Digital multiplexed mRNA analysis of functionally important genes in single human oocytes and correlation of changes in transcript levels with oocyte protein expression

Objective To investigate functionally important transcripts in single human oocytes with the use of NanoString technology and determine whether observed differences are biologically meaningful. Design Analysis of human oocytes with the use of NanoString and immunoblotting. Setting University-affiliated reproductive medicine unit. Patients Women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Intervention Human oocytes were analyzed with the use of NanoString or immunoblotting. Main Outcome Measures The abundance of transcripts for ten functionally important genes—AURKA, AURKC, BUB1, BUB1B (encoding BubR1), CDK1, CHEK1, FYN, MOS, MAP2K1, and WEE2—and six functionally dispensable genes were analyzed with the use of NanoString. BubR1 protein levels in oocytes from younger and older women were compared with the use of immunoblotting. Result(s) All ten functional genes but none of the six dispensable genes were detectable with the use of NanoString in single oocytes. There was 3- to 5-fold variation in BUB1, BUB1B, and CDK1 transcript abundance among individual oocytes from a single patient. Transcripts for these three genes—all players within the spindle assembly checkpoint surveillance mechanism for preventing aneuploidy—were reduced in the same oocyte from an older patient. Mean BUB1B transcripts were reduced by 1.5-fold with aging and associated with marked reductions in BubR1 protein levels. Conclusion(s) The abundance of functionally important transcripts exhibit marked oocyte-to-oocyte heterogeneity to a degree that is sufficient to affect protein expression. Observed variations in transcript abundance are therefore likely to be biologically meaningful, especially if multiple genes within the same pathway are simultaneously affected

Sparse Radiocarbon Data Confound Culture-Climate Links in Late Pre-Columbian Amazonia

It has recently been argued that pre-Columbian societies in the greater Amazon basin during the Late Holocene were subject to “adaptive cycling”. In this model, cultures practicing “intensive” land use practices, such as raised field agriculture, were vulnerable to perturbations in hydroclimate, whereas “extensive” land use patterns, such as polyculture agroforestry, are viewed as more resilient to climate change. On the basis of radiocarbon data, the relative rise and fall of late pre-Columbian cultures and their inferred patterns of land use in six regions are highlighted to exemplify this model. This paper re-examines the radiocarbon evidence marshalled in favour of adaptive cycling, demonstrating that alleged temporal patterning in these data are overwhelmingly likely due to a combination of sampling effects, lack of statistical controls, and unacknowledged uncertainties that are inherent to radiocarbon dating. The outcome of this combination of factors seriously limits the possibility of cross-referencing archaeological data with palaeo-ecological and -climatological data without controlling for these effects, undermining the central archaeological pillar in support of adaptive cycling in Amazonia. This paper illustrates examples of such mitigation measures and provides the code to replicate them. Suggestions for how to overcome the serious limitations identified in the Late Holocene radiocarbon record of Amazonia are presented in the context of ongoing debates on inferring climatic causation in archaeological and historical datasets

Penerapan Konseling Eksistensial dengan Teknik Logoterapi untuk Meningkatkan Rasa Percaya Diri pada Siswa Kelas XI Ak - Pms dan XII Oto Smk Kosgoro 1 Balongbendo

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui penerapan konseling eksistensial dengan teknik logoterapi untuk meningkatkan rasa percaya diri siswa kelas XI AK-PMS dan XII OTO SMK Kosgoro 1 Balongbendo terhadap kemampuan, penguasaan individu terhadap bidang atau tugas, serta dalam menemukan makna diri. Jenis penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan metode penelitian eksperimen. Bentuk desain yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah one group pre-test and post-test design. Alat pengumpul data yang digunakan adalah angket percaya diri siswa untuk memperoleh data tingkat percaya diri siswa kelas XI AK-PMS dan XII OTO SMK Kosgoro 1 Balongbendo. Subyek dalam penelitian ini adalah 5 siswa dari kelas XI AK-PMS dan XII OTO yang memiliki skor percaya diri dengan kategori rendah. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah statistic non parametik analisis uji tanda. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa nilai ρ = 0,031 lebih kecil dari α = 0,05. berdasarkan hasil ini maka Ho ditolak dan Ha diterima. Dari hasil perhitungan diketahui rata-rata pre-test 90 dan rata-rata post-test 115,8. Hipotesis penelitian ini yang berbunyi” penerapan konseling eksistensial degan teknik logoterapi dapat meningkatkan rasa percaya diri siswa kelas XI AK-PMS dan XII OTO SMK Kosgoro 1 Balongbendo” dapat diterima, sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa penerapan logoterapi dapat meningkatkan rasa percaya diri siswa kelas XI AK-PMS dan XII OTO SMK Kosgoro 1 Balongbendo. Kata Kunci : Konseling eksistensial, Logoterapi, Rasa percaya dir

Widespread population decline in South America correlates with mid-Holocene climate change

Quantifying the impacts of climate change on prehistoric demography is crucial for understanding the adaptive pathways taken by human populations. Archaeologists across South America have pointed to patterns of regional abandonment during the Middle Holocene (8200 to 4200 cal BP) as evidence of sensitivity to shifts in hydroclimate over this period. We develop a unified approach to investigate demography and climate in South America and aim to clarify the extent to which evidence of local anthropic responses can be generalised to large-scale trends. We achieve this by integrating archaeological radiocarbon data and palaeoclimatic time series to show that population decline occurred coeval with the transition to the initial mid-Holocene across South America. Through the analysis of radiocarbon dates with Monte Carlo methods, we find multiple, sustained phases of downturn associated to periods of high climatic variability. A likely driver of the duration and severity of demographic turnover is the frequency of exceptional climatic events, rather than the absolute magnitude of change. Unpredictable levels of tropical precipitation had sustained negative impacts on pre-Columbian populations lasting until at least 6000 cal BP, after which recovery is evident. Our results support the inference that a demographic regime shift in the second half of the Middle Holocene were coeval with cultural practices surrounding Neotropical plant management and early cultivation, possibly acting as buffers when the wild resource base was in flux

Pola Sebaran Konsentrasi Klorofil-a Di Selat Bangka Dengan Menggunakan Citra Aqua-Modis

Bangka Strait is a narrow strait between the islands of Bangka and Sumatra, and predicted has high nutrients content. Nutrient can stimulate the growth of phytoplankton. The presence of phytoplankton can be detected of chlorophyll-a by using Aqua-Modis image. the purpose of this study were to describe the concentration of chlorophyll-a waters of Bangka Strait in 2009 by Aqua-Modis image data, and also to know the distribution patterns and concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the waters of Bangka Strait in March 2011. Aqua-Modis image interpretation showed that the waters of Bangka Strait had high chlorophyll-a concentrations for each seasons. Chlorophyll-a content of Bangka Strait on 3-4 March ranged 0.786 to 12.274 mg / m³. Key words : Aqua-Modis Image, distribution paterns, chlorophyll-a, Bangka Strai

Perbandingan Pertumbuhan Jamur Tiram Putih di Kumbung Ciseeng dan Universitas Al-Azhar Indonesia

White oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is one of wood fungi which easy to grow at rotting wood and organic waste. White oyster mushroom is rich in protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Environmental factors affecting the growth of white oyster mushrooms is temperature and humidity. The study aims to compare the growth and production of white oyster mushroom in different location, Ciseeng and University of Al-Azhar Indonesia (UAI). Cultivation in UAI done in a controlled situation using autoclave sterilization, inoculation using enkas and the treatment is watering on gunny sack in the mushroom house regularly. Whereas, cultivation in Ciseeng less controlled by traditional cultivation using steam sterilization and inoculation process at open space. Wet weight, dry weight, and biological efficiency results is higher in UAI than Ciseeng at 7.95%, 14.5%, and 7.34% higher, respectively. Morphological parameter such as number of fruiting body, mushroom cap diameters, and stem lenght also show better in UAI than Ciseeng at 23.67%, 8.75%, 54.96% higher, respectively. Better result of mushroom cultivation at UAI supported by 28.3oC average temperature and 93.95% humidity, meanwhile in Ciseeng average temperature and humidity was 29.25oC and 82.15%

Mixed Methods: Expectations Versus Facts on the Implementation of Adolescent care Health Service

Percentage of adolescents in Indonesia nearly reaches 30% of the total population. This amount is relatively huge and able to be the nation’s asset, if it is managed properly. Various adolescent reproductive health programs have been conducted in diverse sectors—governmental or even non-governmental. One of which is called the Adolescent Care Health Service (ACHS). This research aims to identify adolescent expectations and facts on ACHS program implementation. Research methods were used mixed methods. Quantitative data were collected from 842 respondents (high school students in Surabaya, Indonesia) from questionnaires, while qualitative data were collected from interviews with quantitative respondents at the same time using purposive random sampling. Data analysis was also conducted with the mixed methods using quantitative and qualitative descriptive, based on the data and information collected. Research results showed that 76.2% did not know the existence of ACHS program and 90% had never accessed the program. Qualitative data implied that adolescent hoped for an adolescent health program which fitted adolescents’ characteristics, needs and capacities; for instance, one which utilized entertaining method and media. However, in fact, the method and media used had a patronizing tendency and based on the informants were very boring and moreover, the adolescents’ involvement in the program planning was only 8.4%. According to the ACHS implementaion national standard, adolescents need to be involved starting from planning to evaluation of the program. In addition to that, the ACHS program is supposed to be adolescent-friendly—fit the adolescent needs

Penelusuran Mekanisme Flavonoid Kulit Jeruk Keprok (Citrus Reticulata) Sebagai Agen Kemopreventif Melalui Docking Molekuler Pada Protein Target Cyp1a2

Subklas flavonoid khususnya golongan polimetoksiflavon menunjukan aktivitas kemopreventif pada berbagai sel kanker secara in vitro dan beberapa studi in vivo. Pada tahapan inisiasi kanker, bioaktivasi karsinogen polisiklik aromatik hidrokarbon secara signifikan dapat direduksi oleh senyawaan polimetoksiflavon melalui penghambatan sistem enzim sitokrom P450 (CYP) dalam level transkripsi gen maupun interaksi langsung dengan enzim tersebut. Pada tahapan promosi kanker, berbagai studi menunjukan bahwa proliferasi sel kanker dihambat lebih kuat oleh golongan metoksiflavon dibandingkan hidroksiflavon. Tangeretin, nobiletin, naringin dan hesperidin adalah beberapa senyawa polimetoksiflavon dari kulit jeruk keprok yang dilaporkan memiliki efek kemopreventif melalui modulasi aktivitas CYP1A2. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui afinitas, konformasi dan interaksi senyawa berkerangka polimetoksiflavon kulit jeruk keprok (Citrus reticulata) terhadap protein target CYP1A2 menggunakan molecular docking. Optimasi geometri struktur polimetoksiflavon dilakukan dengan piranti lunak Molecular Operating Environment for Windows. Konformasi optimum struktur polimetoksiflavon dihasilkan menggunakan metode semiempirik AMBER99. Kemudian dilakukan proses docking senyawa uji dengan bindingsite CYP1A2 (PDB ID:2HI4) menggunakan piranti lunak Molecular Operating Environment for Windows dalam kondisi tanpa air. Hasil docking senyawa golongan polimetoksiflavon dibandingkan dengan native ligan pada target CYP1A2, menunjukkan interaksi polimetoksiflavon yang lebih kuat dibanding interaksi ligan pembanding á-naphtoflavon

Peran Desa Sebagai Basis Migrasi Aman dalam Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia

The lack of knowledge possessed by Indonesian labor abroad gives rise to some vulnerability. An urgent problem to solve is the formulation of village regu-lations on the protection of the Pamijen Village workforce in order for Indonesian workers from Pamijen Village to be protected for safe migration and to ensure that abandoned families can educate abandoned children well. This research uses a qualitative approach because it has advantages in constructing social reality, cultural meaning, focusing on interactive processes and events. The authors discussed with Pamijen Village Government to get inputs related to improving the capacity of the village apparatus through training on the formulation of Village Regulations on the Protection of Indonesian Workers and then conducting public hearing activities through focus group discussions. The results of the research conducted in Pamijen Village, Sokaraja Sub-district resulted in an agreement to draft the Pamijen Village Rule of Re-gulation on the Protection of Prospective Indonesian Workers/ Indonesian Migrant Workers and Their FamiliesKeywords: Village, Protection, Indonesian Worke