Showing papers by "Hasanuddin University published in 2007"
TL;DR: The CoPr model demonstrated in this paper yielded a promising result, as several different techniques of sensitivity analysis show reasonably good results, and the results are amenable to various map display techniques, either using continuous values or by defining different cut off points in the data space within a GIS environment.
Abstract: Today, competing land use is continuing to occur in many developed regions In the Agricultural Development Zone of Western Sydney Region, which is characterised by complex landscape patterns, land use competition is widespread From a land use planning perspective, identification of suitable locations for a given type of land use is necessary for decision makers to formulate land use alternatives in different locations, based on existing land potential and constraints For such a region, use of a simple method that implements a categorical system and considers only inherent land characteristics in the analysis is often inadequate to arrive at an optimal spatial decision The primary aim of this paper is to develop spatial modelling procedures for agricultural land suitability analysis using compromise programming (CoPr) and fuzzy set approach within a geographical information systems (GIS) environment Five main sets of spatial data for use as decision criteria were developed by using fuzzy set methodology: a land suitability index (LSI) for maximising the land productivity objective; an erosion tolerance index (ETI) for minimising the erosion risk objective; a runoff curve number (CN) for maximising the water discharge regulation objective; an accessibility (RP) measure for maximising the land accessibility objective; and the proximity to water body (WP) for minimising the water pollution objective An L
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-metric was used in the analysis utilising different strategies with representative indices ranging from a situation where full tradeoff among criteria occurs to a noncompensatory condition Different weighting combinations were also applied, and decision analysis was carried out by using values ranging from 0 to 10, where 10 is considered as an ideal point The CoPr model demonstrated in this paper yielded a promising result, as several different techniques of sensitivity analysis show reasonably good results Likewise, an overlay of that result with the present land use/land cover indicates a good corresponding spatial matching between existing land use (orchard and cultivated land), and the cells (land parcels) classified as the best in CoPr The results are amenable to various map display techniques, either using continuous values or by defining different cut off points in the data space within a raster GIS environment
87 citations
TL;DR: The results show that the PCR with blood is a sensitive method for the diagnosis of typhoid fever, and that the PCRs with urine and feces could be useful complementary tests.
Abstract: A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi was used for the detection of the pathogen in blood, urine, and stool samples from 131 patients with clinical suspicion of typhoid fever The sensitivity of blood culture, the PCRs with blood, urine, and feces, and the Widal test were 618%, 845%, 693%, 469%, and 390%, respectively The sensitivity of the PCRs with blood (P 005) was similar to that of blood culture Combined, the PCRs on urine and feces showed positive results for 16 (70%) of 23 typhoid patients with negative results with blood culture and PCR with blood These results show that the PCR with blood is a sensitive method for the diagnosis of typhoid fever, and that the PCRs with urine and feces could be useful complementary tests
83 citations
TL;DR: Although the present study suggests limited applicability of serial measurement of IFN‐γ, TNF‐α and sIL‐6R in monitoring treatment efficacy of ENL, it recommends a search for a wider panel of more disease‐specific markers in future studies.
Abstract: Identifying pathogen and host-related laboratory parameters are essential for the early diagnosis of leprosy reactions. The present study aimed to clarify the validity of measuring the profiles of serum cytokines [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha], the soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), soluble T cell (sCD27) and macrophage (neopterin) activation markers and Mycobacterium leprae-specific anti-PGL-I IgM antibodies in relation to the leprosy spectrum and reactions. Serum samples from 131 Indonesian leprosy patients (82 non-reactional leprosy patients and 49 reactional) and 112 healthy controls (HC) from the same endemic region were investigated. Forty-four (89.8%) of the reactional patients had erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) while only five (10.2%) had reversal reaction (RR). Follow-up serum samples after corticosteroid treatment were also obtained from 17 of the patients with ENL and one with RR. A wide variability in cytokine levels was observed in the patient groups. However, IFN-gamma and sIL-6R were elevated significantly in ENL compared to non-ENL patients. Levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and sIL-6R declined significantly upon corticosteroid treatment of ENL. Thus, although the present study suggests limited applicability of serial measurement of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and sIL-6R in monitoring treatment efficacy of ENL, reactions it recommends a search for a wider panel of more disease-specific markers in future studies.
50 citations
TL;DR: A clonal stem cell line derived from adult rat bone marrow could differentiate into hepatocyte‐like cells, and transplantation of the differentiated cells could prevent fatal liver failure in 90%‐hepatectomized rats.
Abstract: Transplantation of hepatocytes or hepatocyte-like cells of extrahepatic origin is a promising strategy for treatment of acute and chronic liver failure. We examined possible utility of hepatocyte-like cells induced from bone marrow cells for such a purpose. Clonal cell lines were established from the bone marrow of two different rat strains. One of these cell lines, rBM25/S3 cells, grew rapidly (doubling time, ∼24 hours) without any appreciable changes in cell properties for at least 300 population doubling levels over a period of 300 days, keeping normal diploid karyotype. The cells expressed CD29, CD44, CD49b, CD90, vimentin, and fibronectin but not CD45, indicating that they are of mesenchymal cell origin. When plated on Matrigel with hepatocyte growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-4, the cells efficiently differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells that expressed albumin, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1, CYP1A2, glucose 6-phosphatase, tryptophane-2,3-dioxygenase, tyrosine aminotransferase, hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)1α, and HNF4α. Intrasplenic transplantation of the differentiated cells prevented fatal liver failure in 90%-hepatectomized rats. In conclusion, a clonal stem cell line derived from adult rat bone marrow could differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells, and transplantation of the differentiated cells could prevent fatal liver failure in 90%-hepatectomized rats. The present results indicate a promising strategy for treating human fatal liver diseases.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
42 citations
TL;DR: Although similar patterns were observed at all sites, inter-site dif- ferences in shrimp abundance were observed, indicating that although the present study demonstrates the importance of small-scale changes in seagrass habitat complexity to faunal assemblages, other factors related to larger spatial-scales are also important.
Abstract: Caridean shrimp were used as a model group to investigate the effects of seagrass floral habitat complexity on Indo-Pacific fauna. Relationships between shrimp and seagrass habitat characteristics were explored using both multivari- ate and multiple linear regression modelling approaches. Epifaunal shrimp assemblages were sampled in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia. Seagrass habitat complexity had a significant positive impact on shrimp abundance (F3,59 = 17.51, P < 0.001) and species richness (F3,59 = 10.88, P < 0.001), while significantly altering shrimp assem- blage structure (ANOSIM global R = 0.397, P < 0.001). In contrast to studies from other bioregions and faunal groups, species diversity and evenness were inversely related to habitat complexity. Changes in shrimp abundance, diversity and assemblage structure with habitat complexity are considered to reflect changes in individual species habitat specialisation. High complexity habitats were dominated by habitat specialists, whereas low complexity seagrass had higher numbers of habitat generalists. Generalist species may be more adapted to the reduced food availability and increased predatory pressures associated with reduced habitat complexity. Although similar patterns were observed at all sites, inter-site dif- ferences in shrimp abundance were observed. This indicates that although the present study demonstrates the importance of small-scale changes in seagrass habitat complexity to faunal assemblages, other factors related to larger spatial-scales are also important.
34 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the erosion potential over bedforms in a tidal flat of the East Frisian Wadden Sea was studied by conducting erosion and physical and biological sediment property measurements on the crests and troughs of bedforms.
Abstract: The erosion potential over bedforms in a tidal flat of the East Frisian Wadden Sea was studied by conducting erosion and physical and biological sediment property measurements on the crests and troughs of bedforms. Five stations along a cross-shore transect of 1.5 km length from immediately below the salt marsh to the mid tide-level of the tidal flat were visited during two field campaigns in June and September 2002. Measurements of sediment erodibility were made on both crests and troughs using an EROMES erosion device and quantified in terms of critical erosion shear stress and erosion rate. Surface sediment scrape samples (upper 1 mm layer) were taken from crests and troughs to determine various physical and biological properties of the sediment. The results show that crests are generally more stable (i.e. higher critical erosion shear stresses and lower erosion rates) than troughs. In general, crests contained more chlorophyll a , colloidal carbohydrate, and EPS (extracellular polymeric substance) than troughs. Median grain-size, water content and wet bulk density of the crests showed no statistically significant difference from those of the troughs with the exception at the most landward station immediately below the salt marsh margin, where crests had significantly lower water content and higher wet bulk density than troughs. Two different processes were identified for the difference in erodibility between crests and troughs: (1) At stations with emersion times less than 6 h, the higher benthic diatom biomass (measured as chlorophyll a concentration) on the crests increases the amount of EPS, which is likely to stabilize the sediment surface of these features; (2) in a saltmarsh transition area (most landward station), physical processes such as surface drying and compaction seem to enhance in a synergistic way the sediment stability on the crests.
29 citations
TL;DR: A latex agglutination assay for the serodiagnosis of typhoid fever was evaluated on samples collected from patients with clinical suspicion of Typhoid fever in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, where the disease is endemic.
Abstract: A latex agglutination assay for the serodiagnosis of typhoid fever was evaluated on samples collected from patients with clinical suspicion of typhoid fever in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, where the disease is endemic. The latex assay is very easy to use, gives a rapid result and may be used as a point-of-care diagnostic test. For acute phase samples collected on average 6 days after the onset of illness, the sensitivity is 42.5% for culture-confirmed patients with typhoid fever and the specificity is 96.9%. The sensitivity improved with the duration of illness from 30.8% for samples collected during the first 4-5 days of illness to 45.5% for samples collected between days 7 and 9, and to 84.6% for the samples collected more than 9 days after the onset of illness. Testing of follow-up samples may further improve sensitivity by demonstrating seroconversion.
23 citations
TL;DR: Analysis showed that concentration of heavy metals in leaves and roots of the seagrass were significantly higher in the polluted location than in relatively unpolluted locations, showing that the method is sensitive enough to detect spatial differences even within a rather small water body.
Abstract: Methodology for measuring translational fluctuating asymmetry (TFA) on leaves of seagrass, Zostera capricorni Aschers has been developed and tested to detect a subtle effect of environmental stress associated with heavy metal pollution on developmental instability. Our analyses showed that concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Se) in leaves and roots of the seagrass were significantly higher in the polluted location than in relatively unpolluted locations. We found significant differences in TFA between different locations, showing that the method is sensitive enough to detect spatial differences even within a rather small water body, but these differences were not associated with a higher concentration of heavy metals, i.e. plants from the polluted location did not show higher TFA. Possibly, seagrass can store heavy metals in their tissues and protect their development from the toxic effect, or the effect of heavy metals in the natural environment is confounded by other environmental factors. At...
21 citations
TL;DR: The present study describes the embryonic development and early ontogeny of Amphiprion ocellaris from fertilization to post hatching and contributes to a further understanding of the embryology and the early ontogeney of damselfish and may help improve the culture of coral reef fish.
Abstract: The present study describes the embryonic development and early ontogeny of Amphiprion ocellaris from fertilization to post hatching. Anemonefish spontaneously spawned at 27–28°C. The newly laid eggs were orange in colour and elliptical in shape (1.8×0.8 mm). Melanin appeared as a black mass situated at the vegetal pole in mature eggs. This is rarely seen in eggs of other fish species. We documented developmental times at 27–28°C to egg activation (0.5 h), cleavage (4 h), blastula (11.5 h), gastrula (20 h), neurula (24.5 h), somite (28.5 h), turnover (72 h), blood formation (113 h) and internal ear and jaw formation (144 h). Hatching occurred 152 h after fertilization. On day 4, the eye buds were pigmented and melanophores formed on the ventral surface of the embryo. Internal ear and gill formation were completed on day 5 and coincided with movement of the opercula and pectoral fins. The mouth formed on day 6 and the digestive tract appeared on day 7. By day 10, the yolk was fully absorbed and a substantial amount of food was observed in the gut. Dark and orange pigments were dispersed and aggregated through muscle contractions by day 14, but red pigments did not appear until the fish were three months old. This study contributes to a further understanding of the embryology and the early ontogeny of damselfish and may help improve the culture of coral reef fish.
21 citations
TL;DR: Molecular analysis of the malaria parasite isolates collected from this area strongly indicates resistance to chloroquine and a growing threat of resistance to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine.
Abstract: Background
The Nias district of the North Sumatra Province of Indonesia has long been known to be endemic for malaria. Following the economic crisis at the end of 1998 and the subsequent tsunami and earthquake, in December 2004 and March 2005, respectively, the malaria control programme in the area deteriorated. The present study aims to provide baseline data for the establishment of a suitable malaria control programme in the area and to analyse the frequency distribution of drug resistance alleles associated with resistance to chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine.
21 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the effect of ohmic pretreatment on the oil uptake of potato slices during frying and subsequent cooling and found that the effect was not evident when the pretreatment was carried out in a liquid medium.
Abstract: The effect of ohmic pretreatment on the oil uptake of potato slices during frying and subsequent cooling was investigated. The treated potato slices were heated by either directly sandwiching the slices between two electrodes or by heating them in a 0.11% salt solution. The treatment was carried out using an alternating current field of 35.5 V/cm. Results of this study indicate that oil uptake during frying and subsequent cooling of potato slices was decreased by the ohmic pretreatment without involving a liquid medium (direct sandwiching). However, when the ohmic pretreatment was carried out in a liquid medium, the effect was not evident. This might be due to water absorption during the treatment, which increased initial moisture content as well as porosity of the treated samples.
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of SiO2 and TiO2 dielectric layers on the atomic intermixing of InxGa1−xAs/InP quantum well structures using the impurity-free vacancy disordering technique was studied.
Abstract: We have studied the influence of SiO2 and TiO2 dielectric layers on the atomic intermixing of InxGa1−xAs/InP quantum well structures using the impurity-free vacancy disordering technique. Photoluminescence results revealed that an enhancement of interdiffusion was obtained when the samples were capped with SiO2. Although TiO2 layers were able to suppress the interdiffusion in the InGaAs/InP system, the suppression was not significant compared to the AlGaAs/GaAs system. Based on a fitting procedure that was deconvoluted from the photoluminescence spectra as well as a theoretical modeling, the electron–heavy hole and electron–light hole transitions were identified, and a ratio of the group V to the group III diffusion coefficients (k) was obtained. The k ratio of the InGaAs/InP samples capped with SiO2 is relatively larger than that of samples capped with TiO2 layers.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It was found that age, gender, obesity, onset and ethnicity had no effect on the response to terbutaline nebulation and polymorphism of the novel Gln 27 and T/C -20 (newly known) have an effect onThe response to beta-2 agonist.
Abstract: Aim To discover the role of beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2-AR) polymorphism on the response to beta-2 agonist, particularly in coding amino acid at sequences 16 and 27 as well as adjacent nucleotides. Methods The study was conducted by nested case-control method with consecutive samples of asthma patients aged 15-60 years at the outpatient clinic, Department of Pulmonology in Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital, Makassar. Twenty-eight patients were found irresponsive to terbutaline nebulation (increased FEV1 or =15%). DNA extraction and amplification were performed by PCR as well as polymorphism detection, which was done by automatic sequencing machine. Results The Arg 16 polymorphism did not have any effect on the response to terbutaline nebulation, but Gln 27 polymorphism did with OR 3.18. New polymorphism was found in nucleotide at 20th order before the start codon, it was T/C -20, which also has an effect on the response to terbutaline nebulation with OR 4.53. When the three polymorphisms were combined, the effect were greater with OR 11.11. It was found that age, gender, obesity, onset and ethnicity had no effect on the response to terbutaline nebulation. Conclusion Polymorphism of the novel Gln 27 and T/C -20 (newly known) have an effect on the response to beta-2 agonist. Both combination and polymorphism of Arg 16 will bring greater effect on the response to beta-2 agonist.
TL;DR: A comparison of tree architectures and allometries between two congeneric, lightdemanding species, Pterospermum diversifolium and P. javanicum, revealed that P. diversIfolium is favored over P.Javanicum at high light levels, but that the opposite is true at low light levels; the abundance of these species is likely to depend largely on habitat heterogeneities in understor y light conditions.
Abstract: A comparison of tree architectures and allometries between two congeneric, lightdemanding species, Pterospermum diversifolium and P. javanicum (Sterculiaceae), revealed that P. diversifolium is favored over P. javanicum at high light levels, but that the opposite is true at low light levels. Therefore, the abundance of these species within a landscape is likely to depend largely on habitat heterogeneities in understor y light conditions. To verify this prediction, we compared the abundances and population size structures of these species among three 1−ha plots established on a ridge, a slope, and a flat plain within a tropical floodplain forest in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. We found a significant dif ference in understory light conditions among the plots: ridge > slope = flat plain. The abundances and size distributions of P. javanicum within the plots indicate that this species has a wide habitat range in the study area, from flat plains to slopes and ridges. We found no P. diversifolium in the flat plot; the habitat of this species may thus be restricted to ridges and slopes. Dif ferences in the population size structures between the ridge and slope plots suggest that P. diversifolium regenerates more abundantly on ridges than on slopes. We discuss differences among plots in the abundance and size structure of P. diversifolium from the viewpoints of habitat heterogeneities in terms of dif ferences in understory light and soil water conditions.
26 Sep 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed the occupational health and safety (OHS) issues in the Victorian construction industry and found that the construction industry is one of the major industries with significant injury risk.
Abstract: This report reviews the occupational health and safety (OHS) issues in the Victorian construction industry. The key findings of the report are that the construction industry is one of the major industries with significant injury risk; moreover, the OHS performance of the construction industry is unacceptable. Since the last decade, the construction industry remains among the five most hazardous industries in Victoria. Construction industry contributes about 10% fatalities in all Victorian industries and 25% fatalities in the construction industry throughout Australia. However, it appears that the trend in OHS performance of Victorian construction industry has improved consistently compared with the other industries. The enforcement of OHS law and regulation, and the outcome of authority function to assist and promote health, safety education and training are the significant factors for the improvement of safety performance in construction industry. Data on occupational injuries from National Occupational Safety and Health Commission were combined with data from the Victorian WorkCover Authority. Statistical analysis reveals that the frequency of accidents does not have a positive correlation with the economic activity and the number of employment in construction industry.
TL;DR: Most cases of syphilis were asymptomatic, supporting routine screening for syphilis and Urethral symptoms predicted infection with N. gonorrhoeae/C.
Abstract: Background: There are few data on sexually transmissible infections in men in Indonesia. We conducted a prevalence study and compared symptoms alone with clinical signs to manage urethritis. Methods: We recruited symptomatic male patients at public clinics, and used standardised questionnaires, examinations and laboratory tests. Results: We recruited 273 men and the prevalences were Neisseria gonorrhoeae 18.2%, Chlamydia trachomatis 10.1%, and positive syphilis serology 5.2%. Four cases of HIV were detected. Urethral symptoms detected 91.7% of N. gonorrhoeae and/or C. trachomatis, and positive predictive value (PPV) was 41.8%, compared with clinical confirmation (sensitivity 86.1%, PPV 37.6%). Conclusions: Most cases of syphilis were asymptomatic, supporting routine screening for syphilis. Urethral symptoms predicted infection with N. gonorrhoeae/C. trachomatis better than clinical signs.