Corticofugal projections from the anterior olfactory nucleus target olfactory bulb principal cells

The anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) is a cortical structure reciprocally connected with the olfactory bulb (OB) and the piriform cortex. Here, using small extracellular and intracellular injections to trace the terminal projections in the OB from individual cells in the rat AON, and examining the morphology and distribution of these projections, I report that these projections appear to preferentially target and directly synapses with mitral cells. These findings suggests that the AON acts to modulate incoming olfactory information based on ongoing processing, perhaps in a way that tunes the OB to signal the presence of particular odors

FADS Gene Cluster Polymorphisms: Important Modulators of Fatty Acid Levels and Their Impact on Atopic Diseases

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) play an important role in several physiological processes and their concentration in phospholipids has been associated with several complex diseases, such as atopic disease. The level and composition of LC-PUFAs in the human body is highly dependent on their intake in the diet or on the intake of fatty acid precursors, which are endogenously elongated and desaturated to physiologically active LC-PUFAs. The most important enzymes in this reaction cascade are the Delta(5) and Delta(6) desaturase. Several studies in the last few years have revealed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 2 desaturase encoding genes (FADS1 and FADS2) are highly associated with the concentration of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, showing that beside nutrition, genetic factors also play an important role in the regulation of LC-PUFAs. This review focuses on current knowledge of the impact of genetic polymorphisms on LC-PUFA metabolism and on their potential role in the development of atopic diseases. Copyright (c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Base

Hydrogeochemical Analysis of Wells in Cedarville, Ohio

Cedarville, Ohio is located in the Till Plains of the United States and is predominantly agricultural in land use with very slight topographical variation. The most significant body of water in this area is Massies Creek, which runs from east to west across the village. Six locally-owned wells within 6.4 kilometers of the main street of Cedarville were selected in order to conduct a hydrogeochemical groundwater study. Water samples were collected from these wells and assessed by an environmental lab in the interest of performing a cation/anion analysis. Depth from ground surface and pH levels were measured as well. The results of this study were compared with research on the soil and bedrock of this locality in order to perform an evaluation on the relatedness of its hydrological, geological, and chemical properties. There did not appear to be a strong correlation between soil composition and the chemical makeup of the water in these six wells; however, a further analysis on the significance of geological features as well as biological influences is recommended for future study

Geology and origins of the peak gold-copper-silver skarn deposit, Tok, Alaska

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2015The distal Peak Au-Cu skarn deposit was discovered in 2012 on Tetlin native lands 15 miles southeast of Tok, Alaska. The deposit contains anomalous Au-Cu-Bi-Ag-Mo-Fe-Te-As-Pb-Co-W-Cd-Ni. At the time of drilling deposit style, mineralization and origin were not understood. Upper Paleozoic and older metamorphic rocks had been previously mapped in the area; however, no igneous or metasomatic rocks had been recognized. To better understand the deposit I created a 1:25,000 scale geologic map of the 25 km² exploration area; employed approximately 682,500 assays for metal ratios; described textures and minerals in 138 polished thin sections; employed approximately 3,000 meters of new core logging to produce a cross-section and long-section; acquired microprobe compositions of skarn amphibole, pyroxene and garnet; analyzed 122 rocks by X-ray fluorescence analysis; had Pb isotopic ratios determined for 3 galena samples; and had 5 rocks dated by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and U-Pb techniques. Based upon this data, I define Peak as a distal amphibole-rich Cu-Au skarn. The skarn's plutonic source remains undiscovered, and is likely NE of, and well below the deposit. Based radiometric dating and trace element analyses of plutonic and volcanic rocks, the immediate area experienced intrusive and extrusive activity at 70-75 Ma in a volcanic arc setting

An improved method of exposure for transaxillary first rib resection

Transaxillary first rib excision, used for thoracic outlet decompression, requires that the patient be in the lateral decubitus position with the arm elevated. This is traditionally accomplished by a junior resident or medical student holding the arm in the air for the duration of the case. This technical note presents a simplified method of passive arm elevation using orthopedic techniques that provides superb exposure of this area with no appreciable patient morbidity

Tort Reform and the Tax Code: An Opportunity to Narrow the Personal Injuries Exemption

The Internal Revenue Code (the Code ) defines income broadly to include wealth from almost every source, while at the same time exempting a number of items for various tax and public policy reasons. One such policy-based exemption is section 104(a)(2)-the Personal Injuries Exemption-which exempts from tax any damages ... received on account of personal injuries or sickness. The Personal Injuries Exemption, however, exists in a state of disarray and needs amending. Since its inception, this exemption has lacked both clear definitions of its key terms and a sound theoretical foundation. Moreover, although courts traditionally read exemptions narrowly, they have interpreted section 104(a)(2) broadly and have applied it in a number of situations where it was not meant to be applied. As a result, the exemption now serves largely as an incentive to sue and as a windfall for those taxpayers fortunate enough to fall within its scope. So great is the disagreement over how to deal with these problems that between 1992 and 1994 the federal circuit courts of appeals split over at least three separate issues regarding the application of the exemption. The Personal Injuries Exemption should be narrowed significantly by giving it a clear definition tied to a sound theoretical foundation These changes would alleviate many of the current problems and give courts and the Internal Revenue Service (the Service ) guidance in dealing with future problems. It would also raise revenue and eliminate a major incentive to sue. It is a rare occurrence when the political will for change arises at the precise moment when an often-overlooked area of law most needs amending. Such is the case today as a result of the confluence between America\u27s desire for tort reform and the need for congressional action regarding the Personal Injuries Exemption. America currently needs and wants tort reform. Indeed, such reform was one of the major provisions of the Contract with America that helped catapult the Republicans to electoral victory in 1994. Because section 104(a)(2) serves as a significant incentive to litigate, Congress currently has an opportunity to use the political will for tort reform to simultaneously limit one of the largest and least justified tax expenditures in the Code-the tax-exempt status of damage awards received on account of personal injuries. Parts II and III of this Note discuss the legal background of and recent developments in the Personal Injuries Exemption. Part IV analyzes the problems arising from the exemption\u27s current application in more detail and proposes a statutory amendment to section 104(a)(2) which narrows the exclusion by giving it a clear definition which is closely tied to a sound theoretical foundation

What Hedge Funds Can Teach Corporate America: A Roadmap for Achieving Institutional Investor Oversight

Hedge funds and other private equity funds are aggressive monitors of corporate America. Their investment strategies are designed to squeeze agency costs and other inefficiencies out of under performing companies. Mutual funds and public pension funds, by contrast, have remained relentlessly passive despite their many resources. Rather than seek to improve the performance of their portfolio companies, they generally prefer to exit any investments that turn sour. Why the difference? In this Article, I compare the business environments and regulatory regimes affecting different types of institutional investors. I conclude that the primary reason that most institutional investors do not better discipline corporate wrongdoing is that their individual fund managers have little incentive to do so. Were they permitted to adopt the incentive compensation structure of a hedge fund, however, mutual funds and public pension funds would compete to provide the oversight necessary to make corporate managers more accountable. The result would be a deeper market for good corporate governance

Assessing the Relationships of Winter Ticks, Weather and a Declining Moose Population in Northern New Hampshire

ASSESSING ABUNDANCE AND QUESTING BEHAVIOR OF WINTER TICKS (DERMENCENTOR ALBIPICTUS) IN NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. Brent Illig Powers University of New Hampshire Recent decline in New Hampshire’s moose (Alces alces) population is attributed to parasitism by winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) associated with high calf mortality and reduced adult cow productivity. Research has focused mainly on moose (host) population dynamics with minimal study of abundance and distribution of winter ticks (parasite) on the landscape. Importantly, tick location is dictated by where ticks drop from moose in April, when they principally forage in regenerating forest. This research was designed with 4 primary objectives: 1) measure and compare larval abundance in 2 types of regenerating forest habitat (clear-cuts and partial harvests), 2) measure and compare larval abundance on 2 transects types (random and high-use) within the 2 cut habitat types, 3) estimate the length of the larval questing period, and 4) measure the microclimate within cut habitats to evaluate conditions associated with termination of the larval questing period. Ticks were not evenly distributed within preferred habitat as larvae were collected on 50.5% of all transects combined; proportionally, 57.5% of transects in clear-cuts and 44.3% in partial cuts had larvae. The average abundance (by cut and transect types) ranged from 0.11-0.36 ticks/m2, similar to that measured in 2008-2009 when moose density was 40% higher; however, the maximum values in individual cuts were up to 10x higher than those measured earlier. Abundance was highest on high-use transects and in partial cuts. No difference in abundance was found between cut or transect type when eliminating tickless transects. Abundance or weekly collection rate was stable until the onset of temperatures \u3c 0 0C and multiple days of snow cover, after which abundance decreased in all cut and transect types except high-use transects in partial harvests. Questing slowed during an initial snow of ~15 cm in late October but resumed on these transects during a warmup indicating the relative hardiness of larvae; it terminated permanently at the onset of permanent snow cover and prolonged cold in early November. The higher abundance of winter ticks in partial harvests suggest that moose may prefer or spend proportionally more time in partial harvests than clear-cuts. Predicting the final infestation rate on moose is theoretically possible by relating the stable collection rate, infestation level of moose harvested in late October, and length of the questing period