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Researchers have tied a particular gene to the development of cortical convolutions--the prominent but enigmatic folds covering the surface of the human brain. Their discovery should shed some light on these characteristic contours, which have been the subject of wild speculation for ages, and perhaps also provide a better understanding of how such brain ridges form, how they evolved from our pre-human ancestors and, ultimately, how they influence brain function.
The exact role of cortical convolutions remains unknown, but theories have abounded. (Some, for example, have suggested that the folds act as the body's cooling system and others have even proposed that Albert Einstein's genius could have been traced to a single cortical fold on his brain.)
Now, leveraging advances that permit a closer look at how these folds develop, research published in the 14 February issue of Science shows that a mutation affecting GPR56 causes cortical convolutions around the brain's Sylvian fissure--a particularly deep indentation--to develop thinner and more convoluted than usual. The finding, which suggests that genes may assert control over the brain's physical folding on a section-by-section basis, provides insight into the mysterious cortical development process.
"There is already a list of genetic mutations that cause abnormal neocortical folding, which can be used for prenatal testing," explained Byoung-il Bae from the Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, one of the lead authors of the Science report. "We intend to add this mutation to some of the panels."
Bae and colleagues from around the world investigated the genomes of five individuals with abnormalities on Broca's area, or the language center of the brain. These study participants were from three different families--one Turkish and two Irish-American--and they suffered from refractory seizures as well as intellectual and language difficulties.
The researchers found that all five patients harbored a mutation on a particular regulatory element that influences the GPR56 gene. Such regulatory DNA doesn't code for any proteins itself but promotes the expression of genes elsewhere on the genome. Geneticists have long-suspected that such non-coding regions of the genome could play important roles in evolution. To observe the specific effects of the GPR56 "promoter" DNA sequence, Bae and his team used genetically modified mice.
They discovered that low expression of GPR56 (gauged by low levels of mRNA) decreases the production of neuroprogenitor cells--those that will eventually give rise to neurons--around Broca's area and the Sylvian fissure. By contrast, overexpression of the gene boosts the production of such progenitor cells in that region. The mutated piece of promoter DNA documented by the researchers, however, isn't the only non-coding segment on the genome that affects GPR56, they say.
This particular GPR56 promoter is found only in the genomes of placental mammals--not egg-laying mammals, marsupials or non-mammals--so Bae et al. suggest that it emerged after the lines of placental and non-placental mammals split, approximately 85 to 100 million years ago.
"Our story tells us that the regional proliferation of progenitor cells is controlled by multiple promoters that enable the formation of distinct gyri (folds) in different parts of the brain," said Bae. "Such promoters introduce more switches for the same proteins, and they may have been among the genetic tools our pre-human ancestors relied upon to evolve."
The human GPR56 gene has much more complicated promoters and regulatory elements than the mouse gene, which may suggest more refined control over brain development in humans, according to the researchers. To illustrate their point, Bae compared the mouse GPR56 promoters to a car's dashboard and the human GPR56 promoters to an airplane's dashboard: "The airplane dash has many more switches, and therefore pilots have more control--sometimes over things that car drivers cannot even imagine."
"By regulating populations of progenitor cells in different parts of the brain with such promoter elements, our pre-human ancestors may have controlled the regions that grew over evolutionary time," he said.
But what purpose do cortical convolutions actually serve? Bae imagines them to represent a developmental strategy for packing enormous numbers of neurons and glial cells into the limited space of the skull. "Humans have 12 times the amount of neurons that chimpanzees have," he explained. "But the volume of our skull is only three times bigger."
Regardless of their precise role, however, the identification of this novel regulatory element affecting GPR56 will complement the massive amount of RNA data that have been accumulating online.
"We need to compile all of the available data at one convenient place... and make them easily accessible to scientists," Bae said. "If the huge amount of the RNA sequencing data is hoarded in a web server in a format that only bioinformaticians can dig into, then the efforts of this massive RNA sequencing are wasted."
The report by Bae et al. was supported by the Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan; the Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology; grant U01MH081896 from NIMH; grant 2R01NS035129 from NINDS; and The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal, Science as well as Science Translational Medicine and Science Signaling. AAAS was founded in 1848, and includes 261 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of 1 million. The non-profit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, www.eurekalert.org, the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS.


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What is an ACDF, or Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?
When a damaged disc in your neck presses onto a nerve root, it can cause debilitating pain that can radiate through your shoulders and into your arms. Using a minimally invasive technique, known as an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion or ACDF, the herniated or diseased disc can easily be removed. The two affected vertebrae will then be fused together for stabilization. This surgery is performed through the front of the neck, as opposed to the back, with a small incision made at either the left or right side. This allows the surgeon to access the cervical region of the spine through planes between the muscles.
Because this minimally invasive surgery is performed through the front of the neck, instead of the back, it offers many benefits including:
- Access to nearly the entire cervical section of the spine through an uncomplicated pathway that minimizes trauma to surrounding areas
- Generally less post-operative pain, due to a smaller incision and less movement of associated tissue, muscles and nerves
- Minimally invasive surgery typically means less blood loss, faster pain relief and shortened post-operative recovery times, so patients can get back to their daily life and work sooner
Our Treatment Approach
Minimally Invasive SpineCARE's surgeons perform all Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusions using the latest in minimally invasive surgical techniques and technology. Our expert surgeons follow a set of steps to properly and effectively perform this advanced surgery:
- Portions of a damaged, herniated or diseased disc are removed using a tiny camera and surgical instruments placed through a small incision at the front of the neck.
- After the space is cleared out, bone graft material is inserted into the area previously occupied the full disc. This fuses the vertebrae above and below together in a bone bridge.
- If necessary, our skilled surgeons will attach a small metal plate over the bone graft area to firmly hold the vertebrae in place while they heal.
- The intended result is that, when the cervical fusion heals completely, one strong, solid bone formation takes the place where the damaged disc once was.
Our focus on minimally invasive surgical procedures means that patients generally experience pain relief quickly and see shortened recovery times that allow them to return to their daily life much sooner. Our patients often report an improved quality of life immediately following their ACDF surgery.
Advantages of Minimally Invasive Surgery
- 45,000 satisfied patients
- 98% satisfaction rate
- 3mm incision
- Less scarring
- Less blood loss
- Faster recovery time
- Shorter hospital stay
- Increased safety for patient
- Board-certified surgeons

subset: commoncrawl


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Why two hearing devices are typically better than one?
Written by Liz Tusler Meyer, Au.D.
This is a question we get from our patients regularly. If you are new to treating your hearing, why start with two devices rather than one? Why should I invest in a second device?
You have two ears for the same reason you have two eyes. If you corrected your vision in one eye, you would have difficulty with depth perception and a distorted picture of the world around you. One eye becomes dominant. Not only would the non-treated eye become weaker, but the area of the brain which handles that eye would become less active. Similarly, if you were to lose some of your hearing and not treat it, you would have difficulty localizing sound. Having a hearing system fit to two ears will transmit sound waves to the brain to interpret. Our brain needs information from both ears to transform sound into an audible image of the world around us.
It is most common to have hearing loss in both ears. Here are research findings to support the use of two hearing aids versus one.
- Better hearing in groups or noisy situations – the ability to hear and understand speech (speech intelligibility) is improved when two ears are sending information to the brain.
- Better sound quality – when both ears are listening you hear in stereo at 360 degrees. Sounds are brighter, and fuller. With only one ear listening, its 180 degrees of uneven sound.
- Turn down the volume – Having two ears working generally requires less volume. Turning up the volume to high levels creates distortion.
- Hearing a fuller range – Hearing with two ears versus one has also shown to increase the distance you are able to hear. According to research done by the Better Hearing Institute, with two ears you can hear as far as 40 feet! With one ear, 10 feet is the typical distance.
- Better speech understanding – By using two hearing devices, selective listening is more easily achieved. Selective listening is the ability to focus on the speech you want to listen to and distance yourself from the background noise.
- Better speech identification – It is easier for the brain to differentiate between noise and speech when both ears are treated.
- Hearing is less tiring and more enjoyable – Research has shown that hearing aid users who have two devices are typically more satisfied than those with one. This level of satisfaction is derived from the fact that they have better sound quality and do not have to strain during conversations.
- Less brain deterioration – When hearing loss is not treated, the brain loses its ability to hear and understand. There is a link between hearing loss and early onset dementia, but that is whole other possible blog post!
- Ringing in the ears – A large proportion of the population (>10% of the population) suffers from tinnitus. Over 60% of those who have tinnitus report an improvement when wearing properly fit hearing aids. If a person with tinnitus wears a hearing aid in one ear, there is both an in-balance in hearing ability and the continued sensation of ringing.
As you can see, there are many reasons why treating both ears is better than just one. If you would like more information, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com and we would be happy to answer your questions.


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Designer at Debenhams, Matthew Williamson, takes over the reins from Ben de Lisi as designer in residence of luxury five-star apartment hotel, Cheval Three Quays, London.
The two-bedroom apartment showcases Matthew's SS16 collection for Debenhams (in-stores now) and future designers scheduled to dress the apartment include Abigail Ahern, Julien Macdonald and John Rocha.
Matthew's collection features paradise-inspired prints with a modern Cuban twist, the Arts and Crafts movement, pineapples, peacocks, patchwork layering, beaded cushions and exotic birds.
[pdf-embedder url="https://hub.theasap.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FINAL-10561PO_Matthew_Williamson_Cheval_Three_Quays_PR.pdf"]


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Preschool in Houston, TX 77065
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Houston, TX 77065
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We commit daily to enhance each child's gifts and talents by providing a fun loving easy-learning-environment; where our children are prepared to succeed and advance in all areas of self-confidence development and academics. We make providing quality care and comfort for all our children a priority.
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We specialize in…………*Quality infant toddler preschool & adolescent care for ages 0-13 years that promotes advanced early childhood learning and development.
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Click the button below and we will send an automated message to the provider to let them know that someone is interested & would like to see more information.Request Information


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Dustin Johnson withdraws from Masters with injury
Dustin Johnson withdrew from the Masters on Tuesday because of a lingering back injury that he aggravated while lifting a jet ski last week, his agent said.
Johnson, a five-time PGA Tour winner who is No. 12 in the world, described the injury as a "tweaked back" on Twitter.
"You have no idea how much I wanted to walk the fairways at Augusta and fulfill what I've been practicing for!! I'll have to root my buddies!" he tweeted.
His agent, David Winkle at Hambric Sports Management, said Johnson first had back pain in January when he withdrew from the Humana Challenge, and played through minor pain the next six weeks.
"His back bothered him from time to time. He kind of played through the pain, but it was never crippling," Winkle said in a voicemail. "He rested it at Bay Hill, got back to working some last week, and tweaked it last week lifting a jet ski."
Johnson, who was born in Columbia, S.C., and lives in south Florida, had been going through therapy and taking anti-inflammatory medicine. Winkle said he will be seeking opinions from other doctors and "hopefully, it's nothing serious."
"At the same time, it did knock him out this week," Winkle said. "Needless to say, he's pretty bummed out at this point."
Johnson has come close to winning every major except the Masters.
He had the 54-hole lead in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach until an 82 in the final round. He had a one-shot lead playing the final hole at Whistling Straits in the 2010 PGA Championship until it was discovered he grounded his club in a bunker and was given a two-shot penalty. A year ago at the British Open, he was closing in on Darren Clarke until hitting his second shot out-of-bounds on the 14th hole. He tied for second.
Johnson has never finished higher than a tie for 30th at the Masters.
Johnson's withdrawal means the field at the Masters is down to 96 players. The Masters does not have an alternate list.


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Shock Ya writes: "iFilm has some great news for lovers of all things '80s–one of the films that cemented Tom Cruise as a leading man, "Top Gun", is coming back to theaters."
"According to the article, AMC will be celebrating the film's 25 anniversary by hosting two screenings of the film on April 30 at 12:30 p.m. and May 2 at 7 p.m. in AMC theaters across the United States (although, sadly, that doesn't include Alabama or several other states). Guests will also receive a "Top Gun" poster, while supplies last."
Was never a fan of Top Gun, so no thanks. I do give credit to AMC for doing these types of screenings with Top Gun, Taxi Driver, Back to the Future and so on. Gives people a chance to relive classics!
Yeahhh, Top Gun's the shiznit. It proved why Tom Cruise was an enormous Movie Star. So many classic scenes, some out of pure hilarity (think the infamous volleyball game), but solid entertainment nonetheless. And I love Tarantino's "gay" interpretation of the film on YouTube.
I wasn't a great fan of Tom Cruise in the Top Gun days so I would pass on this one.


text: When an employee reports a suspected illegal activity of his or her employer, the employee becomes a whistle-blower. This is a very difficult position for an employee to be in because employers often retaliate against whistle-blowers by treating them poorly in the workplace, denying them pay raises or promotions or even firing them. When a whistle-blower is retaliated against, he or she can seek legal counsel in order to recoup damages and hold the employer accountable.


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$7.95 $8.95
Originally designed to connect the Picade controller board to the joystick and arcade buttons, the Picade wiring loom is now available for all of your prototyping needs.
Picade Wiring Loom
Featuring 32 crimped connectors you can use this colourful and sturdy cable to build your Picade components into any case or installation that takes your fancy.
Alternatively, if you just need some colour coded cables with crimped connectors for your own project then this is the bundle for you!
Please note: the cable colours in this loom do not correspond to the instructions shipped with the Picade. Please be careful with your connections when constructing your beautiful arcade machine!


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The A835 is not only sleek and powerful, but great value for an eight-megapixel camera. Sporting a 25mm body, it provides amateur photographers with a 3x optical zoom, 4.5x digital zoom and a 2.5" LCD screen. Also included are advanced features such as Smile Detection, Blink Detection, Face Detection and In-Camera Panorama Stitching. Powered by two AA batteries.
What Girlie Gossip Thought …
Here's what we thought about the new Red GE A835 camera.
The Design
The A835 comes in an ultra sleek, modern design that looks absolutely stunning. It is eye catching, slim and the ruby red colour is vibrant, fun and attractive. We also absolutely love the fact that the camera is small enough to fit into your handbag!
Features & Quality
This camera is packed full of handy, easy to use features that you really don't expect! Not only does it have a 4.5 digital zoom, but it also has a 2.5" high resolution LCD screen featuring the latest auto brightness technology that ensures perfect screen visibility both indoors and outdoors. Smile Detection, Blink Detection, Face Detection and In-Camera Panorama Stitching all help to take that perfect picture!
The thing that makes this camera so great in our eyes is the ease of use! It is one of the most simplistic digital camera's we've ever featured, and yet it is still jam packed full of genuinely useful features that help rather than hinder you when taking a photo!
We love the menu; the scrolling wheel at the top is self explanatory and makes taking a photo and viewing your images a complete doddle. It is easy to delete unwanted images and the battery life is very good compared to others on the market today.
Overall Thoughts…
What can we say? GE have completely won us over with this simple yet sassy little camera and we were pleasantly surprised to see how easy everything was to use, even for complete amateurs like ourselves! The quality of the images are crisp, clean and clear and if you are looking for a digital camera that you can pop in your handbag for use on the go, then we think you'd struggle to find better than the GE A835.
Hint: Guys, if you're looking for a top gift idea for your girl this Valentines Day (February 14th) then this digital camera would be our top tip! In the vibrant seductive colour of Red this is one valentines gift she'll really appreciate this year!
We can't wait to see what else the guys over at GE can come up with in the coming months. Stay tuned for details of new, exciting products!
Web address: www.ge.com/digitalcameras


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Audio Special:
'Tryst with Divinity - Conversation with Mr. Prem Kumar, Part 1'
Listen Now
H2H Special:
'The Might to Follow the Right'
Read Now
Samskriti, the word for culture, is derived from the word, samskara. Samskara is the dual process of removing the dust and dirt of vices and the planting of virtues. Know that envy is the stickiest dirt! You must be happy when others are happy. Rama is said to have been happy when others were happy; the Ramayana says that He was then as happy as if the event that made the other person happy had happened to Him. That is the true test. Krishna speaks of Arjuna as envy-less (An-asuya). What a great compliment! Therefore, He proposed to teach him the mysteries of spiritual discipline. Sathyabama is infamous in many stories because of her jealousy; in every instance Krishna attempts to put down this vice and teach her humility. Have Love towards the Lord, but do not become depressed with envy when others also love Him or get attached to Him.
- Divine Discourse, Oct 9, 1964


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plat book
Use plat book in a sentence
" The Monroe County Extension Office sold a plat book each day to farmers who needed to see the exact layout of the county. "
" The home building company had to carefully review the plat book of the new subdivision in order to ensure that the lots to be built were of the proper sizes and dimensions. "
" He found one of his first jobs extremely interesting. He worked for the state and would have to review their plat book to see if anything needed to be changed or updated. "


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Cherry Heering is the original authentic cherry liqueur to be used in the original Singapore Sling cocktail recipe created over 100 years ago at the world famous Raffles hotel. Peter F Heering founded his drinks company in 1818 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Cherry Heering Liqueur is considered by many to be the best and original cherry brandy and is made with only natural ingredients including Danish cultivated cherries with no additives or artificial colouring used. Cherries are carefully pressed and the juice is blended with brandy and a selection of spices before it is aged in oak barrels for three to five years giving the liqueur time for all the flavours to marry and to soften any hard edges. Peter F Heering is purveyor of liqueurs to both the Royal Danish Court and H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.
As mentioned Cherry Heering is most famously used in cocktails such as the Singapore Sling, the Blood and Sand and The Copenhagen. It can also be used as a cooking ingredient in many recipes.
Both the Cherry Heering and Coffee Heering have kosher certification from the OU (the Orthodox Union). Forbes Magazine writes, If you want to know your food is kosher, you can look for the Orthodox Union's OU symbol.


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Can you tell us about your business?
Lorelei art design is a design service based in Berlin Germany, which focuses in watercolour illustration and design for personal and business needs. We make various designs for logo, wedding, event, stationeries including marketing stuffs; packaging, brochures etc. All illustrations are watercolour-based hand drawn. Everyone should be able to enjoy beautiful design with affordable price.
Instagram | loreleiart design
Fan Page | lorelei ar+design
How did you come up with your business idea?
I was graduated and gained working experience as an architect. In summer 2014, I quit my job at an architectural company. I felt so exhausted with my daily routine and wanted to find something new… it was the moment, I decided to pursue my old time hobby – painting. I'm always amazed by flowers and nature, therefore most of my drawings are flowers related.
I created many illustrations for notebook cover page, greeting cards and put them online. It was not as successful as I thought before. Then my husband gave me advice to create an Instagram account to showcase my design works. Everyday, I uploaded my works and got many credits and gained followers. After couple months, I started receiving several orders from my new clients for their online business. In Christmas 2014, one of my works got featured by Instagram Deutschland and a month later Instagram officially put me as suggested user, and my follower grew over 40k within half a year. I was so grateful.
I note Indonesia has a huge market of home business and grab the opportunity to provide design for 'business stationary package'. So I offer to create various business illustration and design for instant logo, name card, packaging design, etc. Till to date, I have done over 50 illustrations and design for various small businesses. My motto is beautiful design for everyone.
What do you love about running your business?
I was pregnant when building Lorelei design services. My son is already eight months old now. To be able working from home is one of the reasons why I love about my work right now. I can work in flexible time without sacrificing any precious moment with my little one. Doing design work is my 'me time' and eventually becomes a trigger to explore further my passion in painting.
How did you raise money to fund your business?
Well since this can be categorized as freelancer; being as an illustrator/graphic designer, I did not need to spend a lot of money. I just invested in some good paintings tools, internet connection, scanner, phone, and notebook.
I do not provide any printing services since it is quite expensive in Germany. About 90% of my clients are long distance; mostly from Indonesia and Singapore, therefore I do not think it would be worth to do printing productions with such as high cost. I only provide digital illustration and design and just send it by email.
How do you promote your products/services?
I don't have special way to promote my services. Basically I just take daily photo of my design works and upload it on Instagram. I find it is the main key of the success of Lorelei. I get promoted and featured in other art communities and receive many referrals from my clients. Collaboration with other users and online shops are also another tool to promote my services.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to start her own business?
Do it and do not think too much about it. I mean you need to execute your business plan. Be persistent and smart when you want to start your business. Never be afraid to fail because business sometimes is like trial and error. You need to test the market, and if it doesn't work out, you just need to change the strategy. Being a full time mother does not mean you can't earn money. You can simply utilize your knowledge, skills or hobby. Always be creative, sometimes your passion and hobby; cooking, drawing, sewing can be a way to lead you to success. Well, I could not say I am already successful, but I believe I am on the right path.


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Sick Doctors Should Stay Home
Doctors warn patients with colds and flus to stay home from work so they don't spread germs. But they don't always follow their own advice. A recent study says when it comes to their own sniffles. doctors don't know when to quit. House doctors Brian Goldman has that story.
Categories: House Doctor
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From 1998 to 2003, The Scrubs were one of Cincinnati's premier punk bands and live acts. This trio played a unique mix of pop, punk, and rock with influences ranging from the Descendents to Radiohead and just about everything else under the sun. They were well known around the Midwest for their entertaining live shows and occasional 80s covers, playing with soon-to-be big bands like Alkaline Trio, Midtown, Ultimate Fakebook, Piebald and more.
Guitarist Jamie Mandel is now running Nice Guy Records. After a brief hiatus, in 2004, Nice Guy Records released a brand new EP entitled "Return To The Basement" and in 2007 "The Scrubs Complete Discography" with everything they ever recorded from 1999-2003. (Interpunk.com)
Cincinnati punk trio the Scrubs pack a single song with more pop hooks than most bands can fit on an entire album. Pick slides, machine-gun drums, yowling vocals, and a hyperactive ear for melody keep these mad lads bouncing around your cranium all night long. Revel in the ecstatic sound of their angst. (Download.com)


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As the Evening Post exclusively revealed yesterday, Royals manager Steve Coppell is chasing Wolverhampton Wanderers' Iceland international, but faces competition from Crystal Palace for his services.
Coppell said: "We have been talking with Ivar Ingimarsson, but another club is in for him, so we're in competition with them.
"It's difficult to say whether he'll come, but I should find out today."
Ingimarsson is not in Dave Jones's plans at Wolves, although the 26-year-old defender was on the bench for the Premiership new boys' draw with Fulham at the weekend.
Reading are in desperate need of defensive cover as John Mackie will be out for at least a month after undergoing knee surgery on Monday. And Adie Williams and Steve Brown are the only experienced centre-backs in the squad.
Ingimarsson has played under Coppell at both Brentford and Brighton.
Meanwhile, Steve Sidwell will miss the home clash with Wigan on November 8 after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the 1-0 defeat at home to Walsall last night.


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From an Exxon Mobil-funded scientist comes this definitive statement about the role of the oil giant in fostering climate change deniers: "Exxon's choices have contributed directly to the situation we are in today, a situation that in many ways seems unreal: one where many elected representatives oppose climate action, while China leads the U.S. in wind energy, solar power, [and] economic investment in clean energy."
Chief among climate deniers is our own U.S. Congressman, Lamar Smith. He is the chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology committee, which oversees the Environmental Protection Agency, and which has a hand in directing federally funded research into human causes of global warming. He fully supported Trump in his decision to exit the Paris Climate Accords.
Please take a look at these two articles. Then contact Lamar to tell him your personal story of how you're helping with flood relief and of your opposition to his position on climate change research and remediation. You could also ask him where he's been. He has made no statement of concern about the impact of Hurricane Harvey on our fellow Texans.
Climate Change Denier Lamar Smith
I was an Exxon-funded scientist
Lamar Smith office phone numbers:
San Antonio: 210-821-5024
Austin: 512-912-7508
Kerrville: 830-896-0154


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The Fred Neil Scholarship
Fred Neil, former Secretary of MSPCA, Editor of the MSPCA Newsletter and industry contributor dedicated unrelenting energy to the MSPCA for 35 years and because of this the Board has elected to honor Fred and his multi-decade contributions by renaming The Doug Sroka Scholarship. Our offered scholarship is now The Fred Neil Scholarship.
The form must be completed by August 1st, 2020. Please email the executive director, Courtney Truelove, with any questions or call the MSPCA office at 410-940-6581.
The winner(s) will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to use toward their college education. Winner(s) will be notified in early October.
For an application to be considered, at least one item in each section must true:
Section 1
- I am a natural, adopted or legal guardian child of a person who has worked full time a minimum of four (4) years for an active member firm in good standing for at least three (3) years.
- I am an employee of a pest control company who has worked full time a minimum of four (4) years for an active member firm in good standing for at least three (3) years who will enter or attend college full-time.
Section 2
- A citizen of the United States
- Legal Resident of the United States
Section 3
- I have been accepted as a full-time student by an accredited college/university.
- I am currently a full-time student at an accredited college/university.
Section 4
I have at least one of the following:
- "B" high school grade average
- GED equivalent
- Minimum of 900 SAT score
- Minimum of 2.8 college GPA


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Much of the United States endured another brutal day of heat Friday, including St. Louis where temperatures shot past 100 degrees for a ninth straight day.
It reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit in St. Louis.
It also hit the century mark in Chicago for the third day in a row, something that only happened previously in 1947 and 1911. The Chicago Tribune said the 103 degrees recorded at O'Hare International Airport broke the record of 99 degrees set in 1988. It's possible the city could see 100 degrees for a fourth straight day Saturday, which would be a first.
A cooling trend is on the way, however, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Korte told USA Today.
"For the most part by Sunday it breaks across the Midwest and across most of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic region," Korte said. "By Sunday temperatures are dropping already across all of those areas."
USA Today reported Hill City, Kan., has had 13 days above 100 since June 23rd, St. Louis has had 13 and Indianapolis four. Washington, D.C., has had nine days in a row of 95 or hotter and it's expected to hit 100 Saturday.
"It's been an unusual event," Korte said of the deadly heat wave.
The National Climatic Data Center said nationwide, 4,230 daily heat records and 233 all-time heat records were broken in the past 30 day.
At least 11 heat-related deaths have been reported in Maryland, The Baltimore Sun said. Six deaths have been reported in the Chicago area and three in Rock County, Wis., CNN reported. Three more deaths were recorded in St. Louis, USA Today said.
Meanwhile, crews maneuvered through Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, looking for any visitors stranded after a storm blew through the area, killing two people, downing trees and crushing cars, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported Friday.
Elsewhere, hundreds of thousands of residents in the nation's midsection and mid-Atlantic states were without power, with Friday expected to bring more triple-digit temperatures to areas still recovering from massive storms in late June.
Heat and extreme heat advisories were posted in multiple states.
Centers were set up in several West Virginia communities to provide breakfasts and dinners to residents still without power.
The storms that stretched from Indiana to New Jersey June 29 were blamed for 22 deaths. Three more people in North Carolina died in a another round of storms Sunday.
More than 549,000 customers had no power as of Thursday night in 11 states and the District of Columbia, officials said.
"We're starting to see light over the horizon; the only bad thing is the storms that we keep having that are knocking out the power that they do get restored," Theresa White, emergency management director for Fayette County, W.Va., told CNN. "That makes it really hard when you finally get one step forward and you end up three steps back."


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Press Releases
Alexander: Denso "Consolation Prize" Has Grown to 4,800 Employees Statewide and $1.3 Billion Invested in Blount County Alone
At 25th anniversary celebration tonight, says, "Behind those big numbers, there are a lot of happy human faces"
Posted on August 25, 2015
MARYVILLE, TN, August 25 – U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said tonight that what arrived in Maryville 25 years ago as a "consolation prize" has grown into an auto industry success story with 4,800 employees statewide and $1.3 billion invested in the Maryville plant alone.
Alexander said that as governor, after Nissan and Saturn had been successfully recruited to Middle Tennessee, he worked to recruit a Toyota plant to East Tennessee. But with Nissan and Saturn newly arrived in Tennessee, Toyota ultimately decided to establish its plant to Lexington, Ky. Shortly after Toyota's decision, the company's leadership told then-Governor Alexander they had a "consolation prize": a small, 100-employee auto supplier called Nippon Denso, to be established in Alexander's hometown of Maryville.
"And 25 years after starting production, that 'consolation prize' has more than 3,100 full-time employees in Blount County, and least 800 contractors at this facility every day – 1,700 more in Athens and Jackson, Tenn.," Alexander told Denso employees and families this evening at a 25th anniversary celebration held at Maryville College's Clayton Center.
"When I walked through the plant last year, I noticed it was quite literally bursting at the seams. There's been a lot of growth." But beyond the numbers, Alexander said, "I have seen what these good jobs mean in human terms.
"The other day Gov. Haslam and I were at the launch of a new vehicle at the Nissan plant. When I walked across the state in my campaign for governor, long before anyone ever imagined a Japanese auto plant in Tennessee, a mother outside Murfreesboro told me her talented sons would never find a job in that area. Now one of those sons, Randy Knight, is the head of that plant and her other son and grandson work within 10 minutes of where they grew up. The same kind of story can be told for many in this room."
Alexander recalled how his father worked at Alcoa, "and when Alcoa began to lose jobs, it hurt. And when Denso arrived, it helped so much. Denso has grown because it is one of the world's leading auto suppliers and is smackdab in the center of the most competitive part of the American auto industry—the southeastern United States. Thanks to Tennessee's central location, our right-to-work law, our top-notch roads, good governors and state leadership, and our strong workforce, now about one in three manufacturing jobs are auto related and suppliers are found in 80 of our 95 counties."
Alexander said when he toured the plant last year, "many of the associates were proud to tell me their number, which represents when they became a Denso employee. And most of them had been at Denso a long time. Take second-generation Blount Countian Tim Morton as an example. 'When I first started here, I was a kid,' Tim says of joining one of Denso's manufacturing lines 25 years ago. 'I've been here over half my life.'
"Dean Rowe live in Loudon. His children are all grown now, but they were very much on his mind back when he took his job at Denso, also 25 years ago. Dena drove into Blount County for work—and still does.
"Debbie Telferner started at Denso 25 years ago. 'You don't hardly go to any activity in the community that you don't see the Denso logo somewhere,' she says. 'It's a form of pride when you get out in the community.'
"As Bob Booker says, 'The credit for growth always goes back to our associates here…the outstanding workforce in Maryville and Blount County. Our associates have made this company successful.'
"The stability Tim, Dean and Debbie talk about is something Denso works hard at—and took very seriously during the Great Recession. The company did not lay off a single employee, and everyone sacrificed to help make that possible.
"Denso has invested about $1.3 billion over the years in its Maryville campus, and grown from about 551 jobs from when it first started to the more than 3,100 today. Those are big numbers, and Dean, Tim and Debbie will tell you, behind those big numbers, there are a lot of happy human faces.
"Congratulations, Denso, and congratulations especially to Denso associates on this 25th anniversary. The real advantage of that 'consolation prize' that Toyota bestowed upon Maryville years ago has been better jobs that mean stronger families, better schools, stronger communities, safer neighborhoods—something for which every single Blount Countian can be grateful."
For access to this release and the senator's other statements, click here.
To stay up-to-date on the senator's latest actions, follow him on Twitter and YouTube.


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It seams that trail cameras are all the rage... my question is what is your trick to getting great pic on your camera.
I have a 2mp wildview trail cam, not top of the line but very easy to use. It is more for feeder pics but does very well on 3 shot burst and just finding out what is in the area.


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The 2016 Chicago Council Survey, conducted June 10-27, reveals that Americans across partisan lines support the Obama Administration's current approach: limited military action that combines airstrikes and Special Operations Forces. Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton have starkly contrasting positions on acceptance of Syrian refugees into the United States, reflected in a partisan divide among the public in the Council's survey. The data also reveal overall American skepticism toward arming anti-government groups and US efforts to negotiate a deal that would leave President Assad in power. Specific findings include:
Limited military missions: The 2016 Chicago Council Survey shows that seven in ten Americans (72%), including a majority across the political spectrum, support airstrikes against violent Islamic extremist groups in Syria. In addition, an overall majority support deployment of Special Operations forces (57%) as well as enforcing a no-fly zone over parts of Syria (52%).
Syrian refugees: Acceptance of Syrian refugees into the United States reveals a stark partisan divide that has widened since 2014 – a mere 18 percent of Republicans are in favor (down from 27% in 2014) compared to over half of Democrats (56%).
Rejection of Assad and Anti-Government Forces: Americans are wary of arming anti-government forces, regardless of partisan leanings. Overall, a quarter of the US public (26%) supports arming rebel forces. Only a third overall favor US efforts to negotiate a peace deal that would leave Bashar al-Assad in power.
Read the full survey brief and the associated Washington Post article.