Models of Self-Peptide Sampling by Developing T Cells Identify Candidate Mechanisms of Thymic Selection

Conventional and regulatory T cells develop in the thymus where they are exposed to samples of self-peptide MHC (pMHC) ligands. This probabilistic process selects for cells within a range of responsiveness that allows the detection of foreign antigen without excessive responses to self. Regulatory T cells are thought to lie at the higher end of the spectrum of acceptable self-reactivity and play a crucial role in the control of autoimmunity and tolerance to innocuous antigens. While many studies have elucidated key elements influencing lineage commitment, we still lack a full understanding of how thymocytes integrate signals obtained by sampling self-peptides to make fate decisions. To address this problem, we apply stochastic models of signal integration by T cells to data from a study quantifying the development of the two lineages using controllable levels of agonist peptide in the thymus. We find two models are able to explain the observations; one in which T cells continually re-assess fate decisions on the basis of multiple summed proximal signals from TCR-pMHC interactions; and another in which TCR sensitivity is modulated over time, such that contact with the same pMHC ligand may lead to divergent outcomes at different stages of development. Neither model requires that T and T are differentially susceptible to deletion or that the two lineages need qualitatively different signals for development, as have been proposed. We find additional support for the variable-sensitivity model, which is able to explain apparently paradoxical observations regarding the effect of partial and strong agonists on T and T development.     

Looking Like a Leader–Facial Shape Predicts Perceived Height and Leadership Ability

Judgments of leadership ability from face images predict the outcomes of actual political elections and are correlated with leadership success in the corporate world. The specific facial cues that people use to judge leadership remain unclear, however. Physical height is also associated with political and organizational success, raising the possibility that facial cues of height contribute to leadership perceptions. Consequently, we assessed whether cues to height exist in the face and, if so, whether they are associated with perception of leadership ability. We found that facial cues to perceived height had a strong relationship with perceived leadership ability. Furthermore, when allowed to manually manipulate faces, participants increased facial cues associated with perceived height in order to maximize leadership perception. A morphometric analysis of face shape revealed that structural facial masculinity was not responsible for the relationship between perceived height and perceived leadership ability. Given the prominence of facial appearance in making social judgments, facial cues to perceived height may have a significant influence on leadership selection.     

Scale-dependent habitat selection by wintering geese: implications for landscape management

The management of Arctic migrant geese is complex, because they frequently use landscapes under intensive human use, and are conflict species in multiple respects. Some populations are of high conservation concern, but they also cause agricultural damage, are quarry for hunters, and may be particularly sensitive to infrastructure developments. In Bulgarian Dobrudzha, large wintering populations of greater white-fronted geese Anser albifrons and red-breasted geese Branta ruficollis feed in agricultural land, and cause management dilemmas. We developed linear models to investigate fine- and meso-scale foraging habitat selection of geese foraging on winter wheat in the area, and used these models to make suggestions for zoning landscape use in order to reduce conflict and conserve geese. Habitat selection was scale-dependent. Geese selected fields that were near to major roosts and had low proximity to roads and tree-lines, which may be a proxy for hunting disturbance. We found some evidence for selection of wheat fields with high nutritional quality. Within fields, geese strongly avoided features which cause landscape ‘clutter’: power-lines, tree-lines and wind-turbines, but primarily over distances of less than a few hundred metres. Optimal management might involve encouraging goose populations to feed in areas close to roosts, by means of agri-environmental measures and creation of hunting-free refuges. This would allow efficient use of agri-environment funds, might reduce conflict with farmers, and would mean that infrastructure development—notably wind farms—could be sited at greater distance from roosts with relatively minor impact on foraging habitat availability.     

A new dominant selectable marker for genetic transformation; Hsp70-opd

New P element plasmids containing the organophosphate-degrading gene opd as a dominant selectable marker were tested as transformation vectors in Drosophila melanogaster. One of these vectors was modified by the addition of the D. melanogaster mini-white gene as a comarker. When transformed individuals were identified using paraoxon selection for opd alone, results were similar to those obtained with mini-white. No false positives were recovered, however one strain contained the mini-white gene but inadequate resistance to survive our screening regimen due to a defective Hsp70-opd gene. Results suggest that Hsp70-opd is similar to mini-white for distinguishing transformed individuals, but does not require time-consuming individual examination. Due to the mode of action of organophosphorus nerve agents, Hsp70-opd has potential as a selectable marker in numerous animals beside fruit flies.     

Distribution of sound pressure around a singing cricket: radiation pattern and asymmetry in the sound field

Male field crickets generate calls to attract distant females through tegminal stridulation: the rubbing together of the overlying right wing which bears a file of cuticular teeth against the underlying left wing which carries a sclerotized scraper. During stridulation, specialized areas of membrane on both wings are set into oscillating vibrations to produce acoustic radiation. The location of females is unknown to the calling males and thus increasing effective signal range in all directions will maximize transmission effectiveness. However, producing an omnidirectional sound field of high sound pressure levels may be problematic due to the mechanical asymmetry found in this sound generation system. Mechanical asymmetry occurs by the right wing coming to partially cover the left wing during the closing stroke phase of stridulation. As such, it is hypothesized that the sound field on the left-wing side of the animal will contain lower sound pressure components than on the right-wing side as a result of this coverage. This hypothesis was tested using a novel method to accurately record a high-resolution, three dimensional mapping of sound pressure levels around restrained Gryllus bimaculatus field crickets singing under pharmacological stimulation. The results indicate that a bilateral asymmetry is present across individuals, with greater amplitude components present in the right-wing side of the animal. Individual variation in sound pressure to either the right- or left-wing side is also observed. However, statistically significant differences in bilateral sound field asymmetry as presented here may not affect signalling in the field.     

Structural and genetic analysis of four chicken 7S immunoglobulin allotypes

Four 7S immunoglobulin allotypic specificities in three inbred chicken lines were demonstrated in two immunoglobulin regions, probably associated with the heavy chains. Two specificities were associated with papain-produced Fab fragments, most likely the Fd fragment since they were not demonstrated on the 17S immunoglobulin. The other allotypes were detected only on intact 7S immunoglobulin and were undetectable on the Fab and Fc fragments; therefore, they probably were associated with a region of the heavy chain sensitive to papain digestion. Among F₂ hybrids, these specificities segregated in a manner statistically indistinguishable from that expected of three codominant alleles at an autosomal locus. This locus was not closely associated with any of five chicken blood group loci.     

Elimination of the lag period in chloroplast development in a chlorophyll mutant of peanuts

The mutation of a nuclear gene in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants results in a reduced light-dependent development of chloroplast fine structure, soluble protein, ribulose-1, 5-diP carboxylase, NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase, fructose-1, 6-diP aldolase, glycerate-3-P kinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, malate dehydrogenase, and dark respiration during the 72-hour lag period of chlorophyll synthesis in dark-grown leaves exposed to continuous light. The mutation has pleiotropic affects. Kinetic analysis shows there is also a 72-hour lag period in the light-dependent development of NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase and fructose-1, 6-diP aldolase in the mutant leaves, whereas there is no lag in the development of NAD-malate dehydrogenase and dark respiration. There is minimal development of the chloroplast during the 72-hour mutationally induced lag period, but there is pronounced cytoplasmic and mitochondrial activity during this phase. There is a 24-hour lag period in the light-dependent enlargement of the mutant leaves. At the completion of leaf enlargement, chloroplast differentiation is initiated. The mutation does not result in any chloroplast deletions, it only affects the timing of the synthesis of these components.     

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACHENE OF POLYGONUM PENSYLVANICUM: EMBRYO,ENDOSPERM, AND PERICARP

A study was made of the ontogeny of the achene of Polygonum pensylvanicum L. from fertilization to maturity. The proembryo is classified as the Polygonum Variation, Asterad Type. Cotyledons are initiated three days after anthesis, and by the fifth day procambium is present in the embryo axis. At approximately seven days after anthesis, the embryo begins to curve and occupy a marginal position in the ovary. By ten days the first foliage leaf primordium is initiated at the stem apex of the embryo. At maturity the embryo consists of two cotyledons, a plumule composed of the stem apex and one leaf primordium, and a hypocotyl with a well-developed radicle. Endosperm nuclei begin to divide before the first division of the zygote. Cell wall formation begins in the endosperm at the micropylar end of the embryo sac and proceeds toward the chalazal region. By the fifth day the endosperm is completely cellular, except for a basal projection; and a peripheral meristem has been established. At approximately ten days the peripheral meristem ceases periclinal cell division and becomes the aleurone. At the time of fertilization the ovary wall has its full complement of cell layers. The walls of the outermost cells elongate and become convoluted. Subsequent thickening and lignification of these cell walls produce the hard epicarp of the mature achene.