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Dragon Fruit, Pitahaya
Hylocereus ocamponis
|Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ee) (Info)
|Hylocereus (hy-loh-KER-ee-us) (Info)
|Cereus ocamponis
Vines and Climbers
Cactus and Succulents
Foliage Color:
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Where to Grow:
over 40 ft. (12 m)
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F)
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color:
Scarlet (Dark Red)
White/Near White
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Propagation Methods:
From woody stem cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From seed; germinate in a damp paper towel
Seed Collecting:
Remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Canyon Country, California
Modesto, California
Simi Valley, California
Jacksonville, Florida
Lakeland, Florida (2 reports)
Orlando, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Wailuku, Hawaii
Harvey, Louisiana
Pikesville, Maryland
Houston, Texas
Katy, Texas
La Marque, Texas
Los Fresnos, Texasshow all
Gardeners' Notes:
On Sep 12, 2015, two_pines from Los Fresnos, TX wrote:
I'm from the south-most part of TEXAS, zone 9b, all the way down to the point (Brownsville/S. Padre Island area. My neighbor grows Dragon Fruit in the ground. Full sun. (alkaline soil, Ph 8.3) I have been meaning to transplant mine, which is in a 5Gal. bucket, but evenso it has bloomed for me three times this year, and even in the bucket (outdoors) I've gotten 3 fruits once, and 2 another, the third time is right now (9/12/20155). Her plants (2, side by side maybe 6 feet apart) are right now blooming with about 35 to 50 blooms. This is the FIFTH time her plant did this year !! almost all blooms yielded fruit. Now, we think the "secret" is rainfall... and all the ozone & water & lightning accompanying the storms. Other times have been drier, and not bloomed as much, nor yielded as much. I ... read more
On Aug 31, 2014, RxBenson from Pikesville, MD (Zone 7a) wrote:
I'm raising this plant from a purchased rooted cutting, and it's three or four years old now. The plant has sprawling three-and-a-half foot stems, branching infrequently. I bring it in to a 63F room for the winter, with lower light and minimal watering.
On Jun 8, 2006, Xenomorf from Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9b) wrote:
There is no Foliage or Leaves in the Hylocereus genus. The stems are also Not herbaceous.


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Roster of young players still has plenty of firepower
The UNCW women's soccer team isn't rebuilding for the 2013 season. The Seahawks return five starters, including an all-CAA freshman team member, and more than half the scoring from a group that finished one goal short of the NCAA tournament.
Yet, heading into its season opener Friday night at South Carolina, coach Paul Cairney understands if fans look at the team's roster think: I know these people, but I don't know these people.
Six of UNCW's seniors last year played in at least 20 of the team's 22 games. Not only were they trustworthy, they dominated the play in a straight line down the middle of the field. Now the program is trying to replace a goalkeeper, its No. 2 all-time leading scorer, and most of its central midfield and defense.
"Don't remind me," Cairney said with a grin and a shake of his head before rattling off the potential replacements.
Goalkeeper? Two freshmen.
Center back? Freshman and a sophomore.
Central midfield? Freshman starting.
Forward: Freshman, sophomore, sophomore.
"They have no idea of what we're walking into," Cairney said with a smile. "And that can be great."
The team's seven upperclassmen, however, do.
"The players that have been here got better and the players that came in kept the level of play up," senior captain and midfielder Nicole Costa said. "They've filled the roles those seniors played last year."
The roster also reflects the program's shuffle in recent years. Like most UNCW coaches, Cairney said he had to readjust recruiting tactics when out-of-state tuition discounts for student athletes went away in 2010. UNCW pulled back severely on athletes outside North Carolina's borders, and rosters were in flux.
With a couple of years of experience of how to mix recruiting effectively, Cairney feels his team is back on stable ground. Six players on the roster scored a goal in 2012. Four are from North Carolina, one is from Delaware and one from Maryland.
"In (2010-11), we were somewhat hampered, but the athletic department has done a great job of refunding and helping us rebuild again. But right now, there's a big imbalance where, every two years, you've got a big class. We need to balance that out."
After a three-win disaster in 2011, the team went 12-7-3 in 2012 for the biggest one-year improvement in Division I. Its season ended in the CAA championship game, an overtime loss to Hofstra.
UNCW already showed it could rebound, now it's even come up for a word for it to prove it's possible again in 2013 – whether you know who's on the roster or not.
"If you lose a game, don't break. It's a long season. We use that saying, 'It's a marathon, not a sprint,'" Costa said. "We've got a new word, 'bouncebackability' – how well do you come back from a bad practice or a bad game?"
Dan Spears: 343-2038
On Twitter: @DanSpears

subset: commoncrawl


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Brad Paisley Reportedly Sues Record Label
Back in October, Brad Paisley reportedly opened a lawsuit under the radar against his present record label, Sony Music Nashville, to obtain royalties he claims were overlooked on his songwriting catalog.
Lauren Alaina Joins Jason Aldean's 2012 Tour
The cat is out of the bag as to which major country artist Lauren Alaina will be hitting the road with in 2012. Starting in January, Alaina will link up with Jason Aldean on the next leg of his My Kinda Party Tour.
Brantley Gilbert Tops the Charts With 'Country Must Be Country Wide'
This week, Brantley Gilbert is once again celebrating having written the No. 1 country song in America. This one is extra sweet, however, as it's his first chart-topping hit as a songwriter and performer.
Charlie Daniels Band Keyboardist Joel 'Taz' DiGregorio Killed in Car Accident
Condolences go out to the family and friends of Charlie Daniels Band member Joel 'Taz' DiGregorio, who was killed in a car accident Wednesday night (October 12) just outside of Nashville. Taz, 67, was on his way to bus call late Wednesday when he wrecked his car along I-40 in Cheatham County. The keyboardist died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the single-car accident.


text: Lou Lumenick is reporting that Fox will (finally) start their MOD series in June: Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/movies/slate_extra_selznick_busy_rko_year_vICHuCtouImBWmB3tEhy8M#ixzz1wHJu2w8j More titles that will likely be availble in the first batch, according to the article in the New York Post: "The Foxes of Harrow'' (1947) "Dangerous Years'' (1947) "The Perfect Snob," (1941) "The Raid'' (1954) "Twelve Hours to Kill'' (1960) "Hudson's Bay'' (1941) "The Man I Married'' (1940) "Secret Agent of Japan'' (1942) "Life Begins at 8:30'' (1942) "Frontier Marshal'' (1939) "Love is News'' (1937) The next wave should arrive in late July/August and according to the article at this year's end, approx. 150 titles should be available. I guess there will be a press release soon.


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Big Hair Imagine Being Chased by a One Man Band
For something that started out with a smiley badge as its symbol, dance culture has become very serious lately. As with any industry, popularity has meant expansion, increasing homogenisation and a gradual drift away from the principles that inspired it in the first place. Dance culture is now global and generally controlled by a powerful elite. The same DJs/artists hang out together and namecheck each other, the same power-brokers dictate which tunes it is OK to like, the A&R men/record company people are often the very same DJs and vice versa, until it all becomes a vicious, ever-decreasing circle of musical fast food.
Perhaps the biggest offenders are the so-called superclubs, as erroneously and charmlessly named as the 1970s supergroups, which churn out a mass-produced, mainstream notion of what was once defiantly underground. Visiting these places - with their stone-faced bouncers, exorbitant admission fees and conservative playlists - is like an alternative, expensive way of gorging yourself silly at McDonald's. In fact, some of them are already selling burgers.
It all seems a long way from dance music's beginnings in acid house, when going to a "rave" virtually meant re-enacting Carry On Camping, and a typical "artist" was the portly, incorrigible Danny D (a former McDonald's worker), who was banned from Top of the Pops and discussed in the Commons after leading a national chant of "Acieeeeed!". Without wishing to overly romanticise those days (there were downsides, after all - Guru Josh, identikit 808 beats, being chased by policemen, or, if you had short hair, being mistaken by the crowd for a policeman), it often feels like dance music has lost the art of enjoyment, delirium, and most of all, being silly.
Which is where Big Hair come in. Let's get this straight from the start: Big Hair are daft - gloriously, unapologetically so - and with a name like that, we wouldn't expect anything else. The duo's real names are Aaron Trinder and Chris Butterworth, but they're not too keen on such sensible, establishment-given monikers. "He's Big and I'm Hair," declares Butterworth, wonderfully. They look like bedraggled characters from Withnail and I. It's not surprising that where most dance duos are inspired by the Pet Shop Boys - or, if they're arty, Sparks - Big Hair claim spiritual kinship with Gilbert and George and Cannon and Ball. They insist that Chris Morris and the League of Gentlemen are as pivotal influences as are Felix da Housecat and Aphex Twin.
This makes sense. Imagine Being Chased by a One Man Band is riddled with conceptual satires and off-kilter jokes, but equally it contains sounds as revolutionary as anything dreamed up by Richard James (aka Aphex Twin). Where dance music is traditionally built using samplers and drum machines, Big Hair have given great prominence to the comb played with paper and the bicycle bell. Most acts spend hours on the drum sound; Big Hair presumably spend ages crafting the definitive chicken squawk.
Beneath their madcap urges, Big Hair have a (gulp) serious understanding of dance grooves and what it takes to get a party started. Like a rocking boat manned by a drunken Captain Pugwash, they veer from acid brass to scrapings off old charity-shop LPs to crazed Bollywood chants, without straying too far away from blistering 4/4 beats. The tracks are mostly instrumental; "vocals", whether a beautifully expressive unknown eastern female or snatches of a London Underground announcer, tend to be filched. Perhaps the most obvious thing on offer is the title track, built from a sample of Ian Dury's Plaistow Patricia ("Arseholes, bastards, fucking cunts and pricks... ") and what sounds suspiciously like Wings' disco-era Coming Up.
The choice of Dury is part homage, but also underlines that the duo are as much immersed in a theatrical Englishness bordering on music hall as they are in funk or techno. Indeed, the excellent oompah-pop of Skaus, with its languid trombones, recalls the nuttier side of those other music-hall-steeped pranksters, Madness. But none of this is purely throwback, and even Madness would have drawn a line at calling a track Kurdish Full Moon Party at the Spring Hotel with DJ Taz.
If the album has a drawback, it's that it's best listened to while active - although definitely not while operating dangerous machinery. You can't sit down to listen to it. But in the right environment - a beach party, a gathering with friends, or perhaps a riotous old splash in the bath - this is the sound of dance music rediscovering its sense of humour. It will be a crying shame if it doesn't take the clubs by storm.


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Jun 15, 2011 Jason Emerson Uncategorized
Local high school Junior Kristine "Krissy" Boyle, 16, of Marietta, will travel to Washington, D.C. next week as a state delegate to the upcoming national diabetes conference on Capitol Hill. Boyle, along with 149 other children from around the country, will talk to lawmakers from both houses of Congress about the challenges of living with Type 1 diabetes.
The effort is part of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Children's Congress 2011, a biennial event designed to remind Congress of the "critical need" to find better treatments and a cure for the disease.
Boyle, who was named a delegate through JDRF's Central New York Chapter in Liverpool, was diagnosed with Type 1 (also known as insulin-dependent or juvenile) diabetes in 2003 at age 8. Since then, "Everything I do requires that extra 90 minutes to make sure my diabetes is under control." Krissy said.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. It strikes people at any age and comes on suddenly.
According to the JDRF, as many as three million Americans may have Type 1 diabetes, and more than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults are newly diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
Krissy has lived with diabetes for seven years, counting carbohydrates, pricking her finger to check her blood sugar level, self-administering insulin and coping with the symptoms of high and low blood sugars. But even with the struggles of the disease, "I haven't stopped with anything I try to achieve," she said.
She is a student at Marcellus Senior High School, where she is a high honor roll student, captain of the varsity cheerleading team, defender on the varsity lacrosse team and a member of the chorus. When not in school she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, photography, swimming, music and other typical teenage interests. "I live a normal life that just happens to include balancing diabetes," she said.
But even with all these achievements and ambitions, Krissy has struggled with her ailment. A few years ago she grew tired of the diabetic regimen. She stopped testing her blood sugar regularly, didn't manage her insulin levels and started to experience negative consequences that showed her she "had to stop letting diabetes control [her]." Now she uses her newfound confidence and disease management to support and educate newly diagnosed children.
Every summer for many years she and her family has volunteered for the JDRF Walk, which helps raise awareness of and funding for diabetes research. Krissy's classmates and cheerleading team also have held JDRF fundraisers. And now she is a Children's Congress delegate.
"I feel excited because it's a chance to show others how strong diabetes has made me and how to never give up on living out your dreams no matter what disease stands in your way," she said.
Krissy applied for the JDRF Children's Congress last October by submitting an essay about her life with diabetes. She was one of more than 1,200 applicants. From those 1,200 applicants, only 150 children, ages 4 to 17, from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, were selected to be national delegates.
Krissy is one of only nine delegates from New York State.
She will travel with her parents and sister to Washington on Sunday, June 19, and attend to her delegate duties June 20 to 22. She will speak with her local Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25), and be part of a group to meet with the Senate Committee on Government Affairs, chaired by Sen. Joe Lieberman of Conn. There also is a possibility she will meet with New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Krissy said she will describe for lawmakers how difficult life can be with diabetes, inform them of new progress in diabetes research, and leave them with the message of "Promise to Remember Me" the song the delegates will sing as a group while in Washington.
In addition to her personal lobbying of House and Senate members, Krissy also will attend a Senate hearing on Type 1 diabetes research funding, at which JDRF's International Chair, Mary Tyler Moore, will testify.
A profile of Krissy, including a video of her personal testimony, is posted on the JDRF website, cc.jdrf.org.
The JDRF is a worldwide organization that advocates and charitably funds diabetes research across the globe. The Children's Congress, which began in 1999, has become the largest media and grassroots advocacy event of its kind.
The Press will talk with Krissy again after she returns from Washington to hear of her experiences at the Children's Congress stay tuned!
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican and Eagle Bulletin newspapers.
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* Prices may differ from that shown
The Simple rapid action spot zapper is exactly what it says on the tin. It is a roll-on stick which allows you to target spots and claims to work in just 4 hours.
It contains zinc and chamomile which gives your skin the appearance of being clearer and the spot fighting ingredients reduce the redness of spots. It is also antibacterial.
It is a small 15ml tube which comes in a box. The design is nothing special and stays in line with the rest of the Simple range, which is nice as it doesn't have to make itself look flashy and just focuses on giving you clean, clear skin.
I've found that the spot zapper is extremely helpful for occasions when you can feel a spot coming on. Applying the spot zapper brings the spot up to surface quicker and gets rid of it. I do think this product does what it claims to however it does need to be reapplied often as it is quite quick to dry out. It has no perfume, colour or odour; meaning it is suitable for all skin types even if you have sensitive skin. I like how the product does not feel heavy in the slightest and it can comfortably be applied a few minutes before putting on makeup.
Using this product has made my skin feel clearer and any spots which crop up don't last as long as they would without the spot zapper. I'm amazed to see how expensive this spot zapper is on ebay as I ordered it from Amazon for £2! For the price I paid, I believe this product is extremely good value and I would not hesitate in recommending it as an addition to your daily skin routine. For £2, you can't go wrong!
I hoped at my age I''d be over the stage of getting nasty spots crop up, but unfortunately when I get a bit of stress on through work, or if something a little unhappy going on in my life takes over ? I do get a nasty flare-up of spots. This past week has been prime example of that, since I found out some news I haven''t been overly calm or happy and my skin has gone here have some spots. So I decided that I needed something else to try and combat these spots. Given that I''ve used Simple items before, I went for them automatically because I know they''re good ? and I picked up a few items to work with the spot zapper. So I tried the spot zapper on these two beasts of spots on my face, and because there is very little in the way of nasty chemicals in it ? it doesn''t sting as much as you''d imagine on a spot that there is some broken skin, because I couldn''t leave the spot alone! So that''s one bonus that''s going for it, it doesn''t have a nasty smell to it either, but there is an obvious antibacterial scent to it ? but nothing terrible. I can''t say it''s fantastic at getting rid of spots totally ? but it does help to bring them down. As I had one spot on my jaw line that was very red, very angry and it really did throb it was that bad ? after a few applications of this, it has gone down quite nicely to just your average spot. That all happened within about twenty four hours, since then it''s just slowly got smaller ? the spot is still there but it''s not as bad as it was. The one thing I have noticed with this spot zapper is that it does stop the spots that I''ve got from bleeding if I do end up squeezing them, because I''m one of those people and although you''re not meant to sometimes it does relieve the pressure under your skin. The skin around the area where I''ve applied, isn''t red and isn''t too dry either ? so that''s a definite plus for the item. So a week nearly down the line the biggest spot isn''t gone, but it''s definitely on its way ? however the smaller spots I used it on are pretty much gone. So on smaller spots it''s a great to get rid of them, but on bigger ones expect it to take that little bit longer. For 1.50 in Tesco at the minute it''s a fairly good buy to treat the affected areas!
There are few things more depressing than having teenage spots and wrinkles, it's really not fair. I bought this product because it claimed to treat spots immediately and make an immediate improvement.
The container is very convenient, it fits easily in a handbag so it's available to use at a moment's notice. It is applied by roll on which is extremely simple and controllable, and it's clear, so nobody know need know you've applied it.
Does it work? It certainly makes the spot feel better. It's very cooling. I can't say I noticed an instant reduction in redness. It claims to have anti inflammatory and antiseptic effects so speeds the healing processing. It did seem to dry the spot out more quickly than letting nature take its course.
It is quite an expensive product considering the size of the container. Having said that you don't need to use much, so unless you have loads of spots, in which case you might want to choose a different product altogether, it should last quite a while.
Good for people who want to treat the occasional spot. At least you feel like you are doing something.
I'm technically still a teenager, so I am still subject to the joys of teenage skin now and again. I tend to breakout out all at once rather than a couple of blemishes, so I needed something that could eliminate spots quickly and simply - excuse the pun!
Inside the cardboard box, the thin tube is about half the size of a toothbrush, with a green lid and green and blue design on a white background. I like how it is consistent with all the other products in its range concerning design, which is very aesthetically pleasing. The screw on cap hides a metal roller ball, which is more hygienic than plastic dispensers but can hurt when rolling over sensitive spots. The slight gap in the rim of the roller ball allows for exactly the right amount of product to be dispensed onto the ball, so it isn't too thick or to thin when it is applied. It is designed to be easily transportable and accessible.
The actual liquid is quite thin, but not so thin it runs off your face. It can be worn under make up during the day because it doesn't leave a film over the skin and genuinely dries clear. The simple spotzapper has 4 spot fighting ingredients, zinc pca which absorbs excess oils, chamomile to soothe skin, witch hazel which tones and tightens pores and lavender which calms and soothes redness. It also has a natural antibiotic to fight the bacteria in a spot. I apply this after cleansing and moisturising at night, and by the time I wake up, any redness has gone down and my skin doesn't feel sticky, but there is no reduction in spot size or quantity, so it does reduce redness in 4 hours, but not size. It does recommend re-applying until the spot is gone, but I have used this over the space of 2 weeks and nothing has happened. The metal roller ball helps to soothe sore or red spots, but doesn't eliminate them.
I got this as part of a 3 for £7 offer at ASDA, but alone it retails for around £3.58 at the supermarket, which is a bit pricey for something that doesn't work properly. I personally wouldn't buy this product for that amount, and definitely wait until it is on sale.
I don't think I'd buy this product for my skin again, but for anyone with relatively red or sore spots, I'd recommend it. The price is a bit much for selective skin efficiency, but on sale it is worth it. It's a shame because the rest of the Simple spotless skin range are very good and the fact they have natural ingredients is a bonus!
I am a big fan of the Simple skincare range, which I've used since the age of twelve. I have really sensitive skin and this range is one of the few that I can use without my skin going red and itchy. Simple was first introduced with the aim of creating skincare suitable for sensitive skin, without perfume and colour. The first product was colour and perfume free soap, released in 1960, while the cleanse, tone and moisturise routine was brought out in 1978. Simple was never one of the trendier brands, but in the last couple of years I've noticed that it's undergone something of a resurgence - I'm always seeing the brand advertised in magazines or in-store, and they've revamped their range with a new look and a number of new products. Not bad considering they're over 50 years old.
I'm familiar with the Simple display in stores such as Boots, Superdrug and Savers, so I knew this Spotless Skin Rapid Action Spot Zapper was new when I spied it on my first exploration of my local Savers store. It was priced at just under £4, in line with other products in the range, and the green and white colouring fitted in with the rest of the brand. As I have sensitive skin but still suffer from the odd spot, I knew this product would fit in with my skin and my skincare regime. I hadn't had much luck with spot products in the past, but hoped that this one might be effective as I do like the Simple brand.
The Spotless Skin Rapid Action Spot Zapper is a targeted roll-on which claims to show results in just 4 hours. Simple describe it as "a perfect blend of spot fighting ingredients and natural antibacterial goodness". It's designed to reduce spot irritation and size without irritating the skin, described as being tough on spots and gentle on the skin - perfect!
The product contains 4 Spot Fighting Ingredients: zinc PCA, which absorbs excess oils; chamomile which is a skin soothing anti-irritant; witch hazel which tones and tightens pores; and lavender which calms and soothes redness. It also contains one natural antibacterial: phytosphingosine, which apparently helps fight spots and blemishes. Like other Simple products, the Spot Zapper contains no perfume and no colour. It has been dermatologically tested and approved.
The instructions state that for best results, you should apply the product directly onto spots when they first appear, repeating application until the spot has gone. It is designed to be easy to use and portable.
Inside the cardboard box, the Spot Zapper comes in a tube a little larger than a lip balm tube, with a green lid and green and blue writing on a white background. The information on the tube is basically the same as the information on the cardboard packaging.
Unscrewing the lid, I was surprised to see that the rollerball seemed to be metal. I wonder if this is to prevent the spread of germs - perhaps it is more hygienic than plastic. It was very easy to use it to dab some of the clear gel onto my skin. I'm pleased to report that I didn't experience any skin irritation now or at any time, which is what I expect from the Simple brand. Some spot treatments can be harsh and dry the skin out, but this one didn't at all.
I've used the gel on a few spots I've developed over the last few weeks. I find that it is cooling and doesn't feel at all unpleasant on my skin. I tend to apply it overnight, so I can't test the four-hour claim, although I don't think it would be a problem to use this during the day as it is clear and doesn't dry to a film on the skin.
My least favourite spots are the ones that are raised and red, as these are the ones that really stand out on the skin, particularly on skin that's as pale as mine! I'm pleased to report that this product seems to be effective on this kind of spot. In the morning after use, I can see a real difference in the spot - it has gone down a bit in size and the redness has much reduced. The spot itself doesn't vanish overnight, but is usually gone in a couple of days, and is much easier to cover up in its reduced state. Other spots also seem to clear up a bit more quickly when using this product, although it's harder to judge. Not only this, but the product didn't have any sort of adverse effect on my skin: some spot products can make my skin slightly red or dry it out, but other than the positive effect it had on my spots, it didn't have any effect on my skin.
I think this Spotless Skin Rapid Action Spot Zapper is a really great product. It claims to reduce spot irritation and size without irritating the skin, and it does exactly that. Okay, so it isn't a miracle worker, and it won't get rid of spots overnight - but I've never come across a spot treatment that does. A good product that I will certainly repurchase.
Despite being 25 I still get the occasional spot however my skin isnt so bad that I would need to use a special face wash / moisturiser designed for spotty skin. So when I saw this Simple spot zapper it looked like a good idea for targeting individual blemishes. I've never fancied trying these spot sticks before as I worry they will be too harsh and actually damage my skin, but I trusted this one as Simple products have always proven to be good for sensitive skin.
I bought this from Boots for £5.49 which seemed quite pricey for a Simple product. The gel comes in a squeezy tube with a screw lid and then a metal roller ball which distributes the gel as you roll it over your skin. The packaging is slightly different than the usual Simple bottles - it has a bright lime green colour with blue writing. This looks a bit harsher than the usual basic packaging, however made me think that this product must mean business, so it didn't put me off.
***What the bottle says***
"Whatever your age, zap spots and see results in just four hours¹ with the NEW Simple Spotless Skin Rapid Action Spot Zapper from Simple, the UK's No.1 Facial Skincare brand.
Formulated with no perfume, no colour and no harsh chemicals, this handy, targeted roll-on visibly reduces spot redness and size without irritating the skin. It's tough on spots, but gentle on skin, even the most sensitive."
***My Experience***
I started by using this in the mornings just after moisturising. The gel comes out quite easily and just the right amount. It takes about 20 seconds to dry which is great if you are in a hurry to put makeup on and go out. The gel is completely clear and doesn't seem to have much of a smell. The metal roller ball is so cooling, there is no need to store the tube in the fridge etc as no matter where it is kept and how warm it is, the metal is always cold particularly when combined with the gel. This has a really soothing effect and made my spots look instantly less red. When the gel dried my skin still felt moisturised, and it didn't have the tightening/drying effect that I expected.
Therefore everything went well when applying it, however the long term results were disappointing. I used it for around 2 weeks every morning and saw no results. So I then began to use it every morning and night but still saw nothing. Any spots I did get did eventually dry up and went away, however this happened at the usual speed and I didn't feel the gel helped them clear up any quicker than usual. When I stopped using it I didn't miss it and felt my skin was exactly the same without it.
I was really disappointed with this as I had really high hopes of the product. I concluded in the end that Simple had focussed on making the product suitable for sensitive skin, however in doing this had also made it ineffective as the ingredients must not be strong enough to have any effect on spots.
***Overall Opinion***
Overall I don't think this is a terrible product as it didn't make things any worse, and I did find its short term soothing effects very useful but I don't feel the price tag is worth it just for this. I have given it a low rating because the most important promise that it will zap spots just doesn't happen.


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Potassium channels play an important role in controlling neuronal firing and synaptic interactions. Na+-activated K+ (KNa) channels have been shown to exist in neurons in different regions of the CNS, but their physiological function has been difficult to assess. In this study, we have examined if neurons in the spinal cord possess KNa currents. We used whole cell recordings from isolated spinal cord neurons in lamprey. These neurons display two different KNa currents. The first was transient and activated by the Na+ influx during the action potentials, and it was abolished when Na+ channels were blocked by tetrodotoxin. The second KNa current was sustained and persisted in tetrodotoxin. Both KNa currents were abolished when Na+ was substituted with choline or N-methyl-d-glucamine, indicating that they are indeed dependent on Na+ influx into neurons. When Na+ was substituted with Li+, the amplitude of the inward current was unchanged, whereas the transient KNa current was reduced but not abolished. This suggests that the transient KNa current is partially activated by Li+. These two KNa currents have different roles in controlling the action potential waveform. The transient KNa appears to act as a negative feedback mechanism sensing the Na+ influx underlying the action potential and may thus be critical for setting the amplitude and duration of the action potential. The sustained KNa current has a slow kinetic of activation and may underlie the slow Ca2+-independent afterhyperpolarization mediated by repetitive firing in lamprey spinal cord neurons.
Potassium channels are critical for determining the shape of the action potentials, the neuronal firing pattern and the strength of synaptic transmission (Augustine 1990; D'Incamps et al. 2004; Geiger and Jonas 2000; Meir et al. 1999; Roeper and Pongs 1996; Sabatini and Regehr 1999). Various types of K+ channels have been characterized using biophysical, pharmacological, and molecular analyses; these include channels activated by voltage changes and intracellular Ca2+ (Coetzee et al. 1999; Song 2002). Evidence is accumulating that K+ channels activated by intracellular Na+ exist in neurons, but their function is largely unclear (Bhattacharjee and Kaczmarek 2005; Dryer 1994). Sodium-activated K+ (KNa) channels were originally described in heart myocytes (Kameyama et al. 1984) and were subsequently found in neurons in invertebrates (Hartung 1985) and vertebrates (Dale 1993; Dryer 1991; Dryer et al. 1989; Haimann et al. 1992; Koh et al. 1994; Safronov et al. 1996). They can be activated by Na+ influx via voltage-gated channels or through leak channels (Bhattacharjee and Kaczmarek 2005; Dryer 1994; Zhou et al. 2004). In addition, there is evidence that Na+ influx following single action potentials can activate KNa channels (Dryer 1994; Hartung 1985; Liu and Stan Leung 2004).
Two genes encoding for KNa channels have recently been identified, slick (Slo2.1) and slack (Slo2.2) (Bhattacharjee et al. 2003; Yuan et al. 2003). The distribution of these channels in the brain studied by immunohistochemistry corresponds to the regions where neurons possessing KNa channels have been characterized (Bhattacharjee et al. 2002, 2005). The physiological function of the native KNa channels in cellular and synaptic processing has been difficult to undertake because of the lack of specific blockers. However, there is evidence suggesting that KNa channels play a role in regulating the firing frequency of neurons (Sanchez-Vives et al. 2000), intrinsic bursting in cortical neurons (Franceschetti et al. 2003), and the timing of spindle waves in thalamus (Kim and McCormick 1998). In addition these channels are the target of modulation by G-protein-coupled receptors and intracellular signaling molecules (Santi et al. 2005).
Neurons in the spinal cord of the lamprey display a slow afterhyperpolarization that is important for spike frequency adaptation that has been thought to be exclusively mediated by activation of KCa channels (Grillner 2003; Wallen et al. 1989). Recently, however, it has been shown that blockade of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels or chelating intracellular Ca2+ only reduced the amplitude of the slow AHP (Cangiano et al. 2002). A residual component of the AHP insensitive to Ca2+ was present and has been suggested to be mediated by KNa channels (Cangiano et al. 2002; Wallen et al. 2005). However, there is no direct evidence showing the existence of KNa current in lamprey spinal cord neurons. In this study, we have used patch-clamp recordings from lamprey spinal cord neurons to determine if they possess K+ currents activated by Na+ influx. Our results show that spinal cord neurons display two types of KNa currents: a transient current activated by the Na+ influx during the action potential that appears to be important for initiating the repolarization of the action potential and a second component consisting of a sustained KNa current most likely activated by Na+ influx through leak channels and which may play a role in mediating the Ca2+ insensitive AHP induced by high-frequency firing (Wallen et al. 2005).
Cell dissociation
Larval lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) were used in all experiments. The spinal cord was dissociated in Leibovitz′s L-15 culture medium (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) supplemented with penicillin-streptomycin (2 μl/ml; Sigma), and the osmolarity was adjusted to 270 mosm. After treatment with collagenase (1 mg/ml; 30 min; Sigma) and protease (2 mg/ml, 45 min; Sigma), the tissue was subsequently washed with the culture medium and triturated through a sterilized pipette. The dissociated cells were distributed in petri dishes and incubated at 10°C for 2–5 days (El Manira and Bussieres 1997).
All spinal neurons were recorded using a patch-clamp amplifier (AxoPatch 200A, Axon Instruments, Foster City, CA). When investigating very fast currents, like Na+ currents, a high quality of the clamping condition is required. To guarantee the best space-clamp condition possible, only small neurons with a diameter <10–15 μM were chosen. The neurons were either mono- or multipolar corresponding mainly to moto- and interneurons. The mechanosensory dorsal cells could be easily identified by their round and large cell bodies. Because these neurons are not part of the locomotor network, they were not included in this study. The series resistance ranging was compensated for electronically by 75–85%. Linear leak and residual capacity currents were subtracted on-line with the use of a P/4 subtraction protocol. The liquid junction potential was calculated to range between 3 and 5 mV and was not corrected. The neurons were clamped at a holding potential of –60 mV, and response currents were evoked by depolarizing voltage steps of 100 ms with 5 s interstimulus intervals. Current and voltage signals were sampled at 10 or 100 kHz.
The control solution contained (in mM) 124 NaCl, 2 KCl, 1.2 MgCl2, 2 CaCl2, 10 glucose, and 10 HEPES with pH adjusted to 7.6 with NaOH. In some experiments, extracellular Na+ was replaced with Li+, choline, or N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG). In experiments regarding the biophysical properties of Na+ and Li+ passing the voltage-gated Na+ channel, an extracellular solution containing TEA (20 mM), Cd2+ (100 μM), Ni+ (50 μM) was used. For whole cell recordings, the pipettes were filled with a solution containing (in mM) 102 KCH3SO3, 1.2 MgCl2, 10 glucose, and 10 HEPES, pH 7.6 adjusted with KOH. To study Na+ and Li+ current activation, KCH3SO3 was replaced with CsCH3SO3 to block K+ currents.
Current peak corresponds to the maximum current reached. Time to peak was measured as the time between the onset of the stimulus and the peak of the current. To obtain the Na+ and the different K+ current activation and inactivation curves, values of the chord conductance (G) were calculated from the respective peak or sustained currents assuming ohmic behavior. The Na+ and K+ equilibrium potentials were determined using the Nernst equation and calculation of the linear part of the I-V plot. The analysis was performed using Axon Instruments software, PlotIt (Scientific Programming Enterprises, Haslett, MI) or Origin (Microcal Software, Northampton, MA). Unless otherwise stated, the results are expressed as means ± SE. Means were compared using Student's t-test or one-way ANOVA (Graphpad).
TTX blocks a transient sodium-dependent potassium current
To determine if lamprey spinal cord neurons possess Na+-dependent K+ currents, whole cell patch-clamp recordings were performed from neurons in culture. Ca2+ currents were blocked by Cd2+ (50–100 μM) and Ni+ (200 μM). Application of voltage steps to –10 mV from a holding potential of –60 mV activated the transient Na+ inward current (INa) that was always followed by a transient and a sustained outward K+ current (Fig. 1A). Application of TTX (600 nM) blocked the Na+ current and also abolished the transient K+ current (Fig. 1, A and B). Subtraction of the current induced in TTX from that induced in control revealed the currents blocked by TTX that consisted of an inward Na+ current and an outward Na+-dependent K+ (KNa) current (Fig. 1, C and D). The amplitude of the Na+ current was 8.12 ± 0.52 nA (n = 36), and its peak was reached 0.43 ± 0.01 ms after the onset of the voltage step. The amplitude of the transient KNa current was 3.24 ± 0.25 nA (n = 36) and reached its peak 1.0 ± 0.02 ms after the onset of the voltage step. The application of TTX had little effect on the sustained outward K+ current the amplitude of which was slightly increased from 1.73 ± 0.13 to 1.81 ± 0.13 nA (105 ± 0.78%; n = 33; P > 0.05; Fig. 1, A and B).
In the neurons examined, the series resistance was always adequately compensated and the voltage command settled within <400 μs, and the peak Na+ current occurred at around 500–700 μs after the onset of the voltage step (Fig. 2, A and B), indicating that the neurons were adequately clamped. In these neurons, the inward Na+ current was always followed by a transient KNa current, suggesting that this current is not merely an artifact of inadequate voltage-clamp conditions. To further determine if the neurons were voltage clamped appropriately, we examined the effect of TTX on the kinetics of the Na+ current. Voltage steps to −10 mV were applied from a holding potential of −60 mV to activate Na+ and transient KNa currents. Application of TTX gradually decreased the amplitude of the Na+ and the transient KNa currents (Fig. 2, A and B). The time to peak of the inward Na+ current did not show any shift as its amplitude gradually decreased (Fig. 2, A and B). In addition, there was a clear correlation between the TTX-induced decrease of the inward Na+ current and that of the transient KNa (Fig. 2C). The amplitude of the sustained K+ current was not significantly changed in the presence of TTX (Fig. 2C). These results suggest that the TTX-sensitive transient outward current is not due to incomplete voltage clamp but is mediated by KNa channels activated by Na+ influx underlying action potentials.
KNa currents in spinal cord neurons
To examine if the sustained K+ current is mediated by activation of KNa channels, we tested the effect of replacement of extracellular Na+ with equimolar amount of lithium, choline, or NMDG on the amplitude of this current. Li+ is known to enter voltage-gated Na+ channels but does not usually activate Na+-dependent targets such as KNa channels (Bischoff et al. 1998; Dryer et al. 1989). Replacing Na+ with Li+ decreased the amplitude of the transient outward current providing further support for the existence of a transient KNa current that is partially activated by Li+. The amplitude of the transient KNa was 4.23 ± 0.25 nA in control and decreased to 3.32 ± 0.21 nA in Li+ (P < 0.001; n = 9; Fig. 3, A and B), whereas its time to peak increased from 0.94 ± 0.02 ms in control to 1.08 ± 0.03 ms in Li+ (P < 0.001; n = 9; Fig. 3, A and B). The amplitude of the inward current was not significantly changed in Li+ (P > 0.05; Fig. 3B). TTX (600 nM) blocked both the inward current mediated by Li+ and the resulting transient K+ current (Fig. 3C). In the presence of TTX, replacing Na+ with Li+ decreased the amplitude of the sustained K+ current from 1.48 ± 0.14 to 1.04 ± 0.12 nA (by 30.71 ± 2.28%; P < 0.03; n = 9; Fig. 3C). These results suggest that a component of the sustained current is mediated by activation of KNa channels that is blocked when Na+ is replaced with Li+. It thus appears that lamprey spinal cord neurons possess two types of KNa channels. One is transient, activated by Na+ influx through the voltage-gated channels underlying the action potential and is partially activated by Li+. The second is sustained and is blocked when Na+ is replaced with Li+.
We compared the activation and inactivation curves of Na+ and Li+ inward current to determine if the change in the kinetics of the inward current can be due to a shift in the activation of the Na+ channels when Li+ is used as charge carrier. In these experiments, both Ca2+ and K+ currents were blocked by Cd2+ and intracellular Cs+, respectively, leaving only the inward Na+ or Li+ current (Fig. 3E). Li+ shifted the activation curve of the inward current by +3.43 mV (1/2 maximum activation: Na+ = −21.4 mV vs. Li+ = −17.97 mV; Fig. 3D; n = 16). There was no change in the inactivation curve between Na+ and Li+ (Fig. 3D).
Pharmacological isolation of the transient KNa current
In addition to the two types of KNa currents, lamprey spinal cord neurons also possess a high-voltage-activated K+ current with a transient (Kt) and a sustained component (Hess and El Manira 2001). To address the functional role of the transient KNa current and its contribution to the action potential waveform, it was necessary to isolate this current from the voltage-activated Kt (Fig. 4A). We previously showed that catechol at low concentration (≤100 μM) blocked the voltage-activated Kt current (Hess and El Manira 2001). At high concentrations, catechol (200–500 μM; n = 7) also blocked the transient KNa current (Fig. 4Bi). To be able to compare the contribution of the KNa current and that of the Kt to the waveform of the action potential, these currents need to be separated. To this end, voltage steps to –10 mV were applied from a holding potential of –60 mV, and the effect of catechol and TTX (600 nM) was first tested separately on the elicited current, and after their respective washout, they were added together (Fig. 4, A and Bi). By subtracting the currents elicited in the different conditions (Fig. 4B), it was possible to separate the individual currents. The current blocked by TTX (I-TTX), with its Na+ and transient KNa components, was isolated by subtracting the current elicited in TTX from that of control (black trace in Fig. 4Bii). The voltage-gated Na+ current (I-Na) corresponded to the current blocked by TTX in the presence of catechol (cyan trace in Fig. 4Bii). The transient KNa current (I-KNa) was isolated by subtracting I-Na from the ITTX (Fig. 4Biii). The sustained high-voltage-activated K+ current (I-Ks) corresponded the current persisting in the presence of catechol and TTX, whereas the transient high-voltage-activated K+ current (I-Kt) represented the current blocked by catechol in the presence of TTX (green trace in Fig. 4Bii).
Voltage activation range of the KNa and Kt
The voltage range at which the KNa and the Kt are activated was determined using a protocol with voltage steps from –50 to +40 mV with +10-mV increments from a holding potential of –60 mV. These experiments were performed in the presence of Cd2+ (100 μM) and Ni+ (50 μM) to block all Ca2+ currents. Application of catechol (200–500 μM) blocked the transient KNa at lower voltage steps and blocked both the KNa and the Kt at high-voltage steps (Fig. 5, A and B; green traces). TTX alone blocked the inward Na+ current and the transient KNa (Fig. 5, A and B; magenta traces). Co-application of TTX and catechol blocked the total current at low voltage steps (Fig. 5A; blue trace) and blocked all transient currents at high-voltage steps leaving only the voltage-activated sustained K+ current (Fig. 5B, blue trace). The contribution of the transient KNa and voltage-activated Kt current to the total outward current was plotted as a function of the test potential (Fig. 5E). It was clear that the two currents were activated within different voltage windows. The transient KNa started activating at lower voltage steps compared with the voltage-gated Kt. The peak KNa current was reached at –10 mV, and its contribution to the total K+ current decays with increased voltage steps (Fig. 5, C–E). In contrast, the voltage-dependent Kt started activating at high-voltage steps with the half-maximum activation of –1.0 ± 1.0 mV (Hess and El Manira 2001). The amplitude of this current increased with increasing voltage steps (Fig. 5, C–E). Thus these two currents display different biophysical properties, suggesting that they may play complementary roles in controlling the waveform of the action potential.
Contribution of the transient KNa current to the action potential waveform
To determine the contribution of the transient KNa current during action potentials, we have used the waveform of an action potential, corresponding to an original recording, as the voltage command (Fig. 6). The spike waveform started from a resting membrane potential of −60 mV with the peak at 46.3 mV reached after 0.7 ms. The spike width measured at the half-maximal amplitude was 0.96 ms. The different currents were isolated by applying catechol (200 μM) and TTX (600 nM) first separately and then in combination to separate the different currents (see preceding text, ⇓Fig. 8A). In these experiments Cd2+ (100 μM) and Ni+ (50 μM) were added later to isolate the Ca2+ current. The different currents activated by the voltage waveform of the action potential were separated and corresponded to INa, IKNa, IKt, IKs and ICa (Fig. 6A). The peak amplitude and time to peak in relation to the onset of the stimulus of all currents were calculated (Fig. 6B; n = 21). The INa was activated first 0.85 ± 0.01 ms after the start of the stimulus waveform and reached the peak amplitude of 5.36 ± 0.29 nA after 1.80 ± 0.01 ms (Fig. 6, A–C). The transient KNa current was activated 1.05 ± 0.01 ms after the start of the stimulus that correspond to the time when the INa reached the peak amplitude. The KNa peak amplitude was 4.48 ± 0.41 nA and was reached after 1.33 ± 0.01 ms, which corresponded to the peak of the action potential waveform, and it decayed completely after 2.25 ± 0.09 ms (Fig. 6, A–C). The kinetics and activation properties of the transient KNa current suggest that this current contributes to setting the spike peak by limiting the amplitude of the depolarization by a counter current and thereby initiating the repolarization of the action potential.
The high-voltage-activated Kt current started activating after 1.07 ± 0.01 ms from the onset of the stimulus and its peak amplitude was 7.19 ± 0.43 nA, which is significantly higher than that of KNa and was reached after 1.54 ± 0.01 ms that was always later than the KNa current (Fig. 6, A–C). The decay of Kt was slower than that of the transient of KNa as it was not completely deactivated at the end of the stimulus waveform (Fig. 6, A and C). Comparing the area underlying the transient K+ currents showed that the Kt was much bigger than KNa current (Fig. 6D). These results suggest that there are two transient K+ currents serving complementary roles in determining the action potential waveform. The KNa current seems to contribute to the early repolarization of the action potential, whereas the Kt current appears to determine the time course of the repolarization and the fast afterhyperpolarization and as a consequence the spike width.
The voltage-activated Ks current started activating around the peak of the action potential waveform (1.18 ± 0.01 ms after the onset of the stimulus; Fig. 6A) and reached its peak of 1.76 ± 0.2 nA after 1.79 ± 0.01 ms, which corresponds to the repolarization phase of the action potential (Fig. 6, C and D). The last current activated by the action potential waveform was the ICa which started 1.49 ± 0.02 ms after the onset of the stimulus and showed the smallest peak amplitude of 0.58 ± 0.04 nA reached after 1.95 ± 0.02 ms (Fig. 6, A–D).
Activity-dependent changes in the K+ currents
To reveal activity-dependent changes in the amplitude of the different currents, we stimulated the neurons with a voltage command composed of 10 action potential waveforms and applied the different blockers to isolate INa, IKNa, IKt, and IKs (see preceding text). Frequencies of 10, 50, and 100 Hz were used. We compared the amplitude of the different current between the 1st and the 10th stimulus waveform (Fig. 7A). There was a large change in the amplitude of the different current when the stimulus waveforms were applied at a frequency of 100 Hz. The amplitude of the inward INa was reduced to 88.7 ± 3.1% of control (n = 14), and the amplitude of the transient KNa current decreased to 83.9 ± 7.1% of control between the first and the last stimulus (Fig. 7, A and B). In the same neurons, the amplitude of the Kt current was also reduced but to a lesser extent, to 92.7 ± 3.4% of control. By contrast, the Ks amplitude increased to 111.7 ± 8.0% of control. The activity-dependent decrease in the KNa current amplitude was less pronounced at lower than at higher frequencies [reduced to 83.9 ± 7.1% at 100 Hz (n = 14), to 90.4 ± 6.2% at 50 Hz (n = 5), and to 93.5 ± 2.2% at 10 Hz (n = 11); Fig. 7C]. These findings provide evidence that in lamprey spinal neurons stimulated with a burst-like voltage command, the amplitude of the transient currents decreased slightly in a frequency-dependent manner, whereas the sustained K+ current increased.
Sustained KNa current
Choline and NMDG were also used to replace extracellular Na+ to determine the proportion of the sustained K+ current that is mediated by activation of KNa channels. Choline and NMDG had similar effects, they completely abolished the Na+ current and the transient KNa current (Fig. 8, A–D). They also reduced the amplitude of the sustained K+ current in a similar proportion to Li+. Choline decreased the sustained K+ current from 1.48 ± 0.16 to 1.05 ± 0.15 nA (by 31.56 ± 3.09%; n = 13; Fig. 8, A, B, and E), and NMDG decreased it from 1.52 ± 0.17 to 1.08 ± 0.13 nA (by 29.17 ± 1.68%; n = 6; Fig. 8, C, D, and E). The remaining sustained K+ current is likely to be mediated by activation of voltage-activated channels. Application of TTX in the presence of choline or NMDG had no further effect on the amplitude of the K+ current (Fig. 8, A and C). To determine if the Na+-sensitive sustained current is indeed mediated by K+, the reversal potential of the tail current was estimated by varying the holding membrane potential after the test pulse. The Na+-sensitive tail current was isolated by subtracting the current induced in the presence of Na+ from that induced when Na+ was replaced with choline (n = 5) or NMDG (n = 5). There was a linear relationship between the amplitude of the Na+-sensitive tail current and the holding membrane potential with the current reversing at around −105 (Fig. 8F). This is close the K+ reversal potential of −94 mV calculated using the Nernst equation. It thus seems that the Na+-sensitive sustained current is mediated by K+.
Decrease in the amplitude of the sustained current is not due to change in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of pH
Removing external Na+ would affect the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger leading to increased intracellular Ca2+ levels that could decrease K+ currents other than KNa. To test if the decrease of the sustained K+ current by choline or NMDG was not the consequence of elevated intracellular Ca2+, neurons were dialyzed with the Ca2+ chelator bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA, 10 mM). Neurons were held at −60 mV, and test voltage steps to −10 mV were applied in the presence of TTX, Cd2+, and Ni+ to block Na+ and Ca2+ currents. In the presence of BAPTA, replacement of Na+ with choline and NMDG reduced the amplitude of the sustained K+ current in a reversible manner (Fig. 9, A and C). In total, choline reduced the sustained K+ current from 1.0 ± 0.19 to 0.80 ± 0.14 nA in BAPTA (n = 6) and from 0.50 ± 0.075 to 0.34 ± 0.052 nA (n = 5) in control (Fig. 9B). NMDG decreased the sustained K+ current from 1.1 ± 0.095 to 0.87 ± 0.10 nA (n = 5) in BAPTA and from 0.75 ± 0.18 to 0.60 ± 0.18 (n = 5) in control (Fig. 9D). These results suggest the decrease of the sustained K+ current by removal of Na+ is not mediated by an effect on Na+-Ca2+ exchanger.
Removing Na+ would also affect the Na+-H+ exchanger, resulting in changes in intracellular pH that could decrease the sustained K+ currents. To rule out this possibility, neurons were recorded using an intracellular solution containing 100 mM HEPES, and the effect of substituting Na+ with NMDG was tested on the sustained K+ current (see Dale 1993). In neurons recorded with high HEPES solution, NMDG was still able to reduce the amplitude of the sustained K+ current from 1.45 ± 0.12 to 1.10 ± 0.10 nA (n = 4, data not shown), suggesting that the effect of removing Na+ on the sustained current is not due to change in the intracellular pH.
Contribution of KNa current to the total sustained current
The effect of choline and NMDG was also tested on the amplitude of the sustained K+ current elicited by voltage steps with increased amplitude. The neurons were held at −60 mV and successive voltage steps were applied to −50 mV with 10-mV increments up to +50 mV. The amplitude of the K+ current was measured before and after Na+ substitution with choline (n = 6) or NMDG (n = 8). Both substitutions decreased the amplitude of the K+ current at all test voltage steps (Fig. 10, A and C). The KNa current was isolated by subtracting the current elicited in choline or NMDG from control. The amplitude of the KNa current blocked by choline (Fig. 10B) or NMDG (Fig. 10D) increased in response to increased amplitude of voltage steps. In addition, the KNa current showed a tendency to decline at voltage step above +30 mV (Fig. 10, B and D). These results suggest that the KNa channels in addition to being sensitive to intracellular Na+ are also gated in a voltage-dependent manner.
Leak current permeable to Na+ in spinal cord neurons
The transient KNa current is linked to the Na+ influx through voltage-gated Na+ channels underlying the action potential. It is unlikely that they contribute to activation of the sustained KNa current because it was unaffected by TTX and was blocked only when the total extracellular Na+ was replaced by Li+, choline, or NMDG. In lamprey spinal cord neurons, there is no persistent TTX-insensitive Na+ because all voltage-activated currents were blocked by TTX when applied in the presence of Ca2+ and K+ channel blockers (see El Manira and Bussieres 1997). One possible source of Na+ that maintains the baseline Na+ levels necessary to activate the sustained KNa current is via TTX-resistant leak channels.
To test if lamprey spinal cord neurons possess leak channels permeable to Na+, the holding current and membrane conductance of neurons were monitored in control and when Na+ was replaced with NMDG or choline (Fig. 11). NMDG decreased the holding current, which resulted in an outward current with the mean amplitude of 232.8 ± 65.7 pA (n = 10; Fig. 11, A and C). The outward current was associated with a decrease in membrane conductance from 10.5 ± 6.9 nS in control to 5.8 ± 3.9 nS (n = 10) in NMDG (Fig. 11A). Similarly, substituting Na+ with choline also induced an outward current with a mean amplitude of 203.62 ± 52.14 pA (P < 0.001; n = 10; Fig. 11, B and C). This was associated with a decrease in the membrane conductance from 18.3 ± 16.17 nS (n = 10) to 7.6 ± 8.2 nS (P < 0.001; n = 10; Fig. 11B). These results indicate that spinal cord neurons possess a Na+-mediated leak conductance, which may activate a sustained KNa current.
KNa current in spinal cord neurons
In the present study, we present results showing that lamprey spinal cord neurons possess K+ channels activated by intracellular Na+. Several lines of evidence support the existence of KNa current in the spinal cord of the lamprey and that it consists of two components; one transient and the other sustained. The transient KNa current appears to be activated by Na+ influx through TTX-sensitive Na+ channels that underlies the action potential because this was completely blocked by TTX, whereas the sustained KNa current was not affected. The transient current does not appear to be the result of the lack of space clamp because the neurons examined were small with very short processes, their series resistance was compensated, and TTX gradually reduced the amplitude of Na+ current without shifting its kinetics.
The amplitude of the transient KNa current was significantly reduced by ∼30% when Na+ was substituted with Li+, indicating that these channels are effectively activated by Li+ influx via voltage-activated Na+ channels. A similar current has been described in crayfish motoneurons (Hartung 1985). In contrast, the sustained KNa current was insensitive to Li+ because replacement of extracellular Na+ with Li+. NMDG and choline blocked the transient KNa and reduced the amplitude of the sustained K+ current in the same proportion as Li+. The effect of replacing Na+ on the sustained current did not appear to be a result of an action on Na+-Ca2+ exchanger or Na+-H+ exchanger because the sustained KNa current was blocked by removing Na+ in neurons recorded with an intracellular solution containing BAPTA or high HEPES concentration.
The sustained current in lamprey spinal cord neurons is insensitive to TTX, and its amplitude was reduced when Na+ was replaced with Li+, NMDG, or choline. The kinetics of this current is similar to that of the delayed rectifier and represents ∼30% of the total outward sustained current. Lamprey spinal cord neurons do not display persistent TTX-insensitive Na+ current that could provide a source for Na+ during voltage command used in this study. The sustained KNa current can be activated by the basal Na+ levels under the membrane. One way of maintaining the steady-state Na+ levels necessary to activate the sustained KNa is through Na+ influx via leak channels. This is supported by the fact that substitution of Na+ with NMDG or choline produced an outward current associated with a decrease in membrane conductance. A sustained KNa current has been described in different preparations (Bhattacharjee and Kaczmarek 2005; Dryer 1994). In Xenopus embryo spinal, sustained KNa current have been suggested to be activated by baseline Na+ levels that are controlled by Na+ entry via leak channels (Dale 1993). The sustained KNa current has been shown to display a marked voltage dependency (Bhattacharjee and Kaczmarek 2005; Dale 1993; Dryer 1994). In lamprey spinal cord neurons, the sustained KNa current appears also to be voltage-dependent because its amplitude increases in response to depolarizing voltage steps.
Na+ concentration required for activation of KNa channels
Previous studies have shown that KNa channels have relatively low sensitivity to Na+, being activated only when the intracellular Na+ concentration is >10 mM (Bhattacharjee and Kaczmarek 2005; Dryer 1994). For this reason, it was first suggested that they play a role only under pathological conditions (see Dryer 1994). Studies of the dynamics of intracellular Na+ have shown that Na+ concentration can reach ≤100 mM in the dendrites after repetitive stimulation (Rose 2002; Rose and Konnerth 2001). There is also evidence that Na+ and KNa channels are closely localized (Koh et al. 1994). This allows an increase in Na+ concentration during a single action potential to result in activation of KNa channels that is sufficient to contribute to the control of the amplitude and duration of the action potential.
Lamprey spinal cord neurons possess leak channels permeable to Na+ similar to those shown in Xenopus embryo spinal neurons (Dale 1993). The Na+ influx via leak channels alone is able to maintain the steady-state levels of Na+ necessary to activate the sustained KNa current. However, this may not be the only source of Na+ involved in activating sustained KNa current. During repetitive firing of spinal cord neurons, Na+ entry through voltage-activated channels can lead to sufficient elevations of intracellular Na+ concentration to activate KNa channels. Indeed it has been reported that lamprey spinal cord neurons display a Ca2+-independent slow afterhyperpolarization during repetitive firing that is abolished by removing Na+ (Cangiano et al. 2002; Wallen et al. 2005).
Comparison of lamprey KNa channels with cloned genes encoding for KNa currents
Two genes (Slick and Slack) encoding for KNa currents have recently been cloned and their pharmacology profile is being characterized as well as their distribution in the CNS (Bhattacharjee et al. 2002, 2003, 2005; Yuan et al. 2003). These channels have different kinetics and are modulated differently by G-protein-coupled receptors and intracellular messengers (Bhattacharjee et al. 2003; Santi et al. 2006). Slick channels activate rapidly in response to depolarization, whereas Slack channels are slowly activating (Bhattacharjee et al. 2002, 2003, 2005; Yuan et al. 2003). The two lamprey KNa currents also display different kinetics with the transient current displaying faster activation compared with the sustained current. Although the molecular identity of lamprey KNa channels is not yet known; the two types may be encoded by different genes.
Functional role of KNa channels
The physiological role of KNa channels have been difficult to characterize because of the lack of specific blockers. However, there are now several studies showing that KNa channels contribute to the regulation neuronal activity. In other preparations, KNa channels have been shown to regulate the action potential waveform (Dale 1993; Haimann et al. 1990; Hartung 1985), to produce adaptation of firing rate, and to contribute to setting the resting membrane potential.
Our present results suggest that the two types of KNa currents described in lamprey spinal cord neurons may play different roles. The transient current is closely associated with the Na+ influx during the action potentials and contributes to the early repolarization of the spikes. The transient KNa current may serve as a negative feedback mechanism sensing the increase in Na+ concentration during single action potentials and may thus be essential in setting the spike amplitude as well as duration. Under our experimental conditions, the sustained KNa current seems to be activated by Na+ influx via leak channels but not by Na+ influx during a single action potential. However, Na+ accumulation during repetitive firing may reach sufficient levels to activate the sustained KNa current and underlie the Ca2+-independent slow afterhyperpolarization (Cangiano et al. 2002; Wallen et al. 2005).
In the present study, we have used isolated spinal cord neurons that may undergo some changes in the composition of the ionic currents in culture. However, there is evidence showing that KNa channels exist in neurons recorded from adult lamprey spinal cord in vitro and contribute to the Ca2+-independent slow afterhyperpolarization and thus regulate their firing activity (Cangiano et al. 2002; Wallen et al. 2005). The characterization of these KNa currents in lamprey spinal cord neurons represents a first step toward understanding their function and modulation. The use of the lamprey spinal cord with its characterized network architecture and output will help gaining further insights into the significance of KNa channels in a network controlling locomotor function.
This work was supported by Swedish Research Council Project 11562 and Karolinska Institutet funds. D. Hess received a fellowship from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany.
We thank Drs. Sten Grillner and Russell Hill for comments on the manuscript.
↵* D. Hess and E. Nanou contributed equally to this work.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
- Copyright © 2007 by the American Physiological Society


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There is a wealth of depth at the running back position in the Inland Empire. Anywhere between 15 and 20 backs could claim a spot on this list, but we have managed to narrow it down to ten.
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Peek Into Lumosity's SF Office
Brain game company Lumosity occupies three floors of a 1920s office building in San Francisco. Oakland-based designer Lauren Geremia with a team of collaborators orchestrated an old-meets-new space for the tech startup with a love of analog. There's even a "hidden" library with a swinging wall.
• Leading the Band | Metropolis


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Legal Question in Discrimination Law in California
Fair Reason for Being Laid Off??
I was recently laid off due to "a decline in current industry conditions". It didn't surprise me, as many people were getting laid off for the same reason within the company for the last year or so….
I just found out they brought in a temp immediately after I was laid off to help with my position. The hired temp is the wife of the President for the company. It sounds like they laid me off, not for "lack of work", but for their own personal benefit. Is this fair, and under what circumstances are they allowed to do this?
Just Wondering,
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Fair Reason for Being Laid Off??
Your matter is complex and you should get an attorney. If you are located in Orange, San Diego or Imperial Counties, you can email me your contact info, so we can discuss your particular situation. There is no charge for consultation
Re: Fair Reason for Being Laid Off??
Any circumstances.


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Brussels, Oct 9 (IANS) The European Union (EU) justice ministers on Friday sealed an overall agreement on the EU's draft data protection directive for the police and criminal justice sector.
The agreement enables the Luxembourg presidency to start discussions with the European Parliament on this part of the data protection package, Xinhua quoted the Council of the EU as saying.
Moreover, the other part of the package is the general data protection regulation, on which talks with the parliament have already started after the council agreed its position in June 2015.
The draft directive is aimed at protecting personal data processed for the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal offences or the safeguarding against and the prevention of threats to public security, said the Council.
The new directive would apply to both, the cross-border processing of personal data as well as the processing of personal data by the police and judicial authorities at purely national level.
The new rules would enhance mutual trust between police and judicial authorities within the EU, as current EU rules apply to the cross-border transfer of personal data only, which created difficulties for police and other law enforcement authorities in the areas of judicial co-operation in criminal matters and police co-operation, emphasised the Council of the EU.
The European Commission welcomed the agreement, saying "today's agreement means the EU is fully on track to finalise its data protection reform by the end of this year, as called for by the European Council".


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These are stories Report on Business followed this week.
Follow Michael Babad and The Globe's Business Briefing on Twitter.
Situations that wouldn't fly
There's a mad rush to get as far away as possible from any association with Rob Ford.
The Toronto Argonauts, no doubt cringing as the mayor went potty-mouth wearing a club jersey, quickly distanced themselves.
The Santa Claus Parade asked him not to walk in Sunday's event so it could "put the focus back on Santa and Mrs. Claus" (who would never talk like that).
And Ford Motor Co. noted it had not authorized the use of its renowned logo by his supporters. ("We're very serious about defending the trademark," said spokesman Jay Cooney in Detroit. "It's not Rob Ford. It's anybody.")
All of which got me dreaming up a few unlikely associations that wouldn't fly:
1. Canadian Payday Loan Association, and Senator Mike Duffy
2. The Bargain Shop (Toronto), and Barrick Gold Corp.'s compensation committee
3. Planned Parenthood, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
4. National Trust and Savings Association, and Bernie Madoff
5. Women's Christian Temperance Union (whose Toronto headquarters were at Bay and Elm Streets in the late 1800s, not on the Danforth), and Rob Ford
6. Prim and Proper Photography (McDonough, Ga.), and Alison Pill
7. The Party Shop (Brescia, Italy), and Silvio Berlusconi
8. Kiss the Bride Wedding Boutique (St. Augustine, Fla.), and Tiger Woods
9. Virgin Group, and Michael Douglas
10. The publisher of Enjoying French Meals For Dummies, and Quebec's language police
11. Coke and Mayor Ford, after he admitted it was the real thing
12. TextSecure, and Anthony Weiner
13. Hasbro's Monopoly game, and Canada's phone companies. And banks
14. Company Rescue Co. (London), and Nortel Networks
15. Society for Business Ethics, and Enron
16. The World Gold Council, and Bre-X
Then there's the other side, where associations just might ring true:
1. Seethrough Concept Store (Kuala Lumpur), and Lululemon
2. The Bubble Room (Captiva, Fla.), and Canadian condo developers
3. Outrageous Boutique (Plainview, N.Y.), and Barrick Gold Corp.'s compensation committee
4. Virgin Group, and the Jonas Brothers
5. The Spare Parts Company (Philadelphia), and Nortel Networks
6. The Rent All Centre, and Hugh Grant
7. Second Chance (London), and BlackBerry
- Follow our ongoing coverage
- Janet McFarland and Carrie Tait: Toronto's business community gives Ford a thumbs-down
- What could happen to his job if Rob Ford were a 'regular city employee'?
- U.S. airline invokes Ford scandal in ad campaign
Europe, Japan slow
Several of Europe's economies have stalled, and Japan's has slowed, snuffing out some of the optimism five years after the start of the financial crisis.
The economy of the 17-member euro zone expanded by just 0.1 per cent in the third quarter of the year, according to official statistics this week, while that of the bigger 18-country European Union grew by 0.2 per cent.
Notable are the troubles of the major countries, such as Germany, where growth slowed to 0.3 per cent, and France and Italy, whose economies contracted by 0.1 per cent.
Unemployment remains high across Europe, with some 27 million people out of work, and is absolutely crippling in countries such as Greece and Spain.
In Japan, according to the Cabinet Office this week, economic growth slows to an annual pace of 1.9 per cent in the third quarter, from 3.8 per cent in the second, spelling a setback for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his "Abenomics' program.
- Eric Reguly: Recession clouds loom again over faltering euro zone countries
- Eric Atkins on Abenomics: What's next for Japan?
- Eric Reguly: Germany's export success failing to ripple over to its EU partners
- ECB takes 'peashooter to a war'
- Eric Reguly: ECB rate cut leaves Draghi in bind in bid to stave off deflation
- Euro zone jobless rate holds at record high
Yellen, Carney in spotlight
Two of the world's major central bankers were front and centre this week, one with a new message, the other with an old.
First up was Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, on Wednesday, who sent markets for a loop by suggesting the country's jobless rate could ease to 7 per cent as early as the third quarter of 2015, compared to an earlier projection of 2016.
Investors were fretting over that because it raises the possibility of the central bank raising rates earlier than expected.
That was the new message. It was Janet Yellen who delivered the old.
Ms. Yellen, tapped to succeed Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve chief, told her confirmation hearing Thursday that the U.S. economy had made gains, but had further to go.
Most importantly, she gave no signal of an early pullback to the central bank's massive bond-buying stimulus program, known as quantitative easing, or QE, which buoyed investors.
"Increasingly, central bankers are throwing away their playbook," said Kit Juckes, the chief of foreign exchange at Société Générale.
"In the U.K. and U.S., unemployment rate triggers chosen to frame forward policy guidance are set to be revised because they will be reached before the central banks are ready to raise rates," he said in a research note titled "Living without rules (central bank anarchy)."
"Even at the ECB, there is acknowledgement that the link between economic activity and inflation has 'become more tenuous in recent years," he added in Friday's note.
"I was thinking about this as I listened to Mr Carney at the BOE inflation report press conference and as I watched Yellen's confirmation hearing for the Fed chair yesterday. When I read Jeremy Warner in the Telegraph this morning expressing concern about the way politicians have effectively handed over the reins of macroeconomic policy making to central bankers. I can't help thinking that we have put our faith in people who are 'winging it.'"
- Paul Waldie: Carney stands by forward guidance policy
- Kevin Carmichael: With Fed confirmation in mind, Yellen focuses on boosting employment
- Analysts warn of stock market bubble threat
Heinz to shut plant
H.J. Heinz Co. is shutting one of its Canadian plants, dealing a blow to the Ontario community of Leamington where ketchup has been produced for more than a century.
Some 740 jobs will be lost in Leamington in the cutbacks unveiled by the company's new owners, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and a Brazilian hedge fund, The Globe and Mail's Eric Atkins reports.
Two U.S. plants are also being shuttered, one in South Carolina, the other in Indiana.
"They've been here for 104 years," said Leamington Mayor John Paterson.
"And in those 104 years there have been so many families that made a good living from that firm," he added.
"And they have been super-excellent corporate citizens. So there I guess that's where it will hurt us the most - they will no longer be around in that aspect."
- Eric Atkins: Heinz to close ONtario factory, trim 740 jobs
- New Heinz CEO prompts McDonald's to switch ketchup supplier
- Berkshire on hunt for more Heinz-like deals: Buffett
The week in Business Briefing
- Canada's housing market 'teeters precariously,' Financial Times warns
- Air Canada shares fly as fortunes turn (No, you'll still pay for the extra bag)
- Five years after the economic meltdown, the world is still an ugly place
- Front and centre in Wall Street Journal: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
- Analysts warn of stock market bubble threat
The week in Streetwise (for subscribers)
- Boyd Erman: Catalyst launches bid for ailing Advantage Rent A Car
- Rachelle Younglai: While others retreat, Silver Wheaton hunts for deals
- Jacqueline Nelson: OSFI delays decision on insurers' capital requirements
- Tim Kiladze: Barrick deal closes, no 'cleanup trade' expected
- Jeffrey Jones: New U.S. refinery capacity to support heavy crude prices
The week in Economy Lab
- Flaherty's balanced-budget plans face a revenue squeeze
- Christopher Ragan: Who pays for higher corporate taxes? We all do
- Brian Lee Crowley: The slippery slow of 'sharing the benefits'
- Linda Nazareth: Canada's jobs recovery tilts toward the low earners
- Eric Reguly: Germany's export success failing to ripple over to its EU partners
The week in ROB Insight (for subscribers)
- Anna Nicolaou: ECB appears to wade into high frequency trading debate
- Carl Mortished: Stifling trader gossip won't prevent another Libor
- David Parkinson: Why Canada needs a national energy strategy for pipelines
- Brian Milner: Fed heats up assets but can't stoke labour market
- Citi finds fatal flaw in corporate bond funds and ETFs
Required reading
The global market for business jets is rebuilding and manufacturers are increasingly fighting for the high end of the market. Bertrand Marotte looks at the industry five years after the financial crisis.
Natural resource companies are growing increasingly skittish about Latin America, a region that until recently was one of the world's most powerful magnets for foreign investments. Marta Lillo reports from Santiago.
The U.S. oil boom will vault the country into first place among crude producers within two years, the International Energy Agency says, which will post a challenge for Canada's energy industry, Shawn McCarthy reports.
What's good consumers is causing indigestion for grocery retailers, Marina Strauss writes as she looks at the latest results from Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and Metro Inc.
Evidence is mounting that the smartphone industry has only been kind to two manufacturers, and especially cruel to one. Omar El Akkad and Sean Silcoff look at the fortunes of Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and BlackBerry Ltd.


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Yesterday we posted the 5th and 6th best scenes as voted for by you.
Today we reveal the scenes in 3rd and 4th place.
4th Place (4.16 - Nothing As It Seems)
3rd Place (4.13 - A Better Human Being)
Come back tomorrow where we will reveal the final 2 positions.
Previous Results
9th and 10th Places
7th and 8th Places
5th and 6th Places


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New and Used Vehicle Search Site Continues to Add More Dealers, More Cars, and More Choices for Car Shoppers
DAYTON, Ohio – October 4, 2010 – CarLocate.com (www.carlocate.com) marked the completion of its first year of helping consumers "shop smart" for their next new or used vehicle with a series of enhancements to the site.
Vehicle search results now display additional and more complete featured listings. The Car Research and vehicle detail pages have been enhanced to show similar vehicles, based on search criteria and available vehicles. To help you more quickly and thoroughly search for a vehicle, the maximum search distance has been expanded to nationwide for any make and model.
"CarLocate.com was built from the ground up to help you find the car that best fits with what you want to buy and how you want to buy," said Nicole Case, general manager, CarLocate.com. "These latest enhancements are aimed at helping improve your vehicle search results and putting more car choices at your fingertips so that you can search more quickly and efficiently for your next new or used car."
Over the past year, a steady process of product development, stemming from technology advances and customer feedback, resulted in a number of other enhancements to the site, including:
Case concluded, "Buying a car is a major purchase that often involves a lengthy shopping process to identify the cars you might want to buy and, then, a similarly lengthy process to find and purchase the vehicle that meets your criteria. With CarLocate.com, our goal is to make your car shopping experience as easy, efficient, and enjoyable as possible. That's why we'll continue to add more car dealerships with more cars for you to choose from, as well as adding more resources and communication options. We want to help you not only make the best possible car-buying decision, but also find your 'perfect match' in the dealership you want to buy from and the vehicle you want to buy."
About CarLocate.com
CarLocate.com (www.carlocate.com) combines the best in search technology with the best in site design to make the experience of locating and buying a car simpler, easier, and more effective. With CarLocate.com, anyone can quickly search new and used cars from thousands of dealerships, conveniently narrowing their search by a dozen criteria until they locate the car they want to buy. Consumers also can connect with CarLocate.com on Facebook (facebook.com/carlocate.com), Twitter (twitter.com/carlocate), or e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
CarLocate.com is a part of The Reynolds and Reynolds Company, which has served the business needs of automotive dealerships for more than 80 years. (www.reyrey.com)
Media Contact:
Loretta Good
Office: 937-485-1932
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The saga of DOL's new focus on PERM enforcement continues. As reported yesterday in the National Law Journal ("Labor Agency Audit of Firm Angers Immigration Lawyers"), after clearing away its pre-PERM backlog in the fall of last year, the Department of Labor found itself with time on its hands.
Apparently adopting the view that the idle mind of … Continue Reading


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At Gemvara, we believe that the jewelry you wear should be as unique as you. Every beautiful Gemvara platinum three stone ruby birthstone jewelry design will be made just for you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from a birthday or engagement to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your platinum three stone ruby birthstone jewelry with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. Worn by passionate women with a flair for the dramatic, ruby is the gem of courage and emotion. Its fiery brilliance attracts the eye and quickens the pulse. Gemvara hand-selects ruby with exceptional color to suit your design. Naturally white and exceptionally rare, platinum's 95% purity makes it hypoallergenic too. You'll feel the difference: platinum weighs 40% more than 18k gold. Our wide selection of platinum three stone ruby birthstone jewelry by Ruzanna Davtian, Jeet Palavwala, Carl Ansley, and other talented designers means you can find rings, earrings, and necklaces that are exactly your style. You can also shop by style, choosing our Featured, Symbol, or Featured PURE Collections. Three stone jewelry styles represent the brilliance of your past, present, and future. Wearing your bisrthstone brings you luck and adds a personalized touch to your style. When our work is done and you open that box, you'll see your design is even more beautiful when brought to life in the finest precious materials.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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Atholl Highlanders
Please remember the basic timing of the beat in compound march time that is: 1—2,3— as explained in the mp3 audio and video with attention particularly to the remainder of the upbeat 3— eighth note duration without dropping too soon onto the next beat as you go through the tune. There are two beats to the bar.
Clarity of execution is as important as ever. At first proceed slowly and correctly with repeated studied attention to any sections that appear to be strange or difficult.
Download The Music Notation.
Click to download the tune notation for Atholl Highlanders
Listen To Bill's Audio Instruction.
Watch Bill's Video Instruction.
Tune History
Please refer Wikipedia under the tune's title for information on the regiment.
Ross, William. (1823 - 1891)
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New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) Monsoon days mean excessive perspiration and with that comes body odour. Using anti-fungal shampoo and applying extra virgin coconut oil to your skin help in decreasing body odour, says an expert.
Navin Taneja, director of the capital based National Skin Centre, has dolled out some tips on keeping body odour at bay this monsoon season.
* If you have body odour, it may be due to fungal growth. Anti-fungal shampoo, applied to the armpits while showering can work wonders against this problem.
* Reduce the odour through diet if possible by avoiding processed food or try to mask it (baking soda and cinnamon powder both work well for some people). Don't stop vital bodily processes.
* Apply extra virgin coconut oil to your skin; the lauric acid in coconut oil kills bacteria, thus making you smell better.
* Use Chlorophyll gel tabs or Chlorophyll liquid from wild oats/ whole foods or health food store. It's an internal deodorizer that minimizes or eliminates body odour.
* Food with high sulfur content such as garlic and eggs are a definite culprit for those with body odour problems. Try to avoid it to smell god.
* If you suffer from foot odour, you should wear socks in your shoes (preferably cotton, which absorbs moisture and dries faster), and change them at least daily to keep your feet dry.


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Use the tools below to refine your search by only displaying reviews with a certain number of star ratings or to only show reviews from a certain time period. Eg click on '1 star' to just display the reviews we have which received a 1 star rating click or 'Within the last month' to display just reviews posted over the last month.
Written on: 17/09/2009
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Written on: 01/08/2011
Same here. I always get compliments on Knowing, but have worn it for so many years keep trying to find another fragrance, but never get compliments on other fragrances.
Written on: 14/10/2008
Has a wonderful lingering scent. I have had men stop and ask me the scent so they could purchase it for their wives. The fragrance is very "woman". I receive a compliment nearly every time I wear it… Read Full Review
Written on: 09/01/2008
Estee Lauder Knowing is a very classy, sophisticated smell… Read Full Review
Written on: 24/12/2007
My body chemistry makes most of the scents out there change and become too sweet or cloying. Not Estee Lauder Knowing perfume! It is my signature scent, and I have always received fabulous comments from men! My husband agrees this is MY scent, and he adores it. Best of all, I never have to worry I'm overpowering the elevator as it stays soft throughout the day. Highly recommended! Give it a try if you can find a sample or mini, especially if you have a difficult chemistry… Read Full Review
Written on: 25/11/2005 by reen (1 review written)
Estee Lauder Knowing is my mommy's favorite perfume, and it gets her lots of compliments!… Read Full Review
Written on: 12/10/2004 by NoreenOLoughlin (1 review written)
Estee Lauder Knowing - This is a beautiful perfume with a distinctive, original, fresh scent that truly lasts. It makes you feel feminine… Read Full Review
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The Lib Tech Seattle Leg kicks off next week! If you're in the zone go skate with Lib Tech skaters Sky Siljeg, Mikey Swearingen, Chad Fenlon, Jamie Jacobson, Zion O'Friel, Kyle Ward, Edwin Swagerty, Kevin Vanausdle from July 21-25 as they hit up Greenlake, Delridge, Jefferson, Ballard and Marginal Way Skateparks.
They're unveiling a new limited edition Seattle Leg 8.25″ decks made right there in Washington! Grab one at your local shop like Sno Con, 35th Ave, Rainier Boardshop and evo or get one online at their Lib Legs page.
Follow along with the tour on Instagram @libtechskate #liblegs
Loose schedule:
· July 21 – Greenlake Skatepark – 1PM
· July 22 – Delridge Skatepark – 1PM
· July 23 – Jefferson Skatepark – 1PM
· July 24 – Ballard Bowl – 1PM
· July 25 – Marginal Way – 1PM


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On the brink of seeing their playoff chances evaporate, the El Capitan Vaqueros stormed to a 33-0 lead Friday night and then held on to defeat Santana 40-28 in the Grossmont Valley League opener for both teams.
Dakota Furr scored four touchdowns (and had a fifth nullified by penalty) while rushing for 218 yards on 30 carries for the Vaqueros (2-4, 1-0).
"I can't say enough about my O-line, especially my lead blocker (Robert) Craighead," Furr said.
"There was a lot of room to run out there."
Tyler Mason added 188 yards and a touchdown for El Capitan.
Santana (4-2-1, 0-1) stung itself by committing six turnovers.
The Sultans made a belated comeback bid with 21 fourth-quarter points.
Landon Lozoya caught three touchdown passes for the Sultans, two from quarterback Kyle Gasner.
The first half was all El Capitan as the Vaqueros marched to a 20-0 lead. Furr, rushing for 112 yards and two TDs on 15 first-half carries, put the Vaqueros on the board with a 24-yard burst five minutes into the game.
An interception by Tyrone Wiggins set the El Capitan offense into motion again late in the opening period.
Once again Furr did the scoring honors — this time from 8 yards out.
Santana mustered just two first downs and 51 yards on 18 plays in the first half. The Sultans fumbled away their lone scoring chance of the half at the El Capitan 9-yard line.
There was some question whether Wiggins, who had been injured, would be able to go.
"When Wiggins got released (by medical staff) to play yesterday, it was a big uplift," Vaqueros coach Ron Burner said.