We have obtained medium-resolution spectra of seven UV-bright stars discovered on images of four southern globular clusters obtained with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT). Effective temperatures, surface gravities and helium abundances are derived from LTE and non-LTE model atmosphere fits. Three of the stars have sdO spectra, including M4Y453 (Teff = 58800 K, log g = 5.15), NGC 6723-III...

We have obtained 1.0—2.5μm spectra at R∼600 of 14 disk dwarfs with spectral types M6 to L7. For four of the dwarfs we have also obtained infrared spectra at R∼3000 in several narrow intervals. In addition, we present new L′ photometry for four of the dwarfs in the sample, which allows improved determinations of their bolometric luminosities. While obtaining the photometry we resolved the L-dwar...

It is now well established that the effector T cell (Teff) response is regulated by a series of metabolic switches. Quiescent T cells predominantly require adenosine triphosphate-generating processes, whereas proliferating Teff require high metabolic flux through growth-promoting pathways, such as glycolysis. Pathways that control metabolism and immune cell function are intimately linked, and c...

We have observed a large sample of compact planetary nebulae in the near-infrared to determine how the 2P–2S HeI line at 2.058μm varies as a function of stellar effective temperature, Teff . The ratio of this line with HI Brγ at 2.166μm has often been used as a measure of the highest Teff present in a stellar cluster, and hence on whether there is a cut-off in the stellar initial mass function ...

Elevated levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and its positive correlation with Foxp3 expression in hepatitis E patients have indicated involvement of TGF-β1 in hepatitis E pathogenesis. The current study determined polymorphisms in TGF-β1 gene, plasma TGF-β1 levels and T effector (Teff) cell proliferation and explored their association in a case control study. Polymorphisms in thre...

There is now compelling evidence that TNFR2 is constitutively expressed on CD4(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) and TNF-TNFR2 interaction is critical for the activation, expansion and functional stability of Tregs. However, we showed that the expression of TNFR2 was also up-regulated on CD4(+) Foxp3(-) effector T cells (Teffs) upon TCR stimulation. In order to define the role of TNFR2 in ...

We use new and extant literature spectroscopy to address abundances and membership for UMa moving group stars. We first compare the UMa, Coma, and Hyades H-R diagrams via a homogeneous set of isochrones, and find that these three aggregates are essentially coeval; this (near) coevality can explain the indistinguishable distributions of UMa and Hyades dwarfs in the chromospheric emission versus ...

The sensing by T cells of metabolic and energetic changes in the microenvironment can determine the differentiation, maturation, and activation of these cells. Although it is known that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) gauges nutritonal and energetic signals in the extracellular milieu, it is not known how mTOR and metabolism influence CD4+CD25-FOXP3- effector T cell (Teff) responses. In th...

Long-term exposure to crystalline silica leads to silicosis, which is characterized by persistent lung inflammation and lung fibrosis. Multiple immune cells have been demonstrated to participate in crystalline silica-induced immune responses. Our previous study indicated that B10 could control lung inflammation through modulating the Th balance in experimental silicosis in mice. However, the re...

Tumors convert conventional CD4(+) T cells into induced CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T regulatory (iTreg) cells that serve as an effective means of immune evasion. Therefore, the blockade of conventional CD4(+) T cell conversion into iTreg cells represents an attractive target for improving the efficacy of various immunotherapeutic approaches. Using a novel form of 4-1BBL molecule, SA-4-1BBL, we previ...