quids at Pinwheel Cave, California, provide unambiguous confirmation of the ingestion of hallucinogens at a rock art site.

While debates have raged over the relationship between trance and rock art, unambiguous evidence of the consumption of hallucinogens has not been reported from any rock art site in the world. A painting possibly representing the flowers of on the ceiling of a Californian rock art site called Pinwheel Cave was discovered alongside fibrous quids in the same ceiling. Even though Native Californians are historically documented to have used to enter trance states, little evidence exists to associate it with rock art.

Utilization of an Electrochemiluminescence Sensor for Atropine Determination in Complex Matrices.

A major challenge within forensic science is the development of accurate and robust methodologies that can be utilized on-site for detection at crime scenes and can be used for analyzing multiple sample types. The recent expansion of electrochemical sensors to tackle this hurdle requires sensors that can undergo analysis without any pretreatment. Given the vast array of samples that are submitted for forensic analysis, this can pose a major challenge for all electrochemical sensors, including electrochemiluminescent (ECL)-based sensors.

Mice with early retinal degeneration show differences in neuropeptide expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Background: In mammals, the brain clock responsible for generating circadian rhythms is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Light entrainment of the clock occurs through intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) whose axons project to the SCN via the retinohypothalamic tract. Although ipRGCs are sufficient for photoentrainment, rod and cone photoreceptors also contribute.

The development of melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells in mice with early retinal degeneration.

In mammals, the neuronal pathways by which rod and cone photoreceptors mediate vision have been well documented. The roles that classical photoreceptors play in photoentrainment, however, have been less clear. In mammals, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) that express the photopigment melanopsin project directly to the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, the site of the circadian clock, and thereby contribute to non-image-forming responses to light.

Synaptic inputs to retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock.

Melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) project to the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and mediate photoentrainment of the circadian system. Melanopsin is a novel retinal-based photopigment that renders these cells intrinsically photosensitive (ip). Although genetic ablation of melanopsin abolishes the intrinsic light response, it has a surprisingly minor effect on circadian photoentrainment.

The light-activated signaling pathway in SCN-projecting rat retinal ganglion cells.

In mammals, the master circadian clock resides in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. The period and phase of the circadian pacemaker are calibrated by direct photic input from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). SCN-projecting RGCs respond to light in the absence of rod- and cone-driven synaptic input, a property for which they are termed intrinsically photosensitive.

Physiological response properties of displaced amacrine cells of the adult ferret retina.

The ganglion cell layer (GCL) of the mammalian retina contains a large number of neurons called displaced amacrine cells (DACs) that do not project to the optic nerve. However, with the exception of the rabbit starburst amacrine cell little is known regarding the function of this large population due to the difficulty experienced in making physiological recordings from these neurons. We have overcome these difficulties and have used whole-cell patch-clamp techniques to examine the intrinsic membrane properties of DACs in the ferret retina.

Intrinsic light responses of retinal ganglion cells projecting to the circadian system.

In mammals, light entrainment of the circadian clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), requires retinal input. Traditional rod and cone photoreceptors, however, are not required. Instead, the SCN-projecting retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) function as autonomous photoreceptors and exhibit light responses independent of rod- and cone-driven input.

Evaluation of the Roche Amplicor polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of enteroviruses in cerebrospinal fluid and its potential impact on patient management.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Roche Amplicor polymerase chain reaction assay (APCR) by comparing the detection of enteroviruses from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by the Roche assay with detection by viral culture and to determine whether routine use of enteroviral PCR will affect patient management. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three CSF specimens were tested by APCR and viral culture. Some of the discrepant specimens were resolved by retesting with an in-house PCR assay.