The comprehensive body of knowledge that has built up with respect to the friction stir welding (FSW) of aluminium alloys since the technique was invented in 1991 is reviewed. The basic principles of FSW are described, including thermal history and metal flow, before discussing how process parameters affect the weld microstructure and the likelihood of entraining defects. After introducing the characteristic macroscopic features, the microstructural development and related distribution of hardness are reviewed in some detail for the two classes of wrought aluminium alloy (non-heat-treatable and heat-treatable). Finally, the range of mechanical properties that can be achieved is discussed, including consideration of residual stress, fracture, fatigue and corrosion. It is demonstrated that FSW of aluminium is becoming an increasingly mature technology with numerous commercial applications. In spite of this, much remains to be learned about the process and opportunities for further research and development are identified.

Two mutations in the DJ-1 gene on chromosome1p36 have been identified recently to cause early-onset, autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease. As no information is available regarding the distribution of DJ-1 protein in the human brain, in this study we used a monoclonal antibody for DJ-1 to map its distribution in frontal cortex and substantia nigra, regions invariably involved in Parkinson's disease. Western blotting of human frontal cortex showed DJ-1 to be an abundant protein in control, idiopathic Parkinson's disease, cases with clinical and pathological phenotypes of Parkinson's disease with R98Q polymorphism for DJ-1, and in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) brains. We also showed that DJ-1 immunoreactivity (IR) was particularly prominent in astrocytes and astrocytic processes in both control and Parkinson's disease frontal cortex, whereas neurons showed light or no DJ-1 IR. Only occasional Lewy bodies (LBs), the pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease, showed faint DJ-1 IR, localized to the outer halo. In preclinical studies we showed that DJ-1 is expressed in primary hippocampal and astrocyte cultures of mouse brain. By 2D gel analysis we also showed multiple pI isoforms for DJ-1 ranging between 5.5-6.6 in both control and Parkinson's disease brains, whilst exposure of M17 cells to the oxidizing agent paraquat was manifested as a shift in pI of endogenous DJ-1 towards more acidic isoforms. We conclude that DJ-1 is not an essential component of LBs and Lewy neurites, is expressed mainly by astrocytes in human brain tissue and is sensitive to oxidative stress conditions. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that neuronal-glial interactions are important in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.

Abstract. This paper presents SunPy (version 0.5), a community-developed Python package for solar physics. Python, a free, cross-platform, general-purpose, highlevel programming language, has seen widespread adoption among the scientific community, resulting in the availability of a large number of software packages,

The association between PCOS and EC appears confined to premenopausal women. The tendency for cyclin D1-expressing endometrial tumours to be more prevalent in women with PCO challenges the assumption that EC prognosis is improved in women with PCOS.

Despite its limited sample size studied, this is the first demonstration that women with PCOS exhibit microvascular endothelial dysfunction, indicated by an inhibited vasodilatory response to ACh.