Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in b-strand Populations of Monomeric Ab40 and Ab42

Using homonuclear 1 H NOESY spectra, with chemical shifts, 3 JH N H a scalar couplings, residual dipolar couplings, and 1 H- 15 N NOEs, we have optimized and validated the conformational ensembles of the amyloid-b 1-40 (Ab40) and amyloid-b 1-42 (Ab42) peptides generated by molecular dynamics simulations. We find that both peptides have a diverse set of secondary structure elements including turns, helices, and antiparallel and parallel b-strands. The most significant difference in the struc- tural ensembles of the two peptides is the type of b-hairpins and b-strands they populate. We find that Ab42 forms a major anti- parallel b-hairpin involving the central hydrophobic cluster residues (16-21) with residues 29-36, compatible with known amyloid fibril forming regions, whereas Ab40 forms an alternative but less populated antiparallel b-hairpin between the central hydropho- bic cluster and residues 9-13, that sometimes forms a b-sheet by association with residues 35-37. Furthermore, we show that the two additional C-terminal residues of Ab42, in particular Ile-41, directly control the differences in the b-strand content found between the Ab40 and Ab42 structural ensembles. Integrating the experimental and theoretical evidence accumulated over the last decade, it is now possible to present monomeric structural ensembles of Ab40 and Ab42 consistent with available informa- tion that produce a plausible molecular basis for why Ab42 exhibits greater fibrillization rates than Ab40.
The Golden Spice Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Its Feasible Benefits in Prospering Human Health—A Review

From the evolution of the mankind, Turmeric has been used in conventional medication. India is in lead for producing, marketing and exporting the Turmeric and its value added products. Curcuma longa (Turmeric) is an Indian rhizomatous medicinal herb from the Zingiberaceae family that is common and widely available across the globe. The components of Turmeric are curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin and these are collectively known as curcuminoids. Curcumin, the active ingredient of Turmeric is generally investigated by the scientific community for its wide range of antioxidant activity, anti-Inflammatory properties and anti-cancer activity, anti-metabolic syndrome activities, neuroprotective activity, antimicrobial effects, anti-arthritis effects, anti-viral effects, anti-asthma and anti-diabetic effects, anti-obesity, cardio and liver toxicity protection activity, anti-depression and anxiety activities. Turmeric has been widely used as a typical household treatment for cough, sore throat, respiratory ailments and could be an effective immunity booster against SARS-CoV-2 therapy during the ongoing pandemic situation. Safety evaluation studies indicate that both turmeric and curcumin are well tolerated at a very high dose without any toxic effects. Thus, turmeric and its constituents have the potential for the development of modern medicine for the treatment of various diseases. So in this review, we describe the various metabolic roles of curcumin and activities for the benefit of human health.
Associations between gambling severity and criminal convictions: implications for the welfare state

Abstract This study addresses criminal convictions, social disadvantage and problem gambling as an interwoven set of problems. It makes use of data from a population-based gambling survey (n = 7,186) conducted in three Finnish regions. The survey data are combined with national registers to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and gambling severity, comparing persons with and without a criminal record. Gambling behavior included past-year (2016) gambling severity and perceived life-time problem gambling. Social disadvantage was assessed using sociodemographic factors such as education, employment status, level of income and receipt of basic social assistance. Logistic regression analysis showed that both past-year problem or pathological gambling (OR: 2.725) and perceived life-time gambling problems (OR: 2.363) were associated with having a conviction, compared to recreational gambling. Low education, unemployment, low income and receipt of basic social assistance were associated with receiving a conviction. When gender, age and sociodemographic factors were controlled for, odds ratios for both past-year gambling problems (OR: 1.223) and perceived life-time gambling problems (OR: 1.586) did not remain statistically significant. The current study suggests that preventive efforts against problem gambling and interventions in criminal justice systems should be expanded to incorporate the aim of reducing social disadvantage.
Alfalfa Forage Production and Nutritive Value, Fermentation Characteristics and Hygienic Quality of Ensilage, and Soil Properties after Broiler Litter Amendment

Recycling broiler litter (BL) nutrients is an important strategy for sustainable forage production. However, BL can contain Clostridia bacteria that can contaminate forages at harvest, resulting in poor ensilage quality and botulism-related animal health risks. A better understanding of the effects of BL amendment on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and ensiling is beneficial for promoting manure-based alfalfa production. This 2-year study examined the effects of high-level BL (HBL) at 112 kg N ha−1 and low-level (LBL) at 56 kg N ha−1 on alfalfa forage production, fermentation characteristics, and Clostridium botulinum concentrations in silage and haylage produced from 350 g dry matter (DM) kg−1 forage and 500 g DM kg−1 forage respectively, and soil characteristics compared to a control treatment (CT). Results showed that the application of BL did not affect forage production (12.8–13.1 MG ha−1) and nutritive value. The alfalfa produced high forage yield with superior ensilabilty in the second year. The BL application increased soil NH4-N, Ca, Fe, and B, but did not affect fermentation characteristics or Clostridium botulinum concentrations in ensilage. Silage had superior fermentation quality, and Clostridium botulinum concentration was found to be higher than in haylage. Broiler litter fertilization for alfalfa is environmentally safe and has forge production, ensilage fermentation quality, and botulism risks similar to CT.
A new self-adaptive algorithm for solving pseudomonotone variational inequality problems in Hilbert spaces

ABSTRACT In this paper, we revisit the subgradient extragradient method for solving a pseudomonotone variational inequality problem with the Lipschitz condition in real Hilbert spaces. A new algorithm based on the subgradient extragradient method with the technique of choosing a new step size is proposed. The weak convergence of the proposed algorithm is established under the pseudomonotonicity and the Lipschitz continuity as well as without using the sequentially weakly continuity of the variational inequality mapping and the nonasymptotic convergence rate of the proposed algorithm is presented, while the strong convergence theorem of the proposed algorithm is also proved under the strong pseudomonotonicity and the Lipschitz continuity hypotheses. In order to show the computational effectiveness of our algorithm, some numerical results are provided.
Analyzing Local Government Capacity and Performance: Implications for Sustainable Development

Local infrastructure development is a crucial goal for sustainable development, for which local governments take charge of developmental policies. This implies that the capacity of the local government determines the performance of the developmental policies—local infrastructure development. In this sense, this study investigated the impact of local government capacity, measured via the quantity and the quality of human and financial resource factors, on its performance. Moreover, the study examined which of the multidimensional government capacity components affect performance, controlling a competition effect or spillover effect among localities. The study analyzed panel data containing six years (2013–2018) of information on 152 local bodies in Korea, employing the spatial autoregressive model, which is useful for controlling geographical spatial effects. The data show that, unlike the quality factors, the quantity of government capacity does not have a significant effect on its performance. Furthermore, the data also indicated that there are competition effects in relation to the performance of local development. The results imply that local governments need to improve the quality of managerial government capacity in order to increase their sustainable development performance.
Evaluation of diversity in some genotypes of Algerian durum wheat using agronomical and biochemical markers

Abstract. Atoui A, Boudour L, Chaib G, Nabil B. 2021. Evaluation of diversity in some genotypes of Algerian durum wheat using agronomical and biochemical markers. Biodiversitas 22: 2005-2011. In Algeria, wheat occupies a preponderant place regarding its food richness, and its agronomic characteristics. Quantification and characterization of the local genetic material of different species constitute a strategic axis for the improvement of these species. To quantify the diversity that may exist between nine genotypes belonging to the durum variety “valenciae” mainly cultivated in Algeria, biochemical and agronomical parameters were studied. The obtained results revealed highly significant differences for all measured agronomical parameters and a significant positive relationship between grain yield and its compounds. Protein profiles obtained using SDS-PAGE allowed us to split the total seed proteins. The obtained gel has shown different bands with molecular weights ranging from 17 to 122.09 KDa of which ten monomorphic bands, eight polymorphic bands and Three Unique bands in G6 and G9. The total protein polymorphism revealed an intra-varietal variability. This study will help breeders better select genotypes to be used in the Algerian wheat breeding program.
Breaking the Cycle: Women’s Perceptions of the Causes of Violence and Crime in Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, and Their Strategies for Response and Prevention

Crime and violence are serious issues in informal settlements around the world. To date, there is a dearth of evidence about the causes of and effective strategies for reducing and preventing violence and crime in informal settlements in cities in the Global South. Additionally, women’s voices are often absent from research focused on violence and crime prevention and reduction in informal settlements. The purpose of this study, therefore, was (1) to identify potential causes of violence and crime in informal settlements, as perceived by women living in Mathare informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya and (2) to highlight residents’ strategies for response and prevention. Fifty-five in-depth and walk-along interviews were conducted with women living in Mathare in 2015-2016. A modified grounded theory approach was used to guide data collection and analysis. The most common contributor to violence and crime identified by women in Mathare was idle youth, but leadership and government challenges, corruption and/or inadequacy of police, community barriers, tribalism, and lack of protective infrastructure also emerged as contributing factors. Despite facing many economic, environmental, and day-to-day challenges, women in Mathare identified violence and crime as predominant issues; thus, developing effective response and prevention strategies to these issues is paramount. Women discussed many strategies and initiatives to reduce and prevent violence and crime in informal settlements, but also identified barriers to implementing them. Findings suggest there is a need for trust-building between formal and informal sectors of the community, systems of accountability, and long-term investment to foster sustainable and effective violence and crime response and prevention in these settlements.
Study on the mechanism of multi-AGC kinase AT13148 on Notch signaling pathway in glioblastoma

Introduction Glioblastoma is the most malignant astrocytoma, and its therapeutic effect is not ideal. Notch signaling pathway plays an important role in tumor proliferation and invasion. Whether small molecule drug AT13148 can affect glioblastoma by regulating Notch signaling pathway is the focus of this study. Material and methods In vitro, glioblastoma U87 cell line transfected with sh-ITGB1 (U87sh-ITGB1), U87 cell line transfected with oe-ITGB1 (U87oe-ITGB1) and control group were treated with a small molecular drug AT13148. RT-qPCR, western-blot and clone formation ability assays were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of the ITGB1 and the key gene NOTCH1, as well as the proliferation of cancer cells. Therapeutic effects of AT13148 were examined in vivo using a nude mice model of U87 cells. After treatment with AT13148, volume of tumors were calculated, and RT-qPCR and western-blot were used to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of the ITGB1 and NOTCH1. Results AT13148 inhibits the activity of U87 cells. Lentiviral transfection of sh-ITGB1 and oe-ITGB1 can interfere with the expression of ITGB1 in U87 cells. AT13148 could down-regulate both the expression of ITGB1 and NOTCH1. Moreover, AT13148 affects the cloning ability of U87 cells. AT13148 can also inhibit the proliferation of U87 cells. Furthermore, AT13148 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of transplanted tumors in vivo. Conclusions This study indicated that AT13148 could affect the expression of ITGB1 and NOTCH1, which also could be a potential potential anti-glioblastoma small molecule drug candidate in clinic medicine. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Pr ep ri t
Changes in working memory-related cortical responses following pediatric mild traumatic brain injury: A longitudinal fMRI study

Persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) lasting longer than 4 weeks affect 25% of children with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion. Working memory (WM) problems are a common complaint in children with PPCS. Despite normal function on traditional neuropsychological tests, these children exhibit aberrant cortical responses within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and default mode network (DMN) regions – both of which are implicated in WM. Using a prospective, longitudinal cohort study design, we investigated changes in cortical fMRI responses within the dlPFC and DMN during an nback WM task at two timepoints: one and two months post-injury. Across these timepoints, the primary outcome was change in cortical activations (increase in BOLD) and deactivations (decrease in BOLD) of both dlPFC and DMN. Twenty-nine children (mean age 15.49 ± 2.15; 48.3% male) with fMRI scans at both timepoints were included, following data quality control. Student’s t-tests were used to examine cortical activations across time and task difficulty. ANCOVA F-tests examined cortical responses after removal of baseline across time, task difficulty and recovery. Volumes of interest (5 mm sphere) were placed in peak voxel regions of the DMN and dlPFC to compare cortical responses between recovered and unrecovered participants over time (one-way ANOVA). Between one and two months post-injury, we found significant increases in dlPFC activations and significant activations and deactivations in the DMN with increasing task difficulty, alongside improved task performance. Cortical responses of the DMN and bilateral dlPFC displayed increased intensity in recovered participants, together with improved attention and behavioural symptoms. Overall, our findings suggest evidence of neural compensation and ongoing cognitive recovery from pediatric TBI over time between one and two months post injury in children with PPCS. These results highlight the wider and persisting implications of mTBI in children, whose maturing brains are particularly vulnerable to TBI.
Instructor’s position affects learning from video lectures in Chinese context: an eye-tracking study

ABSTRACT Although more and more online courses use video lectures that feature an instructor and slides, there are few specific guidelines for designing these video lectures. This experiment tested whether the instructor should appear on the screen and whether her position on the screen (left, middle, right of the content on the slides) influenced students. Students were randomly assigned to watch one of four video lectures on the topic of sleep. The results showed that the video lectures with an instructor’s presence (regardless of position) motivated students more than the video lecture without an instructor presence did. Learning performance and satisfaction were highest when the instructor appeared on the right side of the screen. Furthermore, eye movement data showed that compared to students in all other conditions, students in the middle condition paid more attention to the instructor and less attention to the learning content, and switched more between instructor and learning content. The findings highlight the positive effects of the instructor appearing on the right side of the screen in video lectures with slides.
Linking Student Outcomes to School Administrator Discretion in the Implementation of Teacher Observations

Purpose: Many studies have explored school administrator discretion in the implementation of teacher evaluation and observation systems. However, we are unaware of any studies that quantitatively link discretionary administrator behaviors to student outcomes. The purpose of this study was to (a) explore the determinants of observations arising from administrator discretion and (b) explore the extent to which “discretionary observations” were associated with average student achievement scores and disciplinary offenses. Method: We applied multilevel modeling to 3 years of teacher panel data from more than 80% of Tennessee school districts. Findings: Observable characteristics, differences between schools each year, and teacher traits explain more than 80% of the variation in discretionary observations; teacher prior-year observation and composite effectiveness scores were the strongest predictors. No evidence suggested that average student achievement scores or behavior suffered among teachers who received fewer observations than assigned by policy. Average student achievement scores rose among teachers receiving supplementary observations compared with the years when they received the policy-prescribed number. Implications for Research and Practice: Quantitative research can substantially control for discretionary observations using multilevel modeling. Observers might be encouraged to not observe high-performing teachers more than what is prescribed by policy. Observers seemingly deviate from observation policy in ways that do not increase office referrals and may improve student achievement.
A Brief Review on Electrode Materials for Supercapacitor

One of the issues recently faced in electrostatic field is storage. With recent advances in this area it has become necessary to find an alternative which lead to emergence of supercapacitor. Supercapacitor shares the same fundamental equations as conventional capacitors; to attain higher capacitances supercapacitor uses electrodes having high specific surface area and thinner dielectrics. With these properties it makes them have power densities greater than those of batteries and energy density greater than those of conventional capacitors. Since supercapacitor is mainly a pulse current device it is best used with devices that require high current for short duration of time. Researchers being carried out now are on how to improve the energy density so that they can be used in wider range of applications. The performance of supercapacitor relies on factors such as electrochemical properties of electrode materials used, electrolyte and voltage range. However, most researches are focused on the development of new electrode materials that will yield better performances. In this review paper, storage principle and characteristics of electrode materials such as carbon based materials, metal oxides and conducting polymers in supercapacitors have been reported.
Monthly and Seasonal Drought Characterization Using GRACE-Based Groundwater Drought Index and Its Link to Teleconnections across South Indian River Basins

Traditional drought monitoring is based on observed data from both meteorological and hydrological stations. Due to the scarcity of station observation data, it is difficult to obtain accurate drought distribution characteristics, and also tedious to replicate the large-scale information of drought. Thus, Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data are utilized in monitoring and characterizing regional droughts where ground station data is limited. In this study, we analyzed and assessed the drought characteristics utilizing the GRACE Groundwater Drought Index (GGDI) over four major river basins in India during the period of 2003–2016. The spatial distribution, temporal evolution of drought, and trend characteristics were analyzed using GGDI. Then, the relationship between GGDI and climate factors were evaluated by the method of wavelet coherence. The results indicate the following points: GRACE’s quantitative results were consistent and robust for drought assessment; out of the four basins, severe drought was noticed in the Cauvery river basin between 2012 and 2015, with severity of −27 and duration of 42 months; other than Godavari river basin, the remaining three basins displayed significant negative trends at monthly and seasonal scales; the wavelet coherence method revealed that climate factors had a substantial effect on GGDI, and the impact of Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) on drought was significantly high, followed by Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Index (namely, NINO3.4) and Multivariate El Niño–Southern Oscillation Index (MEI) in all the basins. This study provides reliable and robust quantitative result of GRACE water storage variations that shares new insights for further drought investigation.