Late glacial palaeoclimate investigations at King Arthur’s Cave and Sun Hole Cave.

King Arthur’s Cave (Wye Valley) and Sun Hole Cave (Cheddar Gorge) currently provide the earliest dates for a human presence in the British Isles after the Last Glacial Maximum. The earliest phase of activity at these sites has been dated to c. 15.2 to 14.6 thousand years cal. BP, which spans the onset of the Late Glacial Interstadial, a major global climate transition characterised by rapidly warming temperatures. Here we present stable isotope data from horse (Equus ferus) teeth found in the zooarchaeological assemblages at the sites. We also report two new radiocarbon dates on specimens from King Arthur’s Cave. The Equus tooth enamel provides a record of climatic conditions during the animals’ tooth formation. Evidence of human modification of the teeth (cut marks and fractures) chronologically tie these palaeoclimatic records to the earliest post-LGM archaeology at the two sites, thus informing on the climatic and environmental context under which human activity in these areas took place. Results indicate that people were present at the two sites during a period of climatic warming, with temperatures perhaps only marginally colder than present day conditions. However, suboptimal environmental conditions are suggested and may indicate changing vegetation dynamics within the local landscape

A portable diagnostic device for cardiac magnetic field mapping

In this paper we present a portable magnetocardiography device. The focus of this development was delivering a rapid assessment of chest pain in an emergency department. The aim was therefore to produce an inexpensive device that could be rapidly deployed in a noisy unshielded ward environment. We found that induction coil magnetometers with a coil design optimized for magnetic field mapping possess sufficient sensitivity (104fT /√ Hz noise floor at 10Hz) and response (813fT /µV at 10Hz) for cycle averaged magnetocardiography and are able to measure depolarisation signals in an unshielded environment. We were unable to observe repolarisation signals to a reasonable fidelity. We present the design of the induction coil sensor array and signal processing routine along with data demonstrating performance in a hospital environment

Revisiting Mars and Venus: Understanding gender differences in critical illness

Understanding the nature and biological basis of gender-determined differences in risk of and outcome from infection might identify new therapeutic targets, allow more individualised treatment, and facilitate better risk prediction and application of healthcare resources. Gender differences in behaviours, comorbidities, access to healthcare and biology may result in differences in acquiring infection, or in response to infection once acquired. Some studies have reported higher male susceptibility to infection, and higher risk of death with sepsis, but others have found the opposite effect. The explanation for this disagreement is probably that different studies have included patients at different stages on the continuum from infectious agent exposure to death or recovery. Studying sufficient patient numbers to explore this entire continuum while accounting for heterogeneity in type of infection and comorbidity is difficult because of the number of patients required. However, if true gender effects can be identified, examination of their biological or psychosocial causes will be warranted. © 2011 BioMed Central Ltd

On a linear combination of some expressions in the theory of the univalent functions

Let H (α) denote the class of regular functions f(z) normalized so that f (0)=0 and f′ (0)=1 and satisfying in the unit disc E the condition 0$$]]> for fixed α. It is known that H (0) is a particular class NW of close-to-convex univalent functions. The authors show the following results: Theorem 1. Let f(z) ∈ H (α). Then f(z) ∈NW if α≤0 and z ∈ E . Theorem 2 . Let f(z) ∈NW. Then f(z) ∈ H (α) in | z |= r < r α where i) , α≥0 and ii) , α<0. All results are sharp. Theorem 3 . If f(z)=z+a 2 z 2 + a 3 z 3 +... is in H (α) and if μ is an arbitrary complex number, then .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41631/1/605_2005_Article_BF01472573.pd

Isoniazid-related fatal hepatitis.

To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of fatal hepatitis due to single-drug isoniazid preventive therapy for tuberculosis, we did a survey of cases from state health departments, published case reports, and reports to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1970 to 1992. Of 108 reported cases, some clinical information was available for 76. A medical review panel judged 39 of these deaths as probably due to isoniazid hepatitis and 23 deaths as possibly due to isoniazid hepatitis. Of the 62 probable and possible cases combined, 50 (81%) were female, 49 (79%) were non-Hispanic black or Hispanic, and 19 (31%) were younger than 35 years. The median duration of isoniazid preventive therapy before symptom onset was 16 weeks. Of the 60 cases with symptom information, 54 (90%) presented with jaundice. Of the 62 cases, 26 (42%) were monitored monthly in accordance with current recommendations, and 6 of the patients were younger than 35 years. We estimate that the rate of fatal isoniazid hepatitis among patients in the public sector was no greater than 4.2 per 100,000 persons beginning therapy and no greater than 7 per 100,000 persons completing therapy. Adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy guidelines apparently reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of fatal hepatitis. Careful patient selection, education, and monitoring are critical for minimizing that risk

Photochemistry of framework-supported M(diimine)(CO)₃X complexes in 3D Lithium-Carboxylate metal−organic frameworks: monitoring the effect of framework cations

The structures and photochemical behaviour of two new metal-organic frameworks are reported. Reaction of Re(2,2ʹ-bipyʹ-5,5ʹ-dicarboxylic acid)(CO)₃Cl or Mn(2,2ʹ-bipyʹ-5,5ʹ- dicarboxylic acid)(CO)₃Br with either LiCl or LiBr, respectively, produces single crystals of {Li₂(DMF)₂[(2,2ʹ-bipyʹ-5,5ʹ-dicarboxylate)Re(CO)₃Cl]}n (ReLi) or {Li₂(DMF)₂[(2,2ʹ-bipyʹ- 5,5ʹ-dicarboxylate)Mn(CO)₃Br]}n (MnLi). The structures formed by the two MOFs comprise one-dimensional chains of carboxylate-bridged Li(I) cations that are cross-linked by units of Re(2,2ʹ-bipyʹ-5,5ʹ-dicarboxylate)(CO)₃Cl (ReLi) or Mn(2,2ʹ-bipyʹ-5,5ʹ- dicarboxylate)(CO)₃Br (MnLi). The photophysical and photochemical behaviour of both ReLi and MnLi are probed. The rhenium-containing MOF, ReLi, exhibits luminescence and the excited state behaviour, as established by time-resolved infra-red measurements, are closer in behaviour to that of unsubstituted [Re(bipy)(CO)₃Cl] rather than a related MOF where the Li(I) cations are replaced by Mn(II) cations. These observations are further supported by DFT calculations. Upon excitation MnLi forms a dicarbonyl species which rapidly recombines with the dissociated CO, in a fashion consistent with the majority of the photoejected CO not escaping the MOF channels

Phase I/II study of DHA–paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin in patients with advanced malignant solid tumours

DHA–paclitaxel is a conjugate of paclitaxel and the fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid. Preclinical studies have demonstrated increased activity, relative to paclitaxel, with the potential for an improved therapeutic ratio. We conducted a phase I study to determine the maximum tolerated doses of DHA–paclitaxel and carboplatin when administered in combination. Two cohorts of patients were treated: carboplatin AUC 5 with DHA–paclitaxel 660 mg m-2 and carboplatin AUC 5 with DHA–paclitaxel 880 mg m-2. Both drugs were given on day 1 every 21 days. A total of 15 patients were enrolled with a median age of 59 years (range 33–71). All patients had advanced cancer refractory to standard treatment, performance status 0–2 and were without major organ dysfunction. A total of 54 cycles of treatment were delivered. No dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was seen in the first cohort of three patients. In an expanded second cohort, neutropenia was the main DLT, occurring in the first cycle of treatment in five of 12 patients: three of these patients and one additional patient also experienced dose-limiting grade 3 transient rises in liver transaminases. No alopecia was seen and one patient developed clinically significant neuropathy. One partial response was seen in a patient with advanced adenocarcinoma of the oesophago-gastric junction and 12 patients had stable disease with a median time to progression of 184 days (range 60–506 days). The recommended phase II dose in pretreated patients is Carboplatin AUC 5 and DHA–paclitaxel 660 mg m-2 given every 21 days. Further studies with Carboplatin AUC 5 and DHA-paclitaxel 880 mg m-2, given every 28 days, are warranted in chemo-naive patients

Iso-Wetlands: unlocking wetland ecologies and agriculture in prehistory through sulfur isotopes

Iso-Wetlands is a new, NERC-funded collaborative research project involving researchers at UCL Institute of Archaeology, the University of Leeds and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. The project is developing sulfur isotope analysis of archaeological plants and animals as a new tool for exploring hydrological conditions under which agricultural production was taking place. This development has the potential to improve understanding of water management strategies in the past, particularly in relation to seasonal floodwater agriculture and wetland agriculture (for example, rice paddy systems). The project will open wider possibilities for the use of sulfur isotopes in archaeology and ecology to examine wetland habitat use by both people and animals