Myth in the Modern World

Fantasy author Anderson discusses definitions of myth and how literature becomes mythopoeic, particularly by catching or reflecting cultural needs. Includes an example of a modern historical novel incorporating myth, Jensen’s The Fall of the King and its use of symbolism from the Norse “Song of Grotte.

Thoughts at Liftoff

A noted science fiction writer reports for E&S on the launch of the last Apollo

The Future of Mythology

Attempts to define mythology in a broad context. Contends that truly mythic literature is rare, and science fiction is a mythology for modern times. Offers some “guesses” about the future of science fiction and fantasy

Panel: The Making of Fantasy Worlds

A panel of science fiction and fantasy authors discusses how they develop their worlds, the differences between fantasy and science fiction, and some classic works of fantasy

Relación entre caries dental y nivel de higiene oral en los pobladores de Ámbar, Huaura 2021

Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre la caries dental y el nivel de higiene oral en los pobladores de Ámbar, Huaura,2021. Metodología: Científico, tipo de investigación básica, diseño no experimental, de corte transversal, nivel de investigación correlacional, se tuvo como población a 132 pobladores habitantes del distrito de Ámbar. Resultado: Ostentó mediante las pruebas Rho de Spearman con valor de correlación significativa de (,000) y la prueba chi cuadrado valor p (0,00), que se acepta la hipótesis, donde si existe relación y correlación directa entre la caries dental con el nivel de higiene oral que tiene la población. Conclusiones: La prevalencia del número de piezas dentales con caries dental, en pobladores del distrito de Ámbar, Huaura en el 2021 es de 9 piezas dentales con caries dentales, en 20 pobladores dando el porcentaje más alto de 15,2%; La prevalencia de nivel de higiene oral mediante el uso del Índice Simplificado Higiene Oral (IHOS) en los pobladores de Ámbar, Huaura en el 2021 es del 46,2% con índice malo

Randomised clinical study: inulin short-chain fatty acid esters for targeted delivery of short-chain fatty acids to the human colon

Summary Background Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced through fermentation of nondigestible carbohydrates by the gut microbiota are associated with positive metabolic effects. However, well-controlled trials are limited in humans. Aims To develop a methodology to deliver SCFA directly to the colon, and to optimise colonic propionate delivery in humans, to determine its role in appetite regulation and food intake. Methods Inulin SCFA esters were developed and tested as site-specific delivery vehicles for SCFA to the proximal colon. Inulin propionate esters containing 0–61 wt% (IPE-0–IPE-61) propionate were assessed in vitro using batch faecal fermentations. In a randomised, controlled, crossover study, with inulin as control, ad libitum food intake (kcal) was compared after 7 days on IPE-27 or IPE-54 (10 g/day all treatments). Propionate release was determined using 13C-labelled IPE variants. Results In vitro, IPE-27–IPE-54 wt% propionate resulted in a sevenfold increase in propionate production compared with inulin (P < 0.05). In vivo, IPE-27 led to greater 13C recovery in breath CO2 than IPE-54 (64.9 vs. 24.9%, P = 0.001). IPE-27 also led to a reduction in energy intake during the ad libitum test meal compared with both inulin (439.5 vs. 703.9 kcal, P = 0.025) and IPE-54 (439.5 vs. 659.3 kcal, P = 0.025), whereas IPE-54 was not significantly different from inulin control. Conclusions IPE-27 significantly reduced food intake suggesting colonic propionate plays a role in appetite regulation. Inulin short-chain fatty acid esters provide a novel tool for probing the diet–gut microbiome–host metabolism axis in human

Quantum-state control in optical lattices

We study the means to prepare and coherently manipulate atomic wave packets in optical lattices, with particular emphasis on alkali atoms in the far-detuned limit. We derive a general, basis independent expression for the lattice operator, and show that its off-diagonal elements can be tailored to couple the vibrational manifolds of separate magnetic sublevels. Using these couplings one can evolve the state of a trapped atom in a quantum coherent fashion, and prepare pure quantum states by resolved-sideband Raman cooling. We explore the use of atoms bound in optical lattices to study quantum tunneling and the generation of macroscopic superposition states in a double-well potential. Far-off-resonance optical potentials lend themselves particularly well to reservoir engineering via well controlled fluctuations in the potential, making the atom/lattice system attractive for the study of decoherence and the connection between classical and quantum physics.Comment: 35 pages including 8 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. A. March 199