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Background: Physical and physiological profile data for elite netball players in South Africa and internationally are limited but are necessary for conditioning programme information. Objective: To determine the physical and physiological profiles of U18, U19, U21 and senior level elite netball players at provincial level in the Free State, South Africa. The information provided is by age group and playing position. The fitness of the players for South African and New Zealand netball is also given using the fitness normative data (norms). Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study consisted of 77 elite South African netball players. Anthropometric measurements were taken according to international standards. Fitness tests included the Star Execution Balance Test, standing broad jump, double- and single-leg vertical jump, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1(IR1) test, sprints over 5, 10 and 40 m, horizontal pull-ups and press-ups, the prone bridge test and anaerobic Octorepeater tests with 10 m and 20 m repeated shuttle sprints. In keeping with the descriptive nature of the study, descriptive statistics were calculated for numerical data by age group and playing position. Results: Players generally did not meet the accepted fitness standards in the following areas: press-ups (all age groups), horizontal pull-ups (senior and U21), standing broad jump (senior and U21), vertical squat jump (senior and U21), 5 m and 10 m sprints (senior and U21); anaerobic Octorepeater (senior players), and the aerobic Yo-Yo IR1 test (all age groups). Conclusion: Strength and conditioning coaches should develop training programmes to address fitness areas where players do not meet the international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of these studies was to investigate the efficacy of an intravaginal triptorelin acetate (TA) gel as an ovulation-inducing agent in mares. In Exp. 1, 24 mares were blocked using a combination of parity and age and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: 5 mL TA gel (TA5), 10 mL TA gel (TA10), or 5 mL vehicle gel only (CON). Following the appearance of a follicle ≥ 25 mm, a blood sample was obtained for measurement of LH from each mare every 24 h until treatment administration. When a follicle ≥ 35 mm was observed, treatments were administered intravaginally. Following treatment, blood samples were collected for measurement of LH and ovaries were scanned via ultrasonography every 12 h until 48 h post-ovulation. Mares in both TA5 and TA10 tended (P = 0.08) to experience a brief surge in LH by 12 h post-treatment. There was a treatment by time interaction (P < 0.005). The interval from treatment to ovulation was not different between groups (P > 0.05). We hypothesized that duration of elevated LH was not sufficient to induce ovulation in most mares. In Exp. 2, 23 mares were blocked by parity/age and randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups: the CON (n = 7) and TA5 (n = 8) treatment groups remained the same, but the TA10 treatment was split into two 5-mL doses administered 24 h apart (TA5×2; n = 8). Blood collection and ultrasonography occurred every 12 h on detection of a follicle ≥ 25 mm in diameter. Once a follicle ≥ 35 mm was detected, treatment was administered and ultrasonography and blood collection for measurement of LH occurred every 6 h until 48 h post-ovulation to get a more robust characterization of the effect of TA on LH and a more accurate timeframe in which ovulation was occurring. Mares in both TA5 and TA5×2 had an increase (P < 0.05) in LH by 6 h post-treatment, which was declining by 12 h post-treatment. Following the second dose in TA5×2, another rise in LH occurred, but to a lesser magnitude (P > 0.05) compared with the initial dose. Again there was a treatment by time interaction (P < 0.005) and in Exp. 2 the interval from treatment to ovulation was shorter in TA5 (61.5 ± 8.8 h) and TA5×2 (61.5 ± 9.6 h) compared with CON (123.1 ± 21.7 h; P < 0.01). In Exp. 2, administration of TA gel increased LH concentrations and hastened the interval from treatment to ovulation in mares, without an advantage in the timing of ovulation noted between the 5 or 10-mL doses, or administration of two 5-mL doses given 24 h apart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian states have introduced an outright ban on commercial artificial tanning sunbeds. This was based on evidence from systematic reviews affirming a strong association between tanning bed use and increased risk of melanoma. The implementation of the ban provides an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the legislation in preventing access to artificial UV radiation. Compliance with the ban has been enforced and monitored by government departments. We additionally monitored online tanning bed advertisements before and after the ban, showing a decline over time in the number of sunbeds advertised for sale on and , from a peak of 115 advertisements in May 2014 to 50 or fewer per month from February 2015. There was also an increase in advertised price, with the percentage of sunbeds offered in Victoria on gumtree.com.au at higher than $2 000 increasing from around 25% between January and June 2014 to 65% in the quarter following the introduction of the ban. Advertisements on gumtree.com.au from individuals wishing to access a sunbed in a private home in Victoria increased from only isolated instances in the months immediately prior to the ban, to between 25 and 77 advertisements per month in the quarter following the ban. In summary, the introduction of an outright ban of commercial sunbeds has achieved a dramatic reduction in the availability of harmful artificial UV radiation sources in Australia. Long-term benefits to the health of the population and a reduction in costs to the health system are expected to result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the conventional Fe-C phase diagram predicts negligible solubility of carbon in α-Fe at room temperature, there are many examples where substantial carbon supersaturations have been reported. Non-equilibrium processing routes, such as physical vapour deposition (PVD), appear to be particularly well suited to generating very high levels of supersaturation. Few descriptions of the stability and microstructure of the supersaturated state exist, however. In this study, experiments have been performed using two PVD techniques allowing for the production of nanocrystalline films containing between 11 and 16 at% C. Transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy reveal no phase other than a nearly body-centred cubic iron in the as-deposited films. This result is discussed with respect to the kinetics of carbon rearrangement and the possibility of the stabilization of the supersaturated state via defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important risk factor in the development of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Cumulative lifetime UV radiation exposure has been shown to be most important in the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma, whereas intermittent high-dose UV radiation exposure in childhood and adolescence may be more important in the aetiology of basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous malignant melanoma. Using established methodology and best available estimates on UV-related mortality and morbidity, it has been estimated that annually around 1·5 million disability-adjusted life years are lost through excessive exposure to UV radiation. Skin cancer is a significant health problem and its burden is such that it causes the health system more to treat than any other forms of cancer. Prevention is the key action in managing skin cancer at a population level. Investment in prevention programmes such as SunSmart encourages protective behaviours that will reduce the human and financial costs of skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the spatial distribution of crystallographic orientations on roping amplitude and wavelength in ferritic stainless steel has been evaluated. The through-thickness mechanical behaviour of a sheet deformed in tension has been tested experimentally and simulated using a full-field viscoplastic fast Fourier transform formulation. These crystal plasticity simulations use orientation imaging microscopy data as input, allowing for large-scale simulation domains to be investigated while accounting for the clustering of orientations with similar deformation behaviour. The simulations predict both the local deformation response as well as the macroscopic surface roughness. The latter is compared quantitatively with experimental measurements and is shown to predict both the wavelength and amplitude of the observed roping. The results of these simulations have also been compared with previously proposed mean-field crystal plasticity simulations of roping, performed using the viscoplastic selfconsistent code, in which each crystal orientation is, at most, influenced by the behaviour of a homogenized matrix, but not by its local neighbourhood. Comparison between these two kinds of approaches thus allows us to assess the significance of the local neighbourhood on the macroscopic prediction of roping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MRI may provide treatment outcome measures in neuromuscular conditions. The authors assessed MRI magnetisation transfer ratios (MTRs) in lower-limb musculature as markers of pathology in peripheral neuropathies and compared the findings with associated clinical data. Ten patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) and nine patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) were compared with 10 healthy subjects. The MTR in the calf muscles was significantly lower than controls in the two patient groups (both p<0.001). The median MTRs (IQR) were 50.5(1.6) percentage units (p.u.) (control), 41.5(10.6) p.u. (CMT1A) and 39.3(8.7) p.u. (CIDP). Moreover, anterior lower leg MTR correlated strongly with strength of ankle dorsiflexion, measured with the Medical Research Council scale, in CIDP (ρ=0.88, p<0.001) and also in CMT1A (ρ=0.50, p<0.05), where MTR also showed an association with disease duration (ρ=–0.86, p<0.001). Short tau inversion recovery MRI of the same muscles showed abnormalities associated with regions of reduced MTR (p<0.001), and MTR was also reduced in other muscles otherwise deemed normal appearing (p<0.001), indicating that MTR may be more sensitive to muscle damaged by denervation than conventional MRI. The significant reductions in muscle MTR in peripheral neuropathies and the associated correlations with clinical measures indicate that MTR has potential as an imaging outcome measure in future therapeutic trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of the cross sectional area of the sciatic nerve are described in a group of 10 patients with genetically confirmed CharcoteMarieeTooth disease type 1A (CMT1A), nine patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and 10 healthy controls using MRI. One mid-thigh of each individual was imaged using a short tau inversion recovery sequence and the nerve appearance evaluated radiologically with respect to the signal intensity and visibility of the internal neural structure. The cross sectional area of the sciatic nerve of each individual was measured by defining irregular enclosing regions of interest on the MRI images. The sciatic nerve area was enlarged in both CMT1A (p<0.001) and CIDP (p&equals;0.008) compared with controls and in CMT1A compared with CIDP (p<0.001). Median (interquartile range) areas were 67.6 (16.2) mm2 for the CIDP group, 135.9 (46.5) mm2 for the CMT1A group and 43.3 (19.9) mm2 for the control group. The critical upper value for discriminating pathologically enlarged nerves from normal controls with p<0.05 was 64.4 mm2. Quantification of sciatic nerve hypertrophy on MRI may be of assistance in cases where the diagnosis is still in doubt, providing an objective pathological marker complimenting other clinical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ transmission electron microscopy–electron energy loss spectroscopy heating experiments were carried out to study the composition, structure and thermal stability of physical-vapour-deposited amorphous-Fe1−x-Cx films. Compositionally graded interstitial-free steel sheets were then produced by diffusion annealing specimens coated with thin layers of amorphous-Fe0.4C0.6. After annealing at 425°C, tensile samples exhibited a+86MPa increase in yield strength and+41MPa in ultimate tensile strength with no significant reduction in elongation compared to the unannealed condition. Furthermore, specimens annealed at 425°C did not show any yield point elongation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Australia has one of the highest skin cancer incidence and mortality rates in the world. The reason for these high rates is due in part to the high ambient UV radiation levels, combined with a predominantly susceptible fair-skinned population. To address this problem, since 1980 Australians have been exposed to social marketing campaigns to raise awareness of skin cancer prevention. These campaigns have used mass media alongside interventions in schools, workplaces, and in community and leisure settings to motivate sun protective behaviour. As a result of these interventions it can be demonstrated that social marketing campaigns can be a very effective method to not only motivate behaviour change, reduce sunburn, and increase awareness but more importantly, reduce melanoma rates and bring positive economic returns to government. However long term investment in this area is required otherwise any population gains in behaviour are very likely to be quickly eroded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give a closed form for the correlation functions of ensembles of a class of asymmetric real matrices in terms of the Pfaffian of an antisymmetric matrix formed from a 2 × 2 matrix kernel associated to the ensemble. We apply this result to the real Ginibre ensemble and compute the bulk and edge scaling limits of its correlation functions as the size of the matrices becomes large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical response of two-phase materials during plastic co-deformation is examined with a particular emphasis on the role of the internal stresses developed during deformation. A framework is developed to describe the accumulation of these internal stresses during plastic co-deformation in terms of a small number of physical parameters. This simplified framework is used to rationalize the observed behaviour of copper-chromium and copper-niobium two-phase materials in terms of their monotonic strain hardening rates, the response to changes in path (tension/compression) and their dimensional stability on heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments have been conducted on a model Cu–Cr alloy to investigate the role of fine-scale embedded phases in co-deformation. The results of this work show that, when sufficiently fine, plasticity in embedded phases is accompanied by very large internal stresses. This has been attributed to the difficulty of maintaining compatibility between the phases. A simple model is proposed that is able to capture the essential features of the strengthening in this material under uniaxial tension at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe an array of microscopic atom traps formed by a pattern of magnetisation on a piece of videotape. We describe the way in which cold atoms are loaded into one of these micro-traps and how the trapped atom cloud is used to explore the properties of the trap. Evaporative cooling in the micro-trap down to a temperature of $1~\mu$K allows us to probe the smoothness of the trapping potential and reveals some inhomogeneity produced by the magnetic film. We discuss future prospects for atom chips based on microscopic permanent-magnet structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C. Sinclair, M. Mirakhur, J. Kirk, M. Farrell and S. McQuaid (2004)Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology30,000–000Up-regulation of osteopontin andαΒ-crystallin in the normal-appearing white matter of multiple sclerosis: an immunohistochemical study utilizing tissue microarraysTissue microarrays assembled from control and multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissue have been used to assess the expression patterns and cellular distribution of two antigens, the proinflammatory cytokine osteopontin and the inducible heat shock proteinαΒ-crystallin, which have previously been implicated in MS pathogenesis. Tissue cores were taken from paraffin-embedded donor blocks containing chronic active or chronic inactive plaques and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in seven MS cases, and white matter (WM) in five control cases. Expression patterns of both proteins were assessed against myelin density and microglial activation in the different tissue categories. Both proteins showed increased expression in all categories of MS tissue compared with control WM. The results indicate progressive up-regulation of expression of osteopontin with increased plaque activity, while elevation ofαΒ-crystallin expression in MS tissue was independent of demyelination. In MS NAWM a significant correlation was observed between high levels of expression of osteopontin andαΒ-crystallin. Osteopontin expression was predominantly confined to astrocytes throughout MS tissues.αΒ-crystallin was expressed on astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and occasionally on demyelinated axons. Taken together, these data indicate a wider distribution of osteopontin andαΒ-crystallin in MS tissues than previously described and support their proposed role in MS pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endolithic fungi bore through the extracellular calcium carbonate skeleton of reef-building scleractinian corals, both healthy and dead, and effect net erosion of coral reefs. Potential fungal interactions with coral tissue were investigated using an in vitro approach suggested by earlier observations of skeletal repair cones at the site of fungal perforation in Porites sp. A fungal strain was isolated from the skeleton of a long-term culture of healthy, tissue-covered, Pocillopora damicornis Linnaeus colonies maintained in a recirculating system in Monaco. As coral soft tissue spontaneously dissociated in vitro, the skeleton became exposed and hyaline hyphae emerged radially from 15% of the total clipped branches. In this study, which was performed between January 2001 and March 2003, 35 skeleton–hypha explants were embedded in agar-based solid medium, yielding 60% hyphal growth. A fungal strain (F19-3-1) of the dominant (80%) morphology was isolated and propagated in agar-based solid medium. The strain was identified by 18S and 26S rDNA gene sequence analysis as a basidiomycete in the genus Cryptococcus. Co-cultures were used to provide experimental exposure of coral soft tissue to the fungus. The fungus extended the survival of coral cells by 2 days, selectively maintaining skeletogenic cell types. This effect may be interpreted as stimulation by the fungus of a short-term coral defense response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pattern of co-deformation of micrometre sized W particles in a spherodised Ni - W alloy has been studied in a series of plane strain deformed specimens. The microstructural changes were characterised by optical microscopy, SEM and TEM. A pronounced heterogeneity was found in the strains sustained by the particles, with some particles remaining equiaxed at high imposed strains while others sustained strains equal to the imposed strain. Two factors were shown to be important in this behaviour: the spacing of the slip bands in the matrix relative to the spacing and the size of the particles, and the heterogeneous distribution of W particles in the starting microstructure. The results of plane strain deformation have been compared with those reported for wire drawing of two phase structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Adenosine, through activation of membrane-bound receptors, has been reported to have neuroprotective properties during strokes or seizures. The role of astrocytes in regulating brain interstitial adenosine levels has not been clearly defined. We have determined the nucleoside transporters present in rat C6 glioma cells. RT-PCR analysis, 3H-nucleoside uptake experiments, and [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine ([3H]NBMPR) binding assays indicated that the primary functional nucleoside transporter in C6 cells was rENT2, an equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) that is relatively insensitive to inhibition by NBMPR. [3H]Formycin B, a poorly metabolized nucleoside analogue, was used to investigate nucleoside release processes, and rENT2 transporters mediated [3H]formycin B release from these cells. Adenosine release was investigated by first loading cells with [3H]adenine to label adenine nucleotide pools. Tritium release was initiated by inhibiting glycolytic and oxidative ATP generation and thus depleting ATP levels. Our results indicate that during ATP-depleting conditions, AMP catabolism progressed via the reactions AMP → IMP → inosine → hypoxanthine, which accounted for >90% of the evoked tritium release. It was surprising that adenosine was not released during ATP-depleting conditions unless AMP deaminase and adenosine deaminase were inhibited. Inosine release was enhanced by inhibition of purine nucleoside phosphorylase; ENT2 transporters mediated the release of adenosine or inosine. However, inhibition of AMP deaminase/adenosine deaminase or purine nucleoside phosphorylase during ATP depletion produced release of adenosine or inosine, respectively, via the rENT2 transporter. This indicates that C6 glioma cells possess primarily rENT2 nucleoside transporters that function in adenosine uptake but that intracellular metabolism prevents the release of adenosine from these cells even during ATP-depleting conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. This study has examined the ability of dichloropropanols, haloalcohols and their putative metabolites to deplete glutathione when incubated with liver fractions obtained from untreated and differentially induced rats. 2. 1,3-Dichloropropan-2-ol and 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol (0-1000 muM) both depleted glutathione in a dose-dependent manner when incubated with cofactors (NADPH generating system) and liver microsomes from the untreated rat. 3. The extent of GSH depletion was significantly enhanced when liver microsomes from the isoniazid- or isosafrole-treated rat were used. 4. Epichlorohydrin produced a moderate, dose-dependent depletion of GSH. By contrast, 1,3-dichloroacetone (identified by TLC as a metabolite of 1,3-dichloropropanol) was a potent depletor of glutathione. 5. N-acetylcysteine was less efficient than glutathione as a nucleophile trap for epichlorohydrin, 1,3-dichloroacetone or reactive metabolites derived from 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol. 6. 1,3-Dibromopropan-2-oland 1,4-dibromobutan-2-ol were potent depletors of GSH but 1-bromopropan-2-ol produced less GSH depletion. Both dibromoalcohols depleted GSH when incubated with dialysed cytosol derived from the livers of untreated rats. 7. The GSH depletion mediated by 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol, 1,3-dibromopropan-2- ol, 1,4-dibromobutan-2-ol and 1-bromopropan-2-ol was inhibited by inclusion of pyridine (1 mM) or cofactor omission. 1,3-Difluoropropanol did not deplete GSH under any of the conditions examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study regarding the association of filaggrin mutations with ichthyosis vulgaris (IV) in Bangladeshi families. A cohort of 80 Bangladeshi families with atopic eczema (AE) from East London, England was collected. Filaggrin (filament aggregating protein, FLG) in AE was examined, and results showed loss-of-functions mutations in FLG which is associated with IV in the population of Bangladeshi.

The article presents a study on novel and recurring ABCA12 mutations associated with harlequin ichthyosis, an implication for prenatal diagnosis. The study revealed evidence for ethnic-specific founder mutations in the ABCA12 gene. It also shows that ABCA12 transporter gene is large and encoded by 53 exons wherein it allows a two-tiered screening process for recurring ethnic-specific mutations before resorting to screening the whole coding sequence by sequencing and copy number analysis.

Summary: Background: Exposure to artificial tanning devices is carcinogenic to humans, and government regulations to restrict or ban indoor tanning appear to be increasing. Objectives: We evaluated changes in the international prevalence of indoor tanning among adolescents and adults after artificial tanning devices were classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2009. Methods: Systematic searches in PubMed and Web of Science databases were undertaken. Overall, 43 studies reporting 'ever' or 'past‐year' indoor tanning exposure after 2009 were identified. We used metaregression analysis to evaluate the prevalence of indoor tanning over time. Random effects meta‐analysis was used to summarize the prevalence of indoor tanning in adolescents and adults according to sex, region and presence of age prohibitions. Results: Global prevalence of indoor tanning in adolescents for 2013–2018 was 6·5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3·3–10·6], 70% lower than the 22·0% (95% CI 17·2–26·8) prevalence for 2007–2012. Among adults, the prevalence was 10·4% (95% CI 5·7–16·3) for 2013–2018, a decrease of 35% from 18·2% for 2007–2012. Since 2009, the overall past‐year prevalence among adolescents was 6·7% (95% CI 4·4–9·6) and 12·5% (95% CI 9·5–15·6) among adults. The prevalence of tanning indoors in the past year was similar in North America (adults, 12·5%; adolescents, 7·6%) and Europe (adults, 11·1%; adolescents, 5·1%). In 2009, three countries had regulations restricting indoor tanning, compared with 26 countries today. Conclusions: Prevalence of indoor tanning has declined substantially and significantly in adolescents and adults since the 2009 IARC statement, reflecting the rise in regulations that limit this source of unnecessary exposure to carcinogenic ultraviolet radiation. What is already known about this topic? Indoor tanning is associated with an increased risk of melanoma.A meta‐analysis of worldwide indoor tanning prevalence for 1986–2012 found a past‐year prevalence of 18% in adolescents and 14% in adults, with higher prevalences during the period 2007–2012.Policies to regulate indoor tanning began to be implemented across the globe in 2009.Only one study carried out in the U.S.A. has evaluated the efficacy of such policies in reducing indoor tanning prevalence. What does this study add? For the period 2013–2018, we found indoor tanning prevalences of 6·7% in adolescents and 11·9% in adults.This implies a reduction in indoor tanning use of 70% in adolescents and 35% in adults during the last 10 years.Our study encourages policy makers to strengthen indoor tanning regulations that reduce sunbed use among the general population in order to produce maximum public health benefit. Linked Comment:Wehner. Br J Dermatol 2020; 182:824. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers how planetesimal impacts affect planetary atmospheres. Atmosphere evolution depends on the ratio of gain from volatiles to loss from atmosphere stripping f v; for constant bombardment, atmospheres with f v < 1 are destroyed in finite time, but grow linearly with time for f v > 1. An impact outcome prescription is used to characterize how f v depends on planetesimal impact velocities, size distribution, and composition. Planets that are low mass and/or close to the star have atmospheres that deplete in impacts, while high-mass and/or distant planets grow secondary atmospheres. Dividing these outcomes is an f v = 1 impact shoreline analogous to Zahnle and Catling's cosmic shoreline. The impact shoreline's location depends on assumed impacting planetesimal properties, so conclusions for the atmospheric evolution of a planet like the Earth with f v ≈ 1 are only as strong as those assumptions. Application to the exoplanet population shows that the gap in the planet radius distribution at ∼1.5 R⊕ is coincident with the impact shoreline, which has a similar dependence on orbital period and stellar mass to the observed gap. Given sufficient bombardment, planets below the gap would be expected to lose their atmospheres, while those above could have atmospheres enhanced in volatiles. The level of atmosphere alteration depends on the total bombardment a planet experiences, and so on the system's (usually unknown) other planets and planetesimals, though massive distant planets would have low accretion efficiency. Habitable zone planets around lower luminosity stars are more susceptible to atmosphere stripping, disfavouring M stars as hosts of life-bearing planets if Earth-like bombardment is conducive to the development of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article related to the surrogate decision making in patients.

The article presents a survey on the knowledge of and application of skin care measures by hairdressers in Dundee, Scotland. Of the 63 participants, 61 percent had features of atopy while another 58 percent were found to be suffering from symptoms of eczema. Only 94 percent were aware that moisturizers should be used liberally. Sixty-six percent of hairdressers who wear latex gloves in perming. However, ten percent of latex glove users were allergic to it. The investigators affirmed that 15 percent of the respondents have no knowledge about hand care.

A theoretical approximation to the upper tail area of the Anderson-Darling test statistic is derived by applying a result of Zolotarev (1961) to the characteristic function. This approximation is particularly good in the upper tail. An empirical distribution is given that is accurate over the complete domain of the distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hillert's mean-field elastic prediction of the diffusivity of carbon in ferrite is regularly used to explain the experimental observation of slow diffusion of carbon in supersaturated ferrite. With increasing carbon supersaturation, the appropriateness of assuming that many-body carbon interactions can be ignored needs to be re-examined. In this work, we have sought to evaluate the limits of such mean-field predictions for activation barrier prediction by comparing such models with molecular dynamics simulations. The results of this analysis show that even at extremely high levels of supersaturation (up to 8 at% C), mean-field elasticity models can be used with confidence when the effects of carbon concentration on the energy of carbon at octahedral and tetrahedral sites are considered. The reasons for this finding and its consequences are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetic interplay between helium (He) segregation, He cluster formation and curvature-driven grain boundary migration in bcc iron (-Fe) has been investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. He atoms that segregate to the migrating boundary are found to be trapped in vacant substitutional sites emitted by the migrating boundary. He atoms that form clusters in the bulk restrain the boundary migration via a pinning mechanism. The pinning pressure of He clusters is proportional to the density and the squared radius of each cluster. A cluster pinning model has been developed by taking into account the two-fold effect of clusters on the boundary migration: (1) reducing the boundary mobility and (2) acting as pinning objects that delay or even completely halt the boundary migration. The model is found to be in agreement with the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using a novel in-situ laser ultrasonic technique, the evolution of longitudinal velocity was used to measure the α − β transformation during cyclic heating and cooling in commercially pure titanium. In order to quantify the transformation kinetics, it is shown that changes in texture can not be ignored. This is particularly important in the case of titanium where significant grain growth occurs in the β-phase leading to the ultrasonic wave sampling a decreasing number of grains on each thermal treatment cycle. Electron backscatter diffraction measurements made postmortem in the region where the ultrasonic pulse traveled were used to obtain an estimate of such local texture and grain size changes. An analysis technique for including the anisotropy of wave velocity depending on local texture is presented and shown to give self consistent results for the transformation kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Static strain aging, a phenomenon caused by diffusion of solute atoms to dislocations, is an important contributor to the strength of substitutional alloys. Accurate modeling of this complex process requires both atomic spatial resolution and diffusional time scales, which is very challenging to achieve with commonly used atomistic computational methods. In this paper, we use the recently developed "diffusive molecular dynamics" (DMD) method that is capable of describing the kinetics of the solute segregation process at the atomic level while operating on diffusive time scales in a computationally efficient way. We study static strain aging in the Al-Mg system and calculate the depinning shear stress between edge and screw dislocations and their solute atmospheres formed for various waiting times with different solute content and for a range of temperatures. A simple phenomenological model is also proposed that describes the observed behavior of the critical shear stress as a function of segregation level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resolving atomic-scale defect topologies and energetics with accurate atomistic interaction models provides access to the nonlinear phenomena inherent at atomic length and time scales. Coarse graining the dynamics of such simulations to look at the migration of, e.g., solute atoms, while retaining the rich atomic-scale detail required to properly describe defects, is a particular challenge. In this paper, we present an adaptation of the recently developed "diffusive molecular dynamics" model to describe the energetics and kinetics of binary alloys on diffusive time scales. The potential of the technique is illustrated by applying it to the classic problems of solute segregation to a planar boundary (stacking fault) and edge dislocation in the Al-Mg system. Our approach provides fully dynamical solutions in situations with an evolving energy landscape in a computationally efficient way, where atomistic kinetic Monte Carlo simulations are difficult or impractical to perform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate Doppler-free saturated absorption spectroscopy of cold molecular radicals formed by laser ablation inside a cryogenic buffer gas cell. By lowering the temperature, congested regions of the spectrum can be simplified, and by using different temperatures for different regions of the spectrum a wide range of rotational states can be studied optimally. We use the technique to study the optical spectrum of YbF radicals with a resolution of 30 MHz, measuring the magnetic hyperfine parameters of the electronic ground state. The method is suitable for high-resolution spectroscopy of a great variety of molecules at controlled temperature and pressure, and is particularly well suited to those that are difficult to produce in the gas phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined the patterns of variation in stress resistance traits of Drosophila. Review of previous related literature; Materials and method used; Results and discussion.

The quantity of blood products used perioperatively during cardiac surgery is known to vary widely between institutions. This study looked at the amount of blood products used perioperatively in 74 consecutive elective cardiac operations in one institution. The results are compared with those from other European centres and a cost analysis carried out. On average 2.33 0.74 (95% confidence interval 1.93-2.77) units of red cell concentrate were transfused perioperatively per patient. Six (8%) patients received no blood products. In addition a number of preoperative factors were studied in an attempt to identify predictors of transfusion requirements. Age, preoperative haemoglobin, female sex and red cell mass were all found to have some predictive value. In the face of increasing demands on a limited supply of blood products we question the need for crossmatching more than four units of red cell concentrate in elective cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Montreal Protocol has limited increases in the UV-B (280–315 nm) radiation reaching the Earth's surface as a result of depletion of stratospheric ozone. Nevertheless, the incidence of skin cancers continues to increase in most light-skinned populations, probably due mainly to risky sun exposure behaviour. In locations with strong sun protection programs of long duration, incidence is now reducing in younger age groups. Changes in the epidemiology of UV-induced eye diseases are less clear, due to a lack of data. Exposure to UV radiation plays a role in the development of cataracts, pterygium and possibly age-related macular degeneration; these are major causes of visual impairment world-wide. Photodermatoses and phototoxic reactions to drugs are not uncommon; management of the latter includes recognition of the risks by the prescribing physician. Exposure to UV radiation has benefits for health through the production of vitamin D in the skin and modulation of immune function. The latter has benefits for skin diseases such as psoriasis and possibly for systemic autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The health risks of sun exposure can be mitigated through appropriate sun protection, such as clothing with both good UV-blocking characteristics and adequate skin coverage, sunglasses, shade, and sunscreen. New sunscreen preparations provide protection against a broader spectrum of solar radiation, but it is not clear that this has benefits for health. Gaps in knowledge make it difficult to derive evidence-based sun protection advice that balances the risks and benefits of sun exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenton's reagent was used to isolate microplastics from organic-rich wastewater. The catalytic reaction did not affect microplastic chemistry or size, enabling its use as a pre-treatment method for focal plane array-based micro-FT-IR imaging. Compared with previously described microplastic treatment methods, Fenton's reagent offers a considerable reduction in sample preparation times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct nucleation and growth of ferrite and cementite has been investigated in an Fe–C metallic glass using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography. The nucleation and growth proceeds via primary crystallization of ferrite, without the formation of austenite. There is no carbon gradient at ferrite/amorphous interfaces, indicating that the transformation rate is controlled by the low mobility of these interfaces compared to the mobility of C atoms. A thermodynamic description is proposed to explain the delayed nucleation of cementite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]