Stone Creek Park Rockwall County, Texas

The City of Rockwall is proposing to construct the 14.4-acre Stone Creek Park on the northwest corner of John King Boulevard and Featherstone Drive in Rockwall, Texas. AR Consultants, Inc. (ARC) was contracted to survey the route and conducted the survey March 6, 2015. No prehistoric or historic archaeological sites were found during the survey. This follows the predictions made prior to field work which were based on the project area’s location in the upper reaches of the Thompson Branch Watershed. Given the results of this survey, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that further cultural resource investigations are unnecessary for this project, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission concur with this recommendation

Bear Creek Interceptor Tarrant County, Texas

The Trinity River Authority is proposing to construct the 5.1-milong Bear Creek Interceptor in Tarrant County, Texas. The north end of the pipeline is in Grapevine’s Parr Park and the route follows Big Bear Creek through Wall-Farrar Nature Park, Bear Creek Park, across TX 360 and TX 121, through D/FW Airport property, and terminates on the south in the Hyatt Bear Creek Golf Course. AR Consultants, Inc. (ARC) was contracted to survey the route and conducted the survey December 30, 2014 and January 8, 2015. Though the route crosses two previously recorded sites (41TR24 and 41TR26), no evidence of these sites was found in the field. No prehistoric or historic archaeological sites were found during the survey. This follows the predictions made prior to field work which were based on the project area’s location in the Big Bear Creek floodplain. Given the results of this survey, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that further cultural resource investigations are unnecessary for this project, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission concur with this recommendation

Rockwall To Royse City Pipeline Route Rockwall County, Texas

North Texas Municipal Water District is proposing to construct a 3.05- mile-long pipeline and a storage tank area (measuring up to 4.7 acres) in Rockwall County, Texas. The combination of permanent and temporary easements varies along the route but they are never wider than 70 ft combined. AR Consultants, Inc. (ARC) was contracted to survey the route and conducted the survey March 17 and 26, 2015. No prehistoric archaeological sites were found during the survey. This follows the predictions made prior to field work which were based on the project area’s location in the upper reaches of the Camp Creek Watershed. One historic farmstead site (41RW30) was recorded. This site consists of a well/cistern at a location of a mapped structure on maps dating to the 1920s through the 1970s. However, no structure remains and the only intact feature is the well/cistern. Additionally, the artifacts recovered are indicative of an early to mid-20th century residence and the site lacks overall integrity. Given the results of this survey, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that further cultural resource investigations are unnecessary for this project, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission concur with this recommendation

Archaeological Survey Of The Los Rios Clubhouse Area Collin County, Texas

The City of Plano is proposing to convert the Los Rios Golf Course and Country Club into a city park. For the first phase of the project, the city may choose to remove the clubhouse and associated physical facilities. The City of Plano contracted with AR Consultants, Inc. to conduct an archaeological survey of the 8.3-acre area surrounding the clubhouse and an architectural evaluation of the clubhouse. Of the 8.3 acres, six are paved or are the sites of buildings. The archaeological survey, which was conducted under the authority of Texas Antiquities Permit 8283, was conducted on January 12, 2018 and focused only on the unpaved areas. No prehistoric cultural remains were found. A few isolated historic artifacts were found on the surface but were not determined to be a site. The architectural evaluation determined that the clubhouse may be significant based on its connection to local entertainment/recreation, its example as a Modern-style clubhouse, and its connection to the Craycroft-Lacy & Partners architectural firm. However, the clubhouse is not yet 50 years old. Therefore, it is not recommended eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark. Given the results of this survey, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that further cultural resource investigations are unnecessary within the 8.3-acre project area surrounding the clubhouse, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission concur with this recommendation. Documents related to the archaeological survey will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos

Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Bear Creek Corporate Center Dallas County, Texas

EVP Developmental/Avere Real Estate is proposing to construct the Bear Creek Corporate Center at the southeast corner of SH161 and Conflans Road in Irving, Texas on approximately 16 acres. This is located in the Bear Creek floodplain 300 meters form the creek channel.AR Consultants, Inc. was contracted to survey the entire property. The survey and shovel testing were conducted on May 17, 2016. The water table was relatively high at the time of survey, inundating almost a third of the property. No prehistoric or historic archaeological sites were found during the survey. This follows the predictions made prior to field work regarding prehistoric and historic sites. Given the results of this survey, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that further cultural resource investigations are unnecessary for this project, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission and Fort Worth District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concur with this recommendation

Archaeological Survey Of The Proposed Grapevine Aerial SS Repair Tarrant County, Texas

The City of Grapevine is proposing to repair an aerial sanitary sewer across Big Bear Creek in Tarrant County, Texas. The project area is located on the south side of a horseshoe bend in the floodplain of Big Bear Creek, north of Western Oaks Drive and west of Texas State Highway 121. AR Consultants, Inc. (ARC) conducted the intensive pedestrian archaeological survey in an area approximately 50-meters by 25-meters (0.3-acres) on June 8, 2018. Four shovel tests were excavated within the project area during the systematic field inspection. The archaeological potential for prehistoric and historic cultural resources was considered low. During survey, no cultural resources were identified in the shovel tests or found on the surface. Given the results of this survey, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that further cultural resource investigations are unnecessary for this project, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission and the Fort Worth District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concur with this recommendation. The field notes, photographs, and photo logs will be curated with the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas

An Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Fannin County Bridge Study Areas Fannin County, Texas

North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) is proposing to construct the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir in northeast Fannin County, Texas. Due to the proposed inundation, nine bridge/culvert locations will be inundated, and new bridges/culverts will be constructed. White Hawk, which is handling the engineering for the project, contracted with AR Consultants, Inc. to evaluate the proposed bridge locations to determine if significant cultural resources are within the study areas. Prior to and during the cultural resources survey, it was thought that 11 locations would be impacted and 11 were surveyed. After the survey was complete, it was determined that locations 4A and 8 would not be impacted by this project. Even so, the survey results for these two locations is included in this report. All road improvements and new construction will take place within a study area that can vary from 140 to 300 feet wide. In total, 112.11 acres were surveyed. The routes were surveyed on August 29-31, 2016, January 30-February 2, and May 11 2017. During the survey, four historic sites (41FN253, 41FN255, 41FN256 and 41FN257) and one site (41FN254) with historic and prehistoric components were recorded. No historic artifacts were collected; prehistoric artifacts and notes from these sites will be curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at the University of Texas in Austin. As land access on private land was only granted within the easement, the sites on private land could only be fully defined, recorded, and evaluated within these corridors. Sites found on land owned by NTMWD were recorded fully. Because of this, site 41FN257, which sits on private land, was not fully recorded. Therefore, only the portion of the site within the project area can be evaluated, and site 41FN257 is recommended not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places or as a State Antiquities Landmark. Sites 41FN253, 41FN254, 41FN255, and 41FN256, which were recorded fully, are also recommended not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places or as State Antiquities Landmark. Given the results of this survey, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that further cultural resource investigations are unnecessary for this project, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission concur with this recommendation

Riverton SW. - Tunstill Pod & Arroyo Bluff Pod 138-kV Transmission Line Routes Reeves County, Texas

Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC is planning to construct the Riverton Sw. – Tunstill Point of Delivery (POD) and Arroyo Bluff POD 138-kV transmission line routes in Reeves County, Texas. Halff Associates, Inc., the routing consultant for Oncor, contracted with AR Consultants, Inc. to conduct an intensive pedestrian survey of the 6.57 miles of new 138-kV transmission line on private property. Survey was conducted June 4-6, 2018. Seventeen shovel tests were excavated near drainages, where buried deposits were expected, and two 15-m transects were walked within the 70-ft-wide survey corridor (approximately 54 acres). Two archaeological sites were identified and recorded. Site 41RV61 is an abandoned segment of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, dating from the early-20th century. This site is in poor condition, the rails and most of the ties having been removed. Site 41RV142 is a surficial historic trash deposit with artifacts dating from the late-19th century to the mid-20th century. The site been poorly preserved. ARC recommends both sites ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Properties. Therefore, no additional cultural resources investigations are recommended for this project. However, should the proposed right-of-way alignment change, additional archaeological survey may be necessary. Furthermore, should any cultural resources be discovered during the construction activities associated with the project, work in the immediate area should cease and the Texas Historical Commission should be contacted

Evaluation of Standard- and High-Dose Daptomycin versus Linezolid against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Isolates in an In Vitro Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model with Simulated Endocardial Vegetations

Daptomycin MICs for enterococci are typically 1- to 2-fold higher than those for Staphylococcus aureus, and there is an imminent need to establish the optimal dose for appropriate treatment of enterococcal infections. We investigated the bactericidal activity of daptomycin at various dose exposures compared to that of linezolid against vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) in an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model utilizing simulated endocardial vegetations over 96 h. Daptomycin at doses of 6, 8, 10, and 12 mg/kg of body weight/day and linezolid at a dose of 600 mg every 12 h were evaluated against two clinical vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains (EFm11499 and 09-184D1051), one of which was linezolid resistant (09-184D1051), and one clinical vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis strain (EFs11496). Daptomycin MICs were 4, 2, and 0.5 μg/ml for EFm11499, 09-184D1051, and EFs11496, respectively. Bactericidal activity, defined as a ≥3 log10 CFU/g reduction from the initial colony count, was demonstrated against all three isolates with all doses of daptomycin; however, bactericidal activity was not sustained with the daptomycin 6- and 8-mg/kg/day regimens. Linezolid was bacteriostatic against EFm11499 and displayed no appreciable activity against 09-184D1051 or EFs11496. Concentration-dependent killing was displayed with more sustained reduction in colony count (3.58 to 6.46 and 5.89 to 6.56 log10 CFU/g) at 96 h for the simulated regimen of daptomycin at doses of 10 and 12 mg/kg/day, respectively (P ≤ 0.012). No E. faecium mutants with reduced susceptibility were recovered at any dosage regimen; however, the E. faecalis strain developed reduced daptomycin susceptibility with daptomycin at 6, 8, and 10 but not at 12 mg/kg/day. Daptomycin displayed a dose-dependent response against three VRE isolates, with high-dose daptomycin producing sustained bactericidal activity. Further research is warranted.This investigator-initiated study was funded by a research grant from Cubist Pharmaceuticals. We are grateful to Audrey Wanger for providing isolate 09-184D1051 and to Marcus Zervos for providing isolates SF11496 and SF11499. M.J.R. has received grant support, has served as a consultant, or has participated as a speaker for Astellas, Cubist, Forest Laboratories, Pfizer, Rib-X, and Novartis and is supported in part by grant R21AI092055 from the NIAID. C.A.A. has received lecture fees, research support, and consulting fees from Pfizer, Inc., and Cubist and has served as a speaker for Novartis. C.A.A. is supported in part by NIH grants R00 AI72961 and R01 AI093749 from the NIAID. B.E.M. has received grant support from Johnson & Johnson, Astellas, Palumed, Intercell, and Cubist, has served as a consultant for Astellas, Cubist, The Medicines Company, Pfizer, Rib-X, AstraZeneca, and Duranta Therapeutics, and was supported in part by NIH grant R01 AI72961

Neuronally enriched microvesicle RNAs are differentially expressed in the serums of Parkinson’s patients

BackgroundCirculating small RNAs (smRNAs) originate from diverse tissues and organs. Previous studies investigating smRNAs as potential biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease (PD) have yielded inconsistent results. We investigated whether smRNA profiles from neuronally-enriched serum exosomes and microvesicles are altered in PD patients and discriminate PD subjects from controls.MethodsDemographic, clinical, and serum samples were obtained from 60 PD subjects and 40 age- and sex-matched controls. Exosomes and microvesicles were extracted and isolated using a validated neuronal membrane marker (CD171). Sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were used to identify differentially expressed smRNAs in PD and control samples. SmRNAs also were tested for association with clinical metrics. Logistic regression and random forest classification models evaluated the discriminative value of the smRNAs.ResultsIn serum CD171 enriched exosomes and microvesicles, a panel of 29 smRNAs was expressed differentially between PD and controls (false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05). Among the smRNAs, 23 were upregulated and 6 were downregulated in PD patients. Pathway analysis revealed links to cellular proliferation regulation and signaling. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator adjusted for the multicollinearity of these smRNAs and association tests to clinical parameters via linear regression did not yield significant results. Univariate logistic regression models showed that four smRNAs achieved an AUC ≥ 0.74 to discriminate PD subjects from controls. The random forest model had an AUC of 0.942 for the 29 smRNA panel.ConclusionCD171-enriched exosomes and microvesicles contain the differential expression of smRNAs between PD and controls. Future studies are warranted to follow up on the findings and understand the scientific and clinical relevance