieve this, K-means clustering was implemented using three clusters corresponding to the three STW strategies; and two feature sets corresponding to the hip/knee angles (derived from motion capture data); from an open access online database (age: 21-80 years; n = 10). The results identified forward continuation with the lowest hip/knee extension, followed by balance and then STSW, at GI. Using this classification, strategy biomechanics were investigated by deriving the established biomechanical quantities from literature. The biomechanical parameters that significantly varied between strategies (P < 0.05) were time, horizontal centre of mass (COM) momentum, braking impulse, centre of pressure (COP) range and velocities, COP-COM separation, hip/knee torque and movement fluency. This alternate method of strategy classification forms a generalized framework for describing STW executions and is consistent with literature, thus validating the joint angle classification method.

The Effect of Follitropin Alfa in Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Protocol for In Vitro Fertilization Cycles.

Background: Follitropin alfa (FA) is one of the most widely used exogenous gonadotropins in both agonist and antagonist protocols for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, reports of its effectiveness are limited, particularly in terms of its impact on overall IVF outcomes and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Therefore, in this study, FA competency was investigated by evaluating its effect on IVF outcomes and OHSS, administering agonist and antagonist COS protocols. Methods: A retrospective study with 120 subjects was conducted. Outcomes comprising the number of retrieved and fertilized oocytes, quality of embryos, and clinical pregnancies were assessed. Statistical correlation between FA dose, IVF outcomes, and the incidence of OHSS was also analyzed. All statistical analyses were performed at 95% confidence level. Results: There was no significant difference in both protocols regarding retrieved oocytes (p=0.604), fertilized oocytes (p=0.761), embryo quality including good, average, poor embryo (p=0.875, p=0.565, p=0.785), and clinical pregnancy (p= 0.844). However, FA doses in the agonist protocol were shown notably higher (p= 0.001). Negative correlations were also observed between FA dose and the number of retrieved oocytes (r=-0.255, p<0.01), fertilized oocytes (r=-0.296, p<0.01), and good quality embryos (r=-0.231, p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggested that FA yields similar outcomes in both COS protocols, but agonist protocols require higher doses of FA and evaluation of its effect on OHSS is an important area of research for further investigation.

The origin and possible mechanism of embryonic cell-free DNA release in spent embryo culture media: a review.

The presence of cell-free DNA in spent embryo culture media (SECM) has unveiled its possible utilization for embryonic ploidy determination, opening new frontiers for the development of a non-invasive pre-implantation genetic screening technique. While a growing number of studies have shown a high concordance between genetic screening using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and trophectoderm (TE), the mechanism pertaining to the release of cfDNA in SECM is largely unknown. This review aims to evaluate research evidence on the origin and possible mechanisms for the liberations of embryonic DNA in SECM, including findings on the self-correction abilities of embryos which might contribute to the presence of cfDNA. Several databases including EMBASE, PUBMED, and SCOPUS were used to retrieve original articles, reviews, and opinion papers. The keywords used for the search were related to the origins and release mechanism of cfDNA. cfDNA in SECM originates from embryonic cells and, at some levels, non-embryonic cells such as maternal DNA and exogenous foreign DNA. The apoptotic pathway has been demonstrated to eliminate aneuploid cells in developing mosaic embryos which might culminate to the release of cfDNA in SECM. Nonetheless, there is a recognized need for exploring other pathways such as cross-talk molecules called extracellular vesicles (EVs) made of small, round bi-layer membranes. During in vitro development, embryos physiologically and actively expel EVs containing not only protein and microRNA but also embryonic DNA, hence, potentially releasing cfDNA of embryonic origin into SECM through EVs.

Ultrastructure of Javaen barb fish Systomus orphoides Valenciennes, 1842 spermatozoa (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) by electron microscopes.

Javaen barb fish Systomus orphoides Valenciennes, 1842 (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) is a freshwater fish whose population is declining and threatened with extinction. In this study, the ultrastructure of spermatozoa of Javaen barb fish (S. orphoides) was studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The spermatozoa of S. orphoides are relatively simple cells composed of a spherical head, a short midpiece, and a flagellum, as in most Cyprinidae. The ultrastructure is characterized by the absence of acrosome, the total length of spermatozoa is 27.16 ± 4.5 µm, and the head has spherical with a length of 1.84 ± 0.10 µm and width of 1.55 ± 0.15 µm containing a nucleus, midpiece region containing the proximal and distal centrioles and mitochondria. Two or three mitochondria surrounding the axoneme (with a 9 + 2 microtubular pattern). Ultrastructural analyses by SEM and TEM of Javaen barb fish spermatozoa cells are very consistent with those of Cyprinidae. This study provides the ultrastructure information of S. orphoides spermatozoa in the Cyprinidae family this research could be useful in increasing reproductive efficiency and further prevent the extinction of this species.

Evolution and immunopathology of chikungunya virus informs therapeutic development.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus, is an emerging global threat identified in more than 60 countries across continents. The risk of CHIKV transmission is rising due to increased global interactions, year-round presence of mosquito vectors, and the ability of CHIKV to produce high host viral loads and undergo mutation. Although CHIKV disease is rarely fatal, it can progress to a chronic stage, during which patients experience severe debilitating arthritis that can last from several weeks to months or years. At present, there are no licensed vaccines or antiviral drugs for CHIKV disease, and treatment is primarily symptomatic. This Review provides an overview of CHIKV pathogenesis and explores the available therapeutic options and the most recent advances in novel therapeutic strategies against CHIKV infections.

The Fungal and Bacterial Interface in the Respiratory Mycobiome with a Focus on Aspergillus spp.

The heterogeneity of the lung microbiome and its alteration are prevalently seen among chronic lung diseases patients. However, studies to date have primarily focused on the bacterial microbiome in the lung rather than fungal composition, which might play an essential role in the mechanisms of several chronic lung diseases. It is now well established that Aspergillus spp. colonies may induce various unfavorable inflammatory responses. Furthermore, bacterial microbiomes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa provide several mechanisms that inhibit or stimulate Aspergillus spp. life cycles. In this review, we highlighted fungal and bacterial microbiome interactions in the respiratory tract, with a focus on Aspergillus spp.

EEG Signal Complexity Measurements to Enhance BCI-Based Stroke Patients' Rehabilitation.

The second leading cause of death and one of the most common causes of disability in the world is stroke. Researchers have found that brain-computer interface (BCI) techniques can result in better stroke patient rehabilitation. This study used the proposed motor imagery (MI) framework to analyze the electroencephalogram (EEG) dataset from eight subjects in order to enhance the MI-based BCI systems for stroke patients. The preprocessing portion of the framework comprises the use of conventional filters and the independent component analysis (ICA) denoising approach. Fractal dimension (FD) and Hurst exponent (Hur) were then calculated as complexity features, and Tsallis entropy (TsEn) and dispersion entropy (DispEn) were assessed as irregularity parameters. The MI-based BCI features were then statistically retrieved from each participant using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to demonstrate the individuals' performances from four classes (left hand, right hand, foot, and tongue). The dimensionality reduction algorithm, Laplacian Eigenmap (LE), was used to enhance the MI-based BCI classification performance. Utilizing k-nearest neighbors (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) classifiers, the groups of post-stroke patients were ultimately determined. The findings show that LE with RF and KNN obtained 74.48% and 73.20% accuracy, respectively; therefore, the integrated set of the proposed features along with ICA denoising technique can exactly describe the proposed MI framework, which may be used to explore the four classes of MI-based BCI rehabilitation. This study will help clinicians, doctors, and technicians make a good rehabilitation program for people who have had a stroke.

microRNAs as A Biomarker to Predict Embryo Quality Assessment in In Vitro Fertilization.

Embryo selection for in vitro fertilization (IVF) is an effort to increase the success rate of embryo implantation. Factors influencing the success of embryo implantation include embryo quality, endometrial receptivity, embryo characteristics, and maternal interactions. Some molecules have been found to influence these factors, but their regulatory mechanisms are unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are reported to play an essential role in the embryo implantation process. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs consisting of only 20 nucleotides that play an essential role in the stability of gene expression regulation. Previous studies have reported that miRNAs have many roles and are released by cells into the extracellular environment for intracellular communication. In addition, miRNAs can provide information related to physiological and pathological conditions. These findings encourage research development in determining the quality of embryos in IVF to increase the implantation success rate. Moreover, miRNAs can provide an overview of embryo-maternal communication and potentially be noninvasive biological markers of embryo quality, which could increase assessment accuracy while reducing mechanical damage to the embryo itself. This review article summarizes the involvement of extracellular miRNAs and the potential applications of miRNAs in IVF.

Infection prevention and control in Indonesian hospitals: identification of strengths, gaps, and challenges.

BACKGROUND: Infection prevention and control (IPC) in hospitals is key to safe patient care. There is currently no data regarding the implementation of IPC in hospitals in Indonesia. The aim of this study was to assess the existing IPC level in a nationwide survey, using the World Health Organization (WHO) IPC assessment framework tool (IPCAF), and to identify strengths, gaps, and challenges. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2021. Of all general hospitals in Indonesia, 20% (N = 475) were selected using stratified random sampling based on class (A, B, C and D; class D with a maximum of 50 beds and class A with ≥ 250 beds) and region. The IPCAF was translated into Indonesian and tested in four hospitals. Questions were added regarding challenges in the implementation of IPC. Quantitative IPCAF scores are reported as median (minimum-maximum). IPC levels were calculated according to WHO tools. RESULTS: In total, 355 hospitals (74.7%) participated in this study. The overall median IPCAF score was 620.0 (535.0-687.5). The level of IPC was mostly assessed as advanced (56.9% of hospitals), followed by intermediate (35.8%), basic (7.0%) and inadequate (0.3%). In the eastern region of the country, the majority of hospitals scored intermediate level. Of the eight core components, the one with the highest score was IPC guidelines. Almost all hospitals had guidelines on the most important topics, including hand hygiene. Core components with the lowest score were surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), education and training, and multimodal strategies. Although > 90% of hospitals indicated that surveillance of HAIs was performed, 57.2% reported no availability of adequate microbiology laboratory capacity to support HAIs surveillance. The most frequently reported challenges in the implementation of IPC were communication with the management of the hospitals, followed by the unavailability of antimicrobial susceptibility testing results and insufficient staffing of full-time IPC nurses. CONCLUSION: The IPC level in the majority of Indonesian hospitals was assessed as advanced, but there was no even distribution over the country. The IPCAF in combination with interviews identified several priority areas for interventions to improve IPC in Indonesian hospitals.

Improving Fall Detection Devices for Older Adults Using Quality Function Deployment (QFD) Approach.

Engineering invention must be in tandem with public demands. Often it is difficult to identify the priorities of consumers where technological advancement is needed. In line with the global challenge of increasing fall prevalence among older adults, providing prevention solutions is the key. This study aims at developing an improved fall detection device using an approach called Quality Function Deployment (QFD). The goal is to investigate features to incorporate in existing device from consumer's perspectives. A three-phases design process is constructed; (1) Questionnaire, (2) Ishikawa Method, and (3) QFD. The proposed method begins with identifying customer needs as the requirement analysis, followed by a method to convert them to design specifications to be added in a fall detection device using QFD tool. As the top feature is monitoring balance, the new improved fall detection devices incorporating balance features will help older adults to monitor their level of risk of falling.

Day-3 vs. Day-5 fresh embryo transfer.

OBJECTIVE: Embryo transfer on day-5 has been associated with higher success rates, therefore our IVF clinics started to extend embryo culture until blastocyst stage. This study aimed to compare the success rates of day-3 vs. day-5 embryo transfers. METHODS: We had 266 patients included, all having undergone ICSI, with 221 patients having undergone day-3 embryo transfers, and 45 patients having undergone day-5 embryo transfers. Patients with more than five good quality embryos on day-3 were chosen to prolong the culture of embryos into day-5. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics, including baseline LH, FSH, Prolactin and Estradiol hormone levels. In addition, there were also no significant differences in rFSH total dosage and duration of stimulation day. Final estradiol levels, number of follicles, retrieved oocytes, matured oocytes, fertilized oocytes and number of embryos were significantly higher in day-5 compared to day-3 embryo transfer groups. Number of embryos transferred on day-3, were significantly higher compared to day-5. Neither group showed any significant differences in clinical pregnancy, implantation, multiple pregnancy or living birth rates. There were no differences in birth weights and lengths, head circumstances and Apgar Scores between both groups either in singleton or twin group. CONCLUSIONS: Transferring embryos at day-3 may provide the same benefits as day-5 embryo transfers to patients. However, more embryos were required to be transferred to achieve these comparable results.

Partnership 4.0: smallholder farmer partnership solutions.

The current pseudo-partnership pattern causes the farmers' income to be low from the results of their farming activities, so a partnership pattern is needed that is able to create a mutual partnership. The research which was conducted in Cikarawang Village, Bogor Regency, West Java Province - Indonesia aims; (1) recognize the existing condition of farmers and the use of agricultural land; (2) knowing the distribution of agricultural commodities; (3) identify existing partnership patterns; and (4) provide solutions for partnership patterns that benefit farmers. By using mixed-methods combined with the Drone Participatory Mapping (DPM) approach to produce Data Desa Presisi (DDP), this study succeeded in identifying three statuses of farmers, namely: cultivators, owners and cultivators of their own land, and owners who work on their own land at the same time working on other people's land, with an average access to land management of 3,437.32 m2. The small access of each farmer in land management is further exacerbated by the variety of agricultural commodities that are cultivated by farmers. There are at least 19 types of agricultural commodities that are cultivated, but do not meet the economic scale that is able to improve the welfare of farmers. This condition opens up opportunities for the partnership pattern between farmers and middlemen to continue to survive which is actually detrimental to farmers. Partnership 4.0 innovation is present to replace the old partnership pattern by focusing on the basis of technology and information that is fully accessible to farmers to jointly control agricultural activities (upstream-downstream). Partnership 4.0 places farmers and offtakers on an equal footing, so that smallholders can benefit and help achieve the welfare of smallholders.

Low-cost SYBR Green-based RT-qPCR assay for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in an Indonesian setting using WHO-recommended primers.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For laboratory diagnosis, low-cost detection of SARS-CoV-2 is urgently needed, particularly in developing countries with limited resources. Probe- or TaqMan-based real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is currently the gold standard for diagnosing infected individuals, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, this assay is expensive, making it difficult to use for diagnosis on a large scale. Therefore, in this study, we develop and validate an alternative approach for RT-qPCR diagnosis by employing the DNA intercalating dye SYBR Green. We evaluate and use two WHO-recommended primers, namely CCDC-N and HKU-ORF1b-nsp14. The compatibility of the two primers was tested in silico with Indonesian SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences retrieved from the GISAID database and using bioinformatic tools. Using in vitro-transcribed RNA, optimization, sensitivity, and linearity of the two assays targeting the N and Nsp-14 genes were carried out. For further evaluation, we used clinical samples from patients and performed the SYBR Green-based RT-qPCR assay protocol in parallel with TaqMan-based commercial assay. Our results show that our methodology performs similarly to the broadly used TaqMan-based detection method in terms of specificity and sensitivity and thus offers an alternative assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for diagnostic purposes.

Data Desa Presisi: A new method of rural data collection.

Pseudo-development in rural areas often occurs due to the lack of availability of accurate data, in addition to the closed space for citizen participation. Based on this condition, we identify and evaluate various methods of collecting rural data in Indonesia as the basis for formulating development policies and programs. From the results of the identification and evaluation, we conclude that a new method in rural data collection is needed, called Data Desa Presisi (DDP). DDP is a village data collection method that synthesizes a census, spatial and community participation approach. This method puts the unit of analysis of the family and the individual in the Neighborhood Association (Rukun Warga-RW) as the smallest regional unit in the rural area. The presence of DDP is expected to help villages to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate village development based on accurate data.•We identified the village data collection methods used so far for planning and measuring village development.•DDP is used for precise planning, implementation, monitoring-evaluation, and measurement of village development.•This method can be used as basic village data because it is able to show development subjects with precision, namely: by name, by address and by coordinates.