Soil-related habitat specialization in dipterocarp rain forest tree species in Borneo

Summary 1 We conducted a field experiment to test whether aggregated spatial distributions were related to soil variation in locally sympatric tree species in the rain forests of Sarawak, Malaysia. Dryobalanops aromatica , Shorea laxa , and Swintonia schwenkii are naturally aggregated on low-fertility humult ultisols, Dryobalanops lanceolata and Hopea dryobalanoides on moderate-fertility udult ultisols and Shorea balanocarpoides is found on both soil types. 2 Seedlings of all six species were grown in a nested-factorial experiment for 20 months in humult and udult soils in gaps and in the understorey to test for soil-specific differences in performance. Phosphorus addition was used to test for effects due to P-limitation. 3 Four species showed significantly higher growth on their natural soils, but one humultsoil species ( D. aromatica ) and the broadly distributed species were not significantly affected by soil type. 4 One udult-soil species, D. lanceolata , had both lower relative growth rate and lower mycorrhizal colonization on humult soil. However, humult soils also had lower levels of Ca, Mg, K, N and probably water availability. 5 The overall ranking of growth rates among species was similar on the two soils. Growth rates were strongly positively correlated with leaf area ratio and specific leaf area among species in both soils. With the exception of D. aromatica , species of the higher-nutrient soils had higher growth rates on both soils. 6 Although P addition led to elevated soil-P concentrations, elevated root-and leaf-tissue P concentrations on both soils, there was no significant growth enhancement and therefore no evidence that P availability limits the growth or constrains the distribution of any of the six species in the field. Differences in soil water availability between soils may be more important. 7 Our results suggest that habitat-mediated differences in seedling performance strongly influence the spatial distributions of tropical trees and are therefore likely to play a key role in structuring tropical rain forest communities

Phase Evolution and Li Diffusion in LATP Solid-State Electrolyte Synthesized via a Direct Heat-Cycling Method

Herein, the direct synthesis of phase-pure lithium aluminum titanium phosphate (Li_{1.3}Al_{0.3}Ti_{1.7}(PO_{4})_{3}, LATP) solid-electrolyte powder in 220 min and relatively low temperatures (850 °C) is achieved via a new (cyclic) fast heat treatment (c-FHT) route. The complex structural evolution highlights rate-limited lithium incorporation of intermediate metal phosphates formed prior to the final phase-pure LATP. The prepared LATP product powder displays similar bulk (2 × 10^{−10} cm^{2} s^{−1}) and local (3 × 10^{−10} cm^{2} s^{−1}) values for lithium diffusion coefficients (D_{Li}) characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and muon spin relaxation (μSR), respectively. The similarity between both D_{Li} values suggests excellent retention of inter- and intraparticle lithium diffusion, which is attributed to the absence of deleterious surface impurities such as AlPO4. A low-energy barrier (E_{a} = 73 meV) of lithium diffusion is also estimated from the μSR data

Rapid Quantification of Molecular Diversity for Selective Database Acquisition

There is an increasing need to expand the structural diversity of the molecules investigated in lead-discovery programs. One way in which this can be achieved is by acquiring external datasets that will enhance an existing database. This paper describes a rapid procedure for the selection of external datasets using a measure of structural diversity that is calculated from sums of pairwise intermolecular structural similarities

Genome-scale analysis identifies paralog lethality as a vulnerability of chromosome 1p loss in cancer.

Functional redundancy shared by paralog genes may afford protection against genetic perturbations, but it can also result in genetic vulnerabilities due to mutual interdependency1-5. Here, we surveyed genome-scale short hairpin RNA and CRISPR screening data on hundreds of cancer cell lines and identified MAGOH and MAGOHB, core members of the splicing-dependent exon junction complex, as top-ranked paralog dependencies6-8. MAGOHB is the top gene dependency in cells with hemizygous MAGOH deletion, a pervasive genetic event that frequently occurs due to chromosome 1p loss. Inhibition of MAGOHB in a MAGOH-deleted context compromises viability by globally perturbing alternative splicing and RNA surveillance. Dependency on IPO13, an importin-β receptor that mediates nuclear import of the MAGOH/B-Y14 heterodimer9, is highly correlated with dependency on both MAGOH and MAGOHB. Both MAGOHB and IPO13 represent dependencies in murine xenografts with hemizygous MAGOH deletion. Our results identify MAGOH and MAGOHB as reciprocal paralog dependencies across cancer types and suggest a rationale for targeting the MAGOHB-IPO13 axis in cancers with chromosome 1p deletion

Comprehensive genetic assessment of the ESR1 locus identifies a risk region for endometrial cancer

Excessive exposure to estrogen is a well-established risk factor for endometrial cancer (EC), particularly for cancers of endometrioid histology. The physiological function of estrogen is primarily mediated by estrogen receptor alpha, encoded by ESR1. Consequently, several studies have investigated whether variation at the ESR1 locus is associated with risk of EC, with conflicting results. We performed comprehensive fine-mapping analyses of 3633 genotyped and imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 6607 EC cases and 37 925 controls. There was evidence of an EC risk signal located at a potential alternative promoter of the ESR1 gene (lead SNP rs79575945, P=1.86x10(-5)), which was stronger for cancers of endometrioid subtype (P=3.76x10(-6)). Bioinformatic analysis suggests that this risk signal is in a functionally important region targeting ESR1, and eQTL analysis found that rs79575945 was associated with expression of SYNE1, a neighbouring gene. In summary, we have identified a single EC risk signal located at ESR1, at study-wide significance. Given SNPs located at this locus have been associated with risk for breast cancer, also a hormonally driven cancer, this study adds weight to the rationale for performing informed candidate fine-scale genetic studies across cancer types

Making Connections - Envisioning Springfield\u27s North End

This work explores a service learning strategy in the context of the senior Urban Design Studio taught in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The primary goal of this project is to stimulate a conversation in the neighborhoods of the North End, to develop green design strategies, to improve services and businesses for residents and the employees of local businesses, and to foster cultural engagement and interaction in the North End that will enhance the vibrancy, resilience, and quality of life of this urban community. Making connections - Envisioning Springfield\u27s North End proposes improved connectivity in a physical, cultural, and social sense will be key to attaining these goals and to engaging and synergizing individuals and community groups in the North End - residents, businesses, schools, churches, employers, and employees. Six sustainable learning and planning principles have emerged from this studio: 1. Input and interaction – Visioning workshops connect campus and community 2. Community-building art - Expression of place and people 3. Healthy living - Urban agriculture and education 4. Urban greenways – Abandoned railways and urban rivers and streams 5. Green infrastructure - Green streets as networks and structural framework 6. Sustainable urban form – Mixed use and pedestrian friendly neighborhood