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Food composition tables require updating regularly to keep abreast of the periodic reformulation of fortified foods and dietary supplements. This paper describes a process undertaken to update the vitamin D content of fortified foods and supplements consumed in the UK, and the impact this may have on reported vitamin D intake. In 2011, the vitamin D content of the 289 vitamin D fortified foods and vitamin D containing supplements recorded in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) Nutrient Databank (last updated in 2008) was compared to data from industry websites, trade associations and manufacturers, and nutrition labelling on pack. Typical ‘overages’ (the additional amount added to account for any processing loss or degradation) applied during vitamin D fortification were also obtained. This information was used to update the NDNS Nutrient Databank, and applied to NDNS food consumption data (2008/2010) to determine the impact of the composition update on reported population vitamin D intakes. Up-to-date vitamin D values were obtained for 257 (89%) of the 289 items in the NDNS databank; the remainder were no longer available on the market. The vitamin D content of 31 (11%) of the items had changed, and these were most commonly breakfast cereals, fat spreads and powdered malt drinks. A further eight food items were identified as newly fortified with vitamin D. Calculation of mean vitamin D intakes using updated data identified that use of out-of-date food composition data may lead to an underestimation of UK vitamin D intakes of around 3% (0.1 μg/day). When a blanket 12.5% ‘overage’ was applied to all items, this underestimate increased to 6% (0.2 μg/day). Even though the absolute impact of updating the vitamin D content of fortified foods and supplements on population mean intakes is relatively small, our analysis suggests it is important that nutrient databases are regularly updated. The new estimates of the vitamin D content of foods and supplements should be used for future estimates of vitamin D intake in the UK until a further periodic update is conducted.

Collected in this volume are some of the most important articles published on the philosophy of the Greeks before Socrates. They cover: The nature of Presocratic thought The sources of our knowledge of the Presocratics The earliest philosophers up to Heraclitus

Objective To assess the predictive accuracy for stillbirth of second-trimester uterine artery Doppler. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library databases from inception until March 2015 without language restrictions. The included studies were those that assessed the association of abnormal uterine artery Doppler parameters and stillbirth. Two independent reviewers selected the studies, extracted data and assessed quality. Results for studies that were performed in the second trimester were pooled and summary estimates of sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were obtained. An overall summary of test accuracy was provided by the diagnostic odds ratio. Subgroup analysis was performed according to whether the study population was high risk or unselected. Results Literature searches returned 338 relevant citations with 32 considered in full. Thirteen studies met our search criteria (85 845 women, 508 stillbirths) and were included in the review. Bivariate pooled estimate for sensitivity was 65% (95% CI, 38-85%) and for specificity 82% (95% CI, 72-88%). The positive likelihood ratio was 3.5 (95% CI, 2.3-5.5) and negative likelihood ratio 0.43 (95% CI, 0.22-0.85). The diagnostic odds ratio was 8.3 (95% CI, 3.0-22.4). Heterogeneity was high in the studies of high-risk women. Conclusions Abnormal uterine artery Doppler indices are associated with a three- to four-fold increase in the risk of stillbirth. The heterogeneity was particularly high in the high-risk group rendering it impossible to draw firm conclusions. In view of this, there is a role for individual patient data meta-analysis to define which Doppler parameter and threshold value should be measured.

This communication describes a new method for producing stable, high concentrations of Sc2+ in optically clear CaF2 crystals. We have achieved Sc2+ concentrations as high as 3 × 1018 cm−3 without degradation of optical quality. We have converted as much as 5% of the scandium dopant to the divalent state. The concentration of divalent scandium is stable during room temperature storage for periods of at least one year.

SummarySuccessful treatment of severe orthopaedic infections in people and animals has been augmented by the use of antibiotic impregnated polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bead implantation at the site of infection. High local wound concentrations of antimicrobials can be achieved without resulting in toxic levels systemically. Clinical, radiographic and pathological response was evaluated following PMMA beads impregnated with vancomycin and tobramycin implanted in 18 dogs with severe infections following “limb sparing” operation with allograft replacement for osteosarcoma. A variety of aerobic and anaerobic bacterial organisms were cultured from the sites of infection and numerous systemic antimicrobial drug combinations were used in an attempt to control the infections prior to the implantation of the beads. In 12 of 18 (67%) dogs implanted, clinical signs of infection resolved within a median of four weeks post implantation. Three of 12 (25%) had recurrence of signs at a median of 17 weeks post implantation. This was not a randomized, prospective controlled trial and limitations to the study exist, the most notable being the variability in individual patient treatment. However, antibiotic impregnated PMMA bead implantation may play a role in the treatment of severe infections in dogs.Eighteen dogs with severe infections were implanted with polymethyl methacrylate beads impregnated with tobramycin and vancomycin. In 67% of dogs implanted, clinical signs of infection resolved within a median of four weeks. Antibiotic impregnated PMMA bead implantation may play a role in the treatment of severe orthopedic infections in dogs.This study was supported in part by grant number 2 PO1 CA 29582 from the National Cancer Institute. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute, USA.

Skeletal muscle regeneration is a multifaceted process requiring the spatial and temporal coordination of myogenesis as well as angiogenesis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a pivotal role in myogenesis by activating satellite cells (SC) in regenerating muscle and likely plays a role as a contributor to revascularization. Moreover, repair of a functional blood supply is critical to ameliorate tissue ischemia and restore skeletal muscle function, however effects of hypoxia on satellite cell-mediated angiogenesis remain unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the role of HGF and effect of hypoxia on the capacity of satellite cells to promote angiogenesis. To characterize the role of HGF, a microvascular fragment (MVF) culture model coupled with satellite cell conditioned media (CM) was employed. The activity of HGF was specifically blocked in SC CM reducing sprout length compared to control CM. In contrast, MVF sprout number did not differ between control or HGF-deficient SC CM media. Next, we cultured MVF in the presence of CM from satellite cells exposed to normoxic (20% O2 ) or hypoxic (1% O2 ) conditions. Hypoxic CM recapitulated a MVF angiogenic response identical to HGF deficient satellite cell CM. Hypoxic conditions increased satellite cell HIF-1α protein abundance and VEGF mRNA abundance but decreased HGF mRNA abundance compared to normoxic satellite cells. Consistent with reduced HGF gene expression, HGF promoter activity decreased during hypoxia. Taken together, this data indicates that hypoxic modulation of satellite cell-mediated angiogenesis involves a reduction in satellite cell HGF expression.

Ninety six nulliparous women were investigated to establish whether childbirth causes damage to the striated muscles and nerve supply of the pelvic floor. The techniques used were concentric needle electromyography (EMG), pudendal nerve conduction tests and assessment of pelvic floor contraction using a perineometer. There was EMG evidence of re-innervation in the pelvic floor muscles after vaginal delivery in 80% of those studied. Women who had a long active second stage of labour and heavier babies showed the most EMG evidence of nerve damage. Forceps delivery and perineal tears did not affect the degree of nerve damage seen. We conclude that vaginal delivery causes partial denervation of the pelvic floor (with consequent re-innervation) in most women having their first baby. In a few this is severe and is associated with urinary and faecal incontinence. For some it is likely to be the first step along a path leading to prolapse and/or stress incontinence.

Muscle satellite cell activation following injury is essential for muscle repair, and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF) was the first growth factor shown to be able to stimulate activation and early division of adult satellite cells in culture and in muscle tissue. In addition, HGF was shown to be present in uninjured and injured skeletal muscle. Experiments in this report demonstrate that cultured satellite cells also synthesize and secrete HGF. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to demonstrate the presence of HGF mRNA in cultured adult satellite cells as early as 12 h from the time of plating. Message content was detectable at early times in culture and appeared to increase between 36 and 48 h. HGF protein expression was demonstrated during this time period by immunofluorescence localization; HGF was localized to mononucleated cells and multinucleated myotubes. HGF message was not detectable in muscle-derived fibroblast clones, and fibroblast-like cells in satellite cell cultures were negative for HGF by immunofluorescence analysis. Furthermore, Western blot analysis revealed the presence of HGF in satellite cell culture conditioned medium, associated with the cell surface and inside cells. Finally, the addition of neutralizing HGF antibodies during the proliferation phase in culture (42-90 h) significantly reduced cell proliferation. These experiments indicate that HGF is expressed by cultured satellite cells and that endogenous HGF from satellite cells can act in an autocrine fashion. Because HGF plays a central role in satellite cell activation, it is likely that direct administration of HGF into damaged muscle may represent a potentially useful approach for stimulating muscle repair. This approach may also be useful in enhancing the efficiency of myoblast transplantation in vivo.

A new theory yields unconventional results for the angular distribution of products like $b-\bar{b}$ jets in Higgs decays., Comment: 3 pages, to be published in the proceedings of PASCOS99, edited by J. F. Gunion (World Scientific, Singapore, 2000)

Few studies have examined the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of an outpatient biochemotherapy regimen of low dose, subcutaneously administered interleukin-2 (IL-2) for patients with metastatic (Stage IV) melanoma.Nineteen patients were treated with intravenous cisplatin and dacarbazine (DTIC), oral tamoxifen, and subcutaneous IL-2 and interferon-alpha-2b (IFN). Eligibility requirements included bidimensionally measurable metastatic melanoma, a Karnofsky performance score of 60 or higher, absence of significant cardiac or pulmonary dysfunction, no prior DTIC or cisplatin chemotherapy, and no evidence of central nervous system involvement. Patients were given a minimum of 2 6-week cycles. Treatment was continued in the absence of progressive disease, and patients were monitored for response at two-cycle intervals.Of the 19 patients, 1 (5%) achieved a complete response; 6 (32%) a partial response; 3 (16%) stable disease; and 9 (47%) progressive disease, for an overall response proportion of 37% (95% confidence interval, 16-61%). The median survival of the treated cohort was 10.6 months. The mean time to disease progression for patients with stable disease or better was 8.4 months, with a mean response duration of 5.1 months. The most common toxicities noted were constitutional symptoms, weight loss, nausea, neutropenia, and fatigue. The 19 patients received a total of 59 cycles of treatment, and IL-2, IFN, or both were held in 14 of these cycles secondary to Grade 3 or 4 toxicities. In addition, six patients required dose reduction of IL-2 and/or IFN.Chemoimmunotherapy consisting of cisplatin, DTIC, and tamoxifen combined with subcutaneous IL-2 and IFN can be safely administered in an outpatient setting. The described regimen yields moderate activity in metastatic melanoma, and efforts to improve its efficacy merit further examination.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) have the ability to regulate satellite cell proliferation in culture and in muscle tissue, but the specific FGF receptors (FGFR) expressed by adult rat muscle satellite cells and the action of members of the FGF family have not been assessed. Therefore, the expression of FGF receptors 1-4 was examined in proliferating satellite cells in culture, and the effects of eight members of the fibroblast growth factor family (FGFs1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) on adult rat muscle satellite cells were evaluated. In addition, the interactions of FGFs with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were described. Of the eight FGFs evaluated, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 significantly (P0.05) stimulated proliferation above control. FGFs5, 7, and 8 displayed no mitogenic activity. Furthermore, combinations of HGF with FGFs2, 4, 6, or 9 stimulated satellite cell proliferation above that of optimal concentrations of HGF alone. Expression of four FGFR genes was detected in satellite cell cultures by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). FGFR1 and FGFR4 were the most prominent forms expressed, and FGFR2 was only expressed at low levels. FGFR3 was difficult to detect. FGFR1 and FGFR2 were also expressed in muscle-derived fibroblasts, but FGFR4 and FGFR3 were not. In proliferating cultures of satellite cells, HGF, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and FGF1 stimulated significantly (P0.05) higher levels of FGFR1 message content, relative to control conditions, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-II) significantly (P0.05) depressed FGFR1 expression. During the activation period of satellite cell growth in culture (0-48 h), FGFR1 message content significantly (P0.05) increased from less than 1,000 copies per cell to approximately 5,000 copies per cell between 18 and 48 h, and HGF treatment significantly (P0.05) accelerated the accumulation of FGFR1 message during this period.

To describe the demographic characteristics and postwar health status of U.S. Gulf War veterans who participated in the Department of Veterans Affairs health examination registry program.Case records of 52,835 veterans who participated in a standardized health examination program were reviewed.Participants volunteered for physical examinations at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical treatment facility from August 1992 to September 1996.U.S. Gulf War veterans deployed to southwest Asia between August 1990 and 1996.Demographic, military, symptom, and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, diagnostic categories.A wide variety of symptoms and diagnoses were reported without apparent internal variation by military characteristics (branch and service component). The frequency of symptoms (fatigue, skin rash, headache, muscle and joint pain, and memory loss) reported increased over time, whereas the proportion of individuals with physician-diagnosed illnesses remained fairly constant. No single category of disease increased or decreased substantially over time.Veterans have experienced a wide variety of health problems since their Gulf War service. These problems, in aggregate, are different from what has been seen in other armed conflicts. The Department of Veterans Affairs registry is a very large case series and has failed to identify a single, unique syndrome or new illness after Gulf War service. An epidemiologic study would better define the prevalence of specific symptoms and medical conditions among Gulf War veterans and to what extent any of the conditions identified are associated with Gulf War military service. The knowledge provided by such studies would be important to development of preventive measures and future deployment medical surveillance planning.

A detailed study was made to determine the recovery of different sedimentary metal sulfide minerals, polysulfides and elemental sulfur by digestion procedures. This was a part of an investigation into the influence of bacterial sulfate reduction on the formation of authigenic pyrite and other sulfide minerals in the geological record. The recovery of different varieties of metal sulfide and forms of reduced sulfur from both artificial compounds, sediments and mineral specimens, indicates that hot AVS digestions, and cold followed by hot chromous chloride digestions produce the best recoveries combined with the greatest separation of sulfur pools for both ancient and Recent samples. The reaction time required to recover pyrite (up to 4 hours) is much greater than that previously reported (2 hours), especially when applied to Recent sediments and minerals. Recoveries of different sulfide minerals and elemental sulfur indicate that there may be an over-estimation of components used in degree of pyritization and sulfidation ratios. The application of the standardized methods to cultures of sulfate-reducing bacteria demonstrates that pyrite can be formed within three days. This method is also capable of producing accurate divisions of sulfur pools in sediments and sedimentary rocks.

Previous studies suggesting increased reactive oxygen metabolite (ROM) production in inflammatory bowel disease have been restricted to peripheral blood and isolated intestinal phagocytes. In the current study, chemiluminescence and the effect of various scavengers, enzymes, and enzyme inhibitors were used to show that ROMs account for the increased production of oxidants by colorectal mucosal biopsy specimens in inflammatory bowel disease. Luminol-amplified chemiluminescence was increased in active ulcerative colitis [macroscopic grade 1: 25 photons.mg-1.min.10(-3) (median), 8-47 (95% confidence intervals), n = 40; grade 2: 89, 65-156, n = 30; grade 3: 247, 133-562, n = 13] and Crohn's disease [mild: 9, 3-84, n = 6; severe: 105, 25-789 (range), n = 5] compared with normal-looking mucosa (ulcerative colitis: 0.8, 0.4-1.4, n = 22, P less than 0.01; Crohn's disease: 0.8, 0.1-2, n = 6, P less than 0.05) and controls (0.6, 0.04-1.4, n = 52, P less than 0.01). In ulcerative colitis, luminol chemiluminescence correlated with microscopic inflammation (Spearman's p = 0.74, P = 0.0001) and was decreased by sodium azide (-89%, P less than 0.05), taurine (-31%, P less than 0.05), catalase (-23%, P less than 0.05), and dimethyl sulfoxide (-29%, P less than 0.05). Superoxide dismutase and oxypurinol decreased lucigenin chemiluminescence in ulcerative colitis by -63% (P less than 0.05) and -27% (P less than 0.05), respectively. Luminol chemiluminescence correlated with lucigenin chemiluminescence (Spearman's rho = 0.72, P = 0.003). These results suggest that neutrophil-derived oxidants (superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and hypochlorite) are generated in colorectal mucosa in active inflammatory bowel disease and support the hypothesis that production of such metabolites by neutrophils is of major pathogenetic importance.

Rene 95 is a high-strength, wrought nickel-base superalloy used primarily for compressor and turbine disks in advanced aircraft engines. A special thermomechanical processing sequence is described which imparts in Rene 95 a duplex microstructure, consisting of large warm-worked grains surrounded by a fine-grain “necklace”. Compared with the 100 pct fine-grain material usually produced by conventional processing, the duplex material is shown to have superior high-temperature properties, especially in rupture life/ ductility, notched sustained-peak LCF and residual cyclic life. This study demonstrates the inferior 538 to 649°C (1000 to 1200°F) mechanical properties associated with the finegrain material are attributable to oxidation of surface carbides, which allows crack initiation, followed by rapid crack propagation. This environmental effect nucleated failure mechanism was identified in 649°C (1200°F) stress rupture tests and is verified by improved rupture life and ductility of the fine-grain material tested in vacuum or by periodic surface removal during testing in air. In contrast to the fine-grain structure, the duplex structure offers greater resistance to crack propagation by virtue of its large warm worked grains and hence exhibits superior rupture ductility.

The three bases illustrated in the photographs (Plates 1 and 2) and in the drawings (Figs. 1–3) were all seen and studied by me on a visit to Bodrum undertaken in the summer of 1969. They have been known for some time as individual items, but have never been studied as a group. The base identified here as no. 1 is now located in the courtyard of the castle at Bodrum; nos. 2 and 3 are built into the walls of a house standing on the site of the former Byzantine church of Aghia Marina, in the district called Türkkuyusu outside the main town. Other fragments, relating perhaps to similar monuments, have been reported from the same area at various times, and it seems clear to me from my own investigations that there is a strong chance of the existence of further such bases, in whole or in part.

This paper presents the long term objectives and current status of the Nuclear Industry standards development effort within the scope of NPEC. Four basic areas are discussed: (1) electrical and electronic systems and components; (2) qualification; (3) quality assurance; and (4) testing, operation and maintenance.

Two cascade laser schemes are demonstrated for Ho3+ in LiYF4. The first involves the 5S2, 5I5, and 5I7 manifolds with laser oscillation at 1.392 and 1.673 μm, and the second involves the 5S2, 5I5, and 5I6 manifolds with laser oscillations at 1.392 and 3.914 μm. The 3.9‐μm transition is the longest‐wavelength rare‐earth laser achieved to date and further the system has attractive engineering practicality. The specificity of excitation inherent in the cascade approach is considered essential in overcoming the adverse multiphonon relaxation processes at long wavelengths.