Vertical distribution of microplastic along the main gate of Indonesian Throughflow pathways.

Even though Pacific - Indian Ocean exchange [Indonesian Throughflow (ITF)] has been measured for the last three decades, the measurements of microplastic in the region is very limited. This study was the initial investigation of the vertical distribution of microplastic in the deep-sea areas across the ITF Pathway. Niskin water samples were utilized to obtain the samples from a water column in a range of 5 to 2450 m. A total of 924 microplastic particles with an average abundance of 1.062 ± 0.646. n/L were found in the water column. Our findings indicate that water temperature and water density are the most significant factors correlated to the microplastic concentration. This study will be the first report discussing the distribution of microplastics in the deep-sea water column that could be highly significant in determining the fate and transport of microplastic within Indonesian waters that exits into the Indian Ocean.

Is It Important to Increase Physical Activity Among University Students During the Second-Wave COVID-19 Pandemic in Asian Countries? A Cross-Sectional Study of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Asian Countries.

Background: Difficulties in exercising have occurred for the entire world's population during this COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the second wave at the end of 2021. Most worrying is the lack of physical activity in young adults, as lack of exercise will increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases in the future. The youth such as university student can be agents of change, to increase physical activity, from sedentary to sport life. This study aimed to determine the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and actions of university students and the correlation between the related variables. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional observational study involving 458 Asian university students based on Asian and African nationalities. This research was conducted from December 2021 to January 2022, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. The variables studied were the knowledge, attitudes, and actions of university students with regard to sports, and the statistical test used was the Chi-squared test. Results: The results showed that the research subjects were mainly from Indonesia and India (95.8%), there were more women than men (69.9% vs 30.1%), the most common age range was 18-20 years (61.4%), and 45.4% had a normal body mass index. In total, 48.3% had high knowledge, 93.4% had a positive attitude, and 34.7% had good practice. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and attitude (p=0.002) but not with action. Conclusion: This study found that good knowledge was associated with a good attitude, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic with activity restrictions on university students, there was no relationship with action.

Effects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) supplementation in the diet on the growth, small intestinal histomorphology, and digestibility of hybrid ducks.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Feed plays the most important role in supporting livestock productivity. There is a need for studies on the nutrient levels in feed absorbed by the body of livestock. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) supplementation in feed on growth, small intestinal histomorphology, and digestibility in hybrid ducks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in vivo using 75 hybrid ducks, with three treatments and five replications. Each replication consisted of five ducks. The treatments were: T0=basal ration without any alfalfa supplementation; T1=basal ration+3% fresh alfalfa supplementation; and T2=basal ration+6% fresh alfalfa supplementation. Fresh alfalfa was quantified on the basis of dry matter content. Drinking water was provided ad libitum. The observed variables were growth performance, measured in terms of feed consumption, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio; duodenum histomorphology, measured in terms of villus height, villus width, and crypt depth; digestibility, measured in terms of dry matter digestibility; and organic matter, crude protein, and crude fiber concentrations. The data were analyzed using variance analysis with a completely randomized design of one-way pattern with Statistical Product for Service Solution application of version 22. The data with significant differences were further analyzed using Duncan's new multiple range rest. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that 3% alfalfa supplementation increased feed consumption and body weight gain of the hybrid ducks at 35 days of age compared with 0% and 6% supplementation. Furthermore, 3% alfalfa supplementation presented the best result in terms of villus height and duodenal crypt depth. Meanwhile, 6% alfalfa supplementation decreased nutrient digestibility in the ducks. CONCLUSION: These findings show that supplementation of feed with fresh alfalfa could have a significant effect on hybrid ducks in terms of growth performance, small intestinal histomorphology, and digestibility.

Enhanced nose-to-brain delivery of tranilast using liquid crystal formulations.

Intranasal administration is poised as a competent method in delivering drugs to the brain, because the nasal route has a direct link with the central nervous system bypassing the formidable blood-brain barrier. C17-monoglycerol ester (MGE) and glyceryl monooleate (GMO) as liquid crystal (LC)-forming lipids possess desirable formulation characteristics as drug carriers for intranasally administered drugs. This study investigated the effect of LC formulations on the pharmacokinetics of tranilast (TL), a lipophilic model drug, and its distribution in the therapeutic target regions of the brain in rats. The anatomical biodistribution of LC formulations was monitored using micro-computed tomography tandem in vivo imaging systems. MGE and GMO effectively formed LC with suitable particle size, zeta potential, and viscosity supporting the delivery of TL to the brain. MGE and GMO LC formulations enhanced brain uptake by 10- to 12-fold and 2- to 2.4- fold, respectively, compared with TL solution. The olfactory bulb had the highest TL concentration and fluorescent signals among all the brain regions, indicating a direct nose-to-brain delivery pathway of LC formulations. LC-forming lipids, MGE and GMO, are potential biomaterials in formulations intended for intranasal administration.