Publications by authors named "J D Luna"

Surfactants can be used as nanoparticle stabilizing agents. However, since synthetic surfactants are not economically viable and environmentally friendly, biosurfactants are emerging as a green alternative for the synthesis and stabilization of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have been applied in several areas of industry, such as the production of biomedical and therapeutic components, packaging coating, solar energy generation and transmission and distribution of electrical energy, among others.

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Article Synopsis
  • Interferons (IFNs) are important for how our bodies respond to viruses, and this study used CRISPR to find human genes affecting SARS-CoV-2 infection with and without IFN.
  • The research identified 28 key genes linked to COVID-19, especially those involving the IFN pathway, including PLSCR1, which can limit virus entry without needing IFN.
  • PLSCR1’s ability to block SARS-CoV-2 was reduced by the overexpression of TMPRSS2, and some virus variants have evolved to bypass PLSCR1’s defense, suggesting ongoing challenges in controlling the virus.
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Objectives: American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) infants historically experienced a disproportionate burden of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease, especially early in life. PedvaxHIB vaccine is preferentially recommended for AI/AN infants because it elicits protective antibody levels postdose 1. Vaxelis, a hexavalent vaccine that contains the same Hib conjugate as PedvaxHIB but at lower concentration, is recommended for US children, but postdose 1 Hib immunogenicity data are needed to inform whether a preferential recommendation should be made for AI/AN infants.

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The activation of autonomic and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) systems occurs interdependently with behavioral adjustments under varying environmental demands. Nevertheless, laboratory rodent studies examining the neural bases of stress responses have generally attributed increments in these systems to be monolithic, regardless of whether an active or passive coping strategy is employed. Using the shock probe defensive burying test (SPDB) to measure stress-coping features naturalistically in male and female rats, we identify a neural pathway whereby activity changes may promote distinctive response patterns of hemodynamic and HPA indices typifying active and passive coping phenotypes.

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