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The coexistence of prolate and oblate shapes in the light krypton isotopes was investigated by Coulomb excitation of radioactive 74Kr and 76Kr beams at sub-barrier energies from the SPIRAL facility at GANIL. States up to the 8+in the ground-state band and several non-yrast states were populated in both cases via multi-step Coulomb excitation. A large set of both transitional and diagonal matrix elements was extracted from the measured differential Coulomb excitation cross sections. A complementary lifetime measurement using the recoil-distance Doppler shift method gave important constraints for the determination of the matrix elements. The signs of the quadrupole moments of the yrast and excited bands represent direct evidence for the coexistence of prolate and oblate shapes in both isotopes under study. The results are compared to recent configuration mixing calculations based on the generator coordinate method and Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogolyiubov mean-field states.

Abstract.: The coexistence of prolate and oblate shapes in the light krypton isotopes was investigated by Coulomb excitation of radioactive 74Kr and 76Kr beams at sub-barrier energies from the SPIRAL facility at GANIL. States up to the 8+ in the ground-state band and several non-yrast states were populated in both cases via multi-step Coulomb excitation. A large set of both transitional and diagonal matrix elements was extracted from the measured differential Coulomb excitation cross sections. A complementary lifetime measurement using the recoil-distance Doppler shift method gave important constraints for the determination of the matrix elements. The signs of the quadrupole moments of the yrast and excited bands represent direct evidence for the coexistence of prolate and oblate shapes in both isotopes under study. The results are compared to recent configuration mixing calculations based on the generator coordinate method and Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogolyiubov mean-field states.

High-spin states in the doubly odd N = 77 nucleus ¹³²Cs have been studied. Gamma-ray linear polarization and angular correlation measurements have been performed to determine the spin and parity of the states. A rotational sequence of enhanced dipole transitions was established. This band can be described within the framework of the the tilted axis cranking (TAC) model as a band based on a weakly deformed structure in which the total angular momentum vector does not coincide with any of the principal axes of the triaxial nucleus but still is in the plane defined by the short and long axes. The theoretical description of the previously proposed chiral bands in ¹³²Cs was extended in the framework of the core–particle coupling model (CPCM) confirming that the total angular momentum for the πh_11/2 ⊗ νh_11/2 configuration is well outside any planes defined by the principal axes of the nucleus and revealing the important role of the residual proton–neutron interaction between the valence particles.

AbstractRare pebbles of granite have been discovered in the raised Patellabeach at Butterslade, Gower, South Wales. Their petrography, trace element geochemistry and the Rb/Sr whole rock age of 55 ? 5 Ma confirm that they are derived from the Lundy granite which is about 49 km to the southwest of Gower. Amino acid analyses of fossil gastropods in the Patellabeach have provided an age of 210000 years. Various hypotheses of transportation of pebbles from Lundy and Pembrokeshire to Butterslade are considered. Erratics from Pembrokeshire were probably transported by Pleistocene ice into the area while clasts of Lundy granite were moved by progradation of beach deposits northeastwards towards Gower during glacio-eustatic marine transgressions in the Pleistocene.

The authors describe the principles and functioning of a 7-week course of interdisciplinary treatment for small groups of patients with cognitive and behavioural difficulties resulting from brain damage. The programme is intended for patients with less severe physical disability. It outlines a programme of individual, practically oriented workshops and of more theoretical group sessions working on cognitive and communications handicaps. The work is based on conceptual explanations, coping strategies and training techniques. The neurological and neuropsychogical consequences of four subjects accepted on such a programme are presented, as well as some of the principles of treatment used for these patients. The efficacy of such programmes is discussed, given the classical post-traumatic picture of brain-injured patients. The programme consists of 1 week of evaluation and 6 weeks of therapeutic sessions.

The present investigation examined the influence of dietary carbohydrate (CHO) on the performance of supramaximal intermittent exercise. A group of 14 moderately trained male students [mean age 21.0 (SD 1.6) years] completed a maximal oxygen consumption test and two identical ‘maximal interval tests’ (MIT, and MIT2) over a 10-day experimental period. Each MIT involved five 60-s all-out periods of cycling (against 0.736 N · kg-1 body mass), with each period separated by 5 min of passive recovery. All subjects consumed a moderate CHO diet for 3 days preceding MIT1 (55.3% of energy intake as CHO) and were then randomly assigned to either a high CHO (83%), moderate CHO (58%) or low CHO (12%) diet for the 3 days separating MIT1 and MIT2. All food and drink consumed during the experimental period was weighed and recorded for later dietary analysis. Measurements of work done, exercise oxygen consumption ( $$\dot V$$ O2), venous blood pH, plasma lactate and plasma glucose concentrations were compared between interval tests. Independent Student's t-tests revealed that the 5.6% increase in total work done recorded by the high CHO group and the 2.3% increase by the moderate CHO group between MIT1 and MIT2, were significantly different to the 5.4% decrease in performance recorded for the low CHO group (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). No significant differences in performance changes was found between the high and moderate CHO groups; 10 subjects in each of these groups would have been necessary to attain significance at the 0.05 level using the same procedures. No changes in $$\dot V$$ O2, venous blood pH, plasma lactate or glucose concentrations were found among the groups. These data showed that when compared to a low CHO diet, a moderate/high intake of dietary CHO could at least maintain the performance of supramaximal intermittent exercise. The results emphasise the importance of dietary CHO for athletes whose activities involve repeated periods of very high intensity exercise.

Research is described, aimed to support traceability in the design of software for safety-critical applications, through the provision of an on-line design journal enabling design decisions and actions to be traced and recorded. The design environment, within which various software design tools may be encapsulated, enables protocol between the user and the design tools to be trapped. This provides software engineering support at the conceptual design stage. An important aim of the research is to enable inferences to be made from the captured protocol, for which the application of artificial intelligence methods is being investigated.

The present study examined whether a pre-exercise consumption of glucose by subjects having adhered to a 3-day low carbohydrate (CHO) or normal CHO diet would influence supramaximal intermittent exercise performance. Sixteen moderately active men volunteers (mean(s.d.) age 20.0(1.3) years) agreed to undertake three exercise tests over an 8-day period; in addition to completing a VO2max test, the subjects performed two identical maximal interval tests (MIT1 and MIT2). Periods of 3 days separated each of the three tests. The interval tests involved five 60-s 'all-out' cycling bouts working against a resistance of 0.075 kg kg-1 body mass; each bout was separated by 5 min of passive recovery. For 3 days preceding the first interval test (MIT1), all subjects adhered to a 'moderate' CHO diet which comprised 59.1% (approximately 4.1 g kg-1 body mass) of the daily energy intake as CHO. Following MIT1 and for 3 days before MIT2 subjects were randomly assigned to follow either a moderate CHO diet (60.8%) or a low CHO diet (14.4% or 1.1 g kg-1 body mass). All food and drink consumed during the experimental period was weighed and recorded for later dietary analysis. One hour before MIT2, eight subjects were administered (in single blind fashion) a 15% glucose solution (1 g kg-1 body mass) while the other eight subjects consumed a low-energy sweetened placebo. During both interval tests, values of work, exercise VO2, plasma glucose, plasma lactate and venous blood pH were statistically analysed. No changes in performance between MIT1 and MIT2 across conditions were found (P > 0.05). However, those subjects who consumed the glucose solution before MIT2 (irrespective of their dietary CHO intake) consumed significantly less oxygen during exercise than those who had been given the placebo solution (P<0.05). While these findings question the ergogenic potential of consuming glucose before supramaximal exercise, the VO(2) data implicate a possible shift in substrate utilization during repeated sprint exercise after pre-exercise glucose ingestion.

This study examined the influence of sodium citrate on changes in selected blood, ventilatory and performance variables in response to intermittent sprint exercise. Eight moderately active male students completed three tests over a 6 day experimental period. The first test involved incremental exercise to determine VO2 max, while the second and third tests were identical in nature and involved five 60 s sprints cycling against 0.075 kg kg-1 body mass (BM); each of the five sprints was separated by 5 min passive seated recovery. Three days separated the VO2max test and first interval test, while a further 3 days elapsed between the first and second interval tests. Ninety minutes prior to each interval test, the subjects consumed either a solution of sodium citrate (0.5 g kg-1 BM) or a placebo solution (1 g of calcium carbonate and 4 mg of sodium chloride). These were randomly administered in a double-blind crossover procedure so that every subject consumed each solution prior to the interval test over the 6 day period. Measures of work, VE, VO2, VCO2, post-exercise plasma lactate, and changes in both venous blood pH and venous blood bicarbonate (HCO3- ) were measured during each interval test. Although analysis of variance failed to identify differences in performance between the two solutions, both exercise VCO2 and changes in venous blood HCO3- were higher in the citrate condition (P < 0.05). In addition, both peak post-exercise plasma lactate concentrations and post-exercise venous blood pH were significantly higher following citrate ingestion. Although these data are consistent with greater clearance of lactate and H+ from the active muscle cells following citrate ingestion, performance between the two trials was the same. Nausea experienced by all but one subject following citrate ingestion emerged as the most likely factor negating the ergogenic potential of the sodium citrate. The data have shown that citrate ingested prior to five 60 s sprints induced significant changes in selected ventilatory and blood variables but failed to influence work output.

Late Eocene-early Oligocene (42–35 Myr) sediments cored at two DSDP sites in the south-west Pacific contain evidence of a pronounced increase in local volcanic activity, particularly in close association with the Eocene–Oligocene boundary. This pulse of volcanism is coeval with that in New Zealand and resulted from the development of an Indo- Australian / Pacific Plate boundary through the region during the late Eocene. The late Eocene / earliest Oligocene was marked by widespread volcanism and tectonism throughout the Pacific and elsewhere, and by one of the most important episodes of Cenozoic climatic cooling.

The installation and commissioning of an on-line computer on a new cement plant is described. The computer carries out direct digital control, although conventional controllers are also provided. Part I of the paper gives an account of the background to the project, the process characteristics and the computer functions and an assessment of the value of the computer. The main functions performed are control of raw materials blending and of the kiln. A mathematical model has been used for the development of the kiln control scheme. The computer has assisted in learning about the process, in overcoming commissioning difficulties and in developing control schemes both with and without the use of models. Direct digital control has made possible finer adjustments to valves and set points, has allowed automatic calibration of an important feed flow meter and has made the implementation of alternative control loop configurations easier. Part II gives a detailed description of the computer system and an assessment of its reliability. The availability achieved over a three-year period is 99.1 per cent. Many of the faults which have occurred have been identified and could in future be eliminated in design. It is expected that the availability attainable after such improvements would be about 99.9 per cent.

One hundred and forty-three patients with carcinoma of the cervix of the uterus were studied prospectively. All had pretreatment, intravenous pyelograms and radioisotope renograms. The results of the investigations have been compared and their relationship to the prognosis in the disease is shown. A normal renogram before treatment is more often associated with freedom from pelvic disease than a normal I.V.P. An abnormal renogram before treatment is more often associated with recurrence of disease than an abnormal I.V.P.

A case of leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord is presented, the twenty-sixth case in the world literature. The tumour metastasized to the skin and to the lungs, and had to be differentiated from a neurofibromatous lesion. There was histological evidence to suggest that the lesion had originated as a benign leiomyoma and then had undergone malignant change. The primary tumour was excised. The secondary deposits were radioresistant but showed some response to chemotherapy. It is suggested that the most suitable form of treatment is wide excision of the primary tumour with close follow-up and chemotherapy when recurrence or metastasis occurs.

We present a study of low-spin states in 74Rb and 78Y using the new technique of Recoil Beta Tagging. This yielded new information on 74Rb and has provided the first evidence for non-isomeric T= 1 states in 78Y.

Abstract.: We present a study of low-spin states in 74Rb and 78Y using the new technique of Recoil Beta Tagging. This yielded new information on 74Rb and has provided the first evidence for non-isomeric T= 1 states in 78Y.

THE first New Zealand fossils indicative of Carboniferous age have been found in rocks from the South Canterbury region of the South Island. They are conodonts, accompanied by rare fish scales, and were obtained from the marble of the Kakahu inlier in a Tertiary area 10 miles south-west of Geraldine1: fossil sample locality No. S102/607, grid ref. 627815 (latitude 44° 09′ S, longitude 171° 04′ 30″ E).

We would like to report a new cause of soft tissue uptake on a bone scintigraph which has not been previously reported [1].Standard 99m1methyl diphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphy was performed in a 50-year-old female patient with carcinoma of the breast and known spinal metastases.