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Significance A previous Plasmodium infection enhances the mosquito immune response to subsequent infections. Priming is mediated by a hemocyte differentiation factor (HDF) consisting of lipoxin A 4 (LXA 4 ) bound to Evokin, a lipid carrier. Insects produce LXA 4 but lack lipoxygenase enzymes. Here we establish that the double peroxidase (DBLOX) enzyme is essential for HDF synthesis and is highly expressed in fat-body oenocytes, a group of specialized cells that increase in number in primed females. The histone acetyltransferase (HAT) AgTip60 is also essential for HDF synthesis, for the persistent increase in oenocyte numbers, and to maintain immune priming. We identified an enzyme essential for lipoxygenase-independent LXA 4 synthesis and show that AgTip60 HAT is also critical to maintain the priming response.

As part of an initiative to investigate the practical extent of the south-central England chronology for isotopic dating, two timbers that had been securely dated by ring-width dendrochronology from Lodge Farmhouse, Denton were sampled for oxygen isotope analysis. Fifty measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core LFD-04 from a section of a west wall-plate (rings 0-49 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1252-1335) and 96 measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core LFD-12 from the northernmost east principal post (rings 1-96 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1225-1320). The two isotopic series cross-match when offset by 20 years. This is consistent with the ring-width cross-matching. The 96-year isotopic mean cross-dates (t =6.15,1/p=105264, IF>1000) with the south-central England oxygen isotope master chronology, at a position that is compatible with that provided by ring-width dendrochronology. The isotopic series LFD-12 dates independently (t =6.15, 1/p=103843, IF>1000), but the shorter LFD-04 does not date independently. The location of Lodge Farmhouse in East Anglia is in an area that can be challenging for ring-width dendrochronology. It is also located well to the east of the south-central England master oxygen isotope chronology. This initial study suggests that, at present, secure dating using oxygen isotope measurements may be possible in this region, but may not routinely be obtained from short series of isotopic measurements on single timbers. An oxygen isotope master chronology for East Anglia may be required to enhance the potential for applying oxygen isotope dendrochronology in this region. As part of an initiative to investigate the practical extent of the south-central England chronology for isotopic dating, two timbers that had been securely dated by ring-width dendrochronology from Lodge Farmhouse, Denton were sampled for oxygen isotope analysis. Fifty measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core LFD-04 from a section of a west wall-plate (rings 0-49 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1252-1335) and 96 measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core LFD-12 from the northernmost east principal post (rings 1-96 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1225-1320).

Immune priming in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes following infection with Plasmodium parasites is mediated by the systemic release of a hemocyte differentiation factor (HDF), a complex of lipoxin A4 bound to Evokin, a lipid carrier. HDF increases the proportion of circulating granulocytes and enhances mosquito cellular immunity. We found that Evokin is constitutively produced by hemocytes and fat-body cells, but expression increases in response to infection. Insects synthesize lipoxins, but lack lipoxygenases. Here, we show that the Double Peroxidase (DBLOX) enzyme, present in insects but not in vertebrates, is essential for HDF synthesis. DBLOX is highly expressed in oenocytes in the fat body tissue, and these cells proliferate in response to Plasmodium challenge. We provide direct evidence that modifications mediated by the histone acetyltransferase AgTip60 (AGAP01539) are essential for sustained oenocyte proliferation, HDF synthesis and immune priming. We propose that oenocytes function as a population of “memory” cells that continuously release lipoxin to orchestrate and maintain a broad, systemic and long-lasting state of enhanced immune surveillance.

Significance The introduction of Wolbachia (an intracellular bacterium that does not infect higher organisms) into culicine mosquito populations from endemic areas is a promising strategy to prevent arboviral transmission. Anopheline mosquitoes were thought to be naturally refractory to Wolbachia , but a population of Anopheles gambiae from Burkina Faso infected with Wolbachia was recently reported. We identified a Wolbachia strain in A. gambiae mosquitoes from Mali ( w Anga-Mali). w Anga-Mali infection was associated with reduced prevalence and intensity of sporozoite infection in field-collected females. Experimental infections indicate that w Anga-Mali infection reduces malaria transmission by a mechanism that affects sporozoites and opens the possibility of exploring the introduction of Wolbachia into natural populations of anophelines as a strategy to reduce disease transmission.

During 2002 and 2004 some 103 samples were taken from 81 timbers throughout the nave roof of Salisbury Cathedral. Their analysis identified four major phases of construction and produced four new site chronologies: the 194-ring site master SARUM10 spanning the years AD 1057-1250, the 133-ring site master SARUM11 spanning the years AD 1409-1541, the 148-year site master SARUM12 spanning the years AD 1556-1703, and the 143-year site master SARUM13 spanning the years AD 1577-1719. The timber was all found to have originated from southern Britain rather than to have been imported. Timbers from the original nave roof produced felling dates of AD 1244 and AD 1251, and were associated with Roman and Arabic assembly marks respectively, and suggesting a two-phase construction of the nave moving to the west front. The eastern eight roof trusses were found to have been reconstructed during AD 1542 or shortly thereafter, the middle section was rebuilt in AD 1704 or shortly thereafter, and the westernmost six trusses were constructed in AD 1720 or possibly the following year. The analysis indicated a degree of stockpiling of between five and eight years, with the 42ft (12.8m) tiebeams being the principal members procured early due to their excessive length.

Forty unprovenanced timbers removed during repairs in the early 1980s to Lord Leicester's Stables, Kenilworth Castle were assessed for dendrochronological potential in 1997 prior to their disposal. Of these, 14 timbers with moderate to good ring counts were sectioned for future tree-ring analysis. Of these, six samples were found to date, with two originating from the same tree. At least two phases of construction were identified, the earliest consisting of three trees producing termini post quem dates of after AD 1479, after AD 1531, and after AD 1539. These may relate to the assumed date of construction of the stables by Lord Leicester in AD 1571. The second phase is represented by two timbers producing a felling date range of AD 1675-1707, and a possible felling date range of AD 1654-86. It is possible that these may relate to repairs to the stables resulting from damage sustained during the Civil War.

The MUC1 mucin, found on the luminal surface of simple epithelial cells is upregulated and aberrantly glycosylated in many carcinomas particularly breast and ovarian. MUC1 expressed by normal mammary epithelial cells, carries core 2 glycans but in breast carcinomas the simple core 1 based glycans are added. The binding of the monoclonal antibody SM3 to its peptide epitope in the tandem repeat of MUC1 is blocked by the branched core 2 glycans found on MUC1 expressed by normal cells. Thus SM3 does not bind to MUC1 expressed by normal mammary epithelial cells but reacts with more than 90% of breast carcinomas, suggesting that the loss of at least some core 2 glycans is a very common event in breast carcinogenesis. To determine if the change in glycosylation observed in breast carcinomas confers an advantage to cancer cells, murine mammary carcinoma cell lines were developed that express MUC1 carrying core 2 or core 1 linked glycans. The in vivo growth rate in wild-type and nude mice were identical regardless of the O-glycosylation patterns. However, the tumors that grew out of wild-type mice lost most of their MUC1 expression. In contrast, in MUC1 transgenic mice, where expression of MUC1 was retained by the tumor, a striking difference in growth rate was observed. In these mice, cells expressing core 1 glycans grew significantly faster than cells expressing core 2 glycans. These data suggest that MUC1 transgenic mice are more tolerant to core 1 expressing tumors than to tumors expressing core 2.

Thirty-three timbers were sampled from the tower and spire at Salisbury Cathedral during 1990, and a further 32 timbers sampled during 2003 and 2004. Four major elements were sampled and dated: the reset floor structure at the base of the clock chamber with felling dates of spring and summer AD 1242 were found, the Baltic oak ceiling boards to this floor structure with a felling date range of AD 1358-74, the spire scaffold with a felling date range of AD 1344-76, and the timber support tower in the bell chamber underneath the spire with a felling date range of AD 1687-1719. A number of thirteenth and seventeenth century reused timbers were also found in the timber support tower and spire scaffold itself. The analysis resulted in four replicated site chronologies being produced: the 175-ring site master SARUM14 spanning the years AD 1067-1241, the 238-ring site master SARUM15 spanning the years AD 1117-1354, the 110-ring site master SARUM16 spanning the years AD 1229-1338, and the 129-ring site master SARUM17 spanning the years AD 1556-1684. The dating of the spire scaffold to the third quarter of the fourteenth century is contrary to most established theories on architectural the development of the tower and spire. Whilst the architectural detailing of the decoration confirms that the tower and stone spire were constructed in the first quarter of the fourteenth century, detailed analysis of the structure and documentary material supports the conclusion that the spire scaffold was subsequently inserted within the spire half a century later. This was most probably to repair damage sustained by the top of the spire in AD 1362, and to give permanent internal access to the top of the spire and to give some tensile restraint to the capstone.

This report contains information from a previous dendrochronological study, with the application of new sapwood interpretations, and by comparisons with more recent data sets. That study dated the felling of five timbers used in the Hall roof to late summer/autumn of AD 1471, the felling of trees used for four timbers in the small Solar roof to a range of AD 1466-91, and the felling of a single tree used in the large Solar roof to late summer/autumn AD 1476. The date of the small Solar roof is effectively between AD 1472-6, and one timber in each roof may originate from the same tree, implying both roofs are contemporaneous. The roof of the service range was made from trees felled in the period AD 1570-95. A single timber embedded in the gable wall, thought possibly to be a remnant from an earlier roof, was found in the present study to be contemporaneous with the extant Hall roof.

Eleven timbers were sampled from the main cruck framed structure of Bryn Cambric, Chapel Lawns, Clun, Shropshire. Nine of the timbers dated and were combined to form a 130-ring site master BRYNCAM, spanning the years AD 1371-1500. Four of the five dated timbers from Bays 1 and 2, and Trusses 1 and 2 retained complete sapwood giving felling dates ranging from winter AD 1499/1500 to summer AD 1501. They are associated with the primary construction phase of this building which has therefore been shown to date to AD 1501 or shortly thereafter. The remaining four timbers are from Bay 3 and Truss 3. Three of these retained heartwood/sapwood boundaries producing date ranges of AD 1487-1517, AD 1501-31, and AD 1511-41. Consequently it has not been possible to determine conclusively whether Truss 3, which has crucks halved from a single tree, is of precisely the same date as the whole-tree crucks with a single later insert, or whether the whole truss is a slightly later addition.

Four medieval doors in the area of the nave of Salisbury Cathedral were sampled for dendrochronology using a micro-borer. The doors sampled included the two great west front doors, the lower door to the Parvis stairs, and the upper door from the Parvis Chamber to the north nave triforium. Nine boards sampled from the west doors produced the 259-year chronology SARUM8, spanning the years AD 928 - 1186. Exceptional matches with other material from Salisbury imported from Ireland show that the timber undoubtedly originated from south-east Ireland. Absence of sapwood meant that it was only possible to produce a terminus post quem for felling of after AD 1222, but other evidence suggests that felling was unlikely to be after AD 1275. The upper door from the Parvis Chamber was similarly sampled. Despite having few rings, all nine samples dated, five matching together to form the 58-year long chronology SARUM9, spanning the years AD 1177 - 1234, and another three forming the 101-year long chronology SARUM10, spanning the years AD 1114 - 1214. These gave respectable matches with southern English chronologies, and produced average felling date ranges of AD 1240 - 72 and AD 1223 - 55 respectively. The lower door to the Parvis stairs was also sampled, and four out of five boards dated. Three were of English origin and produced two felling date ranges, AD 1219 - 51 and AD 1229 - 61. Another board proved to be of Irish origin and was coeval with the other three dated boards. The dendrochronology suggests that the lower door, together with the west front doors, may be slightly earlier than the upper door from the Parvis Chamber.

Eighty-four samples from 62 individual timbers were sampled during 1998 from the eastern chapel roofs of Salisbury Cathedral. This included the original roof of the northern Chapel of St Peter and the Apostles, and the southern Chapel of St Stephen and the Martyrs, as well as a couple of samples from re-used timbers from the former glaziers shop over the Chapel of the Trinity and All Saints. Of these 62 timbers, 49 were dated, three producing precise felling dates of spring AD 1222, which accords well with a documented consecration date of 28 September AD 1225. Of the samples dated, 35 formed a 314-year replicated chronology SARUM1, spanning the years AD 908 - 1221. This matched extremely well with materials from the region around Dublin, suggesting that much of the structural timberwork for the earliest roofs was imported from this area. Five other timbers matched better with chronologies from southern England and were combined to form the 108-year chronology SARUM2, spanning the years AD 1106 - 1213. During 2000, a further 176 samples were taken from 159 timbers throughout the roofs of the north porch and north nave triforium. Of these, 123 timbers dated. Three precise felling dates were produced for the primary construction phase: two from the winter of AD 1251/2 and one from the winter of AD 1254/5. A fourth felling date of summer AD 1236 identified an earlier reused timber. A 201-year chronology from 27 trees SARUM3x was produced, spanning the years AD 1054 - 1254. A series of lead sarking boards from the roof were identified as imported from Ireland, and shown to be part of the original construction. Forty-nine of these timbers were considered to have originated from 42 trees and were combined to form the chronology SARUM4, spanning the years AD 878-1230.

Twelve tree-ring samples were taken from eleven waterlogged bridge timbers excavated from the Convent Ditch in Abingdon Vineyard excavation site, Abingdon, Oxfordshire (SU 499 972). Eight of the timbers dated, six being combined to form a 114-year chronology spanning the years AD 1394-1507 and producing a precise felling date of spring AD 1508. The dating has also shown that associated elements including planking and stakes are from the same period of construction.

Six timber samples from sites within the City of Hereford were processed by the Ancient Monuments Laboratory in late 1989. The first two samples were water-logged timbers from a pit excavated behind 25 High Town but had too few rings to date. Another sample came from 18-20 High Town was found to span the years AD 1474-1594. The absence of sapwood resulted in a terminus post quem of after AD 1605 being given. Two samples were from the rear wing of 41A Bridge Street. One was from a sill beam, thought to be primary, and was found to span the years AD 1406-1459. As the sample retained some sapwood, a felling date range of AD 1466-1496 is given. The second sample was found to span the years AD 1439-1585. Again with the absence of sapwood a terminus post quem of after AD 1596 is given. A sample from the College of the Vicars' Choral had too few rings to date.