Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased number of T cells committed to IL‐5 production after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection of human mononuclear cells in vitro

We examined changes in the cytokine profile of T cells induced by in vitro infection with RSV. Isolated mononuclear cells from 27 healthy adults and six infants were infected with RSV at a concentration of 3 MOI (multiplicity of infection). After 48 h cells were restimulated with phorbol ester and ionomycin in the presence of monensin for 5 h. The intracellular expression of viral antigen, the cytokines IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), and the expression of surface markers were assessed by immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry. There was a significant (P < 0.001) rise of IL‐5 expression in RSV‐infected cultures in comparison with uninfected cultures from the same individuals, whereas there were no changes in the expression of the other lymphokines. The increase in IL‐5 generation depended on viable infectious RSV rather than inactivated virus. RSV infection as well as IL‐5 production in T cells were confined to the CD8 subpopulation. However, there was no simultaneous expression of RSV antigen and IL‐5. Purified T cells did not show any increase in IL‐5 generation. However, when the rate of RSV infection was enhanced in monocytes by means of a specific monoclonal antibody, co‐cultured T cells displayed an increase of IL‐5 production compared with samples with ordinary low rate RSV infection. It is therefore likely that the increased commitment of lymphocytes to produce IL‐5 after RSV infection in vitro is mediated by monocytes or other antigen‐presenting cells.
Chronic central nervous system demyelination in mice after JHM virus infection

The pathogenesis of murine hepatitis virus, strain JHM, was studied in 6- and 12-week-old C57iBL mice. There was 100% mortality in the 6-week-old mice after intracerebral inoculation. The lesions were characterized by necrotizing encephalomyelitis, without demyelination. Intracerebral inoculation of 12-week-old animals, however, resulted in no morbidity or mortality. The 12-week-old animals showed transient virus replication in the brain, spinal cord, and liver, which was cleared by day 14. Histologic examination showed evidence of ongoing demyelination, concomitant remyelination, and hydrocephalus ex vacuo. Although viral antigen was demonstrated by immunofluorescence in the central nervous system of these animals, no infectious virus was recovered, and immunosuppression regimens did not potentiate the disease.
Growth and Virulence Alterations of Equine Herpesvirus 1 by Insertion of a Green Fluorescent Protein Gene in the Intergenic Region between ORFs 62 and 63

Nucleotide sequences of the intergenic region between ORF 62 and ORF 63 of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV‐1) isolates were analyzed. The sequences of this region consisted of variable and conserved domains among EHV‐1 isolates. An EHV‐1 mutant, Ab4‐GFP, was constructed by inserting a green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression cassette flanked by loxP at both ends into the intergenic region between ORF 62 and ORF 63. Another mutant, Ab4‐loxP, which contains one loxP site, was constructed by excision of the GFP cassette from the Ab4‐GFP virus genome by cre enzyme. The recombinant Ab4‐GFP formed smaller plaques than the wild type in MDBK cells. Virus production also decreased for Ab4‐GFP in multi‐step growth analyses. Virulence of Ab4‐GFP in both mice and hamsters was weaker than that of the wild type. Ab4‐loxP exhibited properties similar to those of the wild type. These results suggest that the intergenic region between ORF 62 and ORF 63 plays various roles in the virus growth.
Use of a commercial immunoassay for rapid detection of influenza A antigen in ducks

WILD waterfowl are the natural host and reservoir of all subtypes of influenza A virus ([Stallknecht and Shane 1988][1], [Alexander 2000][2]). Species susceptibility varies widely among waterfowl and most viral isolates, mainly of low pathogenic avian influenza, are obtained from ducks ([Stallknecht
Curcumin Targets Cell Wall Integrity via Calcineurin-Mediated Signaling in Candida albicans

ABSTRACT Curcumin (CUR) shows antifungal activity against a range of pathogenic fungi, including Candida albicans. The reported mechanisms of action of CUR include reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, defects in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, decrease in hyphal development, and modulation of multidrug efflux pumps. Reportedly, each of these pathways is independently linked to the cell wall machinery in C. albicans, but surprisingly, CUR has not been previously implicated in cell wall damage. In the present study, we performed transcriptional profiling to identify the yet-unidentified targets of CUR in C. albicans. We found that, among 348 CUR-affected genes, 51 were upregulated and 297 were downregulated. Interestingly, most of the cell wall integrity pathway genes were downregulated. The possibility of the cell wall playing a critical role in the mechanism of CUR required further validation; therefore, we performed specific experiments to establish if there was any link between the two. The fractional inhibitory concentration index values of 0.24 to 0.37 show that CUR interacts synergistically with cell wall-perturbing (CWP) agents (caspofungin, calcofluor white, Congo red, and SDS). Furthermore, we could observe cell wall damage and membrane permeabilization by CUR alone, as well as synergistically with CWP agents. We also found hypersusceptibility in calcineurin and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway mutants against CUR, which confirmed that CUR also targets cell wall biosynthesis in C. albicans. Together, these data provide strong evidence that CUR disrupts cell wall integrity in C. albicans. This new information on the mechanistic action of CUR could be employed in improving treatment strategies and in combinatorial drug therapy.
Perceptual Learning in Visual Conjunction Search

Perceptual learning in colour/orientation visual conjunction search was examined in five experiments. Good transfer occurred to other conjunction arrays when only one element of the conjunction (either colour or orientation) was changed. When both elements (colour and orientation) were changed, but the same feature spaces were used (ie other colours and orientations) or when a new dimension was introduced to the transfer task (shapes instead of orientation), transfer was poor. The results suggest that perceptual learning of visual conjunction search is constrained mainly by stimulus parameters rather than by changes in cognitive strategies which are common to all search tasks. Contrary to other reports we found little evidence of long-term retention of learning.
Stimulating Lymphotoxin β Receptor on the Dendritic Cells Is Critical for Their Homeostasis and Expansion1

The increased number of dendritic cells (DCs) inside lymphoid tissue may contribute to the enhanced priming of lymphocytes. The homeostasis of splenic DCs has mostly been attributed to their migration to the spleen via the chemokine microenvironment induced by lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR) signaling on splenic stromal cells. In this study we show that the lack of direct LTβR signaling on DCs is associated with the reduction of the number of DCs in the spleen independently of chemokine gradients. LTβR−/− mice have reduced DCs and reduced BrdU incorporation on DCs, and fewer DCs from LTβR−/− mice are detected in the spleen. Furthermore, increased expression of LIGHT (homologous to lymphotoxin, exhibits inducible expression, competes with herpesvirus glycoprotein D for herpes virus entry mediator on T cells) on T cells, a member of the TNF family (TNFSF14) and a ligand for LTβR, could dramatically increase the number of T cells and DCs, which leads to severe autoimmune diseases in a LTβR-dependent fashion. In vitro, LIGHT could directly promote accumulation of bone marrow-derived DCs. Furthermore, intratumor expression of LIGHT can dramatically expand DCs in situ, and inoculation of DCs into tumor tissues enhanced tumor immunity. Therefore, LTβR signaling on DCs is required for their homeostasis during physiology and pathological conditions, and increased LIGHT-LTβR interaction could stimulate DC expansion for T cell-mediated immunity.
Running head : Cardiac ageing in primary biliary cirrhosis 29 30 Corresponding

243/250 words) 39 The autoimmune liver disease Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) is associated with life-altering 40 fatigue in approximately 50% of patients. Previous work suggests that fatigued PBC subjects 41 have evidence of autonomic dysfunction and may be at a higher risk of sudden cardiac 42 death. The manifestation of this risk is not clear. This pilot study investigated whether 43 alterations in cardiac torsion and strain could be detected in fatigued or non-fatigued early44 stage PBC patients. We performed cardiac tissue tagging and anatomical cine-imaging in 13 45 early stage PBC patients (including 7 with significant fatigue) and 10 control subjects to 46 calculate cardiac torsion and strain throughout systole and diastole. From the cardiac 47 tagging, we calculated the torsion-to-shortening ratio (TSR), a measure of subepicardial 48 torsion exerting mechanical advantage over subendocardial shortening. Autonomic function 49 testing was performed to evaluate baroreceptor effective index on standing. TSR was 50 markedly increased in the fatigued PBC patients (0.70 ± 0.13) compared to both controls 51 (0.46 ± 0.11, p=0.002) and non-fatigued PBC patients (0.44 ± 0.12, p=0.003). Decreased 52 baroreceptor effective index on standing strongly correlated with increased TSR within the 53 whole PBC group (r=-0.71, p=0.007). Fatigued PBC patients demonstrate a redistribution of 54 myocardial strain characteristic of a reduced relative contribution to contraction from the 55 subendocardium. This is analogous to the changes found in healthy ageing for subjects 56 approximately 16 years older than the fatigued PBC patients. Hence the hearts of fatigued 57 PBC patients may be subject to processes of accelerated ageing. 58
Prolonged survival of neutrophils from patients with ΔF508 CFTR mutations

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive “channelopathy” characterised by aberrant CFTR and ENaC function resulting in widespread epithelial cell dysfunction and persistent airway infection. Studies indicating that airway inflammation precedes infection1 and that patients with CF display exaggerated neutrophilic responses to pathogens have suggested a primary defect in innate immune responses in CF. Given the importance of apoptosis to the resolution of neutrophilic inflammation,2 we sought to determine whether circulating CF neutrophils display normal apoptotic capacity. Peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated from 12 clinically stable Pseudomonas colonised ΔF508 homozygote adult patients with CF and 12 age and sex matched healthy controls using discontinuous plasma/Percoll gradients.3 Blood neutrophil counts were in the normal range …
Assembly of a homochiral, body-centered cubic network composed of vertex-shared Mg12 cages: use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to monitor metal carboxylate nucleation.

Reaction of Mg(NO3)2.6H2O with (+)-camphoric acid (H2cam) in acetonitrile results in the immediate formation of soluble, dimetallic [Mg2(Hcam)3]+ cations. The formation of these stable cations in solution was determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). These dimers are 3-fold paddle-wheels, which associate together through the neutral acid units to build the metal-organic framework [Mg2(Hcam)3.3H2O]. NO3.MeCN, 1. The network consists of a series of fused Mg12 cages that have 12 water molecules at their centers, creating isolated 0D cavities within the structure. Overall, the extended structure of 1 is a body-centered cubic (bcu) lattice, with the Mg12 cages being utilized as eight-connected nodes. The framework of 1 is chiral and adopts the very unusual space group I23. Use of 1,3-propanediol as an additive results in the formation of the simple 1D polymer [Mg(cam){HO(CH2)3OH}2], 2. In 2, each carboxylate-bridged metal center is chelated by two diols. ESI-MS studies confirm the formation of new ions in these solutions. The identities of 1 and 2 were confirmed by a combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR, NMR, themogravimetric analyses, and ESI-MS data. ESI-MS has proven to be a valuable technique in the identification of stable SBUs in solution prior to network formation.
Dynamic Resistance Measurements in a GdBCO-Coated Conductor

Dynamic resistance is a phenomenon which occurs when a superconducting wire carries dc transport current whilst experiencing an alternating magnetic field. This situation occurs in a range of HTS machinery applications, where dynamic resistance can lead to large parasitic heat loads and potential quench events. Here, we present dynamic resistance measurements of a 5-mm-wide Fujikura coated conductor wire at 77 K. We report experimental values obtain through varying the field angle (the angle between magnetic field and normal vector of the conductor wide-face), the dc current levels, and the magnetic field amplitude, and frequency. We show that the dynamic resistance in perpendicular magnetic field can be predicted by using a simple analytical equation. We also show that across the range of field angles measured here the dynamic resistance is dominated by the perpendicular component of the applied magnetic field.
Infertility Insurance Mandates and Fertility.

Infertility is considered by the medical community to be a disease of the reproductive system. It currently affects over 6 million individuals, and one in ten couples cannot conceive without medical assistance. The psychological effects of infertility have been compared to the effects of other diseases such as cancer and heart disease (e.g., Anne T. Fidler and Judith Bernstein, 1999), and the financial costs of treatment can be quite large. However, only 25 percent of all health-plan sponsors provide coverage for infertility services. In response to a perceived need for coverage, legislation was introduced at the federal level in 2003 that would require health plans to provide infertility benefits. As the fraction of the population affected by infertility continues to rise, there are likely to be continued efforts to mandate coverage. Understanding the costs and benefits of these policies thus becomes increasingly important. The first component of a full analysis is to determine whether these mandates will actually have an effect on fertility. By reducing the price of infertility treatment, one might expect to see an increase in utilization of treatments. This could be true if the mandate expands access to individuals who previously could not afford treatment, or if individuals who were previously receiving treatment now choose to consume higher quantities (or a higher quality) of treatment. However, it is also possible that these mandates have no effect on access or on treatment consumed but simply provide windfall gains to those individuals who would have purchased treatment in the absence of insurance coverage. Finally, mandates may also have dynamic effects on the timing of births. Individuals could seek treatment earlier, which is beneficial from a medical perspective. Alternatively, individuals could further delay childbearing, with the knowledge that they will ultimately be covered. In this paper, I ask the first-order question of whether the mandated insurance coverage of infertility treatment has affected birth rates. As of 2003, 15 states have enacted some form of infertility insurance mandate. Using a differencein-differences approach, I exploit variation in the enactment of mandates both across states and over time and identify control groups that should not have been affected by infertility coverage. My results suggest that the mandates increase firstbirth rates for women over age 35 by 32 percent.
Estimation in capture–recapture models when covariates are subject to measurement errors and missing data

For capture–recapture models when covariates are subject to measurement errors and missing data, a set of estimating equations is constructed to estimate population size and relevant parameters. These estimating equations can be solved by an algorithm similar to the EM algorithm. The proposed method is also applicable to the situation when covariates with no measurement errors have missing data. Simulation studies are used to assess the performance of the proposed estimator. The estimator is also applied to a capture–recapture experiment on the bird species Prinia flaviventris in Hong Kong. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 645–658; 2009 © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada
Insights into the Mechanisms of Neuromuscular Fatigue in Boys and Men.

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of central and peripheral factors in neuromuscular fatigue induced by repeated maximal contractions in children and adults. METHODS Eleven boys (9.9 ± 1.2 yr) and 12 men (23.9 ± 3.5 yr) completed a fatigue protocol consisting in a repetition of 5-s maximal isometric voluntary contractions (MVC) of the knee extensors separated by 5-s passive recovery periods until the generated torque reached 60% of its initial value. Single magnetic stimulations were delivered to the femoral nerve every five MVC to follow the course of voluntary activation level and the amplitude of the potentiated twitch torque (Qtw(pot)) and vastus lateralis and rectus femoris concomitant M-waves (Mmax). RESULTS Torque reached 60% of initial value after 49.5 ± 16.8 and 34.0 ± 19.6 repetitions in boys and men, respectively (P < 0.05). Furthermore, men showed significantly higher knee extensor MVC decline than boys between 50% and 90% of total repetitions (P < 0.05). Voluntary activation remained unchanged in men, whereas it decreased significantly in boys (P < 0.05). In contrast, whereas Qtw(pot) remained unchanged in boys, Qtw(pot) decreased progressively up to 60% of total repetitions in men (P < 0.001). Finally, Mmax remained unchanged for vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Children experienced no apparent peripheral fatigue and higher central fatigue than adults. The greater fatigue resistance in children could be related to a strategy of the CNS aimed at limiting the recruitment of motor units to prevent any extensive peripheral fatigue.
Analysis of a protein region involved in permeation and gating of the voltage‐gated Torpedo chloride channel ClC‐0.

1. The chloride channel from the Torpedo electric organ, ClC‐0, is controlled by two distinct (‘fast’ and ‘slow’) voltage‐dependent gates. Here we investigate the effects of mutations in a region after putative transmembrane domain D12. A mutation in this region has previously been shown to change fast gating and permeation. 2. We used a combination of site‐directed mutagenesis with two‐electrode voltage‐clamp and patch‐clamp measurements. 3. Most conservative substitutions have minor effects, while more drastic mutations change kinetics and voltage dependence of fast gating, as well as ion selectivity and rectification. 4. While ClC‐0 wild‐type (WT) channels deactivate fully in two‐electrode voltage clamp at negative voltages, channels do not close completely in patch‐clamp experiments. Open probability is increased by intracellular chloride in a concentration‐ but not voltage‐dependent manner. 5. In several mutants, including K519R, the minimal macroscopic open probability of fast gating is larger than in WT. Mutant channels fluctuate at negative potentials between open and closed conformations. Open probability is much more effectively increased by intracellular chloride than in WT. The observations support the idea that permeating ions inside the pore stabilize the open state. 6. Besides effects on permeation and gating of single protopores, some mutations affect ‘slow’ gating. In summary, the region after D12 participates in fast as well as in slow gating; mutations additionally influence permeation properties.
Immunocytochemical localization of peroxisomal β‐oxidation enzymes in human fetal liver

In the majority of congenital peroxisomal disorders, β‐oxidation of very long chain fatty acids is deficient. We have investigated the appearance and localization of the three peroxisomal β‐oxidation enzymes in normal fetal liver (fertilization age between 5 and 18 weeks) with protein A‐ gold immunocytochemistry and silver enhancement for light microscopic visualization. With specificity‐tested polyclonal antibodies, acyl‐CoA‐oxidase, bifunctiooal enzyme, and 3‐oxoacyl‐CoA thiolase were localized in the peroxisomes of the parenchymal cells, which appear as brown or black granules. In the youngest specimen, no immunopositive reaction was obtained. A weak reaction with anti‐thiolase was obtained at the age of 6–7 weeks. At a fertilization age of 8 weeks, peroxisomes could be distinctly visualized after immunostaining for all three enzymes.
A Supersymmetric solution to the solar and atmospheric neutrino problems

The simplest unified extension of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with bi-linear R--Parity violation provides a predictive scheme for neutrino masses which can account for the observed atmospheric and solar neutrino anomalies in terms of bi-maximal neutrino mixing. The maximality of the atmospheric mixing angle arises dynamically, by minimizing the scalar potential, while the solar neutrino problem can be accounted for either by large or by small mixing oscillations. One neutrino picks up mass by mixing with neutralinos, while the degeneracy and masslessness of the other two is lifted only by loop corrections. Despite the smallness of neutrino masses R-parity violation is observable at present and future high-energy colliders, providing an unambiguous cross-check of the model.
Direct template matching reveals a host subcellular membrane gyroid cubic structure that is associated with SARS virus

Abstract Viral infection can result in alterations to the host subcellular membrane. This is often reported when using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), resulting in a description of tubuloreticular membrane subcellular ultrastructure rather than a definition based on 3-D morphology. 2-D TEM micrographs depicting subcellular membrane changes are associated with subcellular SARS virion particles [Goldsmith CS, Tatti KM, Ksiazek TG et al. Ultra-structural characterization of SARS coronavirus. Emerg Infect Dis 2004; 10: 320–326]. In the present study, we have defined the 2-D membrane pattern and shape associated with the SARS virus infection. This is by using a direct template matching method to determine what the 3-D structure of the SARS virus associated host membrane change would be. The TEM image for our purposes is defined on 2-D information, such as the membrane having undergone proliferation and from pattern recognition suggesting that the membrane-described pattern is possibly a gyroid type of membrane. Features of the membrane were used to compute and match the gyroid structure with an existing 2-D TEM micrograph, where it was revealed that the membrane structure was indeed a gyroid-based cubic membrane. The 2-D gyroid computer-simulated image that was used to match the electron micrograph of interest was derived from a mathematically well-defined 3-D structure, and it is from this 3-D derivative that allows us to make inferences about the 3-D structure of this membrane. In conclusion, we demonstrate that a 3-D structure can be defined from a 2-D membrane patterned image and that a SARS viral associated membrane change has been identified as cubic membrane morphology. Possible mechanisms for this cubic membrane change are discussed with respect to viral severity, persistence and free radical production.