Small Change: Economics and the British coin-tree

This is the accepted manuscript for the following article: Ceri Houlbrook, “Small Change: Economics and the British coin-tree”, Post Medieval Archaeology, Vol. 49(1), June 2015. The final published version can be found at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1179/0079423615Z.00000000074 © Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology 2015Throughout the c.2000 year period coins have been circulated in Britain, they have also been ritually employed, most notably as votive deposits. Focusing specifically on the understudied custom of the British coin-tree, whereby coins are ritually embedded into the barks of trees, this paper considers the coin’s role and applicability as a deposit. It aims to demonstrate that our understanding of the coin’s past, present, and future ritual employment is not only aided by a consideration of economics and the coin’s secular function; it would be utterly incomplete without it.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2,3,4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Ultrastructure of the antennal sensilla of Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Antennal sensilla of the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) were examined using transmission electron microscopy. Six sensillar types were recognised: a multiporous double-walled type (Mp-dw), multiporous single-walled types (Mp-sw) (4 subtypes) and no- pore sensilla with inflexible sockets (Np-is). The Mp-sw sensilla were categorised on the basis of wall thickness and differences in wall, pore and dendrite structure. The Mp-dw sensilla are innervated by 2 or 3 unbranched dendrites. The Mp-sw thick-walled sensilla have 1 or 2 sensory cells, whose dendrites show limited branching within the shaft. The Mp-sw thin-walled sensilla are innervated by 2 or 3 sensory cells with dendrites that branch extensively within the shaft. The Np-is sensilla have not previously been described from tephritid antennae, and are found only in the antennal sensory pit. They have a granular appearance to the exterior walls and are innervated by 3 sensory cells, only 2 of which project dendrites into the hair lumen. The proposed functions of the sensilla are discussed

The interaction between teaching and research A mathematician's experience

Inaugural lectureAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:5604.34(v.3 pt.20) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Immune-Metabolic Interactions and T Cell Tolerance in Pregnancy.

Pregnancy depends on a state of maternal immune tolerance mediated by CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. Uterine Treg cells release anti-inflammatory factors, inhibit effector immunity, and support adaptation of the uterine vasculature to facilitate placental development. Insufficient Treg cells or inadequate functional competence is implicated in infertility and recurrent miscarriage, as well as pregnancy complications preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth, which stem from placental insufficiency. In this review we address an emerging area of interest in pregnancy immunology-the significance of metabolic status in regulating the Treg cell expansion required for maternal-fetal tolerance. We describe how hyperglycemia and insulin resistance affect T cell responses to suppress generation of Treg cells, summarize data that implicate a role for altered glucose metabolism in impaired maternal-fetal tolerance, and explore the prospect of targeting dysregulated metabolism to rebalance the adaptive immune response in women experiencing reproductive disorders.Lachlan M. Moldenhauer, M. Louise Hull, Kerrie L. Foyle, Catherine D. McCormack, and Sarah A. Robertso