Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The neuronal S100B protein is a calcium-tuned suppressor of amyloid-β aggregation

A novel role for S100B, a recognized brain distress marker, as a chaperone-like suppressor of Aβ42 aggregation and toxicity. Amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation and neuroinflammation are consistent features in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and strong candidates for the initiation of neurodegeneration. S100B is one of the most abundant proinflammatory proteins that is chronically up-regulated in AD and is found associated with senile plaques. This recognized biomarker for brain distress may, thus, play roles in amyloid aggregation which remain to be determined. We report a novel role for the neuronal S100B protein as suppressor of Aβ42 aggregation and toxicity. We determined the structural details of the interaction between monomeric Aβ42 and S100B, which is favored by calcium binding to S100B, possibly involving conformational switching of disordered Aβ42 into an α-helical conformer, which locks aggregation. From nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, we show that this dynamic interaction occurs at a promiscuous peptide-binding region within the interfacial cleft of the S100B homodimer. This physical interaction is coupled to a functional role in the inhibition of Aβ42 aggregation and toxicity and is tuned by calcium binding to S100B. S100B delays the onset of Aβ42 aggregation by interacting with Aβ42 monomers inhibiting primary nucleation, and the calcium-bound state substantially affects secondary nucleation by inhibiting fibril surface–catalyzed reactions through S100B binding to growing Aβ42 oligomers and fibrils. S100B protects cells from Aβ42-mediated toxicity, rescuing cell viability and decreasing apoptosis induced by Aβ42 in cell cultures. Together, our findings suggest that molecular targeting of S100B could be translated into development of novel approaches to ameliorate AD neurodegeneration.
Parkinson ’ s Disease and Quality of Life – A Clinician ’ s Perspective

In Parkinson’s disease (PD) the quality of life (QoL) of a patient is adversely affected by both the motor and non-motor symptoms of the disease. The fact that QoL is reduced in the early stages of PD may well be related to the fact that non-motor symptoms are a key factor in QoL, and these often pre-date motor symptoms. Important non-motor symptoms include depression, dementia and dribbling of saliva. The link between non-motor symptoms and reduced QoL has important implications for the management of PD because the early non-motor symptoms often appear before patients are given antiparkinsonian therapy (as motor symptoms are usually the trigger for starting therapy) and almost every patient with PD has non-motor symptoms. To improve QoL, treatment needs to be started at the point of diagnosis. Furthermore, subsequent monitoring of non-motor symptoms and choice of appropriate treatment to reduce non-motor symptoms are both key to improving QoL. Many non-motor symptoms can potentially be reduced using dopaminergic treatment, and data are beginning to emerge on the effects of continuous dopaminergic stimulation (CDS) treatment on non-motor symptoms. The rotigotine patch may improve sleep/fatigue, mood/cognition, pain and QoL; subcutaneous apomorphine infusion may improve sleep, depression/anhedonia, nocturia and pain; and intraduodenal levodopa infusion may improve cardiovascular symptoms, sleep, perception, QoL and gastrointestinal, urinary and sexual symptoms. The differences in effect on non-motor symptoms of different CDS treatments may indicate a future where treatment can be directed at improving specific non-motor symptoms and thus the QoL of people with PD.
Aero-Optical and Flow Measurements Over a Flat-Windowed Turret

DOI: 10.2514/1.24468An extensive investigation of the aberrating character of ﬂow over a hemisphere-on-cylinder turret with a ﬂatwindow was performed. Optical distortions over the window were measured using a two-dimensional wave frontsensor and a Malley probe. The Malley probe measurements were complemented with simultaneous hot-wiremeasurementsofthevelocityﬁeldnormaltothewindowatseveralpointsacrossitsdiameter. ThetestswererunforaﬁxedelevationforseveralazimuthalanglesoverarangeofMachnumbers. Theresultsprovidethelevelsofunsteadyopticalaberration acrossthewindow,aswell asthelocalthickness,intensity,andconvectivespeedoftheseparatedﬂowoverthewindow. ResultsrevealthattheopticaldistortionsgrowapproximatelywiththesquareoftheincomingMach number multiplied by the freestream density, OPD
Helicopter Parenting and Related Issues: Psychological Well Being, Basic Psychological Needs and Depression on University Students

Helicopter parenting is not a new dimension of parenting but it is a parenting that involves hovering parents who are potentially over-involved in the lives of their child. (Padilla-Walker, Nelson, 2012) Helicopter parenting is a unique phenomenon (Odenweller et al, 2014) and unique form of parental control (Willoughby et al., 2013) which can be described as highly involved, intensive, a hands-on method. (Schiffrin et al, 2014) In this study, university students examined about their parental attitudes and a number of well-being and mental health related issues. Helicopter Parenting Scale’s psychometric properties examined with factor analysis. After this step basic psychological needs, psychological well-being, students’ depression levels and also their parenting styles were assessed with the relationship of helicopter parenting. As a result this study is the first which examines the effects of helicopter parenting in emerging adulthood period in Turkish culture. As seen from the results helicopter parenting style make children more prone to the depression in their emerging adulthood period. Also helicopter parenting live scares on their self-esteem makes them more dependent on their families.
Sexual dimorphism of tail length in lacertid lizards: test of a morphological constraint hypothesis

Males of many lizard species have longer tails than similarly-sized females. We hypothesized that this dimorphism is induced by a longer non-autotomous tail part in males, which is associated with the presence of the copulatory organs at the tail base, and presumably reduces the males' ability to escape predation by tail shedding. A compensatory mechanism would be an increase of total tail length in males, to achieve equal lengths of the autotomous tail part in both sexes. A critical prediction of this ‘morphological constraint’ hypothesis is that the extent of dimorphism in total tail length increases with the magnitude of sexual differences in length of the non-autotomous tail base. We tested this prediction through a comparative study in a small clade of lacertid lizards. Within each of nine species, sexual differences in length of the non-autotomous tail base and in total tail length do not change with body size. All species, except one, exhibit a clear male-biased dimorphism in length of the non-breakable tail base. In all species studied, males have longer tails than females. We used the method of phylogenetically independent contrasts to explore the interspecific relation between dimorphism in length of the tail base and sexual differences in total tail length. Contrary to our prediction, we found no evidence for a positive correlation between the extent of dimorphism in both traits. Thus, constraints imposed by the male copulatory organs on tail autotomy do not seem to be a significant factor in the evolution of dimorphism in tail length in this clade of lacertid lizards.
Decision analysis for the exploration of gas reserves: merging todim and thor

This article approaches the problem of selecting the non-dominated alternative for the destination of the natural gas reserves in the Mexilhao field in the Santos Basin, Brazil. Major aims of the case study reported here were to create a mechanism for assisting in the process of analyzing and selecting the best options for the destination of natural gas, and to enable the decision agent to choose the investment options best aligned to the expectations and objectives observed in the company strategies. The decision analysis employed in the study made use of the TODIM method and the THOR multicriteria decision support system. The application of both demonstrated that a decision analytic framework can be extremely useful when recommending options for upstream projects, owing to the fact that it can clearly identify the most important alternatives in the face of the scenarios tested and in relation to the criteria expressed.
Influence of Inter‐Lake Variation in Natural Nest Predation Pressure on the Parental Care Behaviour of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

Predation risk has the ability to greatly influence the behaviour of reproducing individuals. In large long-lived species with low risk of predation for parents, reproductive behaviours often involve caring for offspring (i.e. defending broods from predators) and these behaviours are essential for offspring survival. Our objectives were to test for the presence of natural variation in nest predation pressure in an aquatic environment for a species that provides sole-paternal care, smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), and to determine if natural variation in predation pressure influences parental care behaviour. We used snorkeler observations and a series of metrics to assess predation pressure and parental care behaviour in six lakes within a narrow geographical range. Lakes differed in all predation pressure metrics: number of predators in proximity to nest when males were present, time to predator arrival and number of predators that consumed eggs when males were absent and total number of nests that was preyed upon. Similarly, parental behaviour varied between lakes. Parental smallmouth bass spent more time engaged in anti-predator defences in lakes with high predation pressure, while males from low predator pressure lakes remained close to their nest. Conversely, males from lakes with low and high predation pressure showed a similar willingness to defend their nests during simulated nest predation events. Our results show that natural variation in aquatic nest predation pressure across multiple lakes can be significant and has the ability to influence baseline parental care behaviour. Such variation provides opportunities to study the costs and consequences of parental care and to evaluate how this could influence demography and community interactions in aquatic systems.
Effects of ketamine/xylazine premedication on emulsified isoflurane general anaesthesia in swine undergoing embryo transplantation.

Cardiorespiratory effects were assessed during ketamine/xylazine premedication followed by emul - sified isoflurane anaesthesia in swine undergoing experimental embryo transplantation. Ketamine (10 mg/kg) and xylazine (3.5 mg/kg) were premedicated intravenously, followed by continuous administration of intravenous emulsified isoflurane (2.8 ml/kg/h). Cardiorespiratory parameters, including heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, and rectal temperature, were recorded in sows undergoing surgical embryo transplantation. Ketamine/xylazine premedication resulted in anaesthetic induction and lateral recumbency within 1 minute without any adverse effects. The physiological changes observed after drug admin - istration remained within biologically acceptable limits. In conclusion, the combination of ketamine/xylazine provided anaesthetic induction , muscle relaxation, and analgesia sufficient for emulsified isoflurane intravenous anaesthesia. There were no adverse events in the experimental animals. This finding supports the use of emulsi - fied isoflurane following ketamine/xylazine premedication in pigs.
Effect of nitrogen seeding on the energy losses and on the time scales of the electron temperature and density collapse of type-I ELMs in JET with the ITER-like wall

The baseline type-I ELMy H-mode scenario has been re-established in JET with the new tungsten MKII-HD divertor and beryllium on the main wall (hereafter called the ITER-like wall, JET-ILW). The first JET-ILW results show that the confinement is degraded by 20–30% in the baseline scenarios compared to the previous carbon wall JET (JET-C) plasmas. The degradation is mainly driven by the reduction in the pedestal temperature. Stored energies and pedestal temperature comparable to the JET-C have been obtained to date in JET-ILW baseline plasmas only in the high triangularity shape using N2 seeding. This work compares the energy losses during ELMs and the corresponding time scales of the temperature and density collapse in JET-ILW baseline plasmas with and without N2 seeding with similar JET-C baseline plasmas. ELMs in the JET-ILW differ from those with the carbon wall both in terms of time scales and energy losses. The ELM time scale, defined as the time to reach the minimum pedestal temperature soon after the ELM collapse, is ∼2 ms in the JET-ILW and lower than 1 ms in the JET-C. The energy losses are in the range ΔWELM/Wped ≈ 7–12% in the JET-ILW and ΔWELM/Wped ≈ 10–20% in JET-C, and fit relatively well with earlier multi-machine empirical scalings of ΔWELM/Wped with collisionality. The time scale of the ELM collapse seems to be related to the pedestal collisionality. Most of the non-seeded JET-ILW ELMs are followed by a further energy drop characterized by a slower time scale ∼8–10 ms (hereafter called slow transport events), that can lead to losses in the range ΔWslow/Wped ≈ 15–22%, slightly larger than the losses in JET-C. The N2 seeding in JET-ILW significantly affects the ELMs. The JET-ILW plasmas with N2 seeding are characterized by ELM energy losses and time scales similar to the JET-C and by the absence of the slow transport events.
A Bout of High Intensity Interval Training Lengthened Nerve Conduction Latency to the Non-exercised Affected Limb in Chronic Stroke

Objective: Evaluate intensity-dependent effects of a single bout of high intensity interval training (HIIT) compared to moderate intensity constant-load exercise (MICE) on corticospinal excitability (CSE) and effects on upper limb performance in chronic stroke. Design: Randomized cross-over trial. Setting: Research laboratory in a tertiary rehabilitation hospital. Participants: Convenience sample of 12 chronic stroke survivors. Outcome measures: Bilateral CSE measures of intracortical inhibition and facilitation, motor thresholds, and motor evoked potential (MEP) latency using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Upper limb functional measures of dexterity (Box and Blocks Test) and strength (pinch and grip strength). Results: Twelve (10 males; 62.50 ± 9.0 years old) chronic stroke (26.70 ± 23.0 months) survivors with moderate level of residual impairment participated. MEP latency from the ipsilesional hemisphere was lengthened after HIIT (pre: 24.27 ± 1.8 ms, and post: 25.04 ± 1.8 ms, p = 0.01) but not MICE (pre: 25.49 ± 1.10 ms, and post: 25.28 ± 1.0 ms, p = 0.44). There were no significant changes in motor thresholds, intracortical inhibition or facilitation. Pinch strength of the affected hand decreased after MICE (pre: 8.96 ± 1.9 kg vs. post: 8.40 ± 2.0 kg, p = 0.02) but not after HIIT (pre: 8.83 ± 2.0 kg vs. post: 8.65 ± 2.2 kg, p = 0.29). Regardless of type of aerobic exercise, higher total energy expenditure was associated with greater increases in pinch strength in the affected hand after exercise (R2 = 0.31, p = 0.04) and decreases in pinch strength of the less affected hand (R2 = 0.26 p = 0.02). Conclusion: A single bout of HIIT resulted in lengthened nerve conduction latency in the affected hand that was not engaged in the exercise. Longer latency could be related to the cross-over effects of fatiguing exercise or to reduced hand spasticity. Somewhat counterintuitively, pinch strength of the affected hand decreased after MICE but not HIIT. Regardless of the structure of exercise, higher energy expended was associated with pinch strength gains in the affected hand and strength losses in the less affected hand. Since aerobic exercise has acute effects on MEP latency and hand strength, it could be paired with upper limb training to potentiate beneficial effects.
Automated Single Cell Tracking using the Operetta System : Analyzing Chemokinesis of Cancer Cells

Cell migration is an essential component of metastatic dissemination of tumor cells from the primary tumor to local and distant sites. For many types of cancer, cancer cells respond to stimulation with growth factors or chemokines with an increased migration – a process called chemokinesis. Consequently, pathways which render tumor cells susceptible to chemokinesis are interesting drug targets for reducing the risk of metastasis in cancer patients [Roussos et al., 2011].
Efficacy of Modified Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching with Cryotherapy over Manual Passive Stretching with Cryotherapy on Hamstring Flexibility

Background: Healthy individuals, to ease and accomplish their activities of daily living they need flexible body without any tightness in the muscles, particularly those used for a definite function. Cooling soft tissues in a lengthened posi tion after stretching has been shown to promote more lasting increases in soft tissue length and minimize post stretch muscle soreness. There are less documented studies which compared modified proprioceptive neuromuscular facilita tion (PNF) stretch over passive manual stretch with cold application commonly after the interventions. Methods: Thirty high school going healthy students were divided into two groups- Group I received Passive Manual stretching (n=15) and Group II received modified PNF stretching (n=15) and both groups received cold application after the interventions for 10 minutes commonly for 5 days. ROM was taken on day 1, day 5 and day 7. Results: After day 7, Group II with Modified PNF stretching along with cold application showed a significant increase in range of motion tested with active knee extension test (AKET). Conclusion: Modified PNF stretching is considered to be the effective intervention in increasing and maintaining ROM in AKET over passive manual stretching with cold applications commonly after the interventions.
Transformational Teaching and Adolescent Self‐Determined Motivation, Self‐Efficacy, and Intentions to Engage in Leisure Time Physical Activity: A Randomised Controlled Pilot Trial

Based on transformational leadership theory, we generate and test a teacher development intervention designed to modify physical education teachers’ transformational teaching behaviors, and their adolescent students’ selfdetermined motivation, self-efficacy, and intentions to be physically active. Using a randomised control group design (11 teachers, 286 students in the experimental group; 16 teachers, 395 students in the control group), the intervention involved a 1-day experiential workshop with a booster session 2 months later, and with post-test measurements at 2- and 4-months post-workshop. After controlling for baseline measures, adolescents in the intervention condition rated their teachers as displaying significantly higher levels of transformational teaching, and reported significantly higher levels of self-determined motivation, self-efficacy, and intentions to be physically active than those in the control group at the first post-test. Significant between-group differences in students’ reports of transformational teaching and their own self-determined motivation remained at the second post-test measurement.
Performance and response to defoliation of Sanguisorba officinalis (Rosaceae) seedlings from mown and successional habitats

In agricultural habitats, selection may favour plants that show a pronounced ability to tolerate stress induced by specific management methods. However, genetic erosion associated with habitat fragmentation may diminish this ability. To assess the role of mowing as a selection pressure and the impact of fragmentation processes on the ability to tolerate foliage loss, we grew 215 plants of the perennial herb Sanguisorba officinalis L. originating from 16 differently sized pop- ulations, located in mown meadows and successional fallows, in a common environment, and measured their performance and response to defoliation. Plants from meadows and fallows neither differed in performance characters nor in their abil- ity to compensate for foliage loss. However, independently from the habitat of origin, populations slightly differed in per- formance. This variation was not due to differences in population size, plant density, or level of genetic variation, indicating its independence from genetic erosion, which may go along with habitat fragmentation. Rather, these differences between populations appear to be the outcome of unknown selection pressures or random genetic drift. Plants from succes- sional fallows retain their potential to cope with mowing, presumably due to the low generation turnover of the perennial species. Selection by mowing may act over time scales larger than those reflected by the developmental stage of the cur- rent habitats.
Geographical Variation of the Plumage Polymorphism in the Eastern Reef Heron (Egretta sacra)

I investigated the distribution of white and dark morphs of the Eastern Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) on several coasts and islands in central to southwestern Japan, eastern Australia, and French Polynesia. Both morphs preferred white beaches to dark beaches. Every local population contained some dark herons, however, the range of the white morph was restricted. The white morph population increased in proportion to the distance from the equator in Japan. It was plentiful in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and was common in Polynesian islands. The distribution of the white morph coincides with the presence of coral reefs, from which white beaches are derived. Only the dark morph was seen outside this range. None of several hypotheses proposed so far explains the observed polymorphism and its geographic variation.
Focusing Personality Assessment on the Person: Modeling General, Shared, and Person Specific Processes in Personality and Psychopathology

Personality and psychopathology are composed of dynamic and interactive processes among diverse psychological systems, manifesting over time and in response to an individual’s natural environment. Ambulatory assessment techniques promise to revolutionize assessment practices by allowing access to the dynamic data necessary to study these processes directly. Assessing manifestations of personality and psychopathology naturalistically in an individual’s own ecology allows for dynamic modeling of key behavioral processes. However, advances in dynamic data collection have highlighted the challenges of both fully understanding an individual (via idiographic models) and how s/he compares with others (as seen in nomothetic models). Methods are needed that can simultaneously model idiographic (i.e., person-specific) processes and nomothetic (i.e., general) structure from intensive longitudinal personality assessments. Here we present a method, group iterative multiple model estimation (GIMME) for simultaneously studying general, shared (i.e., in subgroups), and person-specific processes in intensive longitudinal behavioral data. We first provide an introduction to the GIMME method, followed by a demonstration of its use in a sample of individuals diagnosed with personality disorder who completed daily diaries over 100 consecutive days.