KIR channel activation contributes to onset and steady-state exercise hyperemia in humans

We tested the hypothesis that activation of inwardly rectifying potassium (KIR) channels and Na+-K+-ATPase, two pathways that lead to hyperpolarization of vascular cells, contributes to both the onset and steady-state hyperemic response to exercise. We also determined whether after inhibiting these pathways nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGs) are involved in the hyperemic response. Forearm blood flow (FBF; Doppler ultrasound) was determined during rhythmic handgrip exercise at 10% maximal voluntary contraction for 5 min in the following conditions: control [saline; trial 1 (T1)]; with combined inhibition of KIR channels and Na+-K+-ATPase alone [via barium chloride (BaCl2) and ouabain, respectively; trial 2(T2)]; and with additional combined nitric oxide synthase (NG-monomethyl-l-arginine) and cyclooxygenase inhibition [ketorolac; trial 3 (T3)]. In T2, the total hyperemic responses were attenuated ∼50% from control (P \u3c 0.05) at exercise onset, and there was minimal further effect in T3 (protocol 1; n= 11). In protocol 2 (n = 8), steady-state FBF was significantly reduced during T2 vs. T1 (133 ± 15 vs. 167 ± 17 ml/min; Δ from control: −20 ± 3%; P \u3c 0.05) and further reduced during T3 (120 ± 15 ml/min; −29 ± 3%; P \u3c 0.05 vs. T2). In protocol 3 (n = 8), BaCl2 alone reduced FBF during onset (∼50%) and steady-state exercise (∼30%) as observed in protocols 1 and 2, respectively, and addition of ouabain had no further impact. Our data implicate activation of KIR channels as a novel contributing pathway to exercise hyperemia in humans

On the Spatial Distribution of Stellar Populations in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We measure the angular correlation function of stars in a region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) that spans 2 degrees by 1.5 degrees. We find that the correlation functions of stellar populations are represented well by exponential functions of the angular separation for separations between 2 and 40 arcmin (corresponding to ~ 30 pc and 550 pc for an LMC distance of 50 kpc). The inner boundary is set by the presence of distinct, highly correlated structures, which are the more familiar stellar clusters, and the outer boundary is set by the observed region's size and the presence of two principal centers of star formation within the region. We also find that the normalization and scale length of the correlation function changes systematically with the mean age of the stellar population. The existence of positive correlation at large separations (~300 pc), even in the youngest population, argues for large-scale hierarchical structure in current star formation. The evolution of the angular correlation toward lower normalizations and longer scale lengths with stellar age argues for the dispersion of stars with time. We show that a simple, stochastic, self-propagating star formation model is qualitatively consistent with this behavior of the correlation function.Comment: 30 pages, 13 Figures. Scheduled for publication in AJ in June 199

Muscle Contraction Duration and Fibre Recruitment Influence Blood Flow and VO2 Independent of Contractile Work during Steady-State Exercise in Humans

We tested the hypothesis that, among conditions of matched contractile work, shorter contraction durations and greater muscle fibre recruitment result in augmented skeletal muscle blood flow and oxygen consumption (O2) during steady-state exercise in humans. To do so, we measured forearm blood flow (FBF; Doppler ultrasound) during 4 minutes of rhythmic handgrip exercise in 24 healthy young adults and calculated forearm O2 via blood samples obtained from a catheter placed in retrograde fashion into a deep vein draining the forearm muscle. In Protocol 1 (n = 11), subjects performed rhythmic isometric handgrip exercise at mild and moderate intensities under conditions in which tension time index (TTI; isometric analog of work) was held constant but contraction duration was manipulated. In this protocol, shorter contraction durations led to greater FBF (184 ± 25 vs. 164 ± 25 ml·min-1) and O2 (23 ± 3 vs. 17 ± 2 ml·min-1; both PPper se during steady-state exercise in humans

Reactive Hyperemia Occurs Via Activation of Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels and Na+/K+-ATPase in Humans

Rationale: Reactive hyperemia (RH) in the forearm circulation is an important marker of cardiovascular health, yet the underlying vasodilator signaling pathways are controversial and thus remain unclear. Objective: We hypothesized that RH occurs via activation of inwardly rectifying potassium (KIR) channels and Na+/K+-ATPase and is largely independent of the combined production of the endothelial autocoids nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins in young healthy humans. Methods and Results: In 24 (23±1 years) subjects, we performed RH trials by measuring forearm blood flow (FBF; venous occlusion plethysmography) after 5 minutes of arterial occlusion. In protocol 1, we studied 2 groups of 8 subjects and assessed RH in the following conditions. For group 1, we studied control (saline), KIR channel inhibition (BaCl2), combined inhibition of KIR channels and Na+/K+-ATPase (BaCl2 and ouabain, respectively), and combined inhibition of KIR channels, Na+/K+-ATPase, NO, and prostaglandins (BaCl2, ouabain, L-NMMA [NG-monomethyl-L-arginine] and ketorolac, respectively). Group 2 received ouabain rather than BaCl2 in the second trial. In protocol 2 (n=8), the following 3 RH trials were performed: control; L-NMMA plus ketorolac; and L-NMMA plus ketorolac plus BaCl2 plus ouabain. All infusions were intra-arterial (brachial). Compared with control, BaCl2 significantly reduced peak FBF (−50±6%; P2 (−61±3%) and ouabain (−44±12%) alone, and this effect was enhanced when combined (−87±4%), nearly abolishing RH. L-NMMA plus ketorolac did not impact total RH FBF before or after administration of BaCl2 plus ouabain. Conclusions: Activation of KIR channels is the primary determinant of peak RH, whereas activation of both KIR channels and Na+/K+-ATPase explains nearly all of the total (AUC) RH in humans

Impaired Peripheral Vasodilation during Graded Systemic Hypoxia in Healthy Older Adults: Role of the Sympathoadrenal System

Systemic hypoxia is a physiological and pathophysiological stress that activates the sympathoadrenal system and, in young adults, leads to peripheral vasodilation. We tested the hypothesis that peripheral vasodilation to graded systemic hypoxia is impaired in older healthy adults and that this age-associated impairment is due to attenuated β-adrenergic mediated vasodilation and elevated α-adrenergic vasoconstriction. Forearm blood flow was measured (Doppler ultrasound) and vascular conductance (FVC) was calculated in 12 young (24±1 yrs) and 10 older (63±2 yrs) adults to determine the local dilatory responses to graded hypoxia (90, 85, and 80% O2 saturations) in control conditions, following local intra-arterial blockade of β-receptors (propranolol), and combined blockade of α+β receptors (phentolamine + propranolol). Under control conditions, older adults exhibited impaired vasodilation to hypoxia compared with young at all levels of hypoxia (peak ΔFVC at 80% SpO2 = 4±6 vs. 35±8%; P\u3c0.01). During β-blockade, older adults actively constricted at 85 and 80% SpO2 (peak ΔFVC at 80% SpO2= -13±6%; P\u3c0.05 vs. control) whereas the response in the young was not significantly impacted (peak ΔFVC = 28±8%). Combined α+β blockade increased the dilatory response to hypoxia in young adults, however older adults failed to significantly vasodilate (peak ΔFVC at 80% SpO2= 12±11% vs. 58±11%; P\u3c0.05). Our findings indicate that peripheral vasodilation to graded systemic hypoxia is significantly impaired in older adults which cannot be fully explained by altered sympathoadrenal control of vascular tone. Thus, the impairment in hypoxic vasodilation is likely due to attenuated local vasodilatory and/or augmented vasoconstrictor signaling with age

The Environmental Dependence of the Infrared Luminosity and Stellar Mass Functions

We investigate the dependence of the galaxy infrared luminosity function (LF) and the associated stellar mass function (SMF) on environment and spectral type using photometry from the Two Micron All Sky Survey and redshifts from the Las Campanas Redshift Survey for galaxies brighter than M_J<-19+5 log h. In the field environment, galaxies with emission lines have LFs with much steeper faint end slopes (alpha_J=-1.39) than galaxies without emission lines (alpha_J=-0.59). In the cluster environment, however, even the non-emission line galaxies have a steep faint-end LF (alpha_J=-1.22). There is also a significant (95%) difference between the overall cluster and field LFs, $\Delta \alpha_J=-0.34, \Delta M_J^\ast=-0.54$. All of these variations are more pronounced in the SMFs, which we compute by relating the strength of the 4000 A break in the optical spectra to a mass-to-light ratio.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures, emulateapj style ApJ, post-referee. Very minor changes, mostly typographical in natur

Biomechanical effect of pedicle screw distribution in AIS instrumentation using a segmental translation technique: computer modeling and simulation

BACKGROUND: Efforts to select the appropriate number of implants in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) instrumentation are hampered by a lack of biomechanical studies. The objective was to biomechanically evaluate screw density at different regions in the curve for AIS correction to test the hypothesis that alternative screw patterns do not compromise anticipated correction in AIS when using a segmental translation technique. METHODS: Instrumentation simulations were computationally performed for 10 AIS cases. We simulated simultaneous concave and convex segmental translation for a reference screw pattern (bilateral polyaxial pedicle screws with dorsal height adjustability at every level fused) and four alternative patterns; screws were dropped respectively on convex or concave side at alternate levels or at the periapical levels (21 to 25% fewer screws). Predicted deformity correction and screw forces were compared. RESULTS: Final simulated Cobb angle differences with the alternative screw patterns varied between 1 degrees to 5 degrees (39 simulations) and 8 degrees (1 simulation) compared to the reference maximal density screw pattern. Thoracic kyphosis and apical vertebral rotation were within 2 degrees of the reference screw pattern. Screw forces were 76 +/- 43 N, 96 +/- 58 N, 90 +/- 54 N, 82 +/- 33 N, and 79 +/- 42 N, respectively, for the reference screw pattern and screw dropouts at convex alternate levels, concave alternate levels, convex periapical levels, and concave periapical levels. Bone-screw forces for the alternative patterns were higher than the reference pattern (p 0.28). Alternate dropout screw forces were higher than periapical dropouts (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using a simultaneous segmental translation technique, deformity correction can be achieved with 23% fewer screws than maximal density screw pattern, but resulted in 25% higher bone-screw forces. Screw dropouts could be either on the convex side or on the concave side at alternate levels or at periapical levels. Periapical screw dropouts may more likely result in lower bone-screw force increase than alternate level screw dropouts

Chemical Properties of Star-Forming Emission Line Galaxies at z=0.1 - 0.5

We measure oxygen and nitrogen abundances for 14 star-forming emission line galaxies (ELGs) at 0.11<z<0.5 using Keck/LRIS optical spectroscopy. The targets exhibit a range of metallicities from slightly metal-poor like the LMC to super-solar. Oxygen abundances of the sample correlate strongly with rest-frame blue luminosities. The metallicity-luminosity relation based on these 14 objects is indistinguishable from the one obeyed by local galaxies, although there is marginal evidence (1.1sigma) that the sample is slightly more metal-deficient than local galaxies of the same luminosity. The observed galaxies exhibit smaller emission linewidths than local galaxies of similar metallicity, but proper corrections for inclination angle and other systematic effects are unknown. For 8 of the 14 objects we measure nitrogen-to-oxygen ratios. Seven of 8 systems show evidence for secondary nitrogen production, with log(N/O)> -1.4 like local spirals. These chemical properties are inconsistent with unevolved objects undergoing a first burst of star formation. The majority of the ELGs are presently ~4 magnitudes brighter and ~0.5 dex more metal-rich than the bulk of the stars in well-known metal-poor dwarf spheroidals such as NGC 205 and NGC 185, making an evolution between some ELGs and metal-poor dwarf spheroidals improbable. However, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that more luminous and metal-rich spheroidal galaxies like NGC 3605 may become the evolutionary endpoints of some ELGs. [abridged]Comment: 41 pages, w/12 figures, uses AASTeX aaspp4.sty, psfig.sty; To appear in The Astrophysical Journa

“Fracture” phenomena in shearing flow of viscous liquids

In start-up of steady shearing flow of two viscous unentangled liquids, namely low-molecular-weight polystyrene and α-D-glucose, the shear stress catastrophically collapses if the shear rate is raised above a value corresponding to a critical initial shear stress of around 0.1–0.3 MPa. The time dependence of the shear stress during this process is similar for the two liquids, but visualization of samples in situ and after quenching reveals significant differences. For α-D-glucose, the stress collapse evidently results from debonding of the sample from the rheometer tool, while in polystyrene, bubbles open up within the sample, as occurs in cavitation. Some similarities are pointed out between these phenomena and that of “lubrication failure” reported in the tribology literature.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47212/1/397_2004_Article_BF00368135.pd

Cosmic Microwave Background, Accelerating Universe and Inhomogeneous Cosmology

We consider a cosmology in which a spherically symmetric large scale inhomogeneous enhancement or a void are described by an inhomogeneous metric and Einstein's gravitational equations. For a flat matter dominated universe the inhomogeneous equations lead to luminosity distance and Hubble constant formulas that depend on the location of the observer. For a general inhomogeneous solution, it is possible for the deceleration parameter to differ significantly from the FLRW result. The deceleration parameter $q_0$ can be interpreted as $q_0 > 0$ ($q_0=1/2$ for a flat matter dominated universe) in a FLRW universe and be $q_0 < 0$ as inferred from the inhomogeneous enhancement that is embedded in a FLRW universe. A spatial volume averaging of local regions in the backward light cone has to be performed for the inhomogeneous solution at late times to decide whether the decelerating parameter $q$ can be negative for a positive energy condition. The CMB temperature fluctuations across the sky can be unevenly distributed in the northern and southern hemispheres in the inhomogeneous matter dominated solution, in agreement with the analysis of the WMAP power spectrum data by several authors. The model can possibly explain the anomalous alignment of the quadrupole and octopole moments observed in the WMAP data.Comment: 20 pages, no figures, LaTex file. Equations and typos corrected and references added. Additional material and some conclusions changed. Final published versio