Polymorphic Aβ42 fibrils adopt similar secondary structure but differ in cross-strand side chain stacking interactions within the same β-sheet.

Formation of polymorphic amyloid fibrils is a common feature in neurodegenerative diseases involving protein aggregation. In Alzheimer's disease, different fibril structures may be associated with different clinical sub-types. Structural basis of fibril polymorphism is thus important for understanding the role of amyloid fibrils in the pathogenesis and progression of these diseases. Here we studied two types of Aβ42 fibrils prepared under quiescent and agitated conditions. Quiescent Aβ42 fibrils adopt a long and twisted morphology, while agitated fibrils are short and straight, forming large bundles via lateral association. EPR studies of these two types of Aβ42 fibrils show that the secondary structure is similar in both fibril polymorphs. At the same time, agitated Aβ42 fibrils show stronger interactions between spin labels across the full range of the Aβ42 sequence, suggesting a more tightly packed structure. Our data suggest that cross-strand side chain packing interactions within the same β-sheet may play a critical role in the formation of polymorphic fibrils

Effective Strategies for Integrating STEM Education into Chinese Language Classroom

1. What is STEM? -How can it be integrated into the current language curriculum? 2. Why STEM? -Trend of offering the Mandarin course at K-12 schools 3. Chinese Curriculum & STEM-focused topics -The STEM-focused topics incorporated at IMSA 4. Teaching strategies -Lesson design, use of authentic materials, activitie

Weaving Identities: Experiences of Bereavement Among Chinese Immigrants in Calgary

The loss of a loved one is one of the most stressful event experienced by older adults or young children (Holmes & Rahe, 1967; Lin, Sandler, Ayers, Wolchik, & Luecken, 2004). Bereavement adjustment is more challenging for certain populations, for example older immigrants, due to social factors such as social isolation and migratory stress (Lai & Chau, 2007). However, literature on this topic is sparse. To fill this gap, I adopted a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of spousal bereavement among older Chinese immigrants living in Calgary. My own bereavement related to the loss of my father as a young child and witnessing my mother’s grief since then allowed me to reflect on my family’s loss in relation to the experiences of study participants. Also, our shared identity, as newcomers from China provided me with an insider’s perspective of how migration and Chinese cultural factors played an important role on participants’ bereavement adjustment. This article includes research findings interwoven with my own grief and immigration experiences. With the data drawn from 12 in-depth interviews with older Chinese immigrants, we shared grief that was long-lasting and expressed in private, with using certain rituals. Family and ethno-cultural communities were unable to directly help participants in coping with their spousal loss. Further, both participants’ and myself migratory grief contributed to vulnerability to mental heath issues, a fact which necessitates culturally appropriate bereavement supports and family/community involvement