PA KUA'S MIRROR FUNCTION FOR CHINA ETHNISTS IN KOTAPINANG DISTRICT, LABUHANBATU SELATAN DISTRICT

This study aims to determine the function of the Pa Kua mirror, namely a mirror with an octagonal shape, made of aluminum and silver which is believed to capture good things and ward off bad things that are usually placed outside the building above the entrance by the ethnic Chinese to live their lives, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, a situation where all economic activities of many people have become paralyzed and even difficult to survive, such as in Kotapinang, South Labuhanbatu Regency. As the purpose of using this Pa Kua mirror is a tradition passed down from generation to generation to be able to protect the buildings they inhabit. The research method used is descriptive qualitative. With the technique of collecting interview data, observation, and study documentation. The results of the analysis found that this mirror has been used for a long time by ethnic Chinese in their home country of China and has become a tradition they believe in banishing bad energies that enter their residence, and are brought by migrating Chinese ethnicities, especially in this Kotapinang sub-district. and used by those who still believe and still preserve the traditions of their ancestors today.

Can Smartphones Be Used to Perform Video-Assisted Microanastomosis? An Experimental Study

Background. Smartphone cameras are continuously improving. The present study aimed to evaluate the possibility of using smartphones’ magnification system to perform microanastomosis in rats. Methods. Fifteen rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, according to the magnification system used: Microscope, iPhone 7 smartphone, and Galaxy S7 smartphone. In the microscope group, a DFVasconcelos microsurgery microscope was used. In both smartphone groups, the magnifications systems were connected to a 55-inch television through the mirror function. Animals in both groups underwent femoral artery anastomosis in the right forepaw and femoral nerve neurorrhaphy in the left hindleg. The body weight, arterial and nerve caliber, and anastomosis time and patency were immediately analyzed. Results. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding body weight, arterial, or nerve caliber. The smartphones did not provide a sufficient quality of image for an adequate identification of the arterial walls. Therefore, neither arterial anastomosis nor neurorrhaphy could be completed, even after 3 hours of surgery. The first steps toward anastomosis or raffia were performed with difficulty. Conclusion. The current video resolution and lack of stereoscopic image of available smartphones is not sufficient to perform video-assisted anastomosis of femoral arteries or nerves.

Mirror Neurons Modeled Through Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity are Affected by Channelopathies Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Mirror neurons fire action potentials both when the agent performs a certain behavior and watches someone performing a similar action. Here, we present an original mirror neuron model based on the spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) between two morpho-electrical models of neocortical pyramidal neurons. Both neurons fired spontaneously with basal firing rate that follows a Poisson distribution, and the STDP between them was modeled by the triplet algorithm. Our simulation results demonstrated that STDP is sufficient for the rise of mirror neuron function between the pairs of neocortical neurons. This is a proof of concept that pairs of neocortical neurons associating sensory inputs to motor outputs could operate like mirror neurons. In addition, we used the mirror neuron model to investigate whether channelopathies associated with autism spectrum disorder could impair the modeled mirror function. Our simulation results showed that impaired hyperpolarization-activated cationic currents (Ih) affected the mirror function between the pairs of neocortical neurons coupled by STDP.

Embedding Context-Awareness into a Daily Object for Improved Information Awareness

In this chapter, a case study on augmenting a daily object, mirror, for a contextual ambient display is presented. The mirror presents information relevant to a person who is standing and utilizing unshareable objects, e.g. a toothbrush, in front of it on the periphery of his/her field of vision. We investigated methods of interaction with the mirror by analyzing user preferences against contrastive functionalities. Experiments were conducted by a Wizard-of-Oz method and an in-situ experiment. The results showed that a short absence of the mirror function was not a big issue for the majority of participants once they were interested in presented information. The analysis also allowed us to specify requirements and further research questions in order to make an augmented mirror acceptable.

mirror controls planar polarity and equator formation through repression of fringe expression and through control of cell affinities

The Drosophila eye is divided into dorsal and ventral mirror image fields that are separated by a sharp boundary known as the equator. We have previously demonstrated that Mirror, a homeodomain-containing putative transcription factor with a dorsal-specific expression pattern in the eye, induces the formation of the equator at the boundary between mirror-expressing and non-expressing cells. Here, we provide evidence that suggests mirror regulates equator formation by two mechanisms. First, mirror defines the location of the equator by creating a boundary of fringe expression at the mid-point of the eye. We show that mirror creates this boundary by repressing fringe expression in the dorsal half of the eye. Significantly, a boundary of mirror expression cannot induce the formation of an equator unless a boundary of fringe expression is formed simultaneously. Second, mirror acts to sharpen the equator by reducing the mixing of dorsal and ventral cells at the equator. In support of this model, we show that clones of cells lacking mirror function tend not to mix with surrounding mirror-expressing cells. The tendency of mirror-expressing and non-expressing cells to avoid mixing with each other is not determined by their differences in fringe expression. Thus mirror acts to regulate equator formation by both physically separating the dorsal cells from ventral cells, and restricting the formation of a fng expression boundary to the border where the dorsal and ventral cells meet.

Innovatie In Het Moderne Vreemde Talen Onderwijs - Niet Alleen Een "Vak" Probleem

When we talk about innovation in the teaching of modern foreign languages, we often refer to various areas: new theories in the. psychology of learning, advanced lesson materials, etc. All these aspects have one thing in common, namely, that they are intended to bring about changes in classroom practice. However, a self-evident relation between the areas of innovation mentioned and the classroom practice is too readily assumed. This leads to disappointing results for teachers and councellors alike. One thing that is clearly demonstrated is the importance of the individual teacher's experience in the innovation process. This determines to a large extent how the teacher operates in that process. In order to gain insight into the complexity of an innovation process the 'Concerns-Based Adoption Model' (CBAM) was used in the Mavo project. This model was introduced by Van den Berg and Vandenberghe and was adapted for the Dutch/Belgian situation. This model utilizes 'Stages of Concern' which give insight into the processes that (can) take place within teachers during an innovation process. These 'Stages of Concern' are closely related to the 'Levels of Use' - these latter being the means by which we measure the way in which and the extent to which teachers use innovation. Application of this model in the Mavo project led to, among other things, a reflection on the relational aspects of guidance activities. The 'Concerns-Based Adoption Model' could fulfil a mirror function for those who would like to gain insight into the effects of their guidance activities