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Two types of inter-firm agreements from a micro-analytical perspective, publicly funded collaborations stimulated by research and development government programmes vs. spontaneous, privately funded joint research projects are characterized. With the use of three-dimensional grid in terms of incentives, coordination and learning, it is suggested that the two organizational modes show that government-sponsored agreements generally concern peripheral activities.

ABSTRACTTwo variants of leg repositioning are described biomechanically and examined for differences in step kinematics. Based on leg angle (two-point angle between radius of leg centre of gravity and a horizontal line) during air phase, 30 juniors were divided into two groups (n= 15), large leg angle (LLA, leg angle = 80 ± 4°) and small leg angle (SLA, leg angle = 69 ± 5°). Maximal flying 30-m sprints were recorded (200 fps) and group differences were analysed using a 5-point leg model. With comparable leg length, both groups differed in leg moment of inertia and leg angular velocity. Group SLA reduced knee angle under the body, the thigh of swing leg passed the support leg early, and reached a higher position during knee lift, followed by a higher vertical foot velocity during pre-support. At take-on, both groups achieved a comparable hip, knee and foot angle. Due to higher mass of thigh (66%) compared to lower leg, foot and spikes (34%), thigh movement is essential for repositioning. Despite SLA advantages, three of the six fastest sprinters (v > 10.4 m/s) were evenly divided into both groups. An influence on step length, step frequency, ground contact and flight time was not found.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

ABSTRACTThe geometry of sweep rowing causes an asymmetrical movement with uneven force distribution on both sides of the body. The aim of this study was to investigate the asymmetry of the stretcher force for junior women and men. Four rowing eight-crews (N = 32) completed a stroke rate test and a 2000 m race. The rowing angle, the handle force and the stretcher force for the inside (oarside) and outside (non oarside) leg were measured. In both sub-samples, the outside leg stretcher force was higher than the inside leg stretcher force. The women rowed with higher symmetry index of stretcher force (26.8 ± 19.7%) than the men (8.6 ± 15.9%). This asymmetry was reduced with increasing stroke rate but increased with physical fatigue in the course of the rowing race. The transmission to the oar via trunk and arms is associated with unequal loading of the pelvis and lumbar spine. Female and male sweep rowers with high asymmetry of the stretcher force should use appropriate strength and technique training to reduce the asymmetry and the risk of low back pain.

Le traitement des déformations rachidiennes est une chirurgie à haut risque d’échec chez le patient parkinsonien. Plusieurs études ont rapporté un taux de complication élevé. Cependant, le nombre de patients inclus dans ces séries rétrospectives n’excédait pas 40 patients, ne permettent pas d’identifier de facteurs de risque de complication. Le but de cette étude était de décrire le taux et les facteurs de risque de reprise chirurgicale ainsi que les résultats cliniques au dernier recul sur une large série multicentrique de patients parkinsoniens opérés pour une déformation rachidienne majeure.

À ce jour, il n’existe pas de solution thérapeutique consensuelle pour les scolioses idiopathiques de l’adolescent (SIA) dont la courbure est comprise entre 30 et 60° en fin de croissance.

The pathomechanisms of transient global amnesia (TGA) remain enigmatic. Focal MR signal diffusion changes in the CA-1 sector of the hippocampus have been described in transient global amnesia, but the pathophysiologic correlate of these lesions is unknown.

To investigate cerebellar gray matter volume in patients with essential tremor (ET).

No abstracts.

Die kritische Einstellung der deutschen Öffentlichkeit zu Umweltfragen hat auch die Welt der Gerüche erfasst. In den letzten Jahren haben die Bewertung und Verminderung von Gerüchen bei der Anwendung von Kunststoffen zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen. War es zunächst die Verpackungsbranche, die Produkte für Lebensmittelverpackungen olfaktometrisch untersuchte, so zeigt in den letzten Jahren die Automobilindustrie zunehmendes Interesse für Geruchsbestimmung und Messung, nicht zuletzt wegen des zunehmenden Einsatzes von naturfaserverstärkten Werkstoffen im Fahrzeuginnenraum. Naturfaserverstärkte Kunststoffe haben neben Vorteilen gegenüber glas- und kohlefaserverstärkten Systemen (mechanisches Verhalten/Gewicht, ausgeglichene CO2-Bilanz) auch Eigenschaften, die das Anwendungsspektrum einschränken können. Hierzu werden Emissionen und Geruchsentwicklung gezählt, die unter bestimmten Temperatur- und Feuchtigkeitsbedingungen auftreten können. Auch bei Verbundmaterialien stellt sich die Frage, welche Einzelkomponenten, Verfahrensschritte oder Kombinationen beider für einen bestimmten Geruch verantwortlich sind. Der Weg zur Geruchsneutralität von Kunststoffen ist generell schwierig, da geeignete Herstellungsmethoden oder auch Zusätze nur in langen Versuchsketten ermittelt werden können und nach wie vor die menschliche Nase wichtiger als alle physikalischelektronischen Messverfahren ist. Die Frage der Herkunft von Gerüchen und nach deren Bedeutung für Wohlbefinden und Gesundheit wird gestellt und zwingt nicht nur die Kunststoffindustrie zur Reaktion. Deshalb sind beide, Kunststoff- und Automobilindustrie, bemüht, auf die Tendenzen des Marktes zu reagieren, und es ist das Ziel der Autohersteller möglichst geruchsneutrale Neuwagen auszuliefern.

Anhand der Daten randomisierter Studien, der Analyse von Metaanalysen und der Darstellung von Daten einer eigenen nicht randomisierten Multicenterstudie zur Evaluierung der Appendizitisbehandlung in der klinischen Routine wird der derzeitige Wissensstand zu der Fragestellung, ob eine Appendektomie laparoskopisch oder offen erfolgen sollte, diskutiert. Die offene Appendektomie (OA) bietet in der Analyse der Daten einen Vorteil insbesondere hinsichtlich einer signifikant kürzeren Operationszeit und geringerer stationärer Kosten. Die laparoskopische Appendektomie (LA) zeichnet sich durch eine signifikant verringerte Rate septischer Wundheilungsstörungen und schnellere Rekonvaleszenz aus. Bei der akuten Appendizitis können beide Verfahren mit der gleichen Sicherheit und einem vergleichbaren “out come” angewandt werden. Vorteile für die laparoskopische Appendektomie werden insbesondere in der diagnostischen Abklärung von Unterbauchbeschwerden bei Frauen im geburtsfähigen Alter und bei übergewichtigen Patienten gesehen. In der Behandlung der Appendicitis perforata kann nach der derzeitigen Datenlage keine eindeutige Antwort gegeben werden. Auffällig sind jedoch tendenzielle Hinweise für eine erhöhte postoperative intraabdominelle Abszessrate nach laparoskopischer Appendektomie, sodass bei fortgeschrittener Appendizitis das laparoskopische Vorgehen derzeit nicht als Standardverfahren angesehen werden kann. This article discusses the question of whether open or laparoscopic appendectomy is preferable in today's clinical routine. The article is based on data from randomized studies, evaluation of meta-analyses, and data from nonrandomized, multicentric studies evaluating the treatment of appendicitis in routine clinical practice. According to the data analysis, open appendectomy (OA) offers advantages with regard to a significantly shorter operative time and lower hospital costs. Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is characterized by a significantly decreased rate of failed septic wound healing and faster recovery. Both procedures can be performed with the same degree of safety and comparable outcome for acute appendicitis. Laparoscopic appendectomy offers significant advantages for establishing a precise diagnosis in young fertile women and overweight patients suffering from lower abdominal pain. The currently available data do not provide precise guidelines for the treatment of perforating appendicitis. However, we found significant evidence indicating an increased rate of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess after laparoscopic appendectomy. Thus, a laparoscopic approach cannot be regarded as a standard technique in advanced appendicitis.

Obesity is a severe health problem in Europe and in the USA. There are many different methods to reduce patients' weight. We report a new method: gastric pacing. Gastric pacing is intended to induce early satiety through electrical stimulation of the gastric wall. We report the operative technique and the complications. Übergewicht ist heute in Europa und den USA ein gesundheitliches und soziales Problem. Neben den konservativen Therapiemaßnahmen gibt es zahlreiche Verfahren zur operativen Therapie bei Adipositas. Wir berichten über eine neue laparoskopische Operationstechnik: das Gastric pacing. Neu ist hierbei, dass über eine elektrische Stimulation des Magens beim Patienten ein Sättigungsgefühl ausgelöst wird. Der Eingriff wird hier in seiner Technik und im Hinblick auf mögliche Komplikationen beschrieben.

Abstract:: We present experimental evidence that the free-electron laser at the TESLA Test Facility has reached the maximum power gain of 107 in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region at wavelengths between 80 and 120 nm. At saturation the FEL emits short pulses with GW peak power and a high degree of transverse coherence. The radiation pulse length can be adjusted between 30 fs and 100 fs. Radiation spectra and fluctuation properties agree with the theory of high gain, single-pass free-electron lasers starting from shot noise.

In this and a subsequent article, the range of application for relativistic density functional theory (DFT) is extended to the calculation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) shieldings and chemical shifts in diamagnetic actinide compounds. In the given first paper, various issues are explored that are related to this goal. It is shown that both the relativistic DFT-ZORA (zeroth-order regular approximation, as developed for NMR properties by Wolff, S. K.; Ziegler, T.; van Lenthe, E.; Baerends, E. J. J. Chem. Phys. 1999, 110, 7689) and the older quasi-relativistic (QR) DFT methods are applicable to these compounds. Another popular relativistic method, the use of relativistic effective core potentials (ECP) for the calculation of ligand NMR parameters, is tested as well. It is demonstrated that the ECP approach is beyond its limits for the very heavy actinide compounds. Comparing the ZORA and Pauli approaches, it is found that Pauli is more accurate for the ¹H NMR in UF6-n(OCH3)n compounds whereas ZORA is more accurate in other cases. This is in contrast to earlier studies that always showed ZORA to be superior. The neglect of spin−orbit effects, leading to scalar relativistic approximations, is possible in some cases. In other cases, however, spin−orbit cannot be neglected. For instance in UF5(OCH3), a large spin−orbit chemical shift of about 7 ppm has been found for the ¹H nuclei but only small effects for the other ligand nuclei. The large influences of the reference geometry, the reference compound, and the exchange correlation (XC) functional are demonstrated and discussed. The ¹⁹F chemical shift tensor in UF6 is well reproduced by the ZORA and QR methods. However, for the ¹⁹F chemical shifts in UF6-nCln compounds, only some experimental trends could be reproduced by the calculations. Possible explanations are discussed for these shortcomings, including the choice of model XC functional.

Abstract: A prospective randomized trial in 42 patients undergoing elective total hip or knee arthroplasty under general anaesthesia was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) versus demanded conventional pain therapy (CPT) for controlling postoperative pain. Four patients had to be excluded from the study (2 postoperative confusion, 1 elevated piritramid dosage caused by chronic pain therapy, 1 stressed by PCA pump handling). PCA group (n = 19) received piritramid via PCA pump, CPT group (n = 19) received tramadol (oral or intramuscularly) or piritramid intravenously. PCA or CPT was started in the intensive care unit. Pain was measured with a standard 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) for 60 h postoperatively. Over this period of time, no significant differences were found in the pain score of both groups, nor did the incidence of side-effects differ significantly. The PCA group required on average twice as much piritramid-equivalent than the CPT group (P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was good in both groups, but significantly better in the PCA group (P < 0.01), although the measured postoperative individual pain scores were above the preoperatively determined individual subjective pain threshold in the majority of both groups. From these results we draw the conclusion that even if the patients feel satisfied by the pain therapy administered, the majority are objectively treated below their individual subjective pain threshold.

The first quasi-static stretch of the two limiting systems of filler loaded rubber have been investigated. One of them is found by filler to matrix contacts only, the other by crosslinking permanently the matrix. In this case filler-matrix contacts are made by adhesion. The experimental results were described in terms of an extended van der Waals approach. It is illuminated that different filler to matrix contact (permanent bonds or adhesion) lead to different deformation mechanism, substantially affecting the “reinforcement”. Moreover, filler induced local “field-modifications” due to the boundary value problem can be understood with the Einstein-Smallwood approach independent of the kind of the filler to matrix contacts.

The current distribution in electrochemical cells consisting of parallel rectangular plates is determined. The calculations involve the evaluation of the appropriate analytical solution of Laplace's equation within the electrodes and electrolyte, with boundary conditions corresponding to potential continuity (primary current distribution) or linear electrode kinetics (secondary current distribution) at the electrode-electrolyte interface, and do not make the usual assumption that current flow in the resistive electrode is one-dimensional. The current distributions are given in the form of Fourier series that allow the effects of electrode resistance and electrical contact geometry to be determined.

From the types of ring chromosomes induced in x-irradiated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, we deduce the existence of switches in the polarity of chromosomal DNA; if there is a continuous DNA double helix along the full length of the chromosome then the polarity switches imply 3'-3' and 5'-5' phosphodiester linkages. The resolution of the method is such that we estimate that there is one polarity switch for every 10(9) normal 3'-5' phosphodiester bonds.

Recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) was administered to 30 patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT) for treatment of lymphoma. In this phase I dose escalation study, rhIL-3 was administered from day 0 to 20 after ABMT by 2-hour intravenous infusion at dose levels of 1, 2, 5, and 10 micrograms/kg/d. Seventeen patients did not complete therapy with rhIL-3. Eleven requested early discontinuation for malaise, confusion, transplant complications, or rapid engraftment and were removed from the study, whereas six patients developed grade III toxicity, including fever (three patients), or headache (three patients) possibly attributable to rhIL3. Other common toxicities included diarrhea, rigors, mucositis, and rash. The maximum tolerated dose of rhIL-3 was 2 micrograms/kg/d. No evidence of earlier hematopoietic cell recovery was observed compared with similar historical patients treated with recombinant human granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Future trials will be needed to determine alternate schedules of administration of rhIL-3 or the use of rhIL-3 in combination or in sequence with other growth factors.

Within the framework of the van der Waals-network model a consistent interpretation of swelling and simple extension in differently crosslinked networks is presented. It is observed that the excess parameters in the Staverman-Koningsveld-Kleintjens version do not depend on the degree of crosslinking. Swelling of filler-loaded rubbers shows universal features because of not depending on the type and the properties of the filler. By introducing the Einstein-Smallwood modification in an adequate manner one understands this phenomenon without any further parameter adjustments. It is the consequence of having “quasi-permanent” filler-to-matrix contacts that are not modified in presence of solvent molecules. The excess-parameters in the swollen matrix are not affected. The entropy elastic stress due to the swelling induced deformation of the matrix is apparently too small as to enforce chain-slippage. The strength of the adhesion of the polymer inhibits filler-to-solvent contacts. These results defend the mean-field treatment of the boundary problem as presented by Einstein-Smallwood, and allows a valuable proof of the thermodynamics of swelling in networks.

Fever is initiated by the action of polypeptide cytokines called endogenous pyrogens, which are produced by the host during inflammation, trauma, or infection and which elevate the thermoregulatory set point in the hypothalamus. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) supports the differentiation and survival of central and peripheral neurons. We describe the activity of CNTF as intrinsically pyrogenic in the rabbit. CNTF induced a monophasic fever which rose rapidly (within the first 12 min) following intravenous injection; CNTF fever was blocked by pretreatment with indomethacin. The fever induced by CNTF was not due to contaminating endotoxins. Increasing doses of CNTF resulted in prolongation of the fever, suggesting the subsequent induction of additional endogenous pyrogenic activity. After passive transfer of plasma obtained during CNTF-induced fever, endogenous pyrogen activity was not present in the circulation; CNTF also did not induce the endogenous pyrogens interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, or interleukin 6 in vitro. Nevertheless, a second endogenous pyrogen may originate within the central nervous system following the systemic injection of CNTF. Of the four endogenous pyrogens described to date (interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, interferon, and interleukin 6), CNTF, like interleukin 6, utilizes the cell-surface gp 130 signal-transduction apparatus.

The effects of autoregressive dependence on nonparametric detection are studied. An approximation technique is used to prove the asymptotic normality of a class of two-sample rank test statistics operating on stationary autoregressive processes. The effect of second-order autoregressive dependence on the asymptotic relative efficiency of the Mann-Whitney detector is illustrated. "Studentization" is proposed as a means of restoring the distribution-free character of rank tests when operating on dependent data. Under autoregressive dependence a consistent estimator for the variance of a class of two-sample rank test statistics is developed, and it is shown that the studentized versions of these statistics are asymptotically normal with mean zero and variance one. Simulation results are presented for the rate of convergence of the studentized two-sample Wilcox0n detector when operating on first-order and second-order stationary autoregressive processes.

Biotransformations of several structurally related cinchona alkaloids were investigated, mimicking mammalian metabolism. Quinine was oxidized to the 1-N-oxide and 1'-N-oxide by Microsporum gypseum, whereas Cunninghamella echinulata yielded the known 3-hydroxy-quinine. Xylaria digitata and Mycobacterium smegmatis oxidized the 1-N of quinidine whereas Mycobacterium gypseum formed the 1-N-oxide of hydroquinidine. No microorganism was found to attack cinchonine. The 1-N-oxide of cinchonidine was obtained with Pellicularia filamentosa. The so far unknown 3-hydroxy-cinchonidine was formed by Rhizopus arrhizus ATTC 10260 and ATCC 11145. As the metabolites could be isolated in yields of up to 9%, these biotransformations offer a method for preparative use.

This paper examines the changesthat have occurred in the management and scale of R & D, in the contextof the'gas industry's experience. As a resultof the discovery o f North Sea gas and new and expanding operations, R & D has become larger, more central, and thus more integrated into and accountable to the organization as a whole. This has resulted in greater centralization and planning administered according to the ‘sponsorship’ principle.

Summary The pattern of banding induced by five restriction enzymes in the chromosome complement of chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan is described and compared with that of humans. The G banding pattern induced by Hae III was the only feature common to the four species. Although hominid species show almost complete chromosomal homology, the restriction enzyme C banding pattern differed among the species studied. Hinf I did not induce banding in chimpanzee chromosomes, and Rsa I did not elicit banding in chimpanzee and orangutan chromosomes. Equivalent amounts of similar satellite DNA fractions located in homologous chromosomes from different species or in nonhomologous chromosomes from the same species showed different banding patterns with identical restriction enzymes. The great variability in frequency of restriction sites observed between homologous chromosome regions may have resulted from the divergence of primordial sequences changing the frequency of restriction sites for each species and for each chromosomal pair. A total of 30 patterns of banding were found informative for analysis of the hominid geneaalogical tree. Using the principle of maximum parsimony, our data support a branching order in which the chimpanzee is more closely related to the gorilla than to the human.

Metabolites in proton chemical exchange with water were detected via the water proton signal using saturation transfer techniques in model systems and biological tissues. The metabolites were selectively saturated and the resulting decrease in the much larger water proton pool was used to monitor the metabolite. This indirect detection scheme can result in a several orders of magnitude increase in sensitivity for metabolites over direct detection methods. A control irradiation scheme was devised to compensate for macromolecular/water magnetization transfer. Using this approach, significant chemical exchange regions at ∼1 and 2.5 ppm were detected in kidney medulla. Using a difference imaging technique between a control irradiation above (−1.74 ppm) and below (+1.74 ppm) the water resonance, a chemical exchange image of the kidney was calculated. These data revealed a linear gradient of chemical exchange increasing from the cortex to the medulla. Studies on medullary acid extracts and urine revealed that the exchange observed in the kidney was predominantly with low molecular weight metabolites. Urea (1 ppm) was identified as contributing to the kidney/urine chemical exchange; however, other unidentified metabolites may also contribute to this effect. These studies demonstrate that tissue metabolites can be detected and imaged via the water protons using the signal amplification properties of saturation transfer in the presence of water/macromolecule magnetization transfer.

Orbital elements for two of the binaries included in the survey of B-types, HR 7922 and HR-8891, are derived using combined observations from several observatories. Both binaries appear to be unevolved systems, and the separations of the components are great enough in each case that no complication from interactions is expected and none is observed. It is also noted that the systems have not yet reached a stage of mass exchange.