Pemanfaatan Museum Sumpah Pemuda sebagai Sumber Belajar melalui Teknologi Virtual Reality

 This research aims to explore the utilization of the Youth Pledge Museum as a learning resource through Virtual Reality (VR) or Virtual Tour technology, and to understand the process of using VR in history education. The research adopts a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. The focus of the study includes three main components: 1) Museum collections and their management, 2) The process of utilizing the Youth Pledge Museum collections as a source of historical learning through VR technology, and 3) The role of teachers in history education through VR technology. Data for the research were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis related to the Youth Pledge Museum and the use of VR in history education. This article describes the various collections held by the Youth Pledge Museum and the technologies that have been developed, including Virtual Reality (VR), which can be used in history education. The steps for using VR in history education include: 1) Selecting a relevant Virtual Reality museum for the learning material, 2) Preparing the necessary applications and equipment, 3) Setting up an Android phone, 4) Ensuring internet connectivity, 5) Finding the link to the Virtual Reality content of the Youth Pledge Museum, 6) Accessing the discovered link and starting the Virtual Tour. As a form of technology-integrated learning, the use of VR is expected to accommodate the development of 21st-century skills and encourage students to become active learners. This approach aligns with the student-centered learning concept applied in the independent curriculum, allowing students to construct their own knowledge.Keywords: museums, youth pledges, learning resources, Virtual Reality

Hypomethylation of MB-COMT promoter is a major risk factor for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

The variability in phenotypic presentations and the lack of consistency of genetic associations in mental illnesses remain a major challenge in molecular psychiatry. Recently, it has become increasingly clear that altered promoter DNA methylation could play a critical role in mediating differential regulation of genes and in facilitating short-term adaptation in response to the environment. Here, we report the investigation of the differential activity of membrane-bound catechol-O-methyltransferase (MB - COMT) due to altered promoter methylation and the nature of the contribution of COMT Val158Met polymorphism as risk factors for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder by analyzing 115 post-mortem brain samples from the frontal lobe. These studies are the first to reveal that the MB - COMT promoter DNA is frequently hypomethylated in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients, compared with the controls (methylation rate: 26 and 29 versus 60; P = 0.004 and 0.008, respectively), particularly in the left frontal lobes (methylation rate: 29 and 30 versus 81; P = 0.003 and 0.002, respectively). Quantitative gene-expression analyses showed a corresponding increase in transcript levels of MB - COMT in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients compared with the controls (P = 0.02) with an accompanying inverse correlation between MB - COMT and DRD1 expression. Furthermore, there was a tendency for the enrichment of the Val allele of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism with MB - COMT hypomethylation in the patients. These findings suggest that MB - COMT over-expression due to promoter hypomethylation and/or hyperactive allele of COMT may increase dopamine degradation in the frontal lobe providing a molecular basis for the shared symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. © Copyright 2006 Oxford University Press

Hypermethylation of the reelin (RELN) promoter in the brain of schizophrenic patients: A preliminary report

DNA methylation changes could provide a mechanism for DNA plasticity and dynamism for short-term adaptation, enabling a type of cell memory to register cellular history under different environmental conditions. Some environmental insults may also result in pathological methylation with corresponding alteration of gene expression patterns. Evidence from several studies has suggested that in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, mRNA of the reelin gene (RELN), which encodes a protein necessary for neuronal migration, axonal branching, synaptogenesis, and cell signaling, is severely reduced in post-mortem brains. Therefore, we investigated the methylation status of the RELN promoter region in schizophrenic patients and normal controls as a potential mechanism for down regulation of its expression. Ten post-mortem frontal lobe brain samples from male schizophrenic patients and normal controls were obtained from the Harvard Brain Tissue Resources Center. DNA was extracted using a standard phenol-chloroform DNA extraction protocol. To evaluate differences between patients and controls, we applied methylation specific PCR (MSP) using primers localized to CpG islands flanking a potential cyclic AMP response element (CRE) and a stimulating protein-1 (SP1) binding site located in the promoter region. For each sample, DNA extraction, bisulfite treatment, and MSP were independently repeated at least four times to accurately determine the methylation status of the target region. Forty-three PCR trials were performed on the test and control samples. MSP analysis of the RELN promoter revealed an unmethylated signal in all reactions (43 of 43) using DNA from the frontal brain tissue, derived from either the schizophrenic patients or normal controls indicating that this region of the RELN promoter is predominantly unmethylated. However, we observed a distinct methylated signal in 73 of the trials (16 of 22) in schizophrenic patients compared with 24 (5 of 21) of controls. Thus, the hypermethylation of the CpG islands flanking a CRE and SP1 binding site observed at a significantly higher level (t = -5.07, P = 0.001) may provide a mechanism for the decreased RELN expression, frequently observed in post-mortem brains of schizophrenic patients. We also found an inverse relationship between the level of DNA methylation using MSP analysis and the expression of the RELN gene using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Despite the small sample size, these studies indicate that promoter hypermethylation of the RELN gene could be a significant contributor in effecting epigenetic alterations and provides a molecular basis for the RELN gene hypoactivity in schizophrenia. Further studies with a larger sample set would be required to validate these preliminary observations. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Ectopic Cdx2 Expression in Murine Esophagus Models an Intermediate Stage in the Emergence of Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is an intestinal metaplasia that occurs in the setting of chronic acid and bile reflux and is associated with a risk for adenocarcinoma. Expression of intestine-specific transcription factors in the esophagus likely contributes to metaplasia development. Our objective was to explore the effects of an intestine-specific transcription factor when expressed in the mouse esophageal epithelium. Transgenic mice were derived in which the transcription factor Cdx2 is expressed in squamous epithelium using the murine Keratin-14 gene promoter. Effects of the transgene upon cell proliferation and differentiation, gene expression, and barrier integrity were explored. K14-Cdx2 mice express the Cdx2 transgene in esophageal squamous tissues. Cdx2 expression was associated with reduced basal epithelial cell proliferation and altered cell morphology. Ultrastructurally two changes were noted. Cdx2 expression was associated with dilated space between the basal cells and diminished cell-cell adhesion caused by reduced Desmocollin-3 mRNA and protein expression. This compromised epithelial barrier function, as the measured trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of the K14-Cdx2 epithelium was significantly reduced compared to controls (1189 Ohm*cm2 ±343.5 to 508 Ohm*cm2±92.48, p = 0.0532). Secondly, basal cells with features of a transitional cell type, intermediate between keratinocytes and columnar Barrett's epithelial cells, were observed. These cells had reduced keratin bundles and increased endoplasmic reticulum levels, suggesting the adoption of secretory-cell features. Moreover, at the ultrastructural level they resembled “Distinctive” cells associated with multilayered epithelium. Treatment of the K14-Cdx2 mice with 5′-Azacytidine elicited expression of BE-associated genes including Cdx1, Krt18, and Slc26a3/Dra, suggesting the phenotype could be advanced under certain conditions. We conclude that ectopic Cdx2 expression in keratinocytes alters cell proliferation, barrier function, and differentiation. These altered cells represent a transitional cell type between normal squamous and columnar BE cells. The K14-Cdx2 mice represent a useful model to study progression from squamous epithelium to BE

Extracting key information from historical data to quantify the transmission dynamics of smallpox

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Quantification of the transmission dynamics of smallpox is crucial for optimizing intervention strategies in the event of a bioterrorist attack. This article reviews basic methods and findings in mathematical and statistical studies of smallpox which estimate key transmission parameters from historical data.</p> <p>Main findings</p> <p>First, critically important aspects in extracting key information from historical data are briefly summarized. We mention different sources of heterogeneity and potential pitfalls in utilizing historical records. Second, we discuss how smallpox spreads in the absence of interventions and how the optimal timing of quarantine and isolation measures can be determined. Case studies demonstrate the following. (1) The upper confidence limit of the 99th percentile of the incubation period is 22.2 days, suggesting that quarantine should last 23 days. (2) The highest frequency (61.8%) of secondary transmissions occurs 3–5 days after onset of fever so that infected individuals should be isolated before the appearance of rash. (3) The U-shaped age-specific case fatality implies a vulnerability of infants and elderly among non-immune individuals. Estimates of the transmission potential are subsequently reviewed, followed by an assessment of vaccination effects and of the expected effectiveness of interventions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Current debates on bio-terrorism preparedness indicate that public health decision making must account for the complex interplay and balance between vaccination strategies and other public health measures (e.g. case isolation and contact tracing) taking into account the frequency of adverse events to vaccination. In this review, we summarize what has already been clarified and point out needs to analyze previous smallpox outbreaks systematically.</p

Evaluation of Electro Physiological Changes of Sleep among Patients with Supratentorial Ischemic Stroke and Comparison with Control group

Abstract: Background & Aims: Sleep disorders are common complains in patients with cerebral stroke; studies on these issues are limited. We aimed to evaluate the sleep changes in patients with supratentorial ischemic stroke. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 38 patients (19 patients in supratentorial ischemic stroke group and 19 people in control group) were evaluated. Total sleep time, sleep efficacy, percent of stage 2 of Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, Rapid eye movement (REM) latency, sleep spindle, sleep intensity, and saw tooth wave were evaluated by Electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring during sleep in both groups and were compared between them. Results: Patients in supratentorial ischemic stroke group had less sleep efficacy (P < 0.01), shorter stage 2 of NREM sleep (P < 0.01), greater REM latency (P < 0.05) and lesser sleep spindles (P < 0.01) in comparison with those in control group. There was no significant difference in saw tooth wave between two groups. Significant differences observed between two hemisphere in sleep density (P = 0.01) and REM latency (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Supratentorial ischemic stroke accompanied with sleep changes on EEG monitoring. These changes were seen in both REM and NREM periods and showed that supratentorial structures are involved in sleep–awake process. Keywords: Supratentorial ischemic stroke, Electroencephalogram monitoring, Slee