Tweaking of Memory T Helper 2 Cells by TSLP

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin conditions dendritic cells to support homeostatic proliferation of central memory T cells. In this issue of Immunity, Wang et al. (2006) show that these dendritic cells are critical in maintaining T helper 2 central memory cells and impart them with expression of unique proallergic molecules

Media planning by optimizing contact frequencies

In this paper we study a model to estimate the probability that a target group of an advertising campaign is reached by a commercial message a given number of times. This contact frequency distribution is known to be computationally difficult to calculate because of dependence between the viewing probabilities of advertisements. Our model calculates good estimates of contact frequencies in a very short time based on data that is often available. A media planning model that optimizes effective reach as a function of contact frequencies demonstrates the usefulness of the model. Several local search procedures such as taboo search, simulated annealing and genetic algorithms are applied to find a good media schedule. The results show that local search methods are flexible, fast and accurate in finding media schedules for media planning models based on contact frequencies. The contact frequency model is a potentially useful new tool for media planners.optimization;contact frequency;effective reach;media planning

γδ T Cell Receptors without a Job

In this issue of Immunity, the studies by Sutton et al. (2009) and Martin et al. (2009) indicate that γδ T cells are innate cells that rapidly produce interleukin (IL)-17 in response to cytokines or pathogens without the need for T cell receptor engagement

Ocean Acidification Refugia in Variable Environments

Climate change refugia in the terrestrial biosphere are areas where species are protected from global environmental change and arise from natural heterogeneity in landscapes and climate. Within the marine realm, ocean acidification, or the global decline in seawater pH, remains a pervasive threat to organisms and ecosystems. Natural variability in seawater carbon dioxide (CO2) chemistry, however, presents an opportunity to identify ocean acidification refugia (OAR) for marine species. Here, we review the literature to examine the impacts of variable CO2 chemistry on biological responses to ocean acidification and develop a framework of definitions and criteria that connects current OAR research to management goals. Under the concept of managing vulnerability, the most likely mechanisms by which OAR can mitigate ocean acidification impacts are by reducing exposure to harmful conditions or enhancing adaptive capacity. While local management options such as OAR show some promise, they present unique challenges and reducing global anthropogenic CO2 emissions must remain a priority

Ocean Acidification Refugia in Variable Environments

Climate change refugia in the terrestrial biosphere are areas where species are protected from global environmental change and arise from natural heterogeneity in landscapes and climate. Within the marine realm, ocean acidification, or the global decline in seawater pH, remains a pervasive threat to organisms and ecosystems. Natural variability in seawater carbon dioxide (CO2) chemistry, however, presents an opportunity to identify ocean acidification refugia (OAR) for marine species. Here, we review the literature to examine the impacts of variable CO2 chemistry on biological responses to ocean acidification and develop a framework of definitions and criteria that connects current OAR research to management goals. Under the concept of managing vulnerability, the most likely mechanisms by which OAR can mitigate ocean acidification impacts are by reducing exposure to harmful conditions or enhancing adaptive capacity. While local management options such as OAR show some promise, they present unique challenges and reducing global anthropogenic CO2 emissions must remain a priority

Coastal Ocean pH Variability in the Context of Global Change Biology

Anthropogenic carbon emissions are predicted to alter marine ecosystems. One such change is the decline in ocean pH, known as ocean acidification. Model predictions of ocean acidification have guided biological experiments for more than a decade. Many studies predict negative consequences of future ocean pH on marine species. To understand how species will respond to future conditions, however, knowledge of present-day pH exposures is necessary and often limited. In this dissertation, I described present-day pH variability in three coastal regions and used the data to design laboratory experiments assessing the physiological response of two organisms, sea urchins and mussels, to changing ocean conditions. As recorded by autonomous pH sensors, I found three unique patterns of coastal pH variability. Near-shore Antarctica was characterized by a steep seasonal increase in pH and pH variability during summer phytoplankton blooms. The northern Channel Islands, California, exhibited event-scale and diurnal pH variability due to primary production of phytoplankton and fixed vegetation. Only mild effects from upwelling were detected at the islands, suggesting that this region may become a spatial refuge from extreme low pH in the future. Finally, Oregon was characterized by event-scale decreases in pH due to periodic upwelling events. The results from this research show that many coastal species experience short-term changes in pH that are within the same magnitude of change predicted for ocean acidification by the end of the century. While such present-day exposures to pH variability may promote tolerance of future pH change, these near-shore regions are also characterized by unique patterns of thermal stress. I conducted two studies to investigate the interactive effects of pH and temperature on organismal physiology. First, Antarctic sea urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri, early developmental stages (EDSs) currently experience < 2 °C seasonal warming and may only experience a few degrees of ocean warming over the next 100 years. Despite development under pH and temperatures outside of current exposures, S. neumayeri EDSs exhibited high tolerance of a one-hour heat stress test, suggesting this species may be more resilient to ocean change than previously thought. Second, unlike Antarctic species, intertidal species at mid-latitudes experience daily temperature fluctuations that can exceed four times end-century predictions of ocean warming, due to tidal cycles. In Oregon, upwelling events enhance this temperature range by periodically delivering cold, low pH water to the intertidal zone. Depending on sea water conditions simulating an upwelling event (cold, low pH) or wind relaxation (warm, high pH), the intertidal mussel Mytilus californianus generated different transcriptomic signatures of the cellular heat shock response, following exposure to aerial heat stress. This suggests that future changes in seawater conditions may alter the heat stress tolerance of M. californianus during low tides. The results from this dissertation highlight the importance of designing experiments that reflect species’ present-day and future multi-stressor environment, in order to generate ecologically relevant conclusions. As anthropogenic stressors continue to take hold of coastal seas, understanding the biological consequences is critical for management and conservation efforts

Media planning by optimizing contact frequencies

In this paper we study a model to estimate the probability that a target group of an advertising campaign is reached by a commercial message a given number of times. This contact frequency distribution is known to be computationally difficult to calculate because of dependence between the viewing probabilities of advertisements. Our model calculates good estimates of contact frequencies in a very short time based on data that is often available. A media planning model that optimizes effective reach as a function of contact frequencies demonstrates the usefulness of the model. Several local search procedures such as taboo search, simulated annealing and genetic algorithms are applied to find a good media schedule. The results show that local search methods are flexible, fast and accurate in finding media schedules for media planning models based on contact frequencies. The contact frequency model is a potentially useful new tool for media planners

Lateral fluid motion in nucleate boiling through asymmetric surface structures

This thesis presents a feasibility study of a means to passively effect liquid motion parallel to a heated surface though surface geometrical modifications. Such a passive system is beneficial for electronics cooling applications as it reduces the pumping equipment normally required in flow loops and is desired for space applications, where launch costs greatly restrict the weight of onboard systems. The surface geometry considered was a repeated array of asymmetric silicon ratchets with reentrant cavities located on the shallow face. A serpentine thin film heater provided heat to the surface. A complete experimental facility in which to perform experiments was designed and constructed as part of this work to comply with requirements set by microgravity flight services in anticipation of future experiments in microgravity. Experiments were performed using deionized and degassed water at atmospheric pressure at subcoolings of 5°C and 20°C. Applied area averaged heat flux was varied between 2 W/cm² and 19 W/cm² at these conditions. Magnified high-speed videos were used to resolve bubble behavior near the surface. A preferential bubble growth and departure direction was confirmed for both subcoolings and lateral fluid motion was confirmed in the high subcooling condition. Repeatability was confirmed with separate experiment performed 58 days later. Tracking of bubbles was accomplished using a custom bubble-tracking algorithm, designed to resolve only bubbles within a two-dimensional plane normal to the viewing direction. Instantaneous velocities of individual bubbles parallel to the surface were shown to be in excess of 600 mm/s immediately following departure, and liquid flows with mean velocities between 25 mm/s and 35 mm/s parallel to surface were observed in the plume farther from the surface. A simplified semi-empirical model of bubble growth phase is proposed to explain the observed mean liquid velocities

PARTICIPATION OF DENDRITIC CELLS IN VASCULAR LESIONS OF CHRONIC REJECTION OF HUMAN ALLOGRAFTS

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to investigate the pathogenesis of obliterative arteriopathy, a major obstacle to long-term solid organ allograft survival. T-lymphocytes, macrophages, and proliferating smooth muscle cells made up most of the thickened intima. More importantly, S100-protein-positive dendritic cells were also present in the intima, especially during active inflammation and smooth muscle cell proliferation. These are phenotypic characteristics of tissue "dendritic" cells, pivotal accessory cells in T-dependent immune reactions. Their localisation in the arterial wall signals the presence of an ongoing immunological reaction directed at native constituents of the artery or at exogenous antigens which permeate the damaged vessel wall. © 1988

Beyond the benchtop and the benthos: Dataset management planning and design for time series of ocean carbonate chemistry associated with Durafet (R)-based pH sensors

To better understand the impact of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems, an important ongoing research priority for marine scientists is to characterize present-day pH variability. Following recent technological advances, autonomous pH sensor deployments in shallow coastal marine environments have revealed that pH dynamics in coastal oceans are more variable in space and time than the discrete, open-ocean measurements that are used for ocean acidification projections. Data from these types of deployments will benefit the research community by facilitating the improved design of ocean acidification studies as well as the identification or evaluation of natural and human-influenced pH variability. Importantly, the collection of ecologically relevant pH data and a cohesive, user-friendly integration of results across sites and regions requires (1) effective sensor operation to ensure high quality pH data collection and (2) efficient data management for accessibility and broad reuse by the marine science community. Here, we review the best practices for deployment, calibration, and data processing and quality control, using our experience with Durafet (R)-based pH sensors as a model. Next, we describe information management practices for streamlining preservation and distribution of data and for cataloging different types of pH sensor data, developed in collaboration with two U.S. Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites. Finally, we assess sensor performance and data recovery from 73 SeaFET deployments in the Santa Barbara Channel using our quality control guidelines and data management tools, and offer recommendations for improved data yields. Our experience provides a template for other groups contemplating using SeaFET technology as well as general steps that may be helpful for the design of data management for other complex sensors. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V