Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PD-L1hi plasmablasts limit the T cell response during the acute phase of parasite infections

During infections with protozoan parasites or virus, T cell immunosuppression is generated simultaneously with a high B cell activation. Here, we show that in T. cruzi infection, all plasmablasts detected had higher surface expression of PD-L1, than other mononuclear cells. PD-L1hi plasmablasts were induced in vivo in an antigen-specific manner and required help from Bcl-6+CD4+T cells. PD-L1hi expression was not a characteristic of all antibody-secreting cells since plasma cells found during the chronic phase of infection express PD-L1 but at lower levels. PD-L1hi plasmablasts were also present in mice infected with Plasmodium or with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, but not in mice with autoimmune disorders or immunized with T cell-dependent antigens. PD-L1hi plasmablasts suppressed T cell response, via PD-L1, in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this study reveals that extrafollicular PD-L1hi plasmablasts, which precede the germinal center (CG) response, are a suppressive population in infections that may influence T cell response. Brief summary Pathogens develop different strategies to settle in the host. We identified a plasmablats population induced by pathogens in acute infections which suppress T cell response.
Neuro-computational mechanisms of action-outcome learning under moral conflict

Predicting how actions result in conflicting outcomes for self and others is essential for social functioning. We tested whether Reinforcement Learning Theory captures how participants learn to choose between symbols that define a moral conflict between financial self-gain and other-pain. We tested whether choices are better explained by model-free learning (decisions based on combined historical values of past outcomes), or model-based learning (decisions based on the current value of separately expected outcomes) by including trials in which participants know that either self-gain or other-pain will not be delivered. Some participants favored options benefiting themselves, others, preventing other-pain. When removing the favored outcome, participants instantly altered their choices, suggesting model-based learning. Computational modelling confirmed choices were best described by model-based learning in which participants track expected values of self-gain and other-pain separately, with an individual valuation parameter capturing their relative weight. This valuation parameter predicted costly helping in an independent task. The expectations of self-gain and other-pain were also biased: the favoured outcome was associated with more differentiated symbol-outcome probability reports than the less favoured outcome. FMRI helped localize this bias: signals in the pain-observation network covaried with pain prediction errors without linear dependency on individual preferences, while the ventromedial prefrontal cortex contained separable signals covarying with pain prediction errors in ways that did and did not reflected individual preferences.
NMDAR-mediated transcriptional control of gene expression in the specification of interneuron subtype identity

Abstract Medial ganglionic eminence (MGE)-derived parvalbumin (PV)+, somatostatin (SST)+ and Neurogliaform (NGFC)-type cortical and hippocampal interneurons, have distinct molecular, anatomical and physiological properties. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating their diversity remain poorly understood. Here, via single-cell transcriptomics, we show that the obligate NMDA-type glutamate receptor (NMDAR) subunit gene Grin1 mediates subtype-specific transcriptional regulation of gene expression in MGE-derived interneurons, leading to altered subtype identities. Notably, MGE-specific conditional Grin1 loss results in a systemic downregulation of diverse transcriptional, synaptogenic and membrane excitability regulatory programs. These widespread gene expression abnormalities mirror aberrations that are typically associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. Our study hence provides a road map for the systematic examination of NMDAR signaling in interneuron subtypes, revealing potential MGE-specific genetic targets that could instruct future therapies of psychiatric disorders.
Dissecting the DNA binding landscape and gene regulatory network of p63 and p53

The transcription factor (TF) p53 is the best-known tumor suppressor, but its ancient sibling p63 (ΔNp63) is a master regulator of epidermis development and a key oncogenic driver in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Despite multiple gene expression studies becoming available in recent years, the limited overlap of reported p63-dependent genes has made it difficult to decipher the p63 gene regulatory network (GRN). In particular, analyses of p63 response elements differed substantially among the studies. To address this intricate data situation, we provide an integrated resource that enables assessing the p63-dependent regulation of any human gene of interest. Here, we use a novel iterative de novo motif search approach in conjunction with extensive publicly available ChIP-seq data to achieve a precise global distinction between p53 and p63 binding sites, recognition motifs, and potential co-factors. We integrate all these data with enhancer:gene associations to predict p63 target genes and identify those that are commonly de-regulated in SCC and, thus, may represent candidates for therapeutic interventions.
Cytolethal Distending Toxin: from mitotic DNA damage to cGAS-dependent pro-inflammatory response

The Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) is a bacterial genotoxin that activates the DNA damage response and induces inflammatory signatures in host cells, but the precise relationship between these outcomes has not been addressed so far. CDT induces a singular time-dependent increase of DNA damage and cell cycle defects, questioning on possible impaired response to this toxin over the cell cycle. Here, we identify mitosis as a crucial phase during CDT intoxination. Despite active cell cycle checkpoints and in contrast to other DNA damaging agents, CDT-exposed cells reach mitosis where they accumulate massive DNA damage, resulting in chromosome fragmentation and micronucleus formation. These micronuclei are recognized by cGAS that elicits an inflammatory signature resulting in cell distention and senescence. Our results unravel for the first time the mitotic consequences of CDT genotoxic activity and relate them to pro-inflammatory cellular response. These findings may have important implications during bacterial infection regarding CDT-mediated immunomodulatory and tumorigenic processes.
Group-level patterns emerge from individual speed as revealed by an extremely social robotic fish

Understanding the emergence of collective behaviour has long been a key research focus in the natural sciences. Besides the fundamental role of social interaction rules, a combination of theoretical and empirical work indicates individual speed may be a key process that drives the collective behaviour of animal groups. Socially-induced changes in speed by interacting animals make it difficult to isolate the effects of individual speed on group-level behaviours. Here we tackled this issue by pairing guppies with a biomimetic robot. We used a closed-loop tracking and feedback system to let a robotic fish naturally interact with a live partner in real time, and programmed it to strongly copy and follow its partner’s movements while lacking any preferred movement speed or directionality of its own. We show that individual differences in guppies’ movement speed were highly repeatable and shaped key collective patterns: higher individual speeds resulted in stronger leadership, lower cohesion, higher alignment, and better temporal coordination in the pairs. By combining the strengths of individual-based models and observational work with state-of-the-art robotics, we provide novel evidence that individual speed is a key, fundamental process in the emergence of collective behaviour.
Inhibition underlies fast undulatory locomotion in C. elegans

Inhibition plays important roles in modulating the neural activities of sensory and motor systems at different levels from synapses to brain regions. To achieve coordinated movement, motor systems produce alternating contraction of antagonist muscles, whether along the body axis or within and among limbs. In the nematode C. elegans, a small network involving excitatory cholinergic and inhibitory GABAergic motoneurons generates the dorsoventral alternation of body-wall muscles that supports undulatory locomotion. Inhibition has been suggested to be necessary for backward undulation because mutants that are defective in GABA transmission exhibit a shrinking phenotype in response to a harsh touch to the head, whereas wild-type animals produce a backward escape response. Here, we demonstrate that the shrinking phenotype is exhibited by wild-type as well as mutant animals in response to harsh touch to the head or tail, but only GABA transmission mutants show slow locomotion after stimulation. Impairment of GABA transmission, either genetically or optogenetically, induces lower undulation frequency and lower translocation speed during crawling and swimming in both directions. The activity patterns of GABAergic motoneurons are different during low and high undulation frequencies. During low undulation frequency, GABAergic VD and DD motoneurons show similar activity patterns, while during high undulation frequency, their activity alternates. The experimental results suggest at least three non-mutually exclusive roles for inhibition that could underlie fast undulatory locomotion in C. elegans, which we tested with computational models: cross-inhibition or disinhibition of body-wall muscles, or inhibitory reset. Significance Statement Inhibition serves multiple roles in the generation, maintenance, and modulation of the locomotive program and supports the alternating activation of antagonistic muscles. When the locomotor frequency increases, more inhibition is required. To better understand the role of inhibition in locomotion, we used C. elegans as an animal model, and challenged a prevalent hypothesis that cross-inhibition supports the dorsoventral alternation. We find that inhibition is related to the speed rather than the direction of locomotion and demonstrate that inhibition is unnecessary for muscle alternation during slow undulation in either direction but crucial to sustain rapid dorsoventral alternation. We combined calcium imaging of motoneurons and muscle with computational models to test hypotheses for the role of inhibition in locomotion.
Pacing strategy in horse racing

Thanks to velocity data on races in Chantilly (France), we set a mathematical model which provides the optimal pacing strategy for horses on a fixed distance. It relies on mechanics, energetics (both aerobic and anaerobic) and motor control. We identify the parameters useful for the model from the data. Then it allows to understand the velocity, the oxygen uptake evolution in a race, as well as the energy or the propulsive force and predict the changes in pacing according to the properties (altitude and bending) of the track.
Vigilance response of a key prey species to anthropogenic and natural threats in Detroit

Rapid urbanization coupled with increased human activity induces pressures that affect predator-prey relations through a suite of behavioral mechanisms, including alteration of avoidance and coexistence dynamics. Synergisms of natural and anthropogenic threats existing within urban environments exacerbate the necessity for species to differentially modify behavior to each risk. Here, we explore the behavioral response of a key prey species, cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), to pressures from humans, domestic dogs, and a natural predator, coyotes (Canis latrans) in a human-dominated landscape. We conducted the first camera survey in urban parks throughout Detroit, Michigan in 2017-2020 to assess vigilance response corresponding to a heterogeneous landscape created from variation in the occupancy of threats. We predicted a scaled response where cottontail rabbits would be most vigilant in areas with high coyote activity, moderately vigilant in areas with high domestic dog activity, and the least vigilant in areas of high human activity. From 8,165 independent cottontail rabbit detections in Detroit across 11,616 trap nights, one-third were classified as vigilant. We found vigilance behavior increased with coyote occupancy and in locations with significantly high domestic dog activity, but found no significant impact of human occupancy or their spatial hotspots. We also found little spatial overlap between rabbits and threats, suggesting rabbits invest more in spatial avoidance; thus, less effort is required for vigilance. Our results elucidate strategies of a prey species coping with various risks to advance our understanding of the adaptability of wildlife in urban environments. In order to promote coexistence between people and wildlife in urban greenspaces, we must understand and anticipate the ecological implications of human-induced behavioral modifications.
Beyond forest succession: a gap model to study ecosystem functioning and tree community composition under climate change

Climate change impacts forest functioning and dynamics, and large uncertainties remain regarding the interactions between species composition, demographic processes, and environmental drivers. There are few robust tools available to link these processes, which precludes accurate projections and recommendations for long-term forest management. Forest gap-models present a balance between complexity and generality and are widely used in predictive forest ecology. However, their relevance to tackle questions about the links between species composition, climate and forest functioning is unclear. In this regard, demonstrating the ability of gap-models to predict the growth of forest stands at the annual time scale – representing a sensitive and integrated signal of tree functioning and mortality risk - appears as a fundamental step. In this study, we aimed at assessing the ability of a gap-model to accurately predict forest growth in the short-term and potential community composition in the long-term, across a wide range of species and environmental conditions. To do so, we present the gap-model ForCEEPS, calibrated using an original parameterization procedure for the main tree species in France. ForCEEPS was shown to satisfactorily predict forest annual growth (averaged over a few years) at the plot level from mountain to Mediterranean climates, regardless the species. Such an accuracy was not gained at the cost of losing precision for long-term predictions, as the model showed a strong ability to predict potential community composition along a gradient of sites with contrasted conditions. The mechanistic relevance of ForCEEPS parameterization was explored by showing the congruence between the values of key model parameter and species functional traits. We further showed that accounting for the spatial configuration of crowns within forest stands, the effects of climatic constraints and the variability of shade tolerances in the species community are all crucial to better predict short-term productivity with gap-models. The dual ability of predicting short-term functioning and long-term community composition, as well as the balance between generality and realism (i.e., predicting accuracy) of the new generation of gap-models may open great perspectives for the exploration of the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, species coexistence mechanisms, and the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems.
Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia Associated with Candidatus Mycoplasma Haematoparvum in a Splenectomized Dog in Italy

Abstract This report describes a case of canine hemotropic mycoplasmasosis by Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum in a dog. A five-year-old splenectomized dog was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Sassari with clinical symptoms and laboratory findings compatible with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Epicellular bacteria were detected in the erythrocytes by microscopic examination of blood smears. PCR and sequencing were positive for Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum. Treatment with doxycycline, prednisolone and blood transfusion was administered. Several studies have described the molecular prevalence of M. hemocanis and Candidatus M. haematoparvum, however there are few clinical reports, especially those describing Candidatus M. haematoparvum infection in dogs, for which only two cases have been reported. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case report of a symptomatic infection caused by Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum in Italy. Hemoplasmosis should be considered as a potential cause of hemolytic anemia in dogs. Following treatment with doxycycline and prednisolone, the clinical signs improved without resolution of infection. This condition was the same at the three-year follow-up.
Pyrolysis kinetics and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/bamboo particle biocomposites: Effect of particle size distribution

Abstract Bamboo particle (BP)-reinforced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) biocomposites were fabricated. The effect of the BP particle size distribution on the pyrolysis and mechanical properties of PLA biocomposites was evaluated. The optimum particle size of BP for improving the tensile strength PLA biocomposites is 200 mesh (16.6–84.5 µm). The pyrolysis mechanism and kinetics were studied according to the Coats–Redfern method. The addition of BP inhibited the pyrolysis process of PLA. The activation energy of biocomposites ranged from 120.7 to 151.5 kJ/mol, which is significantly higher than that of the neat PLA. The pyrolysis mechanisms of biocomposites are attributed to the chemical reaction at low pyrolysis temperature (270–400℃) and ash layer diffusion control at high pyrolysis temperature (400–600℃). Crystallization behavior of biocomposites showed that small BPs in PLA biocomposites generated more cross-linking points in the PLA matrix, which constrained the movement of the molecular chain and acted as an effective nucleating agent in promoting the crystallization process. The pyrolysis behavior and mechanical properties analysis provide critical information for potential large-scale production of the PLA biocomposites. Graphical abstract
Focus on Common Small Animal Vector-Borne Diseases in Central and Southeastern Europe

Abstract Vector-borne diseases are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in small animals in Europe. Many of these diseases are well-known among veterinary practitioners and some of them are called emerging diseases as prevalence, temporal and spatial distribution seem to increase in Europe. The number of newly recognized pathogens, transmitted by a variety of arthropod vectors, that are relevant for dogs and cats, is also increasing every year. The prevalence among infected vectors and hosts is a hot topic in veterinary science throughout the entire continent, as well as the development of efficient diagnostic procedures, therapy and prophylactic measures. Companion animal vector-borne diseases comprise a large group of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths. These pathogens are mainly transmitted by bloodsucking arthropods (ticks, fleas, mosquitos, sand flies), and more seldom by direct transmission between vertebrate hosts. Vector prevalence and activity is influenced by local climate conditions, host species density, changes in landscape and land use. Human parameters such as poverty and migration affect the use of prophylactic measures against pathogen transmission and infection as well as increasing the zoonotic risk to introducing pathogens by infected humans. Small animal associated factors such as pet trade and pet travel spread infection and certain vectors such as ticks and fleas. All these factors pose several complex and significant challenges for veterinarians in clinical practice to decide on efficient laboratory work-up and constructive diagnostic procedures.
On Nonpropagating Energy Around Antennas: Insights From the Theory of Radiation by Accelerated Charges

We provide an alternative viewpoint on nonpropagating energy around antennas different from the traditional reactive energy or the recently introduced Poynting localized approach. Instead of focusing on the infinitesimal dipole modelling (IDM) of current, or relying on the field-energy densities, we revisit the classic accelerated charge model of radiation to determine nonpropagating antenna energy involving distinct interactions between the velocity and acceleration fields. This approach can come in handy for analytical prediction of spacetime near-field energy dynamics around complex antenna systems and to probe deeper into the microscopic origins of energy and near-field dynamics close the source.
Polarization Independent Super Thin Metamaterial Microwave Broadband Absorber for X-Band Application

In this paper polarization independent super thin metamaterial microwave broadband absorber for X-band application has been reported. The presented unit cell absorber is comprised with four chip resistor (lumped element) which are connected with the close ring resonator (CRR) and Inside the CRR the circular resonator is incorporated to improve the bandwidth of the absorber. The top metallic patch is printed on the super thin FR4 epoxy $((\varepsilon_{\mathrm{r}}=4.4),\ (\tan(\delta)=0.02))$ substrate having $\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{k}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{s}\mathrm{s} (0.07\mathrm{m}\mathrm{m})$ with air spacer. The absorption of bandwidth is given by the presented unit cell is above the 90% in the frequency band of 6.3 GHz to 12 GHz. The unit cell is symmetrical in nature so it is given the same absorption at the different polarizations angles up to $90^{\mathrm{o}}$, thus shows polarization-insensitivity behavior. The response is stable for an oblique incident angle for both TE and TM mode up to $45^{\mathrm{o}}$ and with further increase in angles the absorption reduces significantly. The surface current distribution for absorption frequency are analyzed to study the absorption mechanism.
Estimation of Transmitter Position Based on Known Target Trajectory in Passive Radar

The paper deals with the problem of estimating the unknown transmitter position in passive radar. It is assumed that the radar is using an illuminator of opportunity, whose position is not known, but the bistatic measurements of a target or targets are obtained. If the Cartesian trajectories of those targets are known, e.g. from GPS or ADS-B, the transmitter position can be found by matching converted trajectories into the bistatic domain.
Wavelet Based Empirical Approach to Mitigate the Effect of Motion Artifacts from EEG Signal

Physiological signal such as Electroencephalographic (EEG) is often corrupted by artifacts during measurement and processing. These artifacts may corrupt the important topographies and signal information quality. The human health diagnosis needs a strong and feasible biomedical signal. Hence, the elimination of artifacts from physiological signal is a vital step. The Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) algorithm is used to convert input single channel EEG signal into a multi-channel EEG signal. This multi-channel EEG signal is further processed with Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) algorithm. Finally Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is employed to remove the randomness available in the signal due to remaining artifacts. This technique is tested and evaluated against currently available artifact removal techniques using efficiency matrices such as Del Signal to Noise Ratio (DSNR), Lambda, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Power Spectral Density (PSD) improvement. The improved parameters DSNR and by 28% and 17.81% respectively, pronounce the eligibility of the proposed algorithm to stand on top of currently employed algorithms.