Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the Brain in Alcohol Abuse.

Magnetic resonance (MR) technology produces data on brain structure and activity without relying on radiation or invasive surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) creates images, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) produces spectra based on the ability of atomic nuclei in tissues to absorb and release pulses of energy. MRS studies of alcohol in the brain reveal that only a portion of the alcohol in the brain can be detected by MR technology, suggesting that alcohol there exists in multiple pools. The pools not visible using MRS is hypothesized to be bound to cell membranes. Indirect evidence from MR studies of chronic alcohol abusers suggests that tolerance to alcohol's effects results in an increased rigidity of cell membranes that forces more alcohol to remain in the MR-visible pool (i.e., the pool not bound to membranes) compared with alcohol in the brains of nontolerant people

American scientists and engineers and technical assistance programs

"L1-1681"--handwritten on coverIncludes bibliographical reference

Scandals, Values, and the Pursuit of Justice

Eighth Annual Jacoby-Lunin Humanitarian Lectureship. Leonard Fein, social activist, founder of MAZON and the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy.https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/bennettcenter-posters/1237/thumbnail.jp

Incumbent Defense Strategies Against New Product Entry

The objective of this study is to estimate the effectiveness of different defense strategies when faced with a new product introduction by a competitor. Using a sample of in cumbentsacross a wide range of industries, we find that faster reactions to the new entrant have a positive impact on the perceived success of the defense strategy. However, the greater the breadth of reaction (number of marketing mix instruments used), the less successful is the defense. The ability of an incumbent to maintain its market position is also significantly affected by industry characteristics and the degree of competitive threat posed by the new product entry

Shakeouts in Digital Markets: Lessons from B2B Exchanges

Shakeouts loom large in the landscape of all fast-growing markets. During the boom period, an unsustainable glut of competitors is attracted by forecasts of high growth and promises of exceptional returns. Even when the market is already crowded, more entrants keep arriving. These followers are often naïve about the barriers to entry and don\u27t realize how many others are also poised to enter at the same time. Reality intrudes with a bust that precipitates the exit of more than 80 percent of the players through failure or acquisition. This shakeout is triggered by some combination of disappointing growth, pricing pressures that degrade profit prospects, or shortages of crucial people and financial resources

Can do--did!: United States Naval Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 571

The story of an outfit is often a story of the individual experiences of its men, but this narrative is a chronology of the collective achievements and adventures of men working in unison, primarily the men who formed the original complement of Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 571. The charter members of this Seabee crew hailed from all walks of life and went on to carve out a bright record of attainment on lonely tropical islands unheard of and unimportant until war made their possession and exploitation necessary. The final, complete story of CBMU 571 is not over, because CBMU 571 is, at this writing, still commissioned, still doing a job, still adding to a record. But to the men who formed it, who carried the knowledge, the brawn, the guts, and the equipment into the islands of the Pacific, this chapter of their careers as Seabees is completed. These men may go on to other naval organizations or they may already be civilians again, but their first love as servicemen will be CBMU 571.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1071/thumbnail.jp

Health behaviours and health literacy: Hepatitis B regarding Sub-Saharan African migrants living in Queensland

Introduction: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is becoming an increasing health burden worldwide. Previous research indicates that lack of HBV awareness is a key contributing factor regarding individuals not engaging in preventative health behaviours, nor seeking medical treatment. A particular target group whom have higher rates of HBV are people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds; including migrants from Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries which are known to have higher rates of HBV infection. This study identified gaps in health literacy and HBV knowledge, and investigated how these factors influence related health behaviours among SSA migrants in Queensland. Methods: Cultural workers from a community organisation recruited 187 SSA migrant participants via ‘awareness stalls’ in Queensland. Participants answered self-report surveys regarding HBV knowledge, health literacy and health-protective behaviours; utilising quantitative cross-sectional surveys. The research also replicated previous methodology and compared findings to previous studies conducted with other cultural groups. Results: Preliminary findings indicated HBV knowledge significantly mediated health literacy and HBV screening. Health literacy (regarding self-efficacy) significantly predicted health behaviours (HBV screening, vaccinations). Participants with higher education and participants aged under 40 years of age, reported higher health literacy and engaged in more health-protective behaviours. Conclusions: Preliminary findings indicate significant associations between health-protective behaviours, HBV knowledge and health literacy. Greater awareness of the relationships between these constructs may assist in creating more informed prevention and health promotion strategies for identified target communities to reduce health disparities

Cloning and expression of a zebrafish SCN1B ortholog and identification of a species-specific splice variant

Abstract Background Voltage-gated Na+ channel β1 (Scn1b) subunits are multi-functional proteins that play roles in current modulation, channel cell surface expression, cell adhesion, cell migration, and neurite outgrowth. We have shown previously that β1 modulates electrical excitability in vivo using a mouse model. Scn1b null mice exhibit spontaneous seizures and ataxia, slowed action potential conduction, decreased numbers of nodes of Ranvier in myelinated axons, alterations in nodal architecture, and differences in Na+ channel α subunit localization. The early death of these mice at postnatal day 19, however, make them a challenging model system to study. As a first step toward development of an alternative model to investigate the physiological roles of β1 subunits in vivo we cloned two β1-like subunit cDNAs from D. rerio. Results Two β1-like subunit mRNAs from zebrafish, scn1ba_tv1 and scn1ba_tv2, arise from alternative splicing of scn1ba. The deduced amino acid sequences of Scn1ba_tv1 and Scn1ba_tv2 are identical except for their C-terminal domains. The C-terminus of Scn1ba_tv1 contains a tyrosine residue similar to that found to be critical for ankyrin association and Na+ channel modulation in mammalian β1. In contrast, Scn1ba_tv2 contains a unique, species-specific C-terminal domain that does not contain a tyrosine. Immunohistochemical analysis shows that, while the expression patterns of Scn1ba_tv1 and Scn1ba_tv2 overlap in some areas of the brain, retina, spinal cord, and skeletal muscle, only Scn1ba_tv1 is expressed in optic nerve where its staining pattern suggests nodal expression. Both scn1ba splice forms modulate Na+ currents expressed by zebrafish scn8aa, resulting in shifts in channel gating mode, increased current amplitude, negative shifts in the voltage dependence of current activation and inactivation, and increases in the rate of recovery from inactivation, similar to the function of mammalian β1 subunits. In contrast to mammalian β1, however, neither zebrafish subunit produces a complete shift to the fast gating mode and neither subunit produces complete channel inactivation or recovery from inactivation. Conclusion These data add to our understanding of structure-function relationships in Na+ channel β1 subunits and establish zebrafish as an ideal system in which to determine the contribution of scn1ba to electrical excitability in vivo.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112585/1/12864_2007_Article_939.pd

Prelamination of Neourethra with Uterine Mucosa in Radial Forearm Osteocutaneous Free Flap Phalloplasty in the Female-to-Male Transgender Patient

Radial forearm free flap phalloplasty is the most commonly performed flap for neophallus construction in the female-to-male (FtM) transgender patient. Urological complications, however, can arise quite frequently and can prevent the patient from urinating in the standing position, an important postsurgical goal for many. Using mucosa to construct the fixed urethra and to prelaminate the penile urethra has been successful in reducing urologic complications, particularly strictures and fistulas. Until now, only buccal, vaginal, colonic, and bladder sites have been described as sources for these mucosal grafts. We present the successful use of uterine mucosa for prelamination of the neourethra in an FtM patient who underwent hysterectomy and vaginectomy at the prelamination stage of a radial forearm phalloplasty. Three months postoperatively, the patient was able to void while standing and showed no evidence of stricture or fistula on retrograde cystogram. These results suggest that uterine mucosa may be used for prelamination of the penile neourethra in patients undergoing phalloplasty