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As the Fourth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2018 is fast approaching, it is time to begin reviewing how the treaty is operating 20 years after its entry into force. Much has been achieved towards freeing the world of the menace of chemical warfare, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (the OPCW) received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 in recognition of its achievements towards this goal. A small number of States remain that have yet to join the Convention, and the destruction of the remaining chemical weapons stockpiles has yet to be completed, but the overall direction of the OPCW's work is gradually shifting towards a stronger emphasis on measures to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons in the future. The environment within which the Convention is operating is undergoing significant change. One critical aspect in this regard is convergence – a dominant trend in today's advances in science and technology that has a significant impact on the Convention and its way of operating. This chapter provides an overview of the key provisions of the Convention, and looks at success stories, as well as problem areas, related to its implementation. It discusses the range of provisions of the Convention that aim at preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons (national legislation and implementation, verification, protection and assistance against chemical weapons, and compliance management including the work of the Executive Council and challenge inspection), and identifies challenges and opportunities emanating from convergence. It then reviews the way in which the OPCW monitors advances in science and technology, with particular emphasis on convergence in the life sciences, and how it assesses the impact of these advances on the operation of the Convention. Then finally, the chapter looks at political and cultural issues ahead of the OPCW, identifies needs with regards to maintaining operational capacity, competence and knowledge, and it ends with some general thoughts about how convergence in science and technology may affect the relationship between the CWC and other regimes.

Klimaanlagen mit vollautomatischer Temperaturregelung sind heutzutage in der Automobilindustrie weit verbreitet. Durch den hierdurch gewonnenen Komfort tragen solche Systeme zusatzlich zur Verkehrssicherheit bei. Eine der zentralen Regelgrosen stellt in der Fahrzeugklimatisierung die Kabinentemperatur dar. Diese muss nicht nur bekannt sein, sondern sie muss auch das Komfortempfinden der Insassen widerspiegeln. In diesem Beitrag werden der Aufbau und die Wirkungsweise des Sensorprinzips ITOS® (Integrated-Thermal-Optical-Sensor) [13] zur Erfassung der Kabinentemperatur beschrieben.

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a cornerstone arms control agreement prohibiting an entire category of weaponry. It is of unlimited duration and has achieved nearly universal adherence. As the elimination of most of the past chemical weapons programmes nears completion, efforts to maintain and strengthen the comprehensive ban on chemical weapons require a shift in priorities and programme focus from eliminating past programmes (which of course needs to be completed) to maintaining the Convention's effectiveness and adaptability to change in the future. This is often described as preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons, but it also includes taking full advantage of the achievements of chemical weapons disarmament for the peaceful economic and technological development of the States Parties. This chapter builds on the previous chapters and summarises key challenges for the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (the OPCW) in this transition. It looks at national implementation, verification, and the strengthening of resilience against the hostile use of toxic chemicals. The chapter also identifies key challenges and opportunities in the field of peaceful cooperation among States Parties. The chapter also summarises the impact of convergence between chemistry and biology on the functioning of the CWC, and then looks at how the OPCW can remain fit for purpose as an international organisation at the nexus of disarmament, emergency response and international cooperation and assistance, and as a learning organisation and international centre of excellence in its field of operation. Finally, the chapter looks at the way ahead, and highlights opportunities for action by the Fourth CWC Review Conference in 2018.

At the turn of the 21st century, convergence (the integration of theoretical concepts, experimental methods and scientific knowledge at the intersection of chemistry and biology) has become a prominent driver of the life sciences. New scientific sub-disciplines have evolved (the “omics”, synthetic biology, systems biology and many more), and transformational methods such as CRISPR Cas9 have spread across the research community and transformed the way in which biology is done. Other technological advances, too, have acted as enablers for scientific progress and promoted the practical application of new insights and techniques. Nanotechnology offers interesting concepts and tools that may change the way in which medical treatments are being delivered to target, toxic chemicals are being sensed in humans and the environment, or contamination with toxic (or infectious) agents is being avoided, treated or remedied. How these advances in science and technology affect the Chemical Weapons Convention will depend on how widely and deeply they will penetrate society: whether and at what scale industry will use them in applications ranging from defence to energy and food production, managing the impact of global warming, or manufacturing consumer goods. Such changes in science and industry, in the patterns of industrial and trade activity, and in the use of chemicals in society need to be carefully assessed to understand their potential risks for arms control. New discoveries could lead to novel chemical agents, new methods of chemical weapons production, or even new forms of chemical warfare. At the same time, such assessments must take account of the societal drivers that move science, technology and industrial application forward, and of the benefits that these advances can bring to society. In a more Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)-focused way, such assessments need to balance any potential risks with the benefits they can bring for protections against chemical weapons and for international cooperation in chemistry for peaceful purposes. This chapter provides an overview of recent trends in chemical and biological convergence and nanotechnology, discusses how they affect the Chemical Weapons Convention and its operation at national as well as international levels, and it highlights some of the governance approaches that are needed to manage the risks inherent in these advances whilst maximising their societal benefits.

Ein hoher Prozentsatz von Patienten weist zu Beginn einer chronischen Nierenersatztherapie keinen permanenten Gefaszugang bzw. Peritonealdialyse (PD)-Katheter auf, obwohl grose Anstrengungen unternommen werden, die Verwendung zentralvenoser Dialysekatheter (ZVDK) einzudammen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass ein ungeplanter Dialysebeginn unter Einsatz temporarer Hamodialyse (HD)-Katheter mit einer hohen Rate an infektiosen Komplikationen und Mortalitat vergesellschaftet ist. Trotz ihres mit der HD vergleichbaren Outcomes wird die PD nur selten eingesetzt. Um den Bedarf an ZVDK zu reduzieren, sind ein HD-Beginn mittels ZVDK und eine PD mit PD-Katheter hinsichtlich Komplikationen und Uberleben in akuten und ungeplanten Situationen miteinander verglichen worden. Es zeigte sich, dass der akute, ungeplante PD-Beginn unter sofortiger Verwendung des PD-Katheters unmittelbar nach dessen Einbringen weder das Risiko fur infektiose Komplikationen erhoht noch langfristig die Lebensdauer der PD-Technik oder das Patientenuberleben beeintrachtigt. Die Etablierung eines akuten, ungeplanten PD-Beginns erfordert besondere infrastrukturelle und logistische Voraussetzungen wie die schelle Implantation eines PD-Katheters, den fruhen Start der PD-Therapie mit modifizierter Rezeptierung sowie adaquater personeller und pflegerischer Ausstattung. Die Studien belegen, dass die PD-Therapie unter einer engagierten und entsprechenden Herangehensweise fur Patienten, die dringend eine Nierenersatztherapie benotigen, nicht nur im chronischen, sondern auch im akuten, ungeplanten Setting eine praktikable, sichere und effiziente Alternative zur HD darstellt. In diesem Beitrag werden klinische Berichte uber den Beginn einer akuten, ungeplanten PD-Therapie und wesentliche infrastrukturelle und logistische Anforderungen vorgestellt.

Objective Periarticular osteoporosis is one of the earliest radiographic signs of bone damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Denosumab, an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to RANKL, inhibits bone erosion and systemic bone loss in clinical studies of patients with RA. In this hand bone mineral density (BMD) substudy, we investigated the effects of denosumab on hand BMD and its correlation with hand erosion scores. Methods Patients receiving methotrexate for erosive RA were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive subcutaneous placebo, denosumab 60 mg, or denosumab 180 mg at 0 and 6 months. Measurements included BMD (by dual x-ray absorptiometry [DXA]) of both hands (0, 1, 6, and 12 months), magnetic resonance images of the hands/wrists (0 and 6 months), and radiographs of the hands/wrists and feet (0, 6, and 12 months). Results There were 56 patients (13 placebo, 21 denosumab 60 mg, and 22 denosumab 180 mg). Mean changes in hand BMD at 6 and 12 months were: +0.8% and +1.0%, respectively, for denosumab 60 mg; +2.0% and +2.5%, respectively, for denosumab 180 mg; and −1.2% and −2.0%, respectively, for placebo. Erosion scores remained near baseline in the denosumab groups and increased from baseline in the placebo group. A negative correlation was observed between hand BMD and erosion scores. Conclusion In patients with RA, denosumab provided protection against erosion, and not only prevented bone loss but increased hand BMD as measured by DXA.

A prospective study of 45 consecutive patients (27 men, 18 women, mean age 42 [22-64] years) who had undergone allogeneic renal transplantation was carried out to ascertain whether rejection of the graft can be detected by routine follow up with colour-coded Doppler ultrasonography even in the presence of acute renal failure requiring dialysis. Conventional diagnostic methods detected 44 episodes of rejection in 33 patients: 26 of these arose in 18 patients with acute renal failure requiring dialysis and 18 in 15 patients who did not require dialysis. Colour-coded Doppler ultrasonography was used to determine the "pulsatility index" (PI) at intervals of 3 to 6 days. 17 of the 18 episodes of rejection occurring in transplant patients with stable serum creatinine levels (3.41 +/- 1.48 mg/dl) were detected by colour-coded Doppler ultrasonography 3.8 +/- 5.6 days earlier than by conventional diagnostic methods, the indicator being the rise in PI (sensitivity 93.8%). 25 of the 26 rejection reactions which arose in patients with oligo-anuria due to post-operative renal failure were detected 2.0 +/- 2.7 days earlier (sensitivity 96%). The rise in PI was greater in episodes of vascular rejection than in purely interstitial rejection episodes (40.9 +/- 73.9% versus 10.0 +/- 8.8% per day). Colour-coded Doppler ultrasonography ia a new, highly sensitive, noninvasive method for the early detection of rejection reactions after renal transplantation. Acute postischaemic renal failure does not reduce its sensitivity.

We consider the problem of embedding trees into cyclic host graphs in such a way as to minimize the cutwidth, the maximum number of edges along any point in the cycle. We show that the cyclic cutwidth of trees equals the linear cutwidth.

Recycling of used products is of increasing importance in a society that becomes aware of its responsibility for the environment. Thus, the automatic disassembly in recycling processes will be of increasing importance within the next decade. In this paper, we motivate the use of vision-based control of robot manipulators in an autonomous disassembly station. For this purpose, we present an active object recognition and measurement system based on a stereo head with four mechanical and six optical degrees of freedom. The system has been successfully tested for the task of automatically unbolting wheels from unknown used cars.

A concept of a telemanipulator for laparoscopic surgery is presented. It enables endoscopic handling of surgical effecters and cameras inside the abdominal cavity with six degrees of freedom of motion through a trocar tube 12 mm in diameter. The kinematical structure consists of fourteen axes articulated by six electrical servo drives.

Presents a powered dexterous instrument with surgical effecters, specially designed to be adjusted to a telemanipulator system. Several effecters, for example a needle transfer system or multifunctional effecters and several multi-link structures have been developed. A modular design allows a sufficient cleaning and sterilization. The instrument have been tested sucessfully in phantom and animal experiments. The integration of the instrument in an experimental telemanipulator has been finished.

In der minimal invasiven Chirurgie geht die feinfuhlige Palpation von inneren Organen weitgehend verloren. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Wiedererlangung des Tastgefuhls fur den Chirurgen. Deshalb wurde ein neuartiger taktiler optischer Drucksensor entwickelt, der die Messung von 64 Punkten auf einer Flache von 0,64 cm2 ermoglicht. Der Sensor wurde im Hinblick auf den Einsatz in einer laparoskopischen Faszange konzipiert. Mit diesem optischen Sensor konnen auftretende Harteverteilungen im Gewebe grafisch sichtbar gemacht werden. Zudem dienen die Meswerte zur An-steuerung eines vibrotaktilen Displays, das zur taktilhaptischen Ruckkopplung der Druckdaten auf den Finger des Operateurs dient. Um die Anforderungen an einen analogen Stiftsetzmechanismus fur die Darstellung der Signale zu erhalten, wurde ein Aktorarray mit 144 Stiften auf einer Flache von 4 cm2 realisiert. Der Stiftsetzmechanismus erlaubt das Erkennen von verschiedenen Testobjekten durch erkundende Fingerbewegungen.

NiTi-Formgedachtnislegierungen (FGL) finden gegenwartig starke Beachtung in Mikroaktorik und Medizintechnik. Fur Mikroaktoren sind die hohen Krafte bzw. Stellwege interessant, beim Bau von mikrochirurgischen Instrumenten nutzt man das pseudoelastische Verhalten und die gute Biokompatibilitat der Legierungen aus. Die zunehmende Miniaturisierung und multifunktionale Auslegung von endoskopischen Instrumenten und die Entwicklung von Aktorkonzepten auf der Basis von FGL stellt hohe Anforderungen an die Bearbeitung dieser Werkstoffe im Submillimeterbereich. Die Moglichkeiten zur Herstellung miniaturisierter Bauteile sind allerdings noch unzureichend. NiTi kann galvanisch nicht abgeschieden werden und uber das chemische oder elektrolytische Atzen konnen lediglich Aspektverhaltnisse von maximal 2:1 realisiert werden. NiTi, insbesondere die pseudoelastischen Legierungen, lassen sich wegen der Ruckfederung nur schwierig spanend bearbeiten. Der Eintrag von Warme oder hohe mechanische Spannungen konnen die Funktionseigenschaften verandern und mussen vermieden werden. Problematisch ist auch das Fehlen geeigneter Fugetechniken fur NiTi-Komponenten. Mit den heute noch uberwiegend angewendeten kraftschlussigen Techniken, wie Quetschen, Nieten und Klemmen lassen sich nur wenige Anwendungen abdecken, konventionelle Schweistechniken, wie das Widerstandsstosschweisen und das Reibschweisen sind in der Regel auf Makroabmessungen und einfache Geometrien beschrankt. Verfahren zum Kleben sind aufgrund ungenugender Langzeitsicherheit ebenfalls wenig aussichtsreich.

In minimal invasive surgery high sensory palpation of the organs is largely lost. It is the purpose of this work to recover tactile sensing for the surgeon. To achieve this goal, a new tactile optical pressure sensor has been developed which allows to display 64 measuring points on a 0.64 cm2 surface area with a digital resolution of 12 bits. The sensor has been conceived for application in laparoscopic grasping forceps and can also be integrated into a sensing rod, both 15 mm in outside diameter. This optical sensor allows us to display graphically indurations spread in the tissue. Furthermore, the measured values serve to activate a vibrotactile display unit for tactile feedback onto the surgeon's fingertip. In order to obtain further information about the requirements for an analog tactile display, an actuatorarray with 144 pins on a 4 cm2 surface area was built. The array allows various test objects to be recognized in a true scale presentation by exploratory movements of the fingers.

Precise cutting combined with reliable coagulation of the margins of the lesion is an important requirement for dissection techniques in endoscopic surgery. These requirements are met by the two most common ancillary energy sources applied for endoscopic dissection today, electrosurgery and "thermal lasers", mostly the Nd:YAG. For the comparison of the histological effects of monopolar and bipolar high frequency with the Nd:YAG laser an experimental in vitro and in vivo study has been performed. In order to evaluate the advantages of non thermal dissection for endoscopic procedures, a water jet cutting system was included in the in vitro study. In parenchymatous tissue the water jet was found to be the least traumatic technique, followed by bipolar high frequency, laser and monopolar high frequency. The water jet was not applicable for intestinal dissection since uncontrolled bloating of the rectal wall with uncontrolled disruption of the tissue layers occurred. A general disadvantage is that secure haemostasis in the line of incision is hard to achieve. In the microscopic comparison of the shape of the incision, the Nd:YAG laser produced the smoothest lesions with well-defined margins. The monopolar technique was more often associated with irregular and sometimes fissured margins. These results were confirmed in the in vivo part of the study (Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery).

The article discusses handling problems in endoscopic surgery and concepts for the augmentation of instrument dexterity. The authors present a kinematic concept for improved surgical tool positioning and orientation. Using a trunk mechanism it is possible to assure augmented dexterity and stiffness for endoscopic handling. The paper addresses the use of steerable endoscopic instruments in a manipulator system for minimal invasive surgery.

The augmenting complexity of minimal invasive interventions requests a continuous improvement of technologies. Extended endoscopic procedures, e.g. laparoscopic-transanal sigmoidectomy or thoracoscopic esophagus dissection require difficult surgical manipulations like mobilisation, sceletonization as well as ligatures and sutures. They are difficult to perform with the present endo-surgical instruments. A major instrumental weakness is represented by the restricted steerability because of the rigid shaft axis and the resulting low degrees of freedom (DOF). Therefore a series of steerable flexible instruments has been developed in interdisciplinary cooperation between surgeons and engineers. The prototypes provide a multi-joint working as the instrument's elbow, which allows to incline the tip around +/- 280 degrees. The second additional DOF is the rotation of the surgical tool. The prototypes have been experimentally tested in laparoscopy and thoracoscopy, showing a clear improvement in the carrying out of complex operative manipulations. The further development is performed in modular conception, including electric drives.

In der MIC fallen Instrumentenwechsel starker ins Gewicht als bei konventionellen, offenen Eingriffen. Sie konnen uber 5% der Operationsdauer in Anspruch nehmen. Die Kombination der instrumentellen Basisfunktionen Saugen, Spulen, Koagulieren und Schneiden in einem Gerat ist daher geeignet, die Operationszeit zu verkurzen und die Sicherheit des Patienten zu erhohen. Folgende Instrumente wurden entwickelt, sowie experimentell und klinisch erprobt: 1. Saug-Spulrohre fur Laparoskopie und Mediastinoskopie, mit Koagulations-Spitze und erweitertem Arbeitskanal zum Einfuhren verschiedener Praparationsinstrumente. 2. Bipolare Koagulationszange mit integrierter Schneide, Saug- und Spulvorrichtung. 3. Verschiedene Kombinations-Hakensonden fur HF- und Laser-Cholezystektomie. Weitergehendes Ziel ist die Entwicklung eines multifunktionalen Instrumentenkopfes.

In enger Zusammenarbeit mit dem Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe entwickeln wir neue Instrumente, die den Anforderungen endoskopischer Operationen angepast sind. Eine pneumatisch unterstutztes Nadel-Ubernahme System, ein endoskopisches Ligaturinstrument (ENDOLIG), multifunktionale Instrumente zur Blutstillung und Praparation sowie flexible und mechanisch steuerbare Instrumente (SMI). Die Gerate werden gemeinsam konstruiert, in Karlsruhe gefertigt und anschliesend in vivo und vitro Versuchen erprobt.

Endoskopische Nahttechniken sind mit den langen und starren Instrumenten nur umstandlich durchfuhrbar. In Kooperation auf dem Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe entwickeln wir neue Nahtsysteme. Die erste Entwicklung ist eine T-NADEL (der Faden ist in einer Querbohrung fixiert), die nach dem Prinzip des Webstuhlschiffchens zwischen den Branchen eines speziellen Nadelhalters ubergeben wird. In dem starren Maulteil befindet sich ein uber einen Fusschalter pneumatisch gesteuertes und in dem beweglichen ein federbelastetes Halteelement. Verschiedene Nadelformen und Ubergaberichtungen wurden konstruiert und gefertigt. Die Erprobung der Version „Axial“ in Phantom- und Tierversuchen zeigte eine Vereinfachung der Nahtechniken bei endoskopischen Eingriffen.

Die starren Faszangen und Praparationsinstrumente [1, 2, 3], die bei chirurgischen Eingriffen in der Minimal Invasiven Chirurgie im wesentlichen zum Einsatz kommen, sind nur in zwei bis drei Freiheitsgraden innerhalb des Operationsfeldes positionierbar (Abb. 1): 1. Translation entlang der Langsachsen des Instrumentes, 2. Rotation in der Schaftlangsachse, 3. Schwenkung des Instruments. Dieser Freiheitsgrad ist von Art und Grose des Zugangs abhangig.

A prospective study of 45 consecutive patients (27 men, 18 women, mean age 42 [22-64] years) who had undergone allogeneic renal transplantation was carried out to ascertain whether rejection of the graft can be detected by routine follow up with colour-coded Doppler ultrasonography even in the presence of acute renal failure requiring dialysis. Conventional diagnostic methods detected 44 episodes of rejection in 33 patients: 26 of these arose in 18 patients with acute renal failure requiring dialysis and 18 in 15 patients who did not require dialysis. Colour-coded Doppler ultrasonography was used to determine the "pulsatility index" (PI) at intervals of 3 to 6 days. 17 of the 18 episodes of rejection occurring in transplant patients with stable serum creatinine levels (3.41 +/- 1.48 mg/dl) were detected by colour-coded Doppler ultrasonography 3.8 +/- 5.6 days earlier than by conventional diagnostic methods, the indicator being the rise in PI (sensitivity 93.8%). 25 of the 26 rejection reactions which arose in patients with oligo-anuria due to post-operative renal failure were detected 2.0 +/- 2.7 days earlier (sensitivity 96%). The rise in PI was greater in episodes of vascular rejection than in purely interstitial rejection episodes (40.9 +/- 73.9% versus 10.0 +/- 8.8% per day). Colour-coded Doppler ultrasonography ia a new, highly sensitive, noninvasive method for the early detection of rejection reactions after renal transplantation. Acute postischaemic renal failure does not reduce its sensitivity.

Wir haben in enger Kooperation mit dem Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe ein neues Entwicklungsmodell erarbeitet. Die Einbindung der entsprechenden Firmen wird noch erfolgen. Wir entwickeln Kombinationsinstrumente (Saugen, Koaguheren, Schneiden und Spulen in einem Instrument) und neue endoskopisch anwendbare Clip und Nahtsysteme sowie Fernhantierungssysteme werden reahsiert. Die Entwicklungen ghedern sich prinzipiell in 4 Phasen, deren Ubergange jedoch fliesend sind. 1. Phase. Einfache Modelle werden hergestellt und erprobt. 2. Phase. Ein erster Prototyp wird an tierischem Gewebe getestet. 3. Phase. Tierversuche mit entprechenden Prototypen. 4. Phase. Khnisch einsetzbare Instrumente werden gefertigt.

Master slave servo manipulators (MSSM) offer the best efficiency of all manipulator types. The Nuclear Research Center of Karlsruhe has developed MSSM for nuclear applications. The latest development is the VMSM, a hermetically sealed manipulator for operation in vacuum or under water. A prototype of this machine has been manufactured and is being tested. >

Because mortality of Wolves, Canis lupus, is highest during the first six months of life, den site selection may affect reproductive success of Wolf populations. We studied fine-scale denning habitat selection (within 100 m of den site) by comparing field-measured characteristics of 22 dens in Idaho, Montana, and Alberta with 22 paired random contrast locations within pack home ranges. In order of importance, Wolves denned in areas with greater canopy cover, hiding cover, herbaceous ground cover, and woody debris, and were closer to water than paired random sites. Thus Wolves may select den sites for physical protection and available water. We also studied coarse-scale denning habitat selection by comparing 35 Wolf dens with 35 paired contrast locations in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming with respect to six remotely-sensed variables (elevation, slope, coniferous forest cover, solar radiation, distance to water, and distance to roads). Although these variables did not differ (univariate P > 0.10) between den and contrast locations, a Mahalanobis-distance model using four remotely-sensed variables (slope, elevation, coniferous forest cover, and solar radiation) suggested > 85% of dens would occur in potential denning habitat occupying < 12% of the Wolf recovery areas in the northern Rocky Mountains. This model may be useful for identifying likely den locations in areas not yet occupied by Wolves. Wolf core use areas, including den areas, showed higher intensity of use throughout the year when compared to the entire territory.

The SER allows the "deformability" of individual red blood cells to be quantitated by determining their passage time through a pore (d = 5.8 microns, 1 = 50 microns) under the shear stresses of 1.5 Pa-4 Pa. Using this system, we examined the influence of: 1. cytoplasmic viscosity, 2. membrane viscoelastic properties, 3. area to volume relationship. To change these determinants of RBC-deformability, the cells have been altered with 1. Acetylphenylhydrazine (0.016 mol/l), 2. diamide (0.5 mmol/l), 3. osmotic swelling (200 mosm/l) and osmotic shrinking (480 mosm/l) by suspending the cells in hypo- and hypertonic saline. The passage time has been found to be primarily influenced by changes in cytoplasmic viscosity. The same cells when tested in 4 other systems considered to measure RBC-deformability (filtrometer, packed cell viscometry, rheoscope and ektacytometry) behaved differently.

Rotation of the hind foot and associated climbing techniques, plus other adaptations associated with climbing rocks and trees by ringtails ( Bassariscus astutus ), were studied in captivity and under natural and seminatural conditions in Zion National Park, Utah. The ringtail hind foot can rotate externally at least 180 degrees, permitting rapid head-first descent of rocks, cliffs, trees, narrow slab edges, and thin branches, sometimes without the use of claws. Examination of X-rays and articular facets show that rotation occurs at the hip-femur, calcaneum-talus, and intratarsal joints. Other adaptive behavior includes “chimney stemming” between vertical walls, “ricocheting” off vertical surfaces, accurate “power leaping,” techniques to reverse direction on narrow ledges, and claustrophilia.

The 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK) subunits and isoenzymes were studied in human muscle, heart, brain, liver, platelets, fibroblasts, erythrocytes, placenta and umbilical cord. In each tissue, the subunit types in the native isoenzymes were characterized by immunological titration with subunit-specific antibodies and by column chromatography on QAE (quaternary aminoethyl)-Sephadex. Further, the subunits of the partially purified native isoenzymes were resolved by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, identified by immunoblotting, and quantified by scanning gel densitometry of silver-stained gels and immunoblots. Depending on the type of tissue, one to three subunits were detected. The Mr values of the L, M and C subunits regardless of tissue were 76,700 +/- 1400, 82,500 +/- 1640 and 86,500 +/- 1620. Of the tissues studied, only the muscle PFK isoenzymes exhibited one subunit, which was the M-type subunit. Of the other tissues studied, the PFK isoenzymes contained various amounts of all three subunits. Considering the properties of the native PFK isoenzymes, it is clear that, in human tissues, they are not simply various combinations of two or three homotetrameric isoenzymes, but complex mixtures of homotetramers and heterotetramers. The kinetic/regulatory properties of the various isoenzyme pools were found to be dependent on subunit composition.

By introducing a ‘Bertrand-lens’ into the optical system of a rheoscope, we succeeded in simultaneously observing the red blood cells (RBC) and their diffraction pattern under uniform shear stress in a counter-rotating cone-plate chamber. The photographed image of the diffraction pattern is scanned by microdensitometry. Thus, it becomes possible to correlate the diffractional signal to the apparent elongation (E') measured from the microphotographs of the cells. The apparent elongation measured by diffractometry is systematically lower than that of the projected image of the RBC—but strongly correlated (r = 0.955). The method allows measurements of RBC in Dextran solutions, as well as in their native plasma with hematocrits up to 60%.

This paper presents an experiment which creates subaqueous, pseudo-volcanoes approximately four centimeters high in a beaker. The nature of the experiment was discovered accidentally in the spring of 1964 when the author was working on a project involving processing of the Ireland Sandstone. The samples were disaggregated and had just undergone hydrochloric acid digestion and were being washed with tap water. This was done by putting the sample in a 400 ml. beaker, filling it with tap water, and stirring the sample vigorously. Each washing was allowed to soak overnight before the water was poured off. One of the beakers was accidentally jarred and several pseudo-volcanoes, such as shown in Plate 1, were observed. As the washing and digestion was not complete at that time and carbon dioxide bubbles were still emerging, the process behind the pseudo-volcanoes was thought to be obvious.