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Invasive treatment of intermittent claudication (IC) because of severe atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) is controversial. This prospective randomised trial was performed to assess the impact on health related quality of life (HRQoL) of primary stenting with nitinol self expanding stents compared with best medical treatment alone in patients suffering from stable IC due to SFA disease.One hundred patients with stable IC caused by SFA disease from seven Swedish hospitals treated with best medical treatment (BMT) were randomised to either the stent (n = 48) or the control (n = 52) group. Change in HRQoL assessed by the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and EuroQoL 5 dimensions (EQ5D) 12 months after treatment was the primary outcome measure. Improvement in the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ), ankle brachial index (ABI), and walking distance were secondary outcomes.HRQoL improved significantly. In the stent group the following SF-36 domains improved: Physical Function, 19 points (p .001); Bodily Pain, 14 points (p = .001); General Health, 6 points (p = .019); Vitality, 10 points (p = .004); Physical Component Summary, 6.5 points (p .001); EQ5D, 0.14 points (p = .008); and WIQ 22 points (p .001). They were unchanged in the control group. Both ABI (from 0.58 ± 0.11 to 0.86 ± 0.19, p .001, in the stent group and from 0.63 ± 0.17 to 0.70 ± 0.20, p = .005, in the control group) and walking distance (WD) (from 171 ± 90 meters to 613 ± 381 meters, p .001, in the stent group and from 209 ± 106 m to 335 ± 321 meters, p = .012, in the control group) improved, and at 12 months both the ABI (p .001) and the WD (p = .001) were higher in the stent group.In patients with IC caused by lesions in the SFA, the addition of primary stenting to BMT was associated with significant improvement in HRQoL, ABI, and walking distance after 12 months follow-up compared with BMT alone.

The dramatic increases in incidence of both obesity and many cancers including skin cancer emphasize the need to better understand the pathophysiology of both conditions and their connections. Melanoma is considered the fastest growing cancer and rates of non-melanoma skin cancer have also increased over the last decade. The molecular mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and skin cancer are not clearly understood but emerging evidence points to changes in the tumor microenvironment including aberrant cell signaling and genomic instability in the chronic inflammatory state many obese individuals experience. This article reviews the literature linking obesity to melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.

Objectives Extended hospitalization for school-aged cancer patients increases their risk of social marginalization. School-aged children mature through peer-interaction, but healthcare providers fail to incorporate this in rehabilitation efforts. The RESPECT study offers classmates to cancer patients to become ambassadors during hospital stays. This study explores classmate decision-making patterns about ambassadorship. Methods An open-ended question was prospectively and consecutively provided to classmates (N = 221) (and parents) of 10 children diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and enrolled in the RESPECT study. Statements were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results Of 221 classmates, 140 responded (63%). Of these, 81 applied for ambassadorship (median 8/patient), 58 declined, one was undecided. Nine forms were incomplete; leaving 131 in total that revealed 303 statements for analysis. Five major themes emerged: existing friendship (132/303 statements), personal resources (academic, emotional and social) (107/303), attitudes towards the ambassadorship (34/303), hospital environment (18/303) and logistics (12/303). Of the classmates with pre-existing friendships, 77% applied for ambassadorship and 80% with a surplus of personal resources applied. These were predominant predictors for ambassadorship application. Classmate motives were condensed into four archetypes: pre-existing friendship with a surplus of resources (100% applied), non-friend classmates with a surplus of resources (63% applied), pre-existing friendship with limited resources (22% applied) and non-friend classmates with limited resources (0% applied). Conclusion Classmates are highly motivated to support patients during serious illness, irrespective of pre-existing friendships. Ambassadors offer a novel in-hospital approach to promote rehabilitation in children with severe/chronic diseases. Results need validation in other settings. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objectives Several plaque and lesion characteristics have been associated with an increased risk for procedural stroke during or shortly after carotid artery stenting (CAS). While technical advancements in stent design and cerebral protection devices (CPD) may help reduce the procedural stroke risk, and anatomy remains important, tailoring stenting procedures according to plaque and lesion characteristics might be a useful strategy in reducing stroke associated with CAS. In this descriptive report of the ongoing Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial-2 (ACST-2), it was assessed whether choice for stent and use or type of CPD was influenced by plaque and lesion characteristics. Materials and methods Trial patients who underwent CAS between 2008 and 2015 were included in this study. Chi-square statistics were used to study the effects of plaque echolucency, ipsilateral preocclusive disease (90–99%), and contralateral high-grade stenosis (>50%) or occlusion of the carotid artery on interventionalists' choice for stent and CPD. Differences in treatment preference between specialties were also analysed. Results In this study, 831 patients from 88 ACST-2 centres were included. Almost all procedures were performed by either interventional radiologists (50%) or vascular surgeons (45%). Plaque echolucency, ipsilateral preocclusive disease (90–99%), and significant contralateral stenosis (>50%) or occlusion did not affect the choice of stent or either the use of cerebral protection and type of CPD employed (i.e., filter/flow reversal). Vascular surgeons used a CPD significantly more often than interventional radiologists (98.6% vs. 76.3%; p < .001), but this choice did not appear to be dependent on patient characteristics. Conclusions In ACST-2, plaque characteristics and severity of stenosis did not primarily determine interventionalists' choice of stent or use or type of CPD, suggesting that other factors, such as vascular anatomy or personal and centre preference, may be more important. Stent and CPD use was highly heterogeneous among participating European centres.

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Bei den meisten Geschwulsten erfolgt die Blutversorgung durch neu gebildete Gefasse, die aus umgebendem Organgewebe von mehreren Seiten her in den Tumor eindringen. In bosartigen Geschwulsten sind solche Gefasse in der Regel niedrig differenziert, vom embryonalen Typus, ohne elastische Lamellen in der Wandung; in gutartigen Tumoren konnen die Gefasse hoher differenziert sein und denen in normalem Gewebe mehr ahneln. Bei niedrig differenzierten bosartigen Geschwulsten weicht die kapillare Angioarchitektonik stark von der in entsprechendem normalem Gewebe gewohnlichen ab, wahrend bei gutartigen, hoch differenzierten Tumoren in dieser Beziehung grossere Ahnlichkeiten zu bestehen pflegen. Wenn sich ein maligner Tumor in einem Gewebe ausbreitet, dann werden die praformierten Gefasse des letzteren zerstort, und man sieht etwaige Gefassreste hauptsachlich an der Peripherie der Geschwulst, wo sie sich bei Elastinfarming am leichtesten nachweisen lassen. Dieser Umstand kann diagnostisch wertvoll sein. Die Tumoren mit zierlichem, lockerem Stroma sind im allgemeinen reicher an Kapillaren als diejenige mit fibrosem, zellarmem. Es gibt aber Ausnahmen von dieser Regel. An der Grenze zwischen vital und regressiv verandertem Tumorgewebe sieht man fast regelmassig eine »trauerrandahnliche« Gefasserweiterung und Diapedese-Blutungen, sicher im Zusammenhang mit intravitalen Staseerscheinungen entstanden, die durch Gefasskompression, ortlichen Blutdruckfall, intravaskulare Tumorproliferation u. dgl. bedingt sind. Die kapillare Angioarchitektonik der Metastasen deckt sich in der Regel ziemlich gut mit derjenigen des Primartumors. Den Geschwulsten scheint eine zuvor nicht nachgewiesene, bis zu einem gewissen Grade spezifische kapillare Angioarchitektonik eigen zu sein, die mitunter die Klassifizierung derselben lediglich an Hand von Praparaten mit Blutkorperchenfarbung ermoglicht. Dies gilt namentlich fur hoher differenzierte Tumoren, was schon aus den Mikrophotographien in der vorliegenden Arbeit ersichtlich werden durfte. Nur undifferenzierte Tumorformen weisen oft in verschiedenen Organen eine so uncharakteristische kapillare Angioarchitektonik auf, dass es nicht moglich ist, lediglich auf Grund derselben den Ursprung der Geschwulst anzugeben.

Researchers have been questioning the methodology of determinant attribute identificaUon for the past few years. The objective of this research project is to test the convergent validity of four different methods of determinant attribute identification. Results of the project suggest that the four methods produce varying results.

In the course of a long-term radial velocity survey of about 100 southern pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars, we have discovered two spectroscopic PMS binaries. One is the weak-lined T Tauri star Haro 1-14c in the Ophiuchus clouds, which has a spectral type of K3 and is a member of the visual Haro 1-14 binary with a separation of 12."9. Haro 1-14c is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with a very long period of 591 days. The other is Parenago 2494, a weak-lined T Tauri star with a spectral type of K0 located in the Orion cluster. It is a double-lined spectroscopic binary with a period of 19.5 days. Our photometric monitoring shows that P2494 is a low-amplitude variable with a period of 5.77 days. We have determined accurate orbital elements for both binaries. We further discuss five low-amplitude velocity variable stars, which are possibly additional spectroscopic PMS binaries.

Multi-proxy records of the high resolution core ENAM94-09 from the Faeroe region, NE Atlantic, were used to reconstruct paleoceanographic conditions at intermediate water depth during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 19.3–16.7 ka BP) and the initial deglaciation period (16.7–>14 ka BP). The methods comprise micropaleontological and geochemical analyses as well as measurements of stable isotopes and AMS 14 C dating for stratigraphic control. Owing to exceptionally high sedimentation rates of 90 cm/ka during the LGM and the initial deglaciation, it has been possible to resolve that the intermediate water masses in the Faeroe area lead the surface water deglaciation signal by 1.6 ka. The time span of this lead corresponds to the “Southern Hemisphere Lead” recently reported from the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean [Paleoceanography, 14 (1999) 135]. It is suggested that an interhemispheric teleconnection at intermediate water depth played a crucial role during deglaciation and in the final ice surge events around the northern North Atlantic.

In a retrospective study, we investigated whether embolisation of intracranial aneurysms during the spasm period (days 3-14) after subarachnoid haemorrhage carries an increased risk. A comparison was made with patients embolised during the same period but in the first 2 days after the haemorrhage. The two groups compared well except for a higher incidence of posterior circulation aneurysm in the group with delayed treatment. There seems to be no difference in the short-term outcome between the two.

The relationship between root and leaf infection in 11 cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare) by different isolates of Bipolaris sorokiniana was investigated in young plants. Roots of 10-day-old seedlings, grown in filterpaper rolls, and the third leaf of 17-day-old seedlings were inoculated with the different isolates and a Disease Development Index (DDI) was calculated. The rate of lesion development in leaves was higher than in roots, indicated by generally higher DDI after leaf inoculation than after root inoculation. Significant differences in resistance were found among the barley cultivars. Inoculation with different isolates of B. sorokiniana caused significant differences in DDI for both roots and leaves. In the leaves, but not in the roots, a significant cultivar–isolate interaction was found. No significant correlations, neither in isolate aggressiveness nor in cultivar reaction between root and leaf, were observed. Zusammenfassung Untersucht wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen Wurzel- und Blattinfektionen bei Jungpflanzen in 11 Sorten der Gerste (Hordeum vulgare) durch verschiedene Bipolaris sorokiniana-Isolate. Die Wurzeln von 10 Tage alten Samlingen, die in Filterpapierrollen heranwuchsen, sowie das dritte Blatt von 17 Tage alten Samlingen wurden mit verschiedenen Isolaten inokuliert, ein Disease Development Index (DDI) wurde danach errechnet. Die Geschwindigkeit der Lasionen entwicklung in Blattern war hoher als in den Wurzeln, die durch einen durchschnittlich hoheren DDI nach Blatt- statt Wurzelinokulation angedeutet wurde. Signifikante Unterschiede der Resistenz wurde zwischen den Gerstensorten ermittelt. Inokulation mit verschiedenen B. sorokiniana-Isolaten verursachte signifikante Unterschiede im DDI sowohl fur die Wurzeln als auch fur die Blatter. Bei den Blattern, jedoch nicht bei den Wurzein, konnte eine signifikante Sorten/Isolat-Interaktion beobachtet werden. Es konnten keine signifikanten Korrelationen zwischen Wurzel und Blatt weder in der Aggressivitat der Isolate noch in der Sortenreaktion festgestellt werden.

A preliminary analysis of a sample of more than hundred stars, used as radial-velocity standards and followed with the CORAVEL spectrographs over 1 to 2 decades, is presented. Stars with intrinsic variability or orbital motions are pointed out.

This paper complements the set of spectroscopic orbits for giant barium stars given in Udry et al. (1998) and provides data for 20 binaries (18 orbits + 2 minimum-period determinations).

The enantiomers of five racemic anaesthetic drugs were resolved with cyclodextrins using capillary zone electrophoresis. Parameters which affected the chiral resolution, such as type and concentration of cyclodextrin, temperature, and addition of organic modifier were investigated. The results show that the enantiomeric discrimination of the solutes is influenced by the structural shape of the solute molecules, separation temperature, and type of cyclodextrin. It was found that alpha-cyclodextrin was the best enantioselector for resolution of prilocaine and ketamine, while the enantiomers of mepivacaine, ropivacaine, and bupivacaine were resolved with beta-cyclodextrin and/or modified beta-cyclodextrins, i.e., methyl- and 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, as chiral selectors. The length of the alkyl chain on the amino group of the drug molecule had a strong effect on the enantioresolution of mepivacaine, ropivacaine, and bupivacaine. Baseline separation of racemic ketamine was achieved with alpha- and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin at 15 degrees C. Addition of 5 M urea to the running buffer containing beta-cyclodextrin at high concentrations resulted in the enantioseparation of prilocaine, mepivacaine, and ketamine. Enantioresolution was improved upon the addition of 10% methanol to the buffer containing urea and beta-cyclodextrin. Generally, the complex formed between the S-enantiomers and modified beta-cyclodextrins was stronger than the corresponding R-forms. An exception was prilocaine where the R-form gave a more stable complex both with alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin.

For HD 29907 results are presented from radial-velocity monitoring and from photometric observations on the uvby system. The object is a binary system at a distance of around 50 parsecs from the sun. The primary component is a G2 VI star. The secondary component remains unidentified. The absolute visual magnitude of the primary component is MV =+6.6, and the effective temperature and abundance of heavy elements are given by and [Fe/H]=-1.7, respectively. The V magnitude appears variable with a range of at least 0.12 magnitudes. Colour indices appear stable. The system has a radial velocity of , an orbital period of 29.9 days and an eccentricity of 0.41. The total space velocity with respect to the galactic center is 340 and the object approaches escape velocity.

The paper argues that the development of what is known as a "sales culture" in a service organization has implications for the roles of the people involved, the control and motivation systems employed, and the internal environment of the organization. The results show perceptual relationships among these issues in a specific context (financial services firms), and offer general implica- t~ons from this to other services fums. Managers of service firms need to understand that strategy changes alone, structural changes alone, or cultural revision alone is not sufficient for success. All of these variables are intertwined and all Ulree are necessary conditions for the successful adoption of a sales culture.

Maintains that many services marketing strategies have been based on four commonly accepted dimensions. Empirically tests these dimensions to determine if they are relevant for developing services marketing strategies in consumer markets. Shows that while they perceive significant differences between goods and services, they use evaluative dimensions that are somewhat different from those proposed by the services marketing literature. Concludes that consumer‐driven strategies are more effective than strategies based on commonly accepted conceptual dimensions of services.

Mucus glycoproteins (mucins) were isolated from sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) after separation into sol and gel phases. The mucus gel was solubilized with gentle stirring in 6 M-guanidinium chloride supplemented with proteinase inhibitors, and purification of mucins was subsequently achieved by isopycnic density-gradient centrifugation in CsCl/guanidinium chloride. Density-gradient centrifugation also revealed a heterogeneity of the macromolecules, the pattern of which varied between individuals, and mucins from the gel phase was pooled as ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ fractions. Gel chromatography on Sepharose CL-2B showed that the heavy fraction contained a larger proportion of smaller species than the ‘light’ fraction and that the gel phase mucins were much larger than those from the sol. An apparently homogeneous high-Mr mucin population from one individual contained approx. 70% (w/w) carbohydrate, the major sugars being N-acetylglucosamine (17.8%), N-acetylgalactosamine (6.7%), galactose (20.7%), fucose (13.2%) and sialic acid (11.4%). These mucins had an S020.w of 47 S, and an Mr of 15 x 10(6) -20 x 10(6), and rate-zonal centrifugation revealed a polydisperse size distribution [range (5-30) x 10(6)] with a weight-average Mr of 17 x 10(6). The whole mucins were visualized with electron microscopy as linear and apparently flexible threads, disperse in size. Reduction produced subunits which were included on Sepharose CL-2B, and subsequent trypsin digestion yielded high-Mr glycopeptides which were further retarded. The size distributions and fragmentation patterns of mucin from two other CF patients were the same, as studied by gel chromatography, rate-zonal centrifugation and electron microscopy. We conclude that CF mucins are heterogeneous in both size and buoyant density and that the various populations, though differing in buoyant density, share the same architecture and macromolecular properties and are, in this respect, similar to mucins from normal respiratory secretions [Thornton, Davies, Kraayenbrink, Richardson, Sheehan & Carlstedt (1990) Biochem. J. 265, 179-186] and human cervical mucus [Carlstedt & Sheehan (1989) SEB Symp. XLIII 289-316].

This paper addresses the question of why metal-deficient barium stars are not yellow symbiotic stars (YSyS). Samples of (suspected) metal-deficient barium (mdBa) stars and YSyS have been collected from the literature, and their properties reviewed. It appears in particular that the barium nature of the suspected mdBa stars needs to be ascertained by detailed abundance analyses. Abundances are therefore derived for two of them, HD 139409 and HD 148897, which reveal that HD 148897 should not be considered a barium star. HD 139409 is a mild barium star, with overabundances observed only for elements belonging to the first s-process peak (Y and Zr). The evidence for binarity among mdBa stars is then reviewed, using three different methods: (i) radial-velocity variations (from CORAVEL observations), (ii) Hipparcos astrometric data, and (iii) a method based on the comparison between the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 proper motions. A first-time orbit is obtained for HIP 55852, whereas evidence for the (so far unknown) binary nature of HIP 34795, HIP 76605, HIP 97874 and HIP 107478 is presented. Two stars with no evidence for binarity whatsoever (HIP 58596 and BD +3 2688) are candidates low-metallicity thermally-pulsing asymptotic giant branch stars, as inferred from their large luminosities. The reason why mdBa stars are not YSyS is suggested to lie in their different orbital period distributions: mdBa stars have on average longer orbital periods than YSyS, and hence their companion accretes matter at a lower rate, for a given mass loss rate of the giant star. The definite validation of this explanation should nevertheless await the determination of the orbital periods for the many mdBa stars still lacking periods, in order to make the comparison more significant., Astronomy & Astrophysics, in press; 16 pages, 14 figures; also available at http://www.astro.ulb.ac.be/Html/ps.html#PRS

not Available.

The Entropy Minimax technique from information theory has been applied to long-range, hydrologic forecasting in California. Based on 1852–1977 records, the technique exhibits a limited, but statistically significant, success for predictions one year ahead. A seven-station precipitation index having a 126 water-year base period was chosen as the dependent variable to represent the area's hydrologic status. Random division of the water years into training (model building) and test (reserved for verification only) halves was strictly enforced and a “one-try-only” constraint was placed on predictive runs. Predictions were formulated by an analog selection procedure based on patterns found in a 42-dimensional space of independent variables. These had been extracted by selection, compression and filtering from a data base containing over 100 000 time series. Wet/dry predictions (above or below median), validated on the test water years, demonstrated a 63% accuracy with a 94% confidence that this succes...

A procedure for virtually memory-free Monte-Carlo simulation of the self-avoiding random walk (SAW) in a two-dimensional network and in a simple cubic lattice has been developed. It is highly efficient in yielding values of the intrachain meansquare end-to-end distance 2 n > for chains up to n = 1000 and n = 400 steps, for the two and three-dimensional cases respectively. The number N of walks per each chain of n steps involved n = 500 to N = 3000.Accessing a medium-sized computer via a portable terminal, it was possible to obtain values for n up to 21, with N up to 1000, in minutes, and to obtain values for n up to 400 and 1000 with N up to 300 in approximately an hour of computing time.The principal finding is that for 2 n > = an γ , the value of the exponent remains stable at approximately 6/5, consistent with the results of prior work involving complete enumeration for n up to 16 and n up to 10 in the two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases. No comparative data are available for higher levels of n because of the time constraints of memory-dependent computer programs.

Early radial-velocity work on high-velocity stars has been summarized. Present samples of such stars have been reviewed. Selection methods and sample bias have been discussed. Spectroscopic as well as photometric methods have been examined. In order to find a reasonably bias-free sample of late-type stars of Population II, photometric survey techniques have to be applied. Our survey for cool Population II stars is presented. With uvby photometry we have covered a total of about 5000 stars in an attempt to derive an unbiased sample of late-type stars suitable for a study of galactic distribution and kinematical properties as a function of evolutionary phase. Especially for the metal-poor stars of our sample we have made highaccuracy CORAVEL scanner measurements of radial velocities. So far, around 1700 stars have been observed for radial velocities, most of them more than once. The CORAVEL measurements have been very successful also for stars with extremely low abundance of heavy’ elements. Many previously unknown high-velocity stars have been found. Some of them have very high radial velocities. A comparison between our radial-velocity data and our preliminary metallicity indices confirms the early evolutionary phase reached in our survey. Our results also seem to confirm the limited ranges occupied by Intermediate Population II in metallicity and in radial velocity.

Radii and luminosities for Cepheid variables provide fundamental information on stellar evolution. Such data, obtained by the Baade-Wesselink method, are available and have been used for a number of galactic Cepheids. It is of particular interest to obtain corresponding data for Cepheids in the Magellanic Clouds. Firstly, this allows a comparative study of stellar evolution between the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds. Secondly, it provides data for an independent determination of the distance to the Magellanic Clouds.Radial-velocity observations have been made for a total of around 20 Cepheid variables in both the LMC and the SMC. All measurements were made with the photoelectric scanner CORAVEL attached to the Cassegrain focus of the Danish 1.54-m telescope at European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile. Observations were made from January 1981 through October 1983. The accuracy of individual radial-velocity observations is of the order of 1 km s−1. The B magnitudes of the six Cepheids presented range from 13.0 to 15.5.

In the consumer behavior context, multiattribute attitude models used to predict consumer choice in multiple criteria decision making situations have produced mixed results. Prediction of consumer behavior from attitudes, consequently, has been highly debated in recent years with researchers using beliefs-only, full, and extended multiattribute attitude models. The research underlying this paper was designed to compare the predictive superiority of the beliefs-only model, the full multiattribute attitude model, and a new representation identified as the combined multiattribute/determinant attribute attitude model. Data concerning patronage of fast-food chains were collected from a student panel for seven weeks. Predictive superiority was determined by average adjusted R2 using the patronage behavior dependent variable. All models were tested in aggregated and disaggregated form.

An attempt has been made to calibrate the indices of the uvby photometric system in terms of MK classes equal to and later than that of the Sun. Results are presented for stars of luminosity classes V and III; b-y and c1 data are given. For stars on the main sequence, the relation between m1 and b-y is discussed for stars of solar type.

Mucus glycoproteins (mucins) were extracted from human cervical pregnancy mucus by 6 M-guanidinium chloride in the presence of proteinase inhibitors. Purification was subsequently achieved by isopycnic density-gradient centrifugation in CsCl/ guanidinium chloride gradients. The purified macromolecules represented approx. 85% of the total and were devoid of nucleic acids and proteins, as judged by analytical density-gradient centrifugation, disc electrophoresis and u.v. spectroscopy. Sedimentation-velocity centrifugation revealed a single unimodal peak with S20,W 50.1S in 0.2M-NaCl and 37.0S in 6 M-guanidinium chloride. Molecular weights obtained by light-scattering were 9.7 × 10(6) and 5.9 × 10(6) in 0.2M-NaCl and 6 M-guanidinium chloride respectively. The chemical analyses were typical of those of epithelial mucins. The macromolecules contained approx. 20% (w/w) of protein, and 65% (w/w) was accounted for as carbohydrate. Serine and threonine constituted 32 mol/100 mol and proline 10 mol/100 mol of the amino acids. The major sugars found were N-acetylglucosamine (12.8%), N-acetylgalactosamine (9.7%), galactose (18.7%), sialic acid (15.0%) and fucose (7.5%).

A report is given on the site-testing programme for a Very Large Telescope in Chile. Data are now available from seven months of investigations. Comments are made on the places which have so far seemed most attractive. Meteorological data from constant monitoring of a coastal mountain, Paranal, are presented and discussed. These data indicate an average percentage of photometric nights of around 85. Atmospheric integrated water-vapour content seems very low in the winter but relatively high in the summer. Other meteorological parameters seem favourable for astronomical observations.

Observation of absorption lines produced by interstellar gas is a straight-forward way to determine column densities and velocities along the line of sight of interstellar clouds. In practice, peculiar motions often mask galactic rotation and/or cause line blending. We have made a study of absorption lines of interstellar sodium covering a substantial part of the Galaxy at extremely high spectral resolution.