Thermodynamic Potential for Superfluid 3He in Aerogel

We present a free energy functional for superfluid 3He in the presence of homogeneously distributed impurity disorder which extends the Ginzburg-Landau free energy functional to all temperatures. We use the new free energy functional to calculate the thermodynamic potential, entropy, heat capacity and density of states for the B-phase of superfluid 3He in homogeneous, isotropic aerogel.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Change in lifestyle behaviors and medication use after a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ

Women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast represent a growing cancer survivor population with a diagnosis of uncertain malignant potential. These survivors face an absence of scientific guidelines regarding lifestyle changes that can help to prevent a breast cancer recurrence. In this first report from the Wisconsin In Situ Cohort (WISC) study, we examine how women are currently changing their lifestyle behaviors and medication use following a diagnosis of DCIS. At study entry (1997-2006), 1,959 subjects (78% of eligible) with DCIS were identified from the Wisconsin cancer registry and administered an interview assessing behaviors prior to diagnosis. Follow-up interviews were completed every 2 years after the initial interview, beginning in 2003 and continuing through 2006. After adjusting for age and calendar year, women were 2.2 kg (95% CI 1.4, 3.0) heavier, 35% (95% CI 20, 47) less likely to be a smoker, 19% (95% CI -1, 43) more likely to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and 57% (95% CI 26, 95) more likely to use antidepressants after a DCIS diagnosis compared to 1 year prior to diagnosis. Use of postmenopausal hormones decreased sharply (OR = 0.06; 95% CI 0.04, 0.09) following a DCIS diagnosis. These findings indicate that women make substantial changes in their behaviors after a DCIS diagnosis. This cohort will be further monitored to evaluate the association between these behaviors and health outcomes following DCIS

Thin helium film on a glass substrate

We investigate by Monte Carlo simulations the structure, energetics and superfluid properties of thin helium-four films (up to four layers) on a glass substrate, at low temperature. The first adsorbed layer is found to be solid and "inert", i.e., atoms are localized and do not participate to quantum exchanges. Additional layers are liquid, with no clear layer separation above the second one. It is found that a single helium-three impurity resides on the outmost layer, not significantly further away from the substrate than helium-four atoms on the same layer.Comment: Six figures, submitted for publication to the Journal of Low Temperature Physic

GUP1 and its close homologue GUP2, encoding multi-membrane-spanning proteins involved in active glycerol uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Many yeast species can utilise glycerol, both as sole carbon source and as an osmolyte. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, physiological studies have previously shown the presence of an active uptake system driven by electrogenic proton symport. We have used transposon mutagenesis to isolate mutants affected in the transport of glycerol into the cell. Here we present the identification of YGL084c, encoding a multi-membrane-spanning protein, as being essential for proton symport of glycerol into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene is named GUP1 (Glycerol UPtake) and is important for growth on glycerol as carbon and energy source, as well as for osmotic protection by added glycerol, of a strain deficient in glycerol production. Another ORF, YPL189w, presenting a high degree of homology to YGL084c, similarly appears to be involved in active glycerol uptake in salt-containing glucose-based media in strains deficient in glycerol production. Analogously, this gene is named GUP2. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a gene product involved in active transport of glycerol in yeasts. Mutations with the same phenotypes occurred in two other open reading frames of previously unknown function, YDL074c and YPL180w.Comunidade Europeia (CE) - contract BIO4-CT95-0161

Brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa:Current challenges for management, diagnosis and control

Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella and affecting domestic and wild mammals. In this paper, the bacteriological and serological evidence of brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and its epidemiological characteristics are discussed. The tools available for the diagnosis and treatment of human brucellosis and for the diagnosis and control of animal brucellosis and their applicability in the context of SSA are presented and gaps identified. These gaps concern mostly the need for simpler and more affordable antimicrobial treatments against human brucellosis, the development of a B. melitensis vaccine that could circumvent the drawbacks of the currently available Rev 1 vaccine, and the investigation of serological diagnostic tests for camel brucellosis and wildlife. Strategies for the implementation of animal vaccination are also discussed.Publishe

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

Predatory hoverflies increase oviposition in response to colour stimuli offering no reward: implications for biological control

There are increasing efforts worldwide to engineer agroecosystems to enhance ecosystem services such as carbon storage, minimisation of erosion, and biological control of pests. A key group of insect biological control agents is the hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). While adult Syrphidae are pollen and nectar feeders, the larvae of many species are aphidophagous, thus demonstrating life-history omnivory and their potentially important role in the biological control of aphids and other pests. Several experiments have been conducted to assess whether the presence of flowers in or near crops has an effect on oviposition by syrphids, but the results have often been inconclusive. This paper describes a large-scale field experiment carried out over two years, in which standardised model flowers were placed in field margins and oviposition rates monitored near them. Statistically significantly more eggs were laid on broad bean (Vicia faba) infested with the pea aphid, Acyrthosipon pisum, near yellow model flowers with and without pollen and honey resources than at positions with no model flowers nearby. These results suggest strongly that the presence of model flowers increases hoverfly oviposition and that colour may be more important than food resources in enhancing this behaviour. This work indicates that biological control of pests by hoverflies can be enhanced by simple, non-floral agroecological intervention