From Conflict to Cohesion: Unveiling Ambon's Journey Through Collective Memory Analysis and Post-Conflict Reconciliation

This article delves into the religious conflict that transpired in Ambon from 1999 to 2004, with a specific focus on elucidating the formation of collective memory as a pivotal mechanism for fostering post-conflict reconciliation. Employing a methodology amalgamating literature review and in-depth interviews, this research scrutinizes the intricate dynamics of the conflict, delineating the roles played by both Muslim and Christian communities, not only as victims but also as perpetrators. The principal findings underscore the shared responsibility of both groups in instigating the conflict, resulting in egregious acts such as assaults, homicides, and property destruction. The article accentuates the imperative of mutual acknowledgment regarding each community's role in the conflict as an indispensable stride towards reconciliation. It posits that an accurate and all-encompassing collective memory of the conflict serves as a catalyst for communities to critically assess their religious practices and fosters a climate of receptivity to broader religious understandings. The research underscores the significance of cultivating a nuanced collective memory in upholding peace and harmony within a diverse post-conflict society

Efficacy of compassion-focused therapy in a sample of youth with substance use disorder in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

The problem of substance use disorder among the young population in recent times remains a significant threat to the psychosocial  and economic fabrics of the entire society, despite several efforts channelled towards its amelioration. The present study investigated the efficacy of compassion-focused therapy on substance use disorder among youth in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. This pre-test post-test control group experimental study compared a compassion-focused therapy (CFT) plus treatment-as-usual (TAU) to TAU-alone in 20 young individuals with substance use disorder. Participants were purposively selected and randomly assigned to treatment (CFT+TAU) and comparison (TAU-alone) groups. Participants’ mean age was 21.08±1.86 years. Assessments occurred at intake, 10-weeks, and 1-month follow-up with a standardized questionnaire. Independent-sample t-test, 2x2 analysis of covariance and one-way repeated  measure of ANOVA were used for analyses at 0.05 significant level. Individuals in the CFT+TAU group reported significantly lower substance use disorder symptoms compared to those in the TAU-alone group. There was an overall significant difference between the SUD means of participants that received CFT+TAU at pre-test, post-test, and 1-month follow-up. CFT provide effective treatment of substance use disorder among Nigerian population; its utilization is therefore recommended. Keywords: Compassion-focused therapy, substance use disorder, youth, Nigeri

Reviving the Demographic Study of the Amish

The Amish exhibit distinctive demographic patterns, notably high fertility. While scholars have studied Amish population dynamics for more than a half century, recent research in this area is limited. We believe the time is ripe to reverse this trend. This article reviews data collection methods, points to a variety of accessible sources of new data, presents some preliminary results from the analysis of one such source (the McKune dataset for Holmes County, Ohio), introduces the research agenda and work of the newly formed Amish Population Research Group, and reviews past demographic findings to situate our agenda. An invitation is extended to demographers, social scientists, health researchers, and others to enter into collaborations with APRG

Reviving the Demographic Study of the Amish

The Amish exhibit distinctive demographic patterns, notably high fertility. While scholars have studied Amish population dynamics for more than a half century, recent research in this area is limited. We believe the time is ripe to reverse this trend. This article reviews data collection methods, points to a variety of accessible sources of new data, presents some preliminary results from the analysis of one such source (the McKune dataset for Holmes County, Ohio), introduces the research agenda and work of the newly formed Amish Population Research Group, and reviews past demographic findings to situate our agenda. An invitation is extended to demographers, social scientists, health researchers, and others to enter into collaborations with APRG

Activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in the central nucleus of the amygdala

Much evidence indicates that fear conditioning involves potentiation of some thalamic inputs to the lateral amygdala (LA). In turn, the LA would excite more neurons in the central nucleus (CE), leading to the generation of fear responses via their brainstem and hypothalamic projections. However, the posterior thalamus not only projects to LA but also to the medial sector of CE (CEm), suggesting that CEm might also be a site of plasticity. To test whether CEm also exhibits activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, we performed whole-cell recordings of CEm neurons in amygdala slices and stimulated thalamic axons coursing through the internal capsule and, as a control, the basolateral (BL) nucleus. High-frequency stimulation of thalamic inputs led to a long-lasting potentiation of thalamic responses, whereas BL-evoked responses remained unchanged. This thalamic long-term potentiation (LTP) developed even when slices were prepared with a cut severing the connections between the LA and CEm but was greatly reduced when an NMDA receptor antagonist was added to the perfusate shortly before and during LTP induction. Yet, intracellular dialysis with the NMDA receptor antagonist (ϩ)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate did not prevent induction of the thalamic LTP, suggesting that presynaptic NMDA receptors are required for its induction. Consistent with this, the thalamic LTP also developed when the cells were dialyzed with a calcium chelator or kept hyperpolarized during induction. Finally, this thalamic LTP was associated with reduced amounts of paired-pulse facilitation, suggesting that it is expressed presynaptically. These results are consistent with the idea that the CEm plays an active role in fear conditioning

Association Between Archaeal Prolyl- and Leucyl-tRNA Synthetases Enhances tRNA\u3csup\u3ePro\u3c/sup\u3e Aminoacylation

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-containing complexes have been identified in different eukaryotes, and their existence has also been suggested in some Archaea. To investigate interactions involving aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in Archaea, we undertook a yeast two-hybrid screen for interactions between Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus proteins using prolyl-tRNA synthetase (ProRS) as the bait. Interacting proteins identified included components of methanogenesis, protein-modifying factors, and leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS). The association of ProRS with LeuRS was confirmed in vitro by native gel electrophoresis and size exclusion chromatography. Determination of the steady-state kinetics of tRNAPro charging showed that the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of ProRS increased 5-fold in the complex with LeuRS compared with the free enzyme, whereas the Km for proline was unchanged. No significant changes in the steady-state kinetics of LeuRS aminoacylation were observed upon the addition of ProRS. These findings indicate that ProRS and LeuRS associate in M. thermautotrophicus and suggest that this interaction contributes to translational fidelity by enhancing tRNA aminoacylation by ProRS

Psychosocial Predictors of Drug Involvement Among Secondary School Students

Predictors of drug involvement among secondary school students in Ibadan were examined in this study. Two hundred and four (204) students comprising 113 males and 91 females, whose age ranged between 13 and 25 years (M = 16.32, S.D. = 1.81) participatedin the study. Data collected with a structured questionnaire were subjected to independent sample t-test, and regression analysis. Psychosocial factors (life purpose, need for achievement and self-esteem) significantly predicted drug abuse [F (6, 113) = 7.75; p < .01, R2 = .29]. Participants with low score on life purpose reported higher substanceabuse than those with high score on life purpose, t (161) = 2.62, p <.05 ; those with low score on the need for achievement reported higher substance abuse than those with high score on the need for achievement, t (162) = 4.09, p < .01 ; those with low score on the need for achievement reported higher substance abuse than those with high scoreon the need for achievement t (162) = 2.62, p <.05; female participants reported higher substance abuse than male counterparts, t (176) = - 4.05, p <.01). In conclusion, it is expedient that efforts be intensified on actions that will reawaken the strive for excellence and sense of self worth through engagement in self development activities, thereby minimizingthe prevalence of substance abuse among Nigerian youths

PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PRO-VITAMIN A CASSAVA-WHEAT COMPOSITE FLOUR BISCUIT

In this research work, the physicochemical properties of biscuit made from wheat flour and pro-vitamin A cassava flour mixed in different ratios of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40 (w/w) was investigated. The addition of pro-vitamin A flour to wheat flour influenced the functional properties such as water absorption, swelling and pasting properties. Peak, trough, breakdown and final viscosities of 100% wheat flour was generally lower than the mixes. However, the setback viscosity of the mixes were lower than that of wheat flour. This was attributed to possible complex formation between the starch components of the flours and the carotenoid. Protein (10.80-15.45%), fat (11.87-21.35%) and carbohydrate (60.08-70.99%) were the major components of the biscuits. The protein and fat contents of the biscuit decreased with increasing proportions of pro-vitamin A cassava flour. But, the carotenoid contents of the biscuits increased. Sensory results showed that biscuit prepared from wheat flour and pro-vitamin A cassava flour in ratio 90 to 10 had similar overall acceptability rating (6.50) and total rating score (31.8) to the control (Overall acceptability rating; 6.50 and total rating score; 32.5). The research has established that acceptable biscuits which could be potentially used to address protein, energy and vitamin A challenges in developing nations of the world

The Effects of Apigenin on Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a WHO grade IV brain tumor. These tumors are highly proliferative, infiltrative, necrotic, angiogenic, and resistant to apoptosis. One major characteristic of GBM is the overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which leads to cell growth and proliferation when activated. GBM is very difficult to treat due to its location, heterogeneity, and invasiveness; an effective treatment is therefore needed. The use of flavonoids, which are natural compounds found in many fruits and vegetables, has been studied in the treatment of many different tumor types. Apigenin is a specific flavonoid that has previously been shown to have antitumor activity in a number of cancer cells. Our study set out to investigate the molecular effects of apigenin treatment on glioblastoma cell proliferation and viability using the trypan blue exclusion assay, MTT assay, and an LDH assay. In addition, Western blot analyses were utilized out to determine the signaling pathways through which apigenin treatment exerts its effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Finally, hoechst-propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry were used to examine the extent of apoptosis and the cell cycle context of these effects. Our results show that apigenin reduces cell viability and proliferation in a dose and time dependent manner while increasing cytotoxicity in GBM cells. Additionally, apigenin inhibits the EGFR mediated phosphorylation in the presence of EGF treatment of AKT, mTOR, and s6k resulting in decreased cell survival, growth and proliferation. It also inhibits the MAPK pathways in one cell line thereby reducing cell growth and proliferation. It also inhibits the anti-apoptotic effects of BCL-XL and increases PARP cleavage, which leads to increased apoptosis. Finally, apigenin induced cycle arrest at the G2M checkpoint, meaning that apoptosis primarily occurred at the DNA repair checkpoint in the cell cycle. In conclusion, apigenin has demonstrated some in vitro biological effects on glioblastoma cell lines that show promises in limiting the growth, proliferation and survival of these cell lines. Future research should look to identify means through which apigenin can be administered in clinically significant concentrations to the brain

Measurement of the Free-Floating Planet Mass Function with Simultaneous Euclid and WFIRST Microlensing Parallax Observations

Free-floating planets are the remnants of violent dynamical rearrangements of planetary systems. It is possible that even our own solar system ejected a large planet early in its evolution. WFIRST will have the ability to detect free-floating planets over a wide range of masses, but it will not be able to directly measure their masses. Microlensing parallax observations can be used to measure the masses of isolated objects, including free-floating planets, by observing their microlensing events from two locations. The intra-L2 separation between WFIRST and Euclid is large enough to enable microlensing parallax measurements, especially given the exquisite photometric precision that both spacecraft are capable of over wide fields. In this white paper we describe how a modest investment of observing time could yield hundreds of parallax measurements for WFIRST's bound and free-floating planets. We also describe how a short observing campaign of precursor observations by Euclid can improve WFIRST's bound planet and host star mass measurements.Comment: Astro2020 White Pape