Non-classical immunology. Meeting Report

This large annual immunology meeting covered a wide range of subjects from biochemical protein characterizations to cell biology and the study of complex disease pathologies. One particularly interesting session covered the emerging field of non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. A great deal of attention is now focused on defining the expression, structure and ligands of these proteins, as recent research has indicated that they are involved in both innate and adaptive immunological responses. Heat shock proteins are another group of molecules that appear to have a wide range of immunostimulatory and regulatory effects; a one-day session covered recent advances in our understanding of the immunological roles of heat shock proteins as well as their potential therapeutic uses. Moving on from individual protein families, speakers in the plenary session discussed the complex dynamics of lymphocyte activation, cell-cell interactions and protein translocation

Efficient detection of periodic orbits in high dimensional systems

This paper is concerned with developing a method for detecting unstable periodic orbits (UPOs) by stabilising transformations. Here the strategy is to transform the system of interest in such away that the orbits become stable. However, the number of such transformations becomes overwhelming as we move to higher dimensions [5, 16, 17]. We have recently proposed a set of stabilising transformations which is constructed from a small set of already found UPOs [1]. The real value of the set is that its cardinality depends on the dimension of the unstable manifold at the UPO rather than the dimension of the system. Here we extend this approach to high dimensional systems of ODEs and apply it to the model example of a chaotic spatially extended system - the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation

The BCS critical temperature in a weak external electric field via a linear two-body operator

We study the critical temperature of a superconductive material in a weak external electric potential via a linear approximation of the BCS functional. We reproduce a similar result as in [Frank, Hainzl, Seiringer, Solovej, 2016] using the strategy introduced in [Frank, Hainzl, Langmann, 2018], where we considered the case of an external constant magnetic field.Comment: Dedicated to Herbert Spohn on the occasion of his seventieth birthday; 29 page

Comparison of punching shear requirements in BS 8110, EC2 and MC2010

This paper compares design provisions for punching shear at internal columns in the superseded British Standard BS 8110, Eurocode 2 (EC2) and fib Model Code 2010 (MC2010). MC2010 is based on the critical shear crack theory proposed by Muttoni, which relates shear resistance to the width of the so-called ‘critical shear crack’ which depends on slab rotation. Parametric studies are presented that show BS 8110 to require significantly less shear reinforcement within 1·5d (where d is the slab effective depth) of the loaded area than EC2 and MC2010, both of which have been extensively calibrated against test data. This raises the question of whether flat slabs designed to BS 8110 have an adequate factor of safety against punching failure. This question is explored using nonlinear finite-element modelling in conjunction with MC2010 Level IV. It is shown that punching resistance at internal columns can be increased significantly by restraint from the surrounding slab but the strength increase is variable and, in the case of uniformly loaded slabs, already largely included in BS 8110 and EC2. </jats:p

The BCS Critical Temperature in a Weak External Electric Field via a Linear Two-Body Operator

We study the critical temperature of a superconductive material in a weak external electric potential via a linear approximation of the BCS functional. We reproduce a similar result as in Frank et al. (Commun Math Phys 342(1):189–216, 2016, [5]) using the strategy introduced in Frank et al. (The BCS critical temperature in a weak homogeneous magnetic field, [2]), where we considered the case of an external constant magnetic field

A knowledge creation perspective on ‘LEAN’ approaches to policing in England and Wales

The police service in England and Wales continue to face intense pressures to manage and reduce budgets while simultaneously maintaining and improving levels of service. In achieving reform, attention has been directed towards the implementation of proven operational improvement frameworks, such as ‘lean thinking’ taken from the automotive industry. However, the qualitatively different contexts have resulted in ‘lean’ interventions making only limited contribution to police reform. This research draws on contemporary views of ‘lean’ as a knowledge creation process to assess how such a reconceptualization may contribute to more successful police transformation

The regulation of host defences to infection by the microbiota

The skin and mucosal epithelia of humans and other mammals are permanently colonised by large microbial communities (the microbiota). Due to this life-long association with the microbiota, these microbes have an extensive influence over the physiology of their host organism. It is now becoming apparent that nearly all tissues and organ systems, whether in direct contact with the microbiota, or in deeper host sites, are under microbial influence. The immune system is perhaps the most profoundly affected, with the microbiota programming both its innate and adaptive arms. The regulation of immunity by the microbiota helps protect the host against intestinal and extra-intestinal infection by many classes of pathogen. In this review, we will discuss the experimental evidence supporting a role for the microbiota in regulating host defences to extra-intestinal infection, draw together common mechanistic themes, including the central role of pattern recognition receptors, and outline outstanding questions which need to be answered. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Screening donors for xenotransplantation: The potential for xenozoonoses

Xenotransplantation is a potential solution to the current donor shortage for solid organ transplantation. The transmission of infectious agents from donor organs or bone marrow to the recipient is a well-recognized phenomenon following allotransplantation. Thus the prospect of xenotransplantation raises the issue of xenozoonoses-i.e., the transmission of animal infections to the human host. Anticipating an increasing number of baboon to human transplants, 31 adult male baboons (Papio cynocephalus) from a single colony in the United States were screened for the presence of antibody to microbial agents (principally viral) that may pose a significant risk of infection. Antibody to simian cytomegalovirus, simian agent 8 and Epstein-Barr virus, was found in 97% of animals tested. Antibody to simian retroviruses and Toxoplasma gondii was found in 30% and 32% respectively. Discordant results were found when paired samples were examined by two primate laboratories. This was particularly noted when methodologies were based on cross-reaction with human viral antigens. These results highlight the need to develop specific antibody tests against the species used for xenotransplantation. © 1994 Williams & Wilkins

Results from NEMO 3

The NEMO 3 experiment is located in the Modane Underground Laboratory and has been taking data since 2003 with seven isotopes. It is searching for the double beta decay process with two or zero neutrinos emitted in the final state. Precision measurements of the half-life of the isotopes due to two neutrino double beta decay have been performed and new results for 96Zr, 48Ca and 150Nd are presented here. Measurements of this process are important for reducing the uncertainties on the nuclear matrix elements. No evidence for zero neutrino double beta decay has been found and a 90% Confidence Level lower limit on the half-life of this process is derived. From this an upper limit can be set on the effective Majorana neutrino mass using the most recent nuclear matrix elements calculations.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, a paper submitted to the proceedings for the conference Neutrino0