Space-time wiring specificity supports direction selectivity in the retina

How does the mammalian retina detect motion? This classic problem in visual neuroscience has remained unsolved for 50 years. In search of clues, here we reconstruct Off-type starburst amacrine cells (SACs) and bipolar cells (BCs) in serial electron microscopic images with help from EyeWire, an online community of 'citizen neuroscientists'. On the basis of quantitative analyses of contact area and branch depth in the retina, we find evidence that one BC type prefers to wire with a SAC dendrite near the SAC soma, whereas another BC type prefers to wire far from the soma. The near type is known to lag the far type in time of visual response. A mathematical model shows how such 'space-time wiring specificity' could endow SAC dendrites with receptive fields that are oriented in space-time and therefore respond selectively to stimuli that move in the outward direction from the som

Lactation and the Working Woman: Understanding the Role of Organizational Factors, Lactation Support, and Legal Policy in Promoting Breastfeeding Success

This chapter explores the organizational factors shown to impact a woman’s ability to successfully combine breastfeeding and work. As such, we explore the role of support for breastfeeding at work, flexible work arrangements, organizational policies, and other work characteristics on women’s work attitudes and well-being, as well as on, breastfeeding initiation and/or duration. The chapter discusses interventions to overcome organizational barriers, with a focus on employer education efforts and workplace lactation programs, both of which promote breastfeeding continuation upon return to work while resulting in numerous corporate benefits. Last, we conclude with a timely overview and interpretation of the complex legal landscape surrounding this critical topic in the United States, including a discussion of recent changes in legislation intended to afford the lactating working mother additional protection in the American workplace.https://ecollections.law.fiu.edu/faculty_books/1180/thumbnail.jp