Passive, broadband and low-frequency suppression of laser amplitude noise to the shot-noise limit using hollow-core fibre

We use hollow-core fibre to preserve the spectrum and temporal profile of picosecond laser pulses in CBD to suppress 2.6 dB of amplitude noise at MHz noise frequencies, to within 0.01 dB of the shot-noise limit. We provide an enhanced version of the CBD scheme that concatenates circuits to suppress over multiple frequencies and over broad frequency ranges --- we perform a first demonstration that reduces total excess amplitude noise, between 2 - 6 MHz, by 85%. These demonstrations enable passive, broad-band, all-guided fibre laser technology operating at the shot-noise limit.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Differential Microglial Responses Induced by N-a-Synuclein-Specific Effector T Cell Clones

Parkinson\u27s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative movement disorder in which symptoms derive from deficits in dopamine neurotransmitter levels secondary to loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) associated with misfolding and accumulation of α−synuclein. Neuroinflammation via microglia and T effector cells (Teffs) contribute to dopaminergic neuronal cell death. Recognition of cytokine profiles of pro-inflammatory microglia is not well understood and serve as potential therapeutic targets to reduce neuroinflammation. Recent studies demonstrated a novel Th17.1 Teff clonotype increases neurotoxicity. The aim of this study was to demonstrate in vitro cytokine responses by BV-2 microglia induced by Th1, Th17, and Th17.1 clonotypes to assess neuroinflammation mechanisms in PD. Cytokine responses by BV-2 microglia co-cultured with activated Teff clonotypes were analyzed using a cytokine membrane array. Co-culture with Teffs led to significant increases in the majority of cytokine responses from BV-2 microglia compared to control. Cross group analysis relative expression demonstrated variation in cytokine profiles produced between microglia treated with different Teff clonotypes, especially with regard to IFNγ, MIG, MIP-1α, TIMP-1, RANTES, SDF-1, and IL-12 p40/p70. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of cytokines displaying significant relative expression levels for each Teff clonotype showed Th1- and Th17- treated BV-2 microglia demonstrated pathways related to cellular movement, hematological development and function, and immune trafficking while Th17.1-treated microglia upregulated pathways related to disorders of connective tissues, inflammation, and organismal injury. In conclusion, Th1, Th17, and Th17.1 Teffs treatment of BV-2 microglia led to upregulation of most pro-inflammatory cytokines and pathways. However, specific Teff clonotype culture with BV-2 microglia displayed different cytokine profile responses through varying relative expression profiles with significant differences related to IFNγ, MIG, MIP-1α, TIMP-1, RANTES, SDF-1, and IL12 p40/p70 delineating alternative inflammatory pathways. These results provide relevant targets for strategies to attenuate neuroinflammation and protect dopaminergic neurons in PD.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/emet_posters/1005/thumbnail.jp

Targeted Cattle Grazing to Enhance Sage-Grouse Brood-Rearing Habitat

Often, greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) brood-rearing habitats dominated by dense mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vaseyana; >10-25% canopy cover) limit important forbs and arthropods sage-grouse rely on during summer. We investigated whether protein supplementation could concentrate cattle during fall to reduce sagebrush canopy cover and increase the diversity and abundance of forbs and arthropods. We applied targeted cattle grazing within three large, contiguous pastures in the Beaverhead Mountains of southwestern Montana. In each pasture, we selected one 4-ha macroplot of dense sagebrush (>30%). Within each macroplot, we placed low-moisture block protein supplement in four microsites (78.5-m2) and compared cattle response to four untreated control microsites. The following summer we measured herbaceous canopy cover and composition, shrub canopy cover, ground cover, forb and arthropod diversity, and arthropod density for each treated and untreated microsites. Mountain big sagebrush canopy cover was 71% less in treated vs. untreated microsites (11% vs. 38% canopy cover, respectively; P <0.001). Bite count observations indicated that sagebrush cover was reduced by cattle trampling rather than browsing, as sagebrush comprised <1% of cattle diets. Forb diversity was 13% greater in treated microsites (P = 0.094), forb species richness was 16% greater in treated microsites (P = 0.044), and forb composition trended higher in treated microsites (45% of herbaceous composition in treated microsites vs. 32% in untreated microsites; P = 0.106). Lepidoptera density trended 18% greater in treated microsites (P = .133). Our results indicate that protein supplementation during late fall can concentrate cattle to enhance sage-grouse brood-rearing habitat