Mid-term follow-up of surgically treated and healed scaphoid fractures.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term results of surgically treated scaphoid fractures since we were concerned that good results might deteriorate over time due to osteoarthritis or functional impairment. Thirty-three out of 121 surgically treated patients (isolated scaphoid fractures n = 23; scaphoid fractures with concomitant injuries n = 10) were evaluated retrospectively (47-138 months). Five patients (4%) had a non-union after internal fixation and were excluded because of additional treatment. The remaining 83 patients were not available for a follow-up examination. Patients with an isolated scaphoid fracture had a mean extension-flexion of 68°-0°-64°, a radial-ulnar deviation of 27°-0°-41° and a grip strength of 39 kg (corresponding to 87-98% of the uninjured contralateral wrist), while patients with concomitant injuries had a mean extension-flexion of 60°-0°-44°, radial-ulnar deviation of 22°-0°-38° and a grip strength of 42 kg (corresponding to 73-98% of the uninjured contralateral wrist). The Michigan Hand Questionnaire score was 85 and 75 and the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation score was 8 and 21, respectively. Fifteen patients had radiological signs of radiocarpal osteoarthritis with a significantly higher occurrence in those who had concomitant injuries compared to those with isolated scaphoid fractures (p < 0.01). There was no significant group difference in scaphotrapeziotrapezoid (STT) osteoarthritis (p = 0.968). One STT osteoarthritis case occurred after plate fixation, one after antegrade screw fixation and 10 after retrograde screw fixation. Surgical treatment of an acute isolated scaphoid fracture has excellent clinical, functional, and radiologic mid-term results, while scaphoid fractures with concomitant wrist injuries have slightly inferior results.

Age-dependent differences in cholinergic drug response in two strains of mice.

The behavioral effects of nicotine and oxotremorine were assessed in two strains of mice, C57BL/6 (C57) and DBA/2 (DBA), differing in the ontogeny of forebrain cholinergic structures. Both nicotine and oxotremorine depressed to a higher extent the behavior of DBA mice starting at day 45 of postnatal life.

Ultraviolet observations of solar fine structure.

The High Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph was flown on the Spacelab-2 shuttle mission to perform extended observations of the solar chromosphere and transition zone at high spatial and temporal resolution. Ultraviolet spectroheliograms show the temporal development of macrospicules at the solar limb. The C IV transition zone emission is produced in discrete emission elements that must be composed of exceedingly fine (less than 70 kilometers) subresolution structures.

Solar physics in the VUV: the importance of high resolution observations.

Newly developed space instrumentation has made it possible to explore the sun's UV spectrum with high spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution. The global existence of a hot corona and the outstreaming solar wind may be caused by rather high energetic events occurring in the quiet sun. These events are extremely localized and cover only a small fraction of the solar disk.

Extreme ultraviolet spectroheliograph ATM experiment S082A.

The XUV spectroheliograph, Apollo Telescope Mount experiment S082A, is described. The instrument was a slitless Wadsworth grating spectrograph that employed photographic recording. The grating was of 4-m radius, ruled with 3600 grooves/mm. By rotating the grating to positions where the normal was at 255 A or 400 A, the spectral ranges 175-335 A and 320-480 A, respectively, were covered with 2-sec of arc spatial resolution. Close to the normal the resolution reached 2 sec of arc, but at the extreme limit, 630 A, it was 10 sec of arc or worse. The aberrations of the instrument are discussed in detail as are the provisions necessary to maintain optimum imagery and reliability in a space environment. During the mission about 1020 exposures were made covering 171-335 A or 320-630 A.

Experience with Schumann-type XUV film on Skylab.

The Naval Research Laboratory XUV solar spectrograph (S082A) and spectroheliograph (S082B) in the Apollo Telescope Mount of Skylabrequired Schumann-type photographic film in quantities greater than had ever before been needed. The procurement, testing, handling, and processing of this film are described. Eastman Kodak type 104 and a small quantity of type 101 were used. All problems that were anticipated were met satisfactorily, and excellent results were obtained. Two new problems arose; fog associated with the stainless steel carriers and a large reduction of contrast and maximum density for the flight film that was exposed to the space vacuum.

Extreme ultraviolet spectrograph ATM experiment S082B.

The extreme ultraviolet, double-dispersion, photographic spectrograph, Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) Experiment S082B on Skylab is described. Novel features were the use of a predisperser grating with a ruling whose spacing varied approximately linearly with distance for the purpose of increasing the instrument speed by reducing the astigmatism and a photoelectric servo-system to stabilize to 1 sec of arc the solar image at various near-limb positions. The 970-3940-A range was covered in two sections with effective lambda/Deltalambda congruent with 30,000 from 1100 A to 1970 A. The spatial resolution was 2 x 60 solar sec of arc. During the Skylab mission 6400 exposures were made with the instrument pointed by an astronaut at selected and recorded'solar positions.

White Light Coronagraph in OSO-7.

A small, externally occulted Lyot-type coronagraph, designed for use in the seventh unmanned Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO-7), is described. Optical configuration, suppression of stray light, SEC vidicon detector, and data system are discussed, as well as integration of the instrument into the spacecraft and operation in orbit. Orbital operation produced daily images of the white light corona, from 2.8 to 10 solar radii, at least once per day for 2(3/4) yr. The first records of white light coronal transient events were obtained, and the corona was shown to be constantly changing.