Acute hydrogen sulfide–induced neuropathology and neurological sequelae: challenges for translational neuroprotective research

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), the gas with the odor of rotten eggs, was formally discovered in 1777, over 239 years ago. For many years, it was considered an environmental pollutant and a health concern only in occupational settings. Recently, however, it was discovered that H(2)S is produced endogenously and plays critical physiological roles as a gasotransmitter. Although at low physiological concentrations it is physiologically beneficial, exposure to high concentrations of H(2)S is known to cause brain damage, leading to neurodegeneration and long‐term neurological sequelae or death. Neurological sequelae include motor, behavioral, and cognitive deficits, which are incapacitating. Currently, there are concerns about accidental or malicious acute mass civilian exposure to H(2)S. There is a major unmet need for an ideal neuroprotective treatment, for use in the field, in the event of mass civilian exposure to high H(2)S concentrations. This review focuses on the neuropathology of high acute H(2)S exposure, knowledge gaps, and the challenges associated with development of effective neuroprotective therapy to counteract H(2)S‐induced neurodegeneration

Competition in U.S. farm product markets: do long-run incentives trump short-run market power?

This paper addresses buyer market power in farm product procurement markets. We argue that buyer power concerns are often overstated because traditional models of buyer market power are incapable of depicting the economic interactions that are fundamental to modern agricultural markets, where exchange is governed by stable contractual relationships among buyers and farmers. The exercise of short-run oligopsony power is inimical to the long-run interests of buyers in these settings because below-competitive returns will lead to the exodus of resources from producing the product. Policy proposals grounded in the presumed linkage between concentration, competition, and market power may well be misguided and detrimental to the objectives proponents seek to advance