Chironomid-inferred summer temperature development during the late Rissian glacial, Eemian interglacial and earliest Würmian glacial at Füramoos, southern Germany

Eemian pollen records from central Europe describe a transition from thermophilous tree taxa in the early Eemian to boreal tree taxa in the late Eemian with forest opening in the subsequent stadial. Available summer-temperature reconstructions for the mid- to late Eemian transition show decreasing values during that time. We present a new chironomid record from southern Germany that covers the mid-Eemian to the end of the first Würmian stadial ( c . 125-105 ka) and also parts of the late Rissian glaciation and early Brörup interstadial of the early Würmian glaciation. Based on this record we describe lake development in the former Füramoos palaeolake and quantitatively reconstruct July air temperature during the examined interval. Late Rissian sediments are dominated by two chironomid taxa, Sergentia coracina -type and Micropsectra radialis -type, indicating very cold conditions. Following an uncertain interval, probably including a hiatus at the late Rissian/Eemian transition, mid-Eemian sediments contain Tanytarsus glabrescens -type and Tanytarsus mendax -type suggesting relatively high July air temperatures. During the late Eemian, typically thermophilic taxa such as Tanytarsus glabrescens -type disappear, suggesting decreasing temperatures. Stadial A is associated with increases in Microtendipes pedellus -type suggesting more oligotrophic conditions. Early Brörup sediments contain Tanytarsus glabrescens -type, suggesting a slight increase in July air temperature. Reconstructed July air temperatures show temperatures of 7-8 °C during the late Rissian and a decline from ~15.5-12 °C during the mid- to late Eemian associated with decreasing Northern Hemisphere July insolation. July air temperature values vary between 12 and 14 °C in the late Eemian, while reconstructed temperatures remain within 12-13.5 °C during Stadial A. Our new chironomid-based temperature reconstruction provides valuable corroboration and new quantification of temperature development from the mid-Eemian to the early Brörup interstadial as well as for sections of the late Rissian from the alpine foreland of southern Germany

Pediatric Cushing disease: disparities in disease severity and outcomes in the Hispanic and African-American populations.

BackgroundLittle is known about the contribution of racial and socioeconomic disparities to severity and outcomes in children with Cushing disease (CD).MethodsA total of 129 children with CD, 45 Hispanic/Latino or African-American (HI/AA) and 84 non-Hispanic White (non-HW), were included in this study. A 10-point index for rating severity (CD severity) incorporated the degree of hypercortisolemia, glucose tolerance, hypertension, anthropomorphic measurements, disease duration, and tumor characteristics. Race, ethnicity, age, gender, local obesity prevalence, estimated median income, and access to care were assessed in regression analyses of CD severity.ResultsThe mean CD severity in the HI/AA group was worse than that in the non-HW group (4.9±2.0 vs. 4.1±1.9, P=0.023); driving factors included higher cortisol levels and larger tumor size. Multiple regression models confirmed that race (P=0.027) and older age (P=0.014) were the most important predictors of worse CD severity. When followed up a median of 2.3 years after surgery, the relative risk for persistent CD combined with recurrence was 2.8 times higher in the HI/AA group compared with that in the non-HW group (95% confidence interval: 1.2-6.5).ConclusionOur data show that the driving forces for the discrepancy in severity of CD are older age and race/ethnicity. Importantly, the risk for persistent and recurrent CD was higher in minority children

RNA-binding proteins ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 promote cell quiescence.

Progression through the stages of lymphocyte development requires coordination of the cell cycle. Such coordination ensures genomic integrity while cells somatically rearrange their antigen receptor genes [in a process called variable-diversity-joining (VDJ) recombination] and, upon successful rearrangement, expands the pools of progenitor lymphocytes. Here we show that in developing B lymphocytes, the RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 are critical for maintaining quiescence before precursor B cell receptor (pre-BCR) expression and for reestablishing quiescence after pre-BCR-induced expansion. These RBPs suppress an evolutionarily conserved posttranscriptional regulon consisting of messenger RNAs whose protein products cooperatively promote transition into the S phase of the cell cycle. This mechanism promotes VDJ recombination and effective selection of cells expressing immunoglobulin-μ at the pre-BCR checkpoint.This work was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, a Medical Research Council CASE studentship with GSK, an MRC centenary award (A.G) and project grants from Bloodwise. DJH was supported by a Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist FellowshipThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the American Association for the Advancement of Science via http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aad597

SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in Scotland’s wastewater

Nationwide, wastewater-based monitoring was newly established in Scotland to track the levels of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA shed into the sewage network, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We present a curated, reference dataset produced by this national programme, from May 2020 to February 2022. Viral levels were analysed by RT-qPCR assays of the N1 gene, on RNA extracted from wastewater sampled at 162 locations. Locations were sampled up to four times per week, typically once or twice per week, and in response to local needs. We report sampling site locations with geographical coordinates, the total population in the catchment for each site, and the information necessary for data normalisation, such as the incoming wastewater flow values and ammonia concentration, when these were available. The methodology for viral quantification and data analysis is briefly described, with links to detailed protocols online. These wastewater data are contributing to estimates of disease prevalence and the viral reproduction number (R) in Scotland and in the UK

Crop Updates 2011 - Nutrition, Precision Agriculture & Climate and Forecasting

This session covers sixteen papers from different authors: Nutrition 1. Balance® used in conventional cropping practice with half of the upfront fertiliser rate can sustain crop yield and build soil biological fertility, Deb Archdeacon1, Andrew Gulliver2 and David Cullen2, 1Agronomica, Wellington Mill, WA, 2Custom Composts, Nambeelup, WA 2. Effects of potassium (K) supply on plant growth, potassium uptake and grain Yield in wheat grown in grey sand, Qifu Ma1, Richard Bell1, Ross Brennan2 and Craig Scanlan2, 1School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, 2Department of Agriculture and Food 3. Improving fertiliser management: redefining the relationship between soil tests and crop responses for wheat in WA, Wen Chen1, 2, Ross Brennan2, Geoff Anderson2, Richard Bell1 and Mike Bolland2, 1School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, 2Department of Agriculture and Food 4. Improved phosphorus and potassium management: redefining the soil test and lupin response relationships in WA, Wen Chen1, 2, Ross Brennan2, Geoff Anderson2, Richard Bell1 and Mike Bolland2, 1School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Western Australia, 2Department of Agriculture and Food 5. Converting phosphorus retention index (PRI) to phosphorus buffering index (PBI) for Western Australian soils, Peter Rees and Sandy Alexander, Summit Fertilizers 6. Variability of radiometric potassium and Colwell potassium relationships across the Great Southern, Frank D’Emden, Precision Agronomics Australia 7. Rotary spading and mouldboard ploughing of water-repellent sandplain soils fulfils promise, Stephen Davies, Craig Scanlan and Breanne Best, Department of Agriculture and Food 8. Soil nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes are low from a grain legume crop grown in a semi-arid climate Louise Barton1, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl2, Ralph Kiese2 and Daniel Murphy1, 1 School of Earth & Environment, University of Western Australia, 2 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Meteorology & Climate Research, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 9. Mouldboard ploughing of sandplain soils – more grain, fewer weeds, Peter Newman Department of Agriculture and Food Precision Agriculture 10.What’s preventing growers from implementing precision agriculture (PA)? Roger Mandel1, Roger Lawes2 and Michael Robertson2, 1Curtin University, 2CSIRO 11. On how many paddocks does precision agriculture (PA) deliver a return? Roger Lawes1, Michael Robertson1 and Roger Mandel2, 1CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Floreat, WA, 2Curtin University 12. Demonstration pf precision agriculture (PA) principles in the Great Southern, Western Australia, Derk Bakker1, Jeremy Lemon1, Alison Lacey1, John Paul Collins1, Roger Mandel2, Frank D’Emden3, Glen Riethmuller1, 1Department of Agriculture and Food, 2Curtin University, 3Precision Agronomics Australia Climate and Forecasting 13. Statistical seasonal rainfall forecasts for south west Australia, Fiona H Evans Department of Agriculture of Food 14. How has changing climate recently affected Western Australia’s capacity to increase crop productivity and water use efficiency? David Stephens, Department of Agriculture and Food 15. Is Yield Prophet® a useful tool in Western Australia? — an agribusiness perspective, Caroline Peek, Department of Agriculture and Food 16. A season of Yield Prophet® — how it saw the dry, Tim Scanlon and Caroline Peek Department of Agriculture of Foo

Self Protection from Anti-Viral Responses – Ro52 Promotes Degradation of the Transcription Factor IRF7 Downstream of the Viral Toll-Like Receptors

Ro52 is a member of the TRIM family of single-protein E3 ligases and is also a target for autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome. We previously demonstrated a novel function of Ro52 in the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of IRF3 following TLR3/4 stimulation. We now present evidence that Ro52 has a similar role in regulating the stability and activity of IRF7. Endogenous immunoprecipitation of Ro52-bound proteins revealed that IRF7 associates with Ro52, an effect which increases following TLR7 and TLR9 stimulation, suggesting that Ro52 interacts with IRF7 post-pathogen recognition. Furthermore, we show that Ro52 ubiquitinates IRF7 in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in a decrease in total IRF7 expression and a subsequent decrease in IFN-α production. IRF7 stability was increased in bone marrow-derived macrophages from Ro52-deficient mice stimulated with imiquimod or CpG-B, consistent with a role for Ro52 in the negative regulation of IRF7 signalling. Taken together, these results suggest that Ro52-mediated ubiquitination promotes the degradation of IRF7 following TLR7 and TLR9 stimulation. As Ro52 is known to be IFN-inducible, this system constitutes a negative-feedback loop that acts to protect the host from the prolonged activation of the immune response

FcγRIIb Inhibits Allergic Lung Inflammation in a Murine Model of Allergic Asthma

Allergic asthma is characterized by airway eosinophilia, increased mucin production and allergen-specific IgE. Fc gamma receptor IIb (FcγRIIb), an inhibitory IgG receptor, has recently emerged as a negative regulator of allergic diseases like anaphylaxis and allergic rhinitis. However, no studies to date have evaluated its role in allergic asthma. Our main objective was to study the role of FcγRIIb in allergic lung inflammation. We used a murine model of allergic airway inflammation. Inflammation was quantified by BAL inflammatory cells and airway mucin production. FcγRIIb expression was measured by qPCR and flow cytometry and the cytokines were quantified by ELISA. Compared to wild type animals, FcγRIIb deficient mice mount a vigorous allergic lung inflammation characterized by increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cellularity, eosinophilia and mucin content upon ragweed extract (RWE) challenge. RWE challenge in sensitized mice upregulated FcγRIIb in the lungs. Disruption of IFN-γ gene abrogated this upregulation. Treatment of naïve mice with the Th1-inducing agent CpG DNA increased FcγRIIb expression in the lungs. Furthermore, treatment of sensitized mice with CpG DNA prior to RWE challenge induced greater upregulation of FcγRIIb than RWE challenge alone. These observations indicated that RWE challenge upregulated FcγRIIb in the lungs by IFN-γ- and Th1-dependent mechanisms. RWE challenge upregulated FcγRIIb on pulmonary CD14+/MHC II+ mononuclear cells and CD11c+ cells. FcγRIIb deficient mice also exhibited an exaggerated RWE-specific IgE response upon sensitization when compared to wild type mice. We propose that FcγRIIb physiologically regulates allergic airway inflammation by two mechanisms: 1) allergen challenge mediates upregulation of FcγRIIb on pulmonary CD14+/MHC II+ mononuclear cells and CD11c+ cells by an IFN-γ dependent mechanism; and 2) by attenuating the allergen specific IgE response during sensitization. Thus, stimulating FcγRIIb may be a therapeutic strategy in allergic airway disorders

Milk and dairy products: good or bad for human health? An assessment of the totality of scientific evidence

Background: There is scepticism about health effects of dairy products in the public, which is reflected in an increasing intake of plant-based drinks, for example, from soy, rice, almond, or oat. Objective: This review aimed to assess the scientific evidence mainly from meta-analyses of observational studies and randomised controlled trials, on dairy intake and risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and all-cause mortality. Results: The most recent evidence suggested that intake of milk and dairy products was associated with reduced risk of childhood obesity. In adults, intake of dairy products was shown to improve body composition and facilitate weight loss during energy restriction. In addition, intake of milk and dairy products was associated with a neutral or reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke. Furthermore, the evidence suggested a beneficial effect of milk and dairy intake on bone mineral density but no association with risk of bone fracture. Among cancers, milk and dairy intake was inversely associated with colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, gastric cancer, and breast cancer, and not associated with risk of pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, or lung cancer,while the evidence for prostate cancer risk was inconsistent.Finally,consumption of milk and dairy products was not associated with all-cause mortality. Calcium-fortified plant-based drinks have been included as an alternative to dairy products in the nutrition recommendations in several countries. However, nutritionally, cow’s milk and plant-based drinks are completely different foods,and an evidence-based conclusion on the health value of the plant-based drinks requires more studies in humans. Conclusion: The totality of available scientific evidence supports that intake of milk and dairy products contribute to meet nutrient recommendations, and may protect against the most prevalent chronic diseases, whereas very few adverse effects have been reported

Experimental validation of finite element models of intact and implanted composite hemi-pelvises using digital image correlation

A detailed understanding of the changes in load transfer due to implantation is necessary to identify potential failure mechanisms of orthopaedic implants. Computational finite element (FE) models provide full field data on intact and implanted bone structures, but their validity must be assessed for clinical relevance. The aim of this study was to test the validity of FE predicted strain distributions for the intact and implanted pelvis using the digital image correlation (DIC) strain measurement technique. FE models of an in-vitro hemi-pelvis test setup were produced, both intact and implanted with an acetabular cup. Strain predictions were compared to DIC and strain rosette measurements. Regression analysis indicated a strong linear relationship between the measured and predicted strains, with a high correlation coefficient (R = 0.956 intact, 0.938 implanted) and a low standard error of the estimate (SE = 69.53, 75.09µ?). Moreover, close agreement between the strain rosette and DIC measurements improved confidence in the validity of the DIC technique. The FE model therefore was supported as a valid predictor of the measured strain distribution in the intact and implanted composite pelvis models, confirming its suitability for further computational investigations