Chicken Toll-like receptor 15 (ChTLR15) has been shown to participate in immune activation in response to various pathogens and in the innate defence against infection. Two genetically distinct ...Chinese breeds of chicken (Qinyuan Partridge and Baier breeds) were used to study the correlation between ChTLR15 single nucleotide polymorphisms and the natural infection status of salmonella in hens, and also to examine genetic and sex-specific effects on ChTLR15 mRNA expression in heterophils and spleen during acute infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) from 1 to 10 days after experimental infection. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (G168A, C726T and A1166G) in a single exon of ChTLR15 were identified in the two breeds, but only C726T showed a significant association with salmonella infection. Compared with layer-type Baier chicks, meat-type Qingyuan chicks showed a higher tolerance for capture stress and (SE) infection, as measured, respectively, by the modified body weight of chicks in the control group and in the infection group. Meanwhile, ChTLR15 down-regulation in heterophils and up-regulation in spleen were involved in the response to pathogenic SE colonization during the acute infection period. These significant genetic effects in females led to greater differences in both innate and adaptive immune responses than those exhibited in males. These results suggest that genetics, time and gender play important roles in the modulation of ChTLR15 mRNA level elicited by the SE-mediated immune response differentially in the two genetically distinct breeds, with a focus on sexual dimorphism.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We report an amplitude analysis and branching fraction measurement of D+s → K+K−π+ decay using a data sample of 3.19 fb−1 recorded with BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of 4.178 GeV. We ...perform a model-independent partial wave analysis in the low K+K− mass region to determine the K+K− S-wave line shape, followed by an amplitude analysis of our very pure high-statistics sample. With the detection efficiency based on the amplitude analysis results, the absolute branching fraction is measured to be B(D+s → K+K− π+) = (5.47 ± 0.0 8stat ± 0.13sys)%.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
The infusion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) potentially improves clinical symptoms, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We conducted a ...randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled (29 patients/group) phase II clinical trial to validate previous findings and explore the potential mechanisms. Patients treated with umbilical cord-derived MSCs exhibited a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.0198) and less time required for symptoms remission (P = 0.0194) than those who received placebo. Based on chest images, both severe and critical patients treated with MSCs showed improvement by day 7 (P = 0.0099) and day 21 (P = 0.0084). MSC-treated patients had fewer adverse events. MSC infusion reduced the levels of C-reactive protein, proinflammatory cytokines, and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and promoted the maintenance of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. To explore how MSCs modulate the immune system, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis on peripheral blood. Our analysis identified a novel subpopulation of VNN2
hematopoietic stem/progenitor-like (HSPC-like) cells expressing CSF3R and PTPRE that were mobilized following MSC infusion. Genes encoding chemotaxis factors - CX3CR1 and L-selectin - were upregulated in various immune cells. MSC treatment also regulated B cell subsets and increased the expression of costimulatory CD28 in T cells in vivo and in vitro. In addition, an in vivo mouse study confirmed that MSCs suppressed NET release and reduced venous thrombosis by upregulating kindlin-3 signaling. Together, our results underscore the role of MSCs in improving COVID-19 patient outcomes via maintenance of immune homeostasis.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
With increasing urbanization, particularly in the coastal regions of developing countries, the development of disaster management schemes is needed as the losses from a single event can destroy ...decades of development and threaten local populations, buildings and infrastructure. Geo-environmental suitability is often evaluated systematically in order to assess the nature of hazards and their potential damage to human life, land, buildings and other property. A suitability assessment will indicate the priorities for geological and environmental hazard management. This paper presents a geological environment suitability assessment that aims to identify grading in a current seaside urban development and develop practices to aid in the identification of hidden geological and environmental hazards. The Laoshan area in the city of Qingdao was used as a case study because it constitutes a good example of a developing city with geological and environmental threats. Also, urban plans have been drawn up here with insufficient or absent information on losses from potential natural hazards.
We report direct observation of an unexpected anisotropic swelling of Si nanowires during lithiation against either a solid electrolyte with a lithium counter-electrode or a liquid electrolyte with a ...LiCoO2 counter-electrode. Such anisotropic expansion is attributed to the interfacial processes of accommodating large volumetric strains at the lithiation reaction front that depend sensitively on the crystallographic orientation. This anisotropic swelling results in lithiated Si nanowires with a remarkable dumbbell-shaped cross section, which develops due to plastic flow and an ensuing necking instability that is induced by the tensile hoop stress buildup in the lithiated shell. The plasticity-driven morphological instabilities often lead to fracture in lithiated nanowires, now captured in video. These results provide important insight into the battery degradation mechanisms.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Wurtzite MgxZn1−xO thin films were grown on sapphire substrates by low-pressure metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The as-grown films show clear exciton absorption at room temperature until the ...composition x=0.25. A representative metal–semiconductor–metal structured photodetectors were fabricated from Mg0.06Zn0.94O film showed a peak responsivity of about 14.62 A/W at 340nm, and the ultraviolet-visible rejection ratio (R340 nm/R400 nm) was more than two orders of magnitude at 3V bias. The photodetector showed fast photoresponse with a rise time of 20ns and a fall time of 400ns.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Blood Glucose and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in the Asia Pacific Region
Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration *
From the Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration, Clinical Trials Research ...Unit, the University of Auckland, Auckland, New
Zealand
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Anthony Rodgers, Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration, Clinical Trials
Research Unit, the University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. E-mail: a.rodgers{at}ctru.auckland.ac.nz
Abstract
OBJECTIVE —To assess the shape and strength of the association between usual blood glucose and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Asian
and Australasian cohorts and to determine the impact of adjusting for other determinants of CVD risk and excluding people
with diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —Relative risk estimates and 95% CIs were calculated from Cox models, stratified by sex and cohort, and adjusted for age at
risk on individual participant data from 17 cohort studies. Repeat measurements of blood glucose were used to adjust for regression
dilution bias.
RESULTS —Fasting blood glucose data were available for 237,468 participants, and during ∼1.2 million person-years of follow-up, there
were 1,661 stroke and 816 ischemic heart disease (IHD) events. Data were also available on 27,996 participants with nonfasting
glucose measurements. Continuous positive associations were demonstrated between usual fasting glucose and the risks of CVD
down to at least 4.9 mmol/l. Overall, each 1 mmol/l lower usual fasting glucose was associated with a 21% (95% CI 18–24%)
lower risk of total stroke and a 23% (19–27%) lower risk of total IHD. The associations were similar in men and women, across
age-groups, and in Asian compared with Australasian (Australia and New Zealand) populations. Adjusting for potential confounders
or removing those with diabetes as baseline did not substantially affect the associations. Associations for nonfasting glucose
were weaker than those with fasting glucose.
CONCLUSIONS —Fasting blood glucose is an important determinant of CVD burden, with considerable potential benefit of usual blood glucose
lowering down to levels of at least 4.9 mmol/l.
APCSC, Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration
CVD, cardiovascular disease
IHD, ischemic heart disease
OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test
Footnotes
*
↵ * A complete list of the writing committee and collaboration members is available in the appendix .
A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.
Accepted August 28, 2004.
Received April 19, 2004.
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