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The torturous path that led to Quantum Chromodynamics, the theory of strong interactions, is intriguing. It arguably rivals even the best detective stories. Starting with the discovery of the pion ...

On the basis of integral representations we propose fast numerical methods to solve the Cauchy problem for the stochastic wave equation without boundaries and with Dirichlet boundary conditions. The algorithms are exact in a probabilistic sense.

This is a wonderful, and much needed, book. The subject, Quantum Field Theory, is a truly beautiful theory. It underlies, in various guises, our fundamental understanding of almost everything from ...

We review our understanding of the structure of the proton in the light of the experimental results emerging from the high-energy electron-proton collider, HERA, which was recently commissioned in Hamburg. The collider enables us to probe the composition of the proton much more deeply than before and to explore the underlying theory, quantum chromodynamics, in a completely new regime.

The recent publication of the first validated equation for the estimation of muscle mass (MM) in men has made possible a comparison of MM in athletes from different sports. Limb girths and skinfold thicknesses were measured in 62 male athletes (aged 17-38 years) and 13 non-athletic males (aged 22-36 years). The MM (g) was calculated from the equation MM = S(0.0553 Gt2 + 0.0987 Gf2 + 0.0331 Gc2)-2445, where S is stature, Gt is the mid-thigh girth corrected for the front thigh skinfold thickness, Gc is the maximum calf girth corrected for the calf skinfold thickness and Gf is the uncorrected maximum forearm girth (all in cm). The athletes were classified as gymnasts (n = 10), basketball players (n = 10), body-builders (n = 10), track and field power athletes (n = 12), track and field long sprinters (n = 10) or distance runners (n = 10). The MM means ranged from 38.4 kg for the distance runners to 58.7 kg for the body-builders. Both body-builders and basketball players had significantly greater MM than gymnasts, long sprinters, non-athletic males and distance runners (P < 0.01). Also, MM was greater in track and field power athletes than in distance runners (P < 0.05). The MM as a percentage of body mass (%MM) ranged from 56.5% in the non-athletic group to 65.1% in the body-builders; body-builders scored higher than basketball players (P < 0.05), distance runners (P < 0.01) and the non-athletic group (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The interest in skinfolds, given the easy accessibility of the subcutaneous layer and its non-invasive nature, has led to a proliferation of 'skinfold' applications and formulae. To obtain data to investigate body composition methods, particularly the use of skinfolds, two separate cadaver dissection studies were undertaken, allowing for the analysis of data from 32 cadavers with more than 2500 data per cadaver. In addition, 40 elderly 'living' subjects of the same age range were compared with the cadaver population and no significant macro-morphological differences were found. The available data have clearly demonstrated that skinfold compressibility is by no means constant. Adipose tissue patterning by assessment of skinfold thickness using calipers and incision confirms significant sex differences but emphasizes the neglected importance of skin thickness. It appears that the best adipose tissue predictors are different from those used in general. Also the problem of estimating body fat content by skinfold is compounded by the fact that two identical thicknesses of adipose tissue may contain significantly different concentrations of fat. Skinfolds are significantly related to external (subcutaneous) adipose tissue. However, the relation to internal tissue is less evident and the relation with intramuscular adiposity is unknown.