Natural aspect of the megalithic cultural heritage area of the Bada Valley (Central Sulawesi): Vegetation composition and biodiversity analyses

The Bada Valley is one of the Lore Lindu Megalithic Cultural Heritage areas, which is one of the first four biosphere reserves in Indonesia. The Bada Valley area offers cultural attractions that combine with nature in the form of cultural landscapes such as handicrafts from bark, hilly landscapes that offer panoramic beauty, and preserve dozens of megalithic sites from prehistoric times as well as tourist cruising areas. The area is surrounded by densely forested mountains and forms one of the most important water catchment areas for the Watershed. However, there is a lack of studies on the vascular flora. No data on plant diversity has been reported, including plant inventory, plant identification, vegetation composition, and biodiversity analyses (diversity index, evenness index, and plant species richness index). The study aimed to determine the diversity index, evenness index, and plant species richness index in the Bada Valley cultural area, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi. This study used an exploring technique with purposive sampling. Additional information was recorded in the form of the collector’s name, collection number, collection date, location, and habitus, which were recorded in the observation sheet that had been prepared. Identification of plants was carried out using the procedure for observing plant morphological characters, which included special features in each class and family or genus down to the species level. The results of the study found the vegetation composition for herbaceous strata (555 individuals), trees (91 individuals), shrubs (64 individuals), and vines (57 individuals). The diversity index value of each stratum is different for trees (H’ = 1.20), herbs (H’ = 1.92), shrubs (H’ = 1.32), and vines (H’ = 0.62). The diversity of plants in the Bada Valley in the tree, herb, and shrub strata was moderate (1.0 < H’ < 3.0), and the encroaching plant stratum had low diversity (H’ < 1.0). The evenness index at the level of shrubs, vines, herbs, and trees has values of 0.95, 0.90, 0.83, 0.61, respectively. The species richness index of plants in the Bada Valley is in a low category (R < 3.5), with R values for herbaceous plants (1.42), trees (1.33), shrubs (0.72), and vines (0.24). Information on plant biodiversity is used as a database for ecotourism development in the Bada Valley Cultural Heritage area. Research data can be used to support the local government in regulating the utilization of the Bada Valley Cultural Heritage area

International consensus for neuroblastoma molecular diagnostics: report from the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) Biology Committee

Neuroblastoma serves as a paradigm for utilising tumour genomic data for determining patient prognosis and treatment allocation. However, before the establishment of the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) Task Force in 2004, international consensus on markers, methodology, and data interpretation did not exist, compromising the reliability of decisive genetic markers and inhibiting translational research efforts. The objectives of the INRG Biology Committee were to identify highly prognostic genetic aberrations to be included in the new INRG risk classification schema and to develop precise definitions, decisive biomarkers, and technique standardisation. The review of the INRG database (n=8800 patients) by the INRG Task Force finally enabled the identification of the most significant neuroblastoma biomarkers. In addition, the Biology Committee compared the standard operating procedures of different cooperative groups to arrive at international consensus for methodology, nomenclature, and future directions. Consensus was reached to include MYCN status, 11q23 allelic status, and ploidy in the INRG classification system on the basis of an evidence-based review of the INRG database. Standardised operating procedures for analysing these genetic factors were adopted, and criteria for proper nomenclature were developed. Neuroblastoma treatment planning is highly dependant on tumour cell genomic features, and it is likely that a comprehensive panel of DNA-based biomarkers will be used in future risk assignment algorithms applying genome-wide techniques. Consensus on methodology and interpretation is essential for uniform INRG classification and will greatly facilitate international and cooperative clinical and translational research studies

The Emergence of Emotions

Emotion is conscious experience. It is the affective aspect of consciousness. Emotion arises from sensory stimulation and is typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body. Hence an emotion is a complex reaction pattern consisting of three components: a physiological component, a behavioral component, and an experiential (conscious) component. The reactions making up an emotion determine what the emotion will be recognized as. Three processes are involved in generating an emotion: (1) identification of the emotional significance of a sensory stimulus, (2) production of an affective state (emotion), and (3) regulation of the affective state. Two opposing systems in the brain (the reward and punishment systems) establish an affective value or valence (stimulus-reinforcement association) for sensory stimulation. This is process (1), the first step in the generation of an emotion. Development of stimulus-reinforcement associations (affective valence) serves as the basis for emotion expression (process 2), conditioned emotion learning acquisition and expression, memory consolidation, reinforcement-expectations, decision-making, coping responses, and social behavior. The amygdala is critical for the representation of stimulus-reinforcement associations (both reward and punishment-based) for these functions. Three distinct and separate architectural and functional areas of the prefrontal cortex (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex) are involved in the regulation of emotion (process 3). The regulation of emotion by the prefrontal cortex consists of a positive feedback interaction between the prefrontal cortex and the inferior parietal cortex resulting in the nonlinear emergence of emotion. This positive feedback and nonlinear emergence represents a type of working memory (focal attention) by which perception is reorganized and rerepresented, becoming explicit, functional, and conscious. The explicit emotion states arising may be involved in the production of voluntary new or novel intentional (adaptive) behavior, especially social behavior

UPS DOWN STORY TROUGH ONLINE LEARNING

This book, which is presented to the readers, explain the phenomenon that occurs when the COVID-19 attacks the world of education, which requires students and teachers to carry out activities in online. Joys and sorrows, likes and dislikes are conveyed in this paper. the authors tell readers to convey learning conditions during the pandemic. The authors describe the framework of learning experiences that are felt in the digital era 4.0