Cepheid variables in the flared outer disk of our galaxy.

Flaring and warping of the disk of the Milky Way have been inferred from observations of atomic hydrogen but stars associated with flaring have not hitherto been reported. In the area beyond the Galactic centre the stars are largely hidden from view by dust, and the kinematic distances of the gas cannot be estimated. Thirty-two possible Cepheid stars (young pulsating variable stars) in the direction of the Galactic bulge were recently identified.

Three classical Cepheid variable stars in the nuclear bulge of the Milky Way.

The nuclear bulge is a region with a radius of about 200 parsecs around the centre of the Milky Way. It contains stars with ages ranging from a few million years to over a billion years, yet its star-formation history and the triggering process for star formation remain to be resolved. Recently, episodic star formation, powered by changes in the gas content, has been suggested.

Pre-oxygenation in pregnancy: the effect of fresh gas flow rates within a circle breathing system.

We have investigated the effect of oxygen flow rate on pre-oxygenation in pregnant patients at term using a circle system. Twenty patients presenting for elective Caesarean section maintained tidal volume breathing through a standard circle system for 3 min. Subjects were pre-oxygenated using oxygen flow rates of 5 l.

Use of the HemoCue near patient testing device to measure the concentration of haemoglobin in suction fluid at elective caesarean section.

We have investigated the suitability of the HemoCue photometer to measure the concentration of haemoglobin in suction fluid obtained at elective caesarean section in 30 women. Laboratory analysis was used as a gold standard against which values generated by the HemoCue were compared. We used the method of Bland and Altman to analyse the data.

Body size and cell size in Drosophila: the developmental response to temperature.

In Drosophila, like most ectotherms, development at low temperature reduces growth rate but increases final adult size. Cultures were shifted from 25 degrees C to low (16.5 degrees C) or to high (29 degrees C) temperature at regular intervals through larval and pupal stages, and the flies of both sexes showed an increase or decrease, respectively, in the size of thorax, wing and abdominal tergite.