Silat Foundations in the Creation of the Minang Dance ‘Balega Di Tanah Manang’ (Rotation Around the Land of Conquest)

This research was funded by the Directorate for Research and Community Service, Directorate General forResearch and Development, Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education. Abstract ‘Balega in Tanah Manang,' meaning the "Rotation Around the Land of Conquest" in the Minang language of West Sumatra, is a dance piece that was created through the combined use of pancak movements (based in the Minangkabau martial art form pencaksilat) and dance movements and new techniques beyond pancak. This phenomena in Minangkabau dance is possible because pancak, typically the playful performance by men in both local and regional spaces, forms the principle foundation for the dance.Through this collaborative effort, pancakis transformed to become a dance performing art form that isengages with women as its dancers, choreographers, and participants of dance activities.Silat is the oldest martial arts form in the Minangkabau region of Indonesia’s West Sumatra. Each region within the Minangkabau area has its own silat movements, with fundamental differences. In general, there are two forms of traditional silat,kudo-kudo and pitunggua, that are very different. Silat is less associated withkudo-kudo; pitunggua is better known.Pitunggua shows a loose foot position, one in which you can easily take a step forward. A silat practitioner must know garak garik, raso pareso, mailak, gelek, pandang, kutiko. Garak means large movements. Garik means small movements. Lantakin motion means to avoid using gelek.The 'Balega di Tanah Manang' dance piece (Rotation Around The Land of Conquest) begins with the Minang philosophy of alam takambang jadi guru. Nature serves as the teachings of and a viewpoint on life that guide human interactions, actions, and behavior. In Minangkabau culture too, they make all forms of adverbs based on life that exists in the universe. This is then used to make customary rules, laws, and provisions. They apply all of this in their daily lives. That is what is called Minangkabau teachings. Keywords: silat, dance, Minangkabau, andphilosophy Publication date: December 31st 2019 DOI: 10.7176/ADS/79-01 Publication date: December 31st 201

Subretinal pigment epithelial deposition of Drusen components including hydroxyapatite in a primary cell culture model

Purpose: Extracellular deposits containing hydroxyapatite, lipids, proteins, and trace metals that form between the basal lamina of the RPE and the inner collagenous layer of Bruch's membrane are hallmarks of early AMD. We examined whether cultured RPE cells could produce extracellular deposits containing all of these molecular components. Methods: Retinal pigment epithelium cells isolated from freshly enucleated porcine eyes were cultured on Transwell membranes for up to 6 months. Deposit composition and structure were characterized using light, fluorescence, and electron microscopy; synchrotron x-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence; secondary ion mass spectroscopy; and immunohistochemistry. Results: Apparently functional primary RPE cells, when cultured on 10-μm-thick inserts with 0.4-μm-diameter pores, can produce sub-RPE deposits that contain hydroxyapatite, lipids, proteins, and trace elements, without outer segment supplementation, by 12 weeks. Conclusions: The data suggest that sub-RPE deposit formation is initiated, and probably regulated, by the RPE, as well as the loss of permeability of the Bruch's membrane and choriocapillaris complex associated with age and early AMD. This cell culture model of early AMD lesions provides a novel system for testing new therapeutic interventions against sub-RPE deposit formation, an event occurring well in advance of the onset of vision loss