Theoretical and practical considerations for validating antigen-specific B cell ImmunoSpot assays.

Owing to their ability to reliably detect even very rare antigen-specific B cells in cellular isolates such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and doing so robustly in a high throughput-compatible manner, B cell ELISPOT/FluoroSpot (collectively "B cell ImmunoSpot") tests have become increasingly attractive for immune monitoring in regulated settings. Presently, there are no guidelines for the qualification and validation of B cell ImmunoSpot assay results. Here, we propose such guidelines, building on the experience acquired from T cell ImmunoSpot testing in an environment adhering to the requirements of regulatory bodies yet taking the unique features of B cell assays into account.

Investigating skyrmion stability and core polarity reversal in NdMnGe.

We present a study on nanoscale skyrmionic spin textures in [Formula: see text], a rare-earth complex noncollinear ferromagnet. We confirm, using X-ray microscopy, that [Formula: see text] can host lattices of metastable skyrmion bubbles at room temperature in the absence of a magnetic field, after applying a suitable field cooling protocol. The skyrmion bubbles are robust against temperature changes from room temperature to 330 K.

Field respirometry in a wild maternity colony of Bechstein's bats (Myotis bechsteinii) indicates high metabolic costs above but not below the thermoneutral zone.

In a warming world, it is crucial to understand how rising temperature affects the physiology of organisms. To investigate the effect of a warming environment on the metabolism of heterothermic bats during the costly lactation period, we characterised metabolic rates in relation to roost temperature, the bats' thermoregulatory state (normothermia or torpor), time of day and age of juveniles. In a field experiment, we heated the communal roosts of a wild colony of Bechstein's bats (Myotis bechsteinii) every other day while measuring metabolic rates using flow-through respirometry.

Going against the family: Perturbation of a greenbeard pathway leads to falsebeard cheating.

Greenbeards facilitate cooperation by encoding a perceptible signal, the ability to detect it, and a tendency to help others that display it. Falsebeards are hypothetical cheaters that display the signal without being altruistic. Despite many examples of greenbeards, evidence for falsebeards is scarce.