Calculating the rotational friction coefficient of fractal aerosol particles in the transition regime using extended Kirkwood-Riseman theory.

We apply our extended Kirkwood-Riseman theory to compute the translation, rotation, and coupling friction tensors and the scalar rotational friction coefficient for an aerosol fractal aggregate in the transition flow regime. The method can be used for particles consisting of spheres in contact. Our approach considers only the linear velocity of the primary spheres in a rotating aggregate and ignores rotational and coupling interactions between spheres.

Friction factor for aerosol fractal aggregates over the entire Knudsen range.

We develop an approach for computing the hydrodynamic friction tensor and scalar friction coefficient for an aerosol fractal aggregate in the transition regime. Our approach involves solving the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook equation for the velocity field around a sphere and using the velocity field to calculate the force on each primary sphere in the aggregate due to the presence of the other spheres. It is essentially an extension of Kirkwood-Riseman theory from the continuum flow regime to the entire Knudsen range (Knudsen number from 0.

Morphology and connectivity of parabrachial and cortical inputs to gustatory thalamus in rats.

The ventroposterior medialis parvocellularis (VPMpc) nucleus of the thalamus, the thalamic relay nucleus for gustatory sensation, receives primary input from the parabrachial nucleus, and projects to the insular cortex. To reveal the unique properties of the gustatory thalamus in comparison with archetypical sensory relay nuclei, this study examines the morphology of synaptic circuitry in the VPMpc, focusing on parabrachiothalamic driver input and corticothalamic feedback. Anterogradely visualized parabrachiothalamic fibers in the VPMpc bear large swellings.

Physiological and anatomical properties of intramedullary projection neurons in rat rostral nucleus of the solitary tract.

The rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNTS), the first-order relay of gustatory information, not only transmits sensory information to more rostral brain areas but also connects to various brain stem sites responsible for orofacial reflex activities. While much is known regarding ascending projections to the parabrachial nucleus, intramedullary projections to the reticular formation (which regulate oromotor reflexive behaviors) remain relatively unstudied. The present study examined the intrinsic firing properties of these neurons as well as their morphological properties and synaptic connectivity with primary sensory afferents.

Monosynaptic convergence of chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal afferents onto ascending relay neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract: a high-resolution confocal and correlative electron microscopy approach.

Physiological studies suggest convergence of chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal afferent axons onto single neurons of the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNTS), but anatomical evidence has been elusive. The current study uses high-magnification confocal microscopy to identify putative synaptic contacts from afferent fibers of the two nerves onto individual projection neurons. Imaged tissue is revisualized with electron microscopy, confirming that overlapping fluorescent signals in confocal z-stacks accurately identify appositions between labeled terminal and dendrite pairs.

Postnatal development of chorda tympani axons in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract.

The chorda tympani nerve (CT), one of three nerves that convey gustatory information to the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), displays terminal field reorganization after postnatal day 15 in the rat. Aiming to gain insight into mechanisms of this phenomenon, CT axon projection field and terminal morphology in NTS subdivisions were examined using tract tracing, light microscopy, and immunoelectron microscopy at four postnatal ages: P15, P25, P35, and adult. The CT axons that innervated NTS rostrolateral subdivision both in the adult and in P15 rats were morphologically distinct from those that innervated the rostrocentral, gustatory subdivision.

A survey of oral cavity afferents to the rat nucleus tractus solitarii.

Visualization of myelinated fiber arrangements, cytoarchitecture, and projection fields of afferent fibers in tandem revealed input target selectivity in identified subdivisions of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). The central fibers of the chorda tympani (CT), greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSP), and glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), three nerves that innervate taste buds in the oral cavity, prominently occupy the gustatory-sensitive rostrocentral subdivision. In addition, CT and IX innervate and overlap in the rostrolateral subdivision, which is primarily targeted by the lingual branch of the trigeminal nerve (LV).

Activity patterns govern synapse-specific AMPA receptor trafficking between deliverable and synaptic pools.

In single neurons, glutamatergic synapses receiving distinct afferent inputs may contain AMPA receptors (-Rs) with unique subunit compositions. However, the cellular mechanisms by which differential receptor transport achieves this synaptic diversity remain poorly understood. In lateral geniculate neurons, we show that retinogeniculate and corticogeniculate synapses have distinct AMPA-R subunit compositions.