The helminth T2 RNase v1 promotes metabolic homeostasis in an IL-33– and group 2 innate lymphoid cell–dependent mechanism

Induction of a type 2 cellular response in the white adipose tissue leads to weight loss and improves glucose homeostasis in obese animals. Injection of obese mice with recombinant helminth-derived Schistosoma mansoni egg-derived v1 (v1), a potent inducer of type 2 activation, improves metabolic status involving a mechanism reliant upon release of the type 2 initiator cytokine IL-33. IL-33 initiates the accumulation of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), eosinophils, and alternatively activated macrophages in the adipose tissue. IL-33 release from cells in the adipose tissue is mediated by the RNase activity of v1; however, the ability of v1 to improve metabolic status is reliant upon effective binding of v1 to CD206. We demonstrate a novel mechanism for RNasemediated release of IL-33 inducing ILC2-dependent improvements in the metabolic status of obese animals.— Hams, E., Bermingham, R., Wurlod, F. A., Hogan, A. E., O’Shea, D., Preston, R. J., Rodewald, H.-R., McKenzie, A. N. J., Fallon, P. G. The helminth T2 RNase v1 promotes metabolic homeostasis in an IL-33– and group 2 innate lymphoid cell–dependent mechanism

Bomb-¹⁴C analysis of ecosystem respiration reveals that peatland vegetation facilitates release of old carbon

The largest terrestrial-to-atmosphere carbon flux is respired CO<sub>2</sub>. However, the partitioning of soil and plant sources, understanding of contributory mechanisms, and their response to climate change are uncertain. A plant removal experiment was established within a peatland located in the UK uplands to quantify respiration derived from recently fixed plant carbon and that derived from decomposition of soil organic matter, using natural abundance <sup>13</sup>C and bomb-<sup>14</sup>C as tracers. Soil and plant respiration sources were found respectively to contribute ~ 36% and between 41-54% of the total ecosystem CO<sub>2</sub> flux. Respired CO<sub>2</sub> produced in the clipped (‘soil’) plots had a mean age of ~ 15 years since fixation from the atmosphere, whereas the <sup>14</sup>C content of ecosystem CO<sub>2</sub> was statistically indistinguishable from the contemporary atmosphere. Results of carbon mass balance modelling showed that, in addition to respiration from bulk soil and plant respired CO<sub>2</sub>, a third, much older source of CO<sub>2</sub> existed. This source, which we suggest is CO<sub>2</sub> derived from the catotelm constituted between ~ 10 and 23% of total ecosystem respiration and had a mean radiocarbon age of between several hundred to ~ 2000 years before present (BP). These findings show that plant-mediated transport of CO<sub>2</sub> produced in the catotelm may form a considerable component of peatland ecosystem respiration. The implication of this discovery is that current assumptions in terrestrial carbon models need to be re-evaluated to consider the climate sensitivity of this third source of peatland CO<sub>2</sub>

SciPy 1.0: fundamental algorithms for scientific computing in Python.

SciPy is an open-source scientific computing library for the Python programming language. Since its initial release in 2001, SciPy has become a de facto standard for leveraging scientific algorithms in Python, with over 600 unique code contributors, thousands of dependent packages, over 100,000 dependent repositories and millions of downloads per year. In this work, we provide an overview of the capabilities and development practices of SciPy 1.0 and highlight some recent technical developments

ATHENA detector proposal — a totally hermetic electron nucleus apparatus proposed for IP6 at the Electron-Ion Collider

ATHENA has been designed as a general purpose detector capable of delivering the full scientific scope of the Electron-Ion Collider. Careful technology choices provide fine tracking and momentum resolution, high performance electromagnetic and hadronic calorimetry, hadron identification over a wide kinematic range, and near-complete hermeticity. This article describes the detector design and its expected performance in the most relevant physics channels. It includes an evaluation of detector technology choices, the technical challenges to realizing the detector and the R&D required to meet those challenges

Reply to “Marine abundance and its prehistoric past in the Baltic”

In response to the comment by Hausmann et al.1 we highlight here that a number of the key criticisms of Lewis et al.2 are either misinterpretations of our paper or are speculative, requiring rigorous testing via empirical data (and subsequently are topics for further research). We would, therefore, like to take the opportunity to clarify these points, so that others do not misinterpret our study2 in the same way. Hausmann et al.1 provide no physical evidence or data that rebuke our hypothesis, and therefore in the spirit of critical scientific discussion and endeavour, we challenge them (or others) to disprove our hypothesis through high-quality data, and hope that our original paper2 and this further discussion stimulate such work. The criticisms expressed by Hausmann et al. largely focus on the use of a summed probability distribution 14C curve based on oysters as a proxy for shell midden abundance, yet this is only a supportive dataset within the broader theme of this study, and we certainly welcome future research into improving how we quantify shell midden abundance and marine resource intensification in past cultures and societies. However, we highlight that the criticisms of this 14C oyster-derived dataset by Hausmann et al.1 does not detract from the key point of this study, that population increased during periods of increased marine productivity (demonstrated by sediment pigment and other proxy data) and hence increased marine resource availability, when humans predominately consumed a marine-based diet3. Below we respond to the specific points raised by Hausmann et al.1. </p

Bcl11b is essential for group 2 innate lymphoid cell development

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are often found associated with mucosal surfaces where they contribute to protective immunity, inappropriate allergic responses, and tissue repair. Although we know they develop from a common lymphoid progenitor in the bone marrow (BM), the specific lineage path and transcriptional regulators that are involved are only starting to emerge. After ILC2 gene expression analysis we investigated the role of Bcl11b, a factor previously linked to T cell commitment, in ILC2 development. Using combined Bcl11b-tom and Id2-gfp reporter mice, we show that Bcl11b is expressed in ILC2 precursors in the BM and maintained in mature ILC2s. In vivo deletion of Bcl11b, by conditional tamoxifen-induced depletion or by Bcl11b fetal liver chimera reconstitution, demonstrates that ILC2s are wholly dependent on Bcl11b for their development. Notably, in the absence of Bcl11b there is a concomitant expansion of the RORγt ILC3 population, suggesting that Bcl11b may negatively regulate this lineage. Using Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection, we reveal that the absence of Bcl11b leads to impaired worm expulsion, caused by a deficit in ILC2s, whereas Citrobacter rodentium infection is cleared efficiently. These data clearly establish Bcl11b as a new factor in the differentiation of ILC2s

Eosinophils are an essential element of a type 2 immune axis that controls thymus regeneration

Therapeutic interventions used for cancer treatment provoke thymus damage and limit the recovery of protective immunity. Here, we show eosinophils are an essential part of an intrathymic type 2 immune network that enables thymus recovery following ablative therapy. Within hours of damage, the thymus undergoes CCR3-dependent colonisation by peripheral eosinophils, which re-establishes the epithelial microenvironments that control thymopoiesis. Eosinophil regulation of thymus regeneration occurs via the concerted action of NKT-cells that trigger CCL11 production via IL4 receptor signalling in thymic stroma, and ILC2 that represent an intrathymic source of IL5, a cytokine that therapeutically boosts thymus regeneration following damage. Collectively, our findings identify an intrathymic network composed of multiple innate immune cells that restores thymus function during re-establishment of the adaptive immune system

Bcl11b is essential for group 2 innate lymphoid cell development

© 2015 Walker et al. Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are often found associated with mucosal surfaces where they contribute to protective immunity, inappropriate allergic responses, and tissue repair. Although we know they develop from a common lymphoid progenitor in the bone marrow (BM), the specific lineage path and transcriptional regulators that are involved are only starting to emerge. After ILC2 gene expression analysis we investigated the role of Bcl11b, a factor previously linked to T cell commitment, in ILC2 development. Using combined Bcl11b-tom and Id2-gfp reporter mice, we show that Bcl11b is expressed in ILC2 precursors in the BM and maintained in mature ILC2s. In vivo deletion of Bcl11b, by conditional tamoxifen-induced depletion or by Bcl11b -/- fetal liver chimera reconstitution, demonstrates that ILC2s are wholly dependent on Bcl11b for their development. Notably, in the absence of Bcl11b there is a concomitant expansion of the RORγt + ILC3 population, suggesting that Bcl11b may negatively regulate this lineage. Using Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection, we reveal that the absence of Bcl11b leads to impaired worm expulsion, caused by a deficit in ILC2s, whereas Citrobacter rodentium infection is cleared efficiently. These data clearly establish Bcl11b as a new factor in the differentiation of ILC2s.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Estudo eletrocardiográfico de equinos de salto sadios

Avaliou-se o eletrocardiograma de 100 equinos sadios praticantes de hipismo clássico modalidade salto, com idades entre 4 e 19 anos, sendo 61 machos e 39 fêmeas, com média de 516,3 kg. Observou-se frequência cardíaca média de 40,20 ±13,33 bpm, sendo o ritmo cardíaco mais freqüente o sinusal (56%). As alterações de ritmo cardíaco estiveram presentes em 38% dos animais estudados, sendo a mais presente o marcapasso migratório (22%), seguido de bloqueio atrioventricular de 2º grau (4%), bloqueio atrioventricular de 1º grau (3%), contração ventricular prematura (2%), contração atrial prematura (1%). Não se observou correlação entre as variáveis estudadas (freqüência cardíaca, ritmo e arritmias) e a capacidade atlética, a idade e o sexo. O escore cardíaco após analise estatística não diferiu entre os grupos quanto ao desempenho atlético, a faixa etária e o sexo. O escore cardíaco, nesta amostra, não se mostrou um parâmetro confiável para se predizer o futuro atlético ou o nível de treinamento do eqüino