Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why do anti-amyloid beta antibodies not work? Time to reconceptualize dementia pathophysiology by incorporating astrocyte melatonergic pathway desynchronization from amyloid-beta production

Recent work has challenged the classical, long-standing conceptualization of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology as driven by amyloid-β plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau tangles, including the treatments thereby derived. This article highlights the importance of the lost synchronization of Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and yin yang 1 (YY1) induction of β-site amyloid precursor proteincleaving enzyme (BACE)1 induction and amyloid-β production with the melatonergic pathway. Emphasis is placed on the importance of released glia melatonin and autocrine effects in limiting the duration of amyloid-β production and paracrine melatonin's anti-inflammatory effects in neurons, including the suppression of hyperphosphorylated tau. Many of the broader bodies of data on dementia pathophysiology, including the role of the gut microbiome, gut permeability and inflammation, are intimately linked to the regulation of tryptophan's conversion to melatonin and the factors regulating this, including 14-3-3 isoforms, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)2, acetyl-CoA, sirtuin-3 and circadian, pineal melatonin. The glia melatonergic pathway is intimately linked to mitochondrial function, from where most melatonin is derived, and provides an important hub to better link wider dementia pathophysiology as well as providing novel treatment targets, challenging the treatment limitations imposed by anti-amyloid antibody treatments. This also has relevance for wider neurodegenerative and neuro-psychiatric conditions.
Similarity and Difference between the South Atlantic Convergence Zone and the Baiu Frontal Zone Simulated by an AGCM

Features of the South Atlantic convergence zone (SACZ) and the Baiu frontal zone (BFZ) simulated by an AGCM (T106L56: a primitive equation spectral model which has 56 s-levels and triangular spectral truncation at wave-number 106) are studied. The 24-year integration, from 1979 to 2002, by the model constrained by observed sea-surface temperature and sea-ice distribution, is used for this study. The detailed analysis is made for the typical case of SACZ and BFZ selected from data in 1985-1996.The South American monsoon circulation and the associated precipitation are reasonably reproduced. The precipitation zone of the SACZ, which extends southeastward from the southern part of Brazil to the South Atlantic, is sustained along the southwestern rim of the South Atlantic subtropical anticyclone during the southern summer. The Asian monsoon circulation and the associated precipitation are also reasonably reproduced. The precipitation zone of the BFZ, which extends northeastward from the southern part of China to Japan is formed along the northwestern rim of the North Pacific subtropical anticyclone in June.Many common features are found in the simulated SACZ and BFZ, in regard to the frontal structure and the associated synoptic- and meso-α-scale disturbances, and the relation to the respective subtropical anticyclone. However, an important difference is seen between their geographical environments. The cold south Atlantic in the poleward side of the SACZ provides the significant baroclinicity for SACZ, while the existence of warm land mass to the poleward side of the BFZ brings on weak baroclinicity of the BFZ. Another significant difference is seen in the large-scale environmental condition. The SACZ is influenced, in essence, by the trade winds and the subtropical anticyclone over the South Atlantic. The BFZ is strongly influenced by the moisture transport due to the Indian monsoon westerly and variation of the North Pacific subtropical anticyclone related to the convective activity over the western North Pacific.
A Hybrid Coupled General Circulation Model for El Niño Studies

Abstract A model is developed for tropical air–sea interaction studies, which is intermediate in complexity between the large coupled general circulation models (coupled GCMs) coming into use and the simple two-level models with which pioneering El Nino–Southern Oscillation studies were carried out. The model consists of a stripped-down tropical Pacific ocean GCM, coupled to an atmospheric model which is sufficiently simple that steady state solutions may be found for low level flow and surface stress, given oceanic boundary conditions. This hybrid coupling of an ocean GCM to a steady atmospheric model permits examination of the nature of interannual coupled oscillations in the absence of atmospheric noise. Tests of the atmospheric model against an atmospheric GCM simulation of El Nino anomalies are presented, and the ocean model climatology is examined under several different conditions. Experiments with the coupled model exhibit a variety of behaviors within a realistic parameter range. These indicate a.
Coverage Control for Mobile Sensor Networks With Double-Integrator Dynamics and Unknown Disturbances

In this article, coverage control for mobile sensors with double-integrator dynamics and different maximum velocities on a circle is investigated. A generalized energy function is introduced in the proposed coverage control laws to guarantee order preservation of the sensors despite of the existence of unknown but bounded disturbances. The velocity constraint of each sensor is shown to be always satisfied throughout the coverage task. It is shown that the sensor network can be driven to a neighborhood of the optimal configuration minimizing the coverage cost function and an upper bound on the coverage cost function when time goes to infinity is also provided. Finally, a simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed coverage control laws.
The importance of understanding the local community’s attitude toward nature conservation

Protected areas are an important cornerstone in trying to halt habitat and species loss, but it is generally accepted that conservation policies must also favor the local community as an integral part of these areas. This study reveals the importance of understanding local residents' perception of protected areas’ impacts on their livelihoods and development. It analyzes the perceptions of 612 respondents living in 15 settlements surrounding two protected areas in Serbia. The �ndings reveal that the locals have a very positive attitude about the impact of protected areas through bene�ts and protection of resources. They have a very strong sense of belonging to the place and are willing to contribute to protection, but they feel excluded, which is worrisome. A different approach of management that would respect the rights and the existence of the local people is required to prevent con�icts and foster mutual respect and bene�t-sharing for everyone.
“Give Your Thumb a Break” from Surfing Tragic Posts: Potential Corrosive Consequences of Social Media Users’ Doomscrolling

ABSTRACT Negativity bias predicts that individuals will attend to, learn from, and prioritize negative news more than positive news. Drawing from the addiction components model, this cross-sectional study conceptualized and measured “doomscrolling” as excessive thoughts, urges, or behaviors related to the consumption of negative news on social media platforms. Participants were a convenience sample (N = 747) of Iranian social media users. The 8-item, unidimensional Social Media Doomscrolling Scale showed excellent psychometric properties. Men were more likely than women to report doomscrolling. Most respondents reported arousal following doomscrolling. Doomscrolling was negatively associated with psychological wellbeing, satisfaction with life, and motivation to avoid unhealthy behaviors. Doomscrolling was positively associated to impulsivity, engagement in risky behaviors, depression, and future anxiety. Results suggest that doomscrolling is an arousing activity that has the potential to exacerbate worrisome thoughts about future, breed feelings of hopelessness, cultivate appetite for risk, and stifle health consciousness.
Perceptions of Postpartum Mothers of Their Experiences as a Patient During COVID-19 Crisis: A Phenomenological Study

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to drastic changes in in-hospital healthcare delivery causing major policy and protocol changes regarding labor and delivery and postpartum care of maternity patients. We strove to describe and understand the perceptions of laboring and postpartum mothers’ care received through interviews in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a phenomenological study design, we interviewed 13 postpartum mothers. Five major themes and 10 subthemes were extracted. Major themes, both positive and negative, included genuine concern of caregivers, adverse breastfeeding experiences, feeling of being left alone, loss of expectations, and uncertainty. Primipara women had a major impact on their psychological well-being and breastfeeding experiences. Isolation and feelings of left alone adversely affect postpartum mothers’ coping, newborn care, bonding, meeting basic needs of sleep and hygiene, breastfeeding experiences, and potential postpartum recovery and psychosocial well-being including fear of future pregnancies. Therefore, “partner presence” throughout the labor and delivery and postpartum period should be a “call to action” for the nurses, especially with first-time mothers.
Determinants of Medication Adherence among Jordanian Patients with End Stage Kidney Disease

End stage kidney disease (ESKD) requires complex medical management. To ensure the success of management plan, patient’s adherence to medication is fundamental. However, adherence to medication is challenging for patients with ESKD. This study aimed to describe adherence to medication and to identify demographic and clinical determinants in Jordanian patients with ESKD. Cross-sectional correlational design was performed using a sample of 188 patients with ESKD who attended haemodialysis units in five hospitals in Amman between March and June 2021. Medication adherence was measured using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS). The mean age of the participants was 50.9 years (SD=15.64), more than half of the participants were males 109 (58.0%) and were non-smokers 115 (61.2%). The mean score of the MMAS was 5.18 (SD=2.024) which indicates high prevalence of inadequate adherence to medication. Younger age, longer duration on hemodialysis, and higher number of medications were risk factors for inadequate adherence to medication among patients with ESKD. ESKD patients who are younger in age, have longer duration on hemodialysis, and have higher number of medications should be targeted as they have medication adherence challenges. Those patients should be taken into consideration when planning and developing interventions to enhance medication adherence in patients with ESKD.
X-ray sources in regions of star formation. III - Naked T Tauri stars associated with the Taurus-Auriga complex

Ground-based and IRAS optical and IR spectroscopic and photometric observations are reported for 90 stars in or near 59 Einstein Observatory X-ray error circles in the Tau-Aur region. The data are presented in extensive tables and sample spectra and characterized in detail, with particular attention to 28 newly discovered naked T Tau stars, which are shown to be normal stars with no significant IR or UV excess and ages of 1-40 Myr. These stars are found to outnumber normal T Tau stars by a factor of 10 in an area near the Tau-Aur dark clouds, and it is argued that their evolution toward the ZAMS is typical for low-mass stars. The implications of this finding for the time scales of circumstellar-disk dissipation and planet formation are discussed. 100 references.
Effect of turmeric and ginger supplementation on immunity, antioxidant, liver enzyme activity, gut bacterial load and histopathology of broilers

Day-old broiler chicks (182) were distributed randomly to 7 treatments with 2 replicates. Treatments were T1 (control), basal diet; T2, basal diet + turmeric powder (TP) (0.5% of basal diet); T3, basal diet + TP (1% of basal diet); T4, basal diet + ginger powder (GP) (0.5% of basal diet); T5, basal diet + GP (1% of basal diet); T6, basal diet + TP + GP (0.5% TP + 0.5% GP); T7, basal diet + TP + GP (1% TP + 1.0% GP). The experiment was continued for 35 days. Immunity, antioxidant, liver enzyme activity, gut bacterial load and histopathology of broilers were conducted at fifth week of age. Higher cellular response against PHA-P was recorded in T3 and T7. Higher antibody titre against SRBC was recorded in T3. The weight of lymphoid organs did not differ significantly. Significantly higher erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) level was recorded in T1. Significantly higher alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels were found in T1 and T7. Significantly higher aspartate amino transferase (AST) level was found in T1. Higher total bacterial count and lower E. coli count were recorded in group T3 and lower total bacterial count was recorded in T7. In group T1, liver showed mild congestion to mild cellular swelling and varying degree of vacuolar degeneration. From this study, it may be concluded that supplementation of 1% turmeric in ration either alone or in combination with 1% ginger improved the immunity, antioxidant status and gut health of broilers.
Time-Varying Leverage Effects

Abstract Vast empirical evidence points to the existence of a negative correlation, named ”leverage effect”, between shocks to variance and shocks to returns. We provide a nonparametric theory of leverage estimation in the context of a continuous-time stochastic volatility model with jumps in returns, jumps in variance, or both. Leverage is defined as a flexible function of the state of the firm, as summarized by the spot variance level. We show that its point-wise functional estimates have asymptotic properties (in terms of rates of convergence, limiting biases, and limiting variances) which crucially depend on the likelihood of the individual jumps and co-jumps as well as on the features of the jump size distributions. Empirically, we find economically important time-variation in leverage with more negative values associated with higher variance levels.
The psychosomatic experiences of women who had intrauterine foetal death in rural South Africa

Background Intrauterine foetal death (IUFD) is a traumatic event leading to substantial grief reactions with a variety of experiences in an expectant woman. After delivery, these experiences have shown to impact the mother’s psychological well-being, where she experiences post-traumatic stress, sadness, anxiety and depression. The psychosomatic experiences before labour commenced are not known. Objectives This study explored the psychosomatic (mind–body connection) experiences of women who had an IUFD before labour commenced in rural areas of Limpopo province, South Africa. Method A qualitative approach with an explorative descriptive design was carried out among all 10 consented participants who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The sample consisted of women who delivered an IUFD as reflected by the hospital register from the selected hospitals. Data were collected at the participants’ homes through in-depth individual interviews guided by one open-ended central question as follows, ‘Please share with me your experiences of IUFD before you went into labour’, and analysed using Tesch’s open coding method. Results Two themes reflecting the psychosomatic (mind–body connection) experiences of women who had an IUFD emerged from the analysis. The themes are danger alerts and emotional responses. Conclusion This qualitative study revealed that women could relate a lack of or decreased foetal movement as the danger alert or warning sign that the baby was in danger before labour commenced. Upon noticing that something was wrong with the baby, a message was sent to the women’s minds, which equally affected and activated their emotional dimensions. An investigation regarding the kind of support needed by women after being informed of an IUFD is recommended.
Characterization of the extruded polypropylene filled with cement kiln dust composite

Cement kiln dust (CKD), with different ratios (10, 20, and 30%), has been used as a filler for polypropylene (PP) thermoplastic forming the compound under study by the extrusion technique. The aftereffect of increasing CKD dosage on structural, mechanical, physical, and electrical properties of the neat PP has been investigated. Infrared (IR) spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) proved that the mixture was physically blended. The mechanical characteristics like tensile strength, elongation% at break, besides the Izod impact decreased from 22.33 to 16.33 MPa, from 6.33 to 4.33, and from 52.33 to 34.70 J/m ‘respectively’, while the hardness increased from 77.20 to 83.56 Kg/mm2 with increasing CKD%. Water absorption results showed that the PP absorbed more water because of the low adhesion and hydrophilicity of cement dust particles. Filling PP with CKD up to 20% enhanced its thermal stability as indicated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The electrical measurements showed that rising CKD% promoted the insulation properties of PP. To the best of our knowledge, the present PP-CKD composite has not been prepared previously which provides novelty to this research. Manufacturing this composite on the industrial scale enhances the environment (by reducing CKD damping), reduces the cost of PP production, and utilizes a useful application for one of the most harmful industrial wastes. Graphical Abstract
Coherent radar imaging using Capon's method

A linearly constrained mathematical formulation is provided for the problem of coherent radar imaging. In contrast to studies of field‐aligned irregularities in the ionosphere, where the technique has previously been applied, lower atmospheric imaging is complicated by the fact that the scattering structures are not aligned along any single baseline. As a result, a two‐dimensional generalization of the brightness distribution was required. It is shown that Fourier‐based imaging is a special case of this general formulation. Furthermore, an imaging technique based on constrained optimization is introduced and shown to exhibit higher resolution and resistance to interfering signals. These techniques were applied to data from the middle and upper atmosphere radar in Shigaraki, Japan. The experiment was conducted during the Baiu season, which is characterized by significant precipitation events.
First and second order linear dynamic equations on time scales

We consider first and second order linear dynamic equations on a time scale. Such equations contain as special cases differential equations, difference equationsq— difference equations, and others. Important properties of the exponential function for a time scale are presented, and we use them to derive solutions of first and second order linear dyamic equations with constant coefficients. Wronskians are used to study equations with non—constant coefficients. We consider the reduction of order method as well as the method of variation of constants for the nonhomogeneous case. Finally, we use the exponential function to present solutions of the Euler—Cauchy dynamic equation on a time scale.
New synthetic silver-doped ZnO nanorods trigger cytotoxicity in MCF-7 through apoptosis and antimicrobial activity

Abstract The structural, composition, and molecular interaction of silver integrated zinc oxide (20 wt.% Ag/ZnO) were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectrum. The XRD analysis showed the polycrystalline of small crystallite size, whereas the EDX spectrum confirmed the purity of the nanocomposite. The FTIR spectrum indicated the presence of Ag–Zn–O stretching vibration at 1034 cm−1. SEM and TEM images identified the surface morphology and particle size, indicating that Ag/ZnO of nanorods linked with spherical-like shapes. The nanorods of an average length of 110 nm and an average diameter of 10 nm. The optical characteristics showed a direct transition of electrons through an energy gap in the 3.30 eV–3.60 eV. The tested nanocomposite exhibited potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 0.26 µg/ml with cell growth inhibition by 97.3% at the highest concentration compared to Doxorubicin (IC50=6.72 µg/ml). It significantly stimulated total apoptotic breast cancer cell death by 51-fold (32.16% compared to 0.63 for the control), arresting the cell progression at the G1 phase. For further validation of apoptotic activity, the tested Ag/ZnO-NP upregulated the proapoptotic genes and down-regulated the anti-apoptotic gene. Moreover, a molecular docking study highlighted the binding disposition of the nanocomposite as Bcl-2 inhibitors. Additionally, Ag/ZnO-NP exhibited potent antimicrobial activity. Hence, the synthesized nanocomposite can serve as an antimicrobial and cytotoxic agent through apoptosis-induction and could be developed as a biologically active nanocomposite. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Factors Associated With Mathematics Achievement and Participation in Advanced Mathematics Courses: An Examination of Gender Differences From an International Perspective

This paper reports results of an exploratory study examining factors that might be associated with achievement in mathematics and participation in advanced mathematics courses in Canada, Norway, and the United States of America (USA). These factors, which were not directly related to schooling accounted for large degrees of variability, 24% to 39%, in mathematics achievement scores. Confidence in mathematics was the strongest predictor of achievement for students from Canada and Norway, whereas for the students from the USA, parents' highest education level was the highest predictor of achievement. Student home environment related variables were stronger predictors of achievement for females than for males in all three countries. The participation in advanced mathematics courses could be predicted with 72% to 76% accuracy by the same variables. In all of the three countries, the strongest predictors of participation in advanced mathematics courses were students' attitudes toward mathematics. Parents' education level, a socioeconomic related variable, was one of the strongest predictors of participation for Canadian female students and all students from the USA.
Experimental and numerical investigation of the performance of vortex generators on separation control

An experimental wind tunnel study of the flow past a row of counter-rotating vortex generators mounted on top of a bump has been performed. All three velocity components are measured in spanwise planes downstream of the vortex generators using Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry, SPIV. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of vortex generators in a separating, low Reynolds number, turbulent boundary layer over a geometry which is generating an adverse pressure gradient. The flow behaves as expected, in the sense that the vortices transport high momentum fluid into the boundary layer, making it thinner and more resistant to the adverse pressure gradient with respect to separation. The idea behind the experiments is that the results will be offered for validation of modeling of the effect of vortex generators using various numerical codes. Steady-state RANS computations have been carried out in parallel to the experiments. The computations are able to capture the overall flow structure, but has difficulties predicting the flow in the separation region and the large scale convection due to the vortex generators.