Seasonal Abundance and Species Diversity of Adult Tabanidae (Diptera) at Lake Lansing Park-North, Michigan

A two year study was undertaken to determine the seasonal abundance and diversity of adult deer flies and horse flies, to compare two methods of sampling (Malaise trap and sweep net), and to estimate attack rates by tabanids on people at Lake Lansing Park-North, Ingham County, Michigan, in 1990 and 1991. Tabanids were sampled using dry ice-baited Malaise traps, and by making over- head sweeps with a standard insect net while hiking a trail. Hybomitra spp. (299 individuals of 9 species) peaked in abundance in mid-May to early June in both years. Chrysops spp. (11,675 individuals of 14 species) and Tabanus spp. (324 individuals of 8 species) peaked in early-to late-July in both study years. Peak abundance for Chrysops and Tabanus spp. occurred earlier in 1991 than 1990, probably because the spring of 1991 was warmer. There were six new species records for County. More individual Hybomitra and Tabanus were taken by M traps (77.3% for Hybomitra; 76.2% for Tabanus) than by netting (22.7% for Hybomitra; 23.8% for Tabanus). In contrast, sweep netting yielded more individual Chrysops (98.3%) than Malaise traps (1.7%). Tabanid attack rates on people hiking the trail exceeded 1,000 per hour on one occasion each year, at mid-season

Petrology of Proterozoic to Tertiary Rocks in the Southern Burro Mountains, NM: Insights into Mazatzal to Basin and Range Magmatism and Tectonics

Analysis of thin sections from the Wind Mountain quadrangle, Burro Mountains, NM, near the Tyrone copper mine, reveals a complex geologic history. Rock samples collected in the study area were cut using a rock saw and thin sections were prepared and analyzed to determine mineral content and fabric patterns. The oldest rocks in the study area are strongly metamorphosed and locally mylonitized Proterozoic quartzofeldspathic gneisses and amphibolites of Mazatzal affinity. Mineralogical indications of shearing correlate with shear zones observed during field mapping in the area. Another set of samples are of younger Proterozoic granites and metagranites that intruded the country rock. This suite of granites is probably part of the 1.5 byo Burro Mountain granite. In addition to the ductile rocks, several thin sections were of mineralized fault breccia with abundant hydrothermal calcite and, in some samples, gozzan zone iron. Another group of thin sections were of unmetamorphosed mafic dikes rocks composed mostly of pyroxene (augite) and plagioclase. The youngest rocks studied were thin sections of Tertiary tuffs and flows. This study helps with understanding the magmatic, deformational and hydrothermal alteration history of an economically important area

IMPACTS OF MITOQUINOL MESYLATE INTAKE ON VASCULAR FUNCTION AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN PATIENTS WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: A CASE STUDY

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a decline in cognitive function to a greater extent than natural aging. It has been suggested that reduced brain blood flow is strongly associated with reduced cognitive function and neurodegenerative diseases, of which is partially attributed to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Mitoquinol mesylate has been shown to scavenge ROS and improve vascular function in healthy older adults. However, the effects of mitoquinol in MCI patients have not been investigated. Purpose: to elucidate the impacts of mitoquinol intake on vascular endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation, FMD), arterial stiffness (pulse-wave velocity, PWV), and cognitive function in an MCI patient. We hypothesized that acute mitoquinol intake would improve vascular and cognitive function. One MCI patient (male, age 84) received mitoquinol and placebo in a crossover design. Vascular and cognitive function measurements were taken pre-and post-mitoquinol intake including endothelial function, arterial stiffness, cognitive function, and central and peripheral BP. Following mitoquinol ingestion, brachial artery FMD and popliteal artery FMD both increased (D1.6%; D5%) compared to placebo, along with decreased peripheral BP (D0/-8) and central BP (D-9/-8) compared to placebo. There were decreases in carotid-to-radial PWV (D-0.7 m/s) and carotid-to-distal PWV (D-0.4 m/s) compared to placebo. HR did not change following mitoquinol intake, while HR increased following placebo intake (D1). Our preliminary results demonstrate that mitoquinol may be a potentially useful therapeutic treatment to improve vascular function via endothelial-dependent vasodilatory mechanisms. However, a bigger sample size is warranted to fully elucidate the effects

Why our partisan identities mean we are talking past each other

Deliberation and discussion between people with open minds is the cornerstone of a healthy democratic society. But this ideal seems to be slipping away in the face of increasingly partisan hostility. In new research, Ryan Strickler finds that much of the decline in respect for opposing views is down to people’s identity as members of political groups. Having a strong partisan social identity, he writes, makes people far less likely to listen to counterarguments from the opposing side