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Expert face recognition has long been marked by holistic processing. Hence, due to the many visual properties shared between face perception and Chinese characters, it has been suggested that Chinese character recognition may induce stronger holistic processing in expert readers than in novices. However, there have been different viewpoints presented about Chinese character recognition, one of which suggests that expertise in this skill involved reduced holistic processing which may be modulated by writing experiences/performances. In this study we examined holistic processing in Chinese character recognition in adults with and without dyslexia, using the complete composite paradigm. Our results showed that the adults with dyslexia recognized Chinese characters with a stronger holistic processing effect than the typical controls. It seems that those with dyslexia relied overly on the visual spatial information of characters and showed deficits in attending selectively to their components when processing Chinese characters, which hindered the development of expert reading and writing skills. This effect was in contrast to previous perceptual expertise studies in which reduced holistic processing marked deficits in face/visual object recognition. This study is also the first to show that Chinese adults with dyslexia had persistent below average performances in Chinese literacy.

Influenza A virus causes annual epidemics and sporadic pandemics, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Vaccines are currently available; however, they induce a non‐strain‐cross protective humoral immune response directed against the rapidly mutating surface glycoproteins, and thus need to be updated annually. As T cells are directed against more conserved internal influenza proteins, a T‐cell‐based vaccine has the potential to induce long‐lasting and cross‐strain protective CD8+ T‐cell immunity, and in that way minimize the severity of influenza infection. However, to rationally design such vaccines, we need to identify immunogenic T‐cell regions within the most antigenic viral proteins. In this study, we have used a systematic approach to identify immunodominant peptides in HLA‐A2‐negative donors. A broad range of CD8+ T‐cell responses were observed and 6/7 donors had an immunodominant response against the relatively conserved internal nucleoprotein (NP). Dissecting the minimal epitope regions within the immunogenic NP led to the identification of six novel immunodominant epitopes, which include a 12‐mer and an 8‐mer peptides. The majority of immunodominant epitopes was clustered within the carboxyl terminal 2/3 of the NP protein and were highly conserved. We also subjected NP to three common computer algorithms for epitope prediction and found that most of the novel epitopes would not have been predicted. Our study emphasizes the importance of using a systematic approach to identify immunodominant CD8+ T‐cell responses and suggests that the epitope‐rich regions within NP present a promising target for the T‐cell‐mediated multi‐strain influenza vaccine.

A growing number of studies have shown that γδ T cells play a pivotal role in mediating the clearance of tumors and pathogen-infected cells with their potent cytotoxic, cytolytic, and unique immune-modulating functions. Unlike the more abundant αβ T cells, γδ T cells can recognize a broad range of tumors and infected cells without the requirement of antigen presentation via major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Our group has recently demonstrated parts of the mechanisms of T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent activation of Vγ9Vδ2 + T cells by tumors following the presentation of phosphoantigens, intermediates of the mevalonate pathway. This process is mediated through the B7 immunoglobulin family-like butyrophilin 2A1 (BTN2A1) and BTN3A1 complexes. Such recognition results in activation, a robust immunosurveillance process, and elicits rapid γδ T-cell immune responses. These include targeted cell killing, and the ability to produce copious quantities of cytokines and chemokines to exert immune-modulating properties and to interact with other immune cells. This immune cell network includes αβ T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, natural killer cells, and neutrophils, hence heavily influencing the outcome of immune responses. This key role in orchestrating immune cells and their natural tropism for tumor microenvironment makes γδ T cells an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we review the current understanding of these important interactions and highlight the implications of the crosstalk between γδ T cells and other immune cells in the context of anti-tumor immunity.

In this study, the long-term efficacy of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination was assessed using seroprevalence and an age-period-cohort (APC) model of HBV seromarkers among university entrants 30 years after the introduction of the national neonatal HBV vaccination program in Taiwan. In total, data of 17,611 university entrants who underwent university entrance health examinations between 2005 and 2016 were included. The seroprevalence of the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and the levels of the antibody against the HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) in each year group and sex were calculated. The levels of the antibody against the HBV core antigen were examined only for 2012 and 2016. The APC model was used to analyze the HBV carrier rates. The chronic HBV infection (HBsAg positivity) rate decreased from 9.7% in university students born before June 1974 to <1.0% in students born after 1992. The prevalence of anti-HBs positivity declined, particularly between the 1984-1988 cohort (78.2%-53.2%) and the 1990-1994 cohort (60.6%-44.4%). Our APC model revealed that the chronic HBV carrier rate among the student population was affected significantly by age, period, and cohort (  < 0.001). HBV vaccination is one of the most effective strategies for preventing HBV infection. However, for complete eradication of HBV infection, the development of strategies that detect vaccination failure more effectively than current strategies do and early implementation of appropriate treatments are both necessary.

Epidemiological studies have observed that the seasonal peak incidence of influenza virus infection is sometimes separate from the peak incidence of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) infection, with the peak incidence of hRSV infection delayed. This is proposed to be due to viral interference, whereby infection with one virus prevents or delays infection with a different virus. We investigated viral interference between hRSV and 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus (A[H1N1]pdm09) in the ferret model. Infection with A(H1N1)pdm09 prevented subsequent infection with hRSV. Infection with hRSV reduced morbidity attributed to infection with A(H1N1)pdm09 but not infection, even when an increased inoculum dose of hRSV was used. Notably, infection with A(H1N1)pdm09 induced higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and immune mediators in the ferret than hRSV. Minimal cross-reactive serological responses or interferon γ-expressing cells were induced by either virus ≥14 days after infection. These data indicate that antigen-independent mechanisms may drive viral interference between unrelated respiratory viruses that can limit subsequent infection or disease.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is among the leading causes of human mortality. One reason for high rates of NSCLC mortality is that drug resistance is a major problem for both conventional chemotherapies and less-toxic targeted therapies. Thus, novel mechanistic insights into disease pathogenesis may benefit the development of urgently needed therapies. Here we show that FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (FOSB) was induced by an antimicrobial peptide, tilapia piscidin-4 (TP4), through the dysregulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in NSCLC cells. Transcriptomic, chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR, and immunocytochemical studies reveal that protocadherin-β13 (PCDHB13) as a target of FOSB that was functionally associated with microtubule. Overexpression of either PCDHB13 or FOSB attenuated NSCLC growth and survival in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, downregulation of both FOSB and PCDHB13 was observed in NSCLC patients and was negatively correlated with pathological grade. These findings introduce the FOSB–PCDHB13 axis as a novel tumor suppressive pathway in NSCLC.

Using a ferret model of human influenza, we demonstrate that infection with one influenza B virus can prevent or limit infection with an influenza B virus of the other lineage. This occurs when infections are separated by days or weeks. Abstract Background Two influenza B virus lineages, B/Victoria and B/Yamagata, cocirculate in the human population. While the lineages are serologically distinct, cross-reactive responses to both lineages have been detected. Viral interference describes the situation whereby infection with one virus limits infection and replication of a second virus. We investigated the potential for viral interference between the influenza B virus lineages. Methods Ferrets were infected and then challenged 3, 10, or 28 days later with pairs of influenza B/Victoria and B/Yamagata viruses. Results Viral interference occurred at challenge intervals of 3 and 10 days and occasionally at 28 days. At the longer interval, shedding of challenge virus was reduced, and this correlated with cross-reactive interferon γ responses from lymph nodes from virus-infected animals. Viruses from both lineages could prevent or significantly limit subsequent infection with a virus from the other lineage. Coinfections were rare, indicating the potential for reassortment between lineages is limited. Conclusions These data suggest that innate and cross-reactive immunity mediate viral interference and that this may contribute to the dominance of a specific influenza B virus lineage in any given influenza season. Furthermore, infection with one influenza B virus lineage may be beneficial in protecting against subsequent infection with either influenza B virus lineage.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I molecules generally bind short peptides (8–10 amino acids), although extended HLA-I restricted peptides (>10 amino acids) can be presented to T cells. However, the function of such extended HLA-I epitopes in tumour immunity, and how they would be recognised by T-cell receptors (TCR) remains unclear. Here we show that the structures of two distinct TCRs (TRAV4 + TRAJ21 + -TRBV28 + TRBJ2-3 + and TRAV4 + TRAJ8 + -TRBV9 + TRBJ2 - 1 + ), originating from a polyclonal T-cell repertoire, bind to HLA-B*07:02, presenting a 13-amino-acid-long tumour-associated peptide, NY-ESO-1 60–72 . Comparison of the structures reveals that the two TCRs differentially binds NY-ESO-1 60–72 –HLA-B*07:02 complex, and induces differing extent of conformational change of the NY-ESO-1 60–72 epitope. Accordingly, polyclonal TCR usage towards an extended HLA-I restricted tumour epitope translates to differing TCR recognition modes, whereby extensive flexibility at the TCR–pHLA-I interface engenders recognition. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) presents peptides to activate T cells, but many aspects in the T cell receptor (TCR)/HLA interaction remain unclear. Here the authors show, via structural data, that two TCRs differentially recognize the same tumour peptide/HLA complex and induce contrasting conformation changes of the peptide.

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are well-established composites applied on commercial, laboratory, and even industrial scales, including pottery for decoration, glass–ceramics-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs), commercial cooking utensils, high-temperature laboratory instruments, industrial catalytic reactors, and engine turbine blades. Despite the extensive applications of CMCs, researchers had to deal with their brittleness, low electrical conductivity, and low thermal properties. The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as reinforcement is an effective and efficient method to tailor the ceramic structure at the nanoscale, which provides considerable practicability in the fabrication of highly functional CMC materials. This article provides a comprehensive review of CNTs-reinforced CMC materials (CNTs-CMCs). We critically examined the notable challenges during the synthesis of CNTs-CMCs. Five CNT dispersion processes were elucidated with a comparative study of the established research for the homogeneity distribution in the CMCs and the enhanced properties. We also discussed the effect of densification techniques on the properties of CNTs-CMCs. Additionally, we synopsized the outstanding microstructural and functional properties of CNTs in the CNTs-CMCs, namely stimulated ceramic crystallization, high thermal conductivity, bandgap reduction, and improved mechanical toughness. We also addressed the fundamental insights for the future technological maturation and advancement of CNTs-CMCs.

Purpose Protein-energy wasting is a common complication among patients with kidney failure undergoing dialysis. This study aims to develop a homemade oral nutrition supplement (ONS) to fulfill the energy and protein requirements of these patients. Design/methodology/approach Three formulations of homemade ONS were developed using soybean milk, whey protein isolates and canola oil. Two of these formulations were flavored with pineapple and honeydew juices, respectively. The energy and macronutrient contents were determined using proximate analyses, and mineral contents were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The acceptance of homemade ONS for five attributes, namely color, taste, odor, consistency and overall acceptability, was assessed using the nine-point hedonic scale. Findings The homemade ONS provided 198–212 kcal and 8.4–9.6 g protein per 100 mL, which were comparable to commercial products. Similarly, the sodium (45–65 mg/100 mL) and phosphorus (56–66 mg/100 mL) contents were on par with commercial products. However, the potassium content of homemade ONS was higher, ranging from 141 to 155 mg per 100 mL. The sensory evaluation indicated that the formulation added with honeydew juice had a similar degree of acceptance as the commercial ONS, while formulations containing pineapple juice and without added fruit juice were less favored. Originality/value A few studies have investigated the development of food products for individuals with kidney failure on dialysis. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to focus on developing a homemade ONS specifically tailored to meet the unique nutritional needs of hemodialysis patients. In addition, this research included a comprehensive assessment of the beverage’s nutritional content and sensory attributes.