Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antibody Responses of Young Calves to Inactivated Viral Vaccines

The ability of maternal antibodies to interfere with active immunization of young animals by vaccination has been realized for many years. The development of vaccines that would overcome this effect could contribute greatly to the prevention of viral diseases of cattle. Major advances have been made in the quality of commercial inactivated virus vaccines to increase their efficacy. Therefore, three of these vaccines were evaluated for immunogenicity in young calves with residual maternal antibodies. Groups of 30 calves were administered each of the vaccines at the start of the experimentation and were administered a second dose 32 days later. Serum was obtained from these calves and 30 calves in a nonvaccinated control group prior to vaccination and at 32, 61, 97 and 125 days thereafter. The sera were tested for antibody levels with virus neutralization tests. Antibody responses to viruses included in two of the vaccines were extremely limited and restricted to animals with low maternal antibody titers. The third vaccine overcame suppression by maternal antibodies and elicited responses clearly differentiated from antibody levels in the control group of calves. Mean antibody titers were significantly higher in this vaccinated group of calves when compared to unvaccinated calves or animals in the other two vaccinated groups at 61, 97 and 125 days.
β1 integrins differentially control extravasation of inflammatory cell subsets into the CNS during autoimmunity

Inhibiting the α4 subunit of the integrin heterodimers α4β1 and α4β7 with the monoclonal antibody natalizumab is an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the pharmacological action of natalizumab is not understood conclusively. Previous studies suggested that natalizumab inhibits activation, proliferation, or extravasation of inflammatory cells. To specify which mechanisms, cell types, and α4 heterodimers are affected by the antibody treatment, we studied MS-like experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice lacking the β1-integrin gene either in all hematopoietic cells or selectively in T lymphocytes. Our results show that T cells critically rely on β1 integrins to accumulate in the central nervous system (CNS) during EAE, whereas CNS infiltration of β1-deficient myeloid cells remains unaffected, suggesting that T cells are the main target of anti-α4-antibody blockade. We demonstrate that β1-integrin expression on encephalitogenic T cells is critical for EAE development, and we therefore exclude α4β7 as a target integrin of the antibody treatment. T cells lacking β1 integrin are unable to firmly adhere to CNS endothelium in vivo, whereas their priming and expansion remain unaffected. Collectively, these results suggest that the primary action of natalizumab is interference with T cell extravasation via inhibition of α4β1 integrins.
Population-level effects of automated smoking cessation help programs: a randomized controlled trial.

AIMS To test the population impact of offering automated smoking cessation interventions via the internet and/or by mobile phone. DESIGN Pragmatic randomized controlled trial with five conditions: offer of (i) minimal intervention control; (ii) QuitCoach personalized tailored internet-delivered advice program; (iii) onQ, an interactive automated text-messaging program; (iv) an integration of both QuitCoach and onQ; and (v) a choice of either alone or the combined program. SETTING Australia, via a mix of internet and telephone contacts. PARTICIPANTS A total of 3530 smokers or recent quitters recruited from those interested in quitting, and seeking self-help resources (n = 1335) or cold-contacted from internet panels (n = 2195). MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was self-report of 6 months sustained abstinence at 7 months post-recruitment. FINDINGS Only 42.5% of those offered one of the interventions took it up to a minimal level. The intervention groups combined had a non-significantly higher 6-month sustained abstinence rate than the control [odds ratio (OR) = 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98-2.24] (missing cases treated as smokers), with no differences between the interventions. Among those who used an intervention, there was a significant overall increase in abstinence (OR = 1.95; CI: 1.04-3.67), but not clearly so when analysing only cases with reported outcomes. Success rates were greater among those recruited after seeking information compared to those cold-contacted. CONCLUSIONS Smokers interested in quitting who were assigned randomly to an offer of either the QuitCoach internet-based support program and/or the interactive automated text-messaging program had non-significantly greater odds of quitting for at least 6 months than those randomized to an offer of a simple information website.
Electrical Assembly and Reduction of Graphene Oxide in a Single Solution Step for Use in Flexible Sensors

and chemical oxidation or exfoliation. [ 4 ] In the past few years, graphene materials have attracted considerable attention in many fi elds, including fl exible displays, solar cells, high-speed transistors, and sensitive sensors, due to their exceptional physical, chemical, electrical, mechanical, and biocompatible properties. [ 5 − 16 ] For example, graphene oxide (GO) is exceptionally suitable for use in chemical and biological sensors due to the nature of the atoms on its surface, scalable solution-based preparation process, and controllable surface defect density that modulates the sensor sensitivity and specifi city. [ 9 − 11 ] However, practical GO-based sensing applications are still limited, largely because of the diffi culties associated with controlling the surface oxidation state of GO and patterning/depositing GO thin fi lms on a substrate with the required device confi guration. Several methods of GO reduction have been developed, including high-temperature annealing of GO in vacuum or inert gases, chemical reduction of GO to reduced GO (RGO) in solution, and electrochemical reduction of GO. These methods are useful for reducing prepatterned or deposited GO, but in the case of GO in solution additional efforts are required to assemble the RGO. The electrochemical method is easy, “green”, and scalable, but a complicated buffer solution is needed. [ 15 ] In the case of the recently developed direct-current reduction of GO, the reduction mechanism is believed to be similar to that in the electrochemical method. The current electrochemical method has two disadvantages: a high voltage is needed to activate the reduction ( > 10 V), [ 16a ] and the reaction is strongly affected by the relative humidity of the ambient air. [ 16 ] If these two problems can be overcome, the electrochemical reduction method would be much more useful for the practical preparation of
Host–pathogen time series data in wildlife support a transmission function between density and frequency dependence

A key aim in epidemiology is to understand how pathogens spread within their host populations. Central to this is an elucidation of a pathogen's transmission dynamics. Mathematical models have generally assumed that either contact rate between hosts is linearly related to host density (density-dependent) or that contact rate is independent of density (frequency-dependent), but attempts to confirm either these or alternative transmission functions have been rare. Here, we fit infection equations to 6 years of data on cowpox virus infection (a zoonotic pathogen) for 4 natural populations to investigate which of these transmission functions is best supported by the data. We utilize a simple reformulation of the traditional transmission equations that greatly aids the estimation of the relationship between density and host contact rate. Our results provide support for an infection rate that is a saturating function of host density. Moreover, we find strong support for seasonality in both the transmission coefficient and the relationship between host contact rate and host density, probably reflecting seasonal variations in social behavior and/or host susceptibility to infection. We find, too, that the identification of an appropriate loss term is a key component in inferring the transmission mechanism. Our study illustrates how time series data of the host–pathogen dynamics, especially of the number of susceptible individuals, can greatly facilitate the fitting of mechanistic disease models.
A Multiresponsive, Shape‐Persistent, and Elastic Supramolecular Polymer Network Gel Constructed by Orthogonal Self‐Assembly

A cross-linked supramolecular polymer network gel is designed and prepared, which shows reversible gel-sol transitions induced by changes in pH, temperature, cation concentration, and metal co-ordination. The gel pore size is controlled by the amount of cross-linker added to the system, and the material can be molded into shape-persistent, free-standing objects with elastic behavior. These features are all due to the dynamically reversible host-guest complexation and good mechanical properties of the cross-linked polymer network. No single organogel has previously been reported to possess all of these features, making this supramolecular gel an unprecedentedly intelligent soft material.
n‐Doping of Organic Electronic Materials using Air‐Stable Organometallics

Air-stable dimers of sandwich compounds including rhodocene and (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(arene)ruthenium and iron derivatives can be used for n-doping electron-transport materials with electron affinities as small as 2.8 eV. A p-i-n homojunction diode based on copper phthalocyanine and using rhodocene dimer as n-dopant shows a rectification ratio of greater than 10(6) at 4 V.
Asymmetric Magnetization Reversal of Stripe‐Patterned Exchange Bias Layer Systems for Controlled Magnetic Particle Transport

Domain wall movement assisted transport of particles: exchange-biased samples with designed stripe-domains show strong stray fields and an asymmetric magnetization reversal. Using these characteristics superparamagnetic particles can be trapped and transported directly on the sample over large-scale areas. High particle velocities, small external fields, and automatically reduced particle clustering allow broad applicability of this transport method.
Roles of PCNA-binding and ubiquitin-binding domains in human DNA polymerase η in translesion DNA synthesis

Treatment of yeast and human cells with DNA-damaging agents elicits Rad6–Rad18-mediated monoubiquitination of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) at its Lys-164 residue [ubiquitin (Ub)-PCNA], and this PCNA modification is indispensable for promoting the access of translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerases (Pols) to PCNA. However, the means by which K164-linked Ub modulates the proficiency of TLS Pols to bind PCNA and take over synthesis from the replicative Pol has remained unclear. One model that has gained considerable credence is that the TLS Pols bind PCNA at 2 sites, to the interdomain connector loop via their PCNA-interacting protein (PIP) domain and to the K164-linked Ub moiety via their Ub-binding domain (UBD). Specifically, this model postulates that the UBD-mediated binding of TLS Pols to the Ub moiety on PCNA is necessary for TLS. To test the validity of this model, we examine the contributions that the PIP and Ub-binding zinc finger (UBZ) domains of human Polη make to its functional interaction with PCNA, its colocalization with PCNA in replication foci, and its role in TLS in vivo. We conclude from these studies that the binding to PCNA via its PIP domain is a prerequisite for Polη's ability to function in TLS in human cells and that the direct binding of the Ub moiety on PCNA via its UBZ domain is not required. We discuss the possible role of the Ub moiety on PCNA in TLS.
Structural and dynamic aspects related to oligomerization of apo SOD1 and its mutants

The structural and dynamical properties of the metal-free form of WT human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and its familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS)-related mutants, T54R and I113T, were characterized both in solution, through NMR, and in the crystal, through X-ray diffraction. We found that all 3 X-ray structures show significant structural disorder in 2 loop regions that are, at variance, well defined in the fully-metalated structures. Interestingly, the apo state crystallizes only at low temperatures, whereas all 3 proteins in the metalated form crystallize at any temperature, suggesting that crystallization selects one of the most stable conformations among the manifold adopted by the apo form in solution. Indeed, NMR experiments show that the protein in solution is highly disordered, sampling a large range of conformations. The large conformational variability of the apo state allows the free reduced cysteine Cys-6 to become highly solvent accessible in solution, whereas it is essentially buried in the metalated state and the crystal structures. Such solvent accessibility, together with that of Cys-111, accounts for the tendency to oligomerization of the metal-free state. The present results suggest that the investigation of the solution state coupled with that of the crystal state can provide major insights into SOD1 pathway toward oligomerization in relation to fALS.
HIV infection-associated immune activation occurs by two distinct pathways that differentially affect CD4 and CD8 T cells

HIV infection is characterized by a brisk immune activation that plays an important role in the CD4 depletion and immune dysfunction of patients with AIDS. The mechanism underlying this activation is poorly understood. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that this activation is the net product of two distinct pathways: the inflammatory response to HIV infection and the homeostatic response to CD4 T cell depletion. Using ex vivo BrdU incorporation of PBMCs from 284 patients with different stages of HIV infection, we found that CD4 proliferation was better predicted by the combination of CD4 depletion and HIV viral load (R2 = 0.375, P < 0.001) than by either parameter alone (CD4 T cell counts, R2 = 0.202, P < 0.001; HIV viremia, R2 = 0.302, P < 0.001). Interestingly, CD8 T cell proliferation could be predicted by HIV RNA levels alone (R2 = 0.334, P < 0.001) and this predictive value increased only slightly (R2 = 0.346, P < 0.001) when CD4 T cell depletion was taken into account. Consistent with the hypothesis that CD4 T cell proliferation is driven by IL-7 as a homeostatic response to CD4 T cell depletion, levels of phosphorylated STAT-5 were found to be elevated in naive subsets of CD4 and CD8 T cells from patients with HIV infection and in the central memory subset of CD4 T cells. Taken together these data demonstrate that at least two different pathways lead to immune activation of T cells in patients with HIV infection and these pathways differentially influence CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets.
Solving Efficiency–Stability Tradeoff in Top‐Emitting Organic Light‐Emitting Devices by Employing Periodically Corrugated Metallic Cathode

The introduction of a periodic corrugation into TOLEDs is demonstrated to be effective in relieving the tradeoff between device stability and efficiency, through the cross coupling of the SPPs associated with the Ag cathode and the microcavity modes. The thickness of the Ag cathode for the corrugated TOLEDs was increased from 20 to 45 nm, and both the device lifetime and efficiency are significantly improved. The figure shows a schematic cross section of a red TOLED with periodic microstructure and an operating TOLED with both corrugated and planar area.
Cdk5 is essential for adult hippocampal neurogenesis

The molecular factors regulating adult neurogenesis must be understood to harness the therapeutic potential of neuronal stem cells. Although cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) plays a critical role in embryonic corticogenesis, its function in adult neurogenesis is unknown. Here, we assessed the role of Cdk5 in the generation of dentate gyrus (DG) granule cell neurons in adult mice. Cre recombinase-mediated conditional knockout (KO) of Cdk5 from stem cells and their progeny in the DG subgranular zone (SGZ) prevented maturation of new neurons. In addition, selective KO of Cdk5 from mature neurons throughout the hippocampus reduced the number of immature neurons. Furthermore, Cdk5 gene deletion specifically from DG granule neurons via viral-mediated gene transfer also resulted in fewer immature neurons. In each case, the total number of proliferating cells was unaffected, indicating that Cdk5 is necessary for progression of adult-generated neurons to maturity. This role for Cdk5 in neurogenesis was activating-cofactor specific, as p35 KO but not p39 KO mice also had fewer immature neurons. Thus, Cdk5 has an essential role in the survival, but not proliferation, of adult-generated hippocampal neurons through both cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic mechanisms.
High‐Strain Sensors Based on ZnO Nanowire/Polystyrene Hybridized Flexible Films

A type of strain sensor with high tolerable strain based on a ZnO nanowires/polystyrene nanofibers hybrid structure on a polydimethylsiloxane film is reported. The novel strain sensor can measure and withstand high strain and demonstrates good performance on rapid human-motion measurements. In addition, the device could be driven by solar cells. The results indicate that the device has potential applications as an outdoor sensor system.
Redox‐Responsive Molecular Nanoreservoirs for Controlled Intracellular Anticancer Drug Delivery Based on Magnetic Nanoparticles

A novel redox responsive controlled drug release system based on magnetic nanoparticles for efficient intracellular anticancer drug delivery is fabricated. Disulfide bonds are employed as intermediate linkers to immobilize PEI/β-CD molecules as nanoreservoirs for drug loading onto magnetic nanoparticles. The endocytotic pathway and endosomal escape of the smart controlled drug release system is proposed.
Identification of Barkor as a mammalian autophagy-specific factor for Beclin 1 and class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Autophagy mediates the cellular response to nutrient deprivation, protein aggregation, and pathogen invasion in human. Dysfunction of autophagy has been implicated in multiple human diseases including cancer. The identification of novel autophagy factors in mammalian cells will provide critical mechanistic insights into how this complicated cellular pathway responds to a broad range of challenges. Here, we report the cloning of an autophagy-specific protein that we called Barkor (Beclin 1-associated autophagy-related key regulator) through direct interaction with Beclin 1 in the human phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase class III complex. Barkor shares 18% sequence identity and 32% sequence similarity with yeast Atg14. Elimination of Barkor expression by RNA interference compromises starvation- and rapamycin-induced LC3 lipidation and autophagosome formation. Overexpression of Barkor leads to autophagy activation and increased number and enlarged volume of autophagosomes. Tellingly, Barkor is also required for suppression of the autophagy-mediated intracellular survival of Salmonella typhimurium in mammalian cells. Mechanistically, Barkor competes with UV radiation resistance associated gene product (UVRAG) for interaction with Beclin 1, and the complex formation of Barkor and Beclin1 is required for their localizations to autophagosomes. Therefore, we define a regulatory signaling pathway mediated by Barkor that positively controls autophagy through Beclin 1 and represents a potential target for drug development in the treatment of human diseases implicated in autophagic dysfunction.
Self-reported alcohol use of college fraternity and sorority members

The Core Alcohol and Drug Survey was used to compare the alcohol use patterns and the personal beliefs and expectancies about alcohol use of 385 fraternity and sorority members and 1,518 non-Greek-affiliated college students. The results show that college fraternity and sorority members reported using significantly higher levels of weekly and monthly alcohol use and a greater likelihood of using alcohol at private parties or at fraternity or sorority houses, than non-Greek students reported. Fraternity members reported higher levels of drinking than did sorority members. Multiple regressions reveal the importance of peer norms and perceived benefits of alcohol in predicting levels of alcohol consumption for fraternity and sorority members.
Magnetic Helical Micromachines: Fabrication, Controlled Swimming, and Cargo Transport

A simple and general fabrication method for helical swimming micromachines by direct laser writing and e-beam evaporation is demonstrated. The magnetic helical devices exhibit varying magnetic shape anisotropy, yet always generate corkscrew motion using a rotating magnetic field. They also exhibit good swimming performance and are capable of pick-and-place micromanipulation in 3D. Cytotoxicity of the devices was investigated using mouse myoblasts. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Lettuce mosaic virus: from pathogen diversity to host interactors.

TAXONOMY Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) belongs to the genus Potyvirus (type species Potato virus Y) in the family Potyviridae. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES The virion is filamentous, flexuous with a length of 750 nm and a width of 15 nm. The particles are made of a genomic RNA of 10 080 nucleotides, covalently linked to a viral-encoded protein (the VPg) at the 5' end and with a 3' poly A tail, and encapsidated in a single type of capsid protein. The molecular weight of the capsid protein subunit has been estimated electrophoretically to be 34 kDa and estimated from the amino acid sequence to be 31 kDa. GENOME ORGANIZATION The genome is expressed as a polyprotein of 3255 amino-acid residues, processed by three virus-specific proteinases into ten mature proteins. HOSTS LMV has a worldwide distribution and a relatively broad host range among several families. Weeds and ornamentals can act as local reservoirs for lettuce crops. In particular, many species within the family Asteraceae are susceptible to LMV, including cultivated and ornamental species such as common (Lactuca sativa), prickly (L. serriola) or wild (L. virosa) lettuce, endive/escarole (Cichorium endiva), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), Cape daisy (Osteospermum spp.) and gazania (Gazania rigens). In addition, several species within the families Brassicaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae and Chenopodiaceae are natural or experimental hosts of LMV. Genetic control of resistance to LMV: The only resistance genes currently used to protect lettuce crops worldwide are the recessive genes mo1(1) and mo1(2) corresponding to mutant alleles of the gene encoding the translation initiation factor eIF4E in lettuce. It is believed that at least one intact copy of eIF4E must be present to ensure virus accumulation. TRANSMISSION LMV is transmitted in a non-persistent manner by a high number of aphid species. Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae are particularly active in disseminating this virus in the fields. LMV is also seedborne in lettuce. The effectiveness of LMV transmission depends on the cultivar and the age of the seed carrier at the inoculation time. SYMPTOMS The characteristic symptoms on susceptible lettuce cultivars are dwarfism, mosaic, distortion and yellowing of the leaves with sometimes a much reduced heart of lettuce (failure to form heads). The differences in virus strains, cultivars and the physiological stage of the host at the moment of the attack cause different symptom severity: from a very slight discoloration of the veins to severe necrosis leading to the death of the plant.