Updates to the Oxford Space Environment Goniometer to measure visible wavelength bidirectional reflectance distribution functions in ambient conditions.

Understanding how the surfaces of airless planetary bodies-such as the Moon-scatter visible light enables constraints to be placed on their surface properties and top boundary layer inputs to be set within thermal models. Remote sensing instruments-such as Diviner onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter-measure thermal emission and visible light scattering functions across visible (∼0.38-0.7 µm) to thermal infrared (TIR) wavelengths (∼0.7-350 µm). To provide ground support measurements for such instruments, the Oxford Space Environment Goniometer (OSEG) was built. Initially, the OSEG focused on measuring TIR directional emissivity functions for regolith and regolith simulant samples in a simulated space environment, but it has recently been modified to measure visible wavelength Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Functions (BRDFs) of samples in ambient conditions. Laboratory-measured BRDFs can be used (1) to test and to help interpret models-such as the Hapke photometric model-and (2) as visible scattering function inputs for thermal models. This paper describes the modifications to and initial calibration measurements taken by the Visible Oxford Space Environment Goniometer with a 532 nm laser, and details how this setup can be used to measure BRDFs of regolith and regolith simulant samples of airless planetary bodies.

The use of a 4% (w/w) deltamethrin collar (Scalibor ProtectorBand) in the extended control of ticks on dogs.

Deltamethrin (4%, w/w) formulated in a polymer matrix system (Scalibor ProtectorBand, Intervet International BV) was evaluated for the prevention of ticks on dogs. Controlled laboratory trials were conducted, wherein dogs wearing anti-tick collars were compared with control dogs and artificially infested by adult Ixodes ricinus and/or Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. The activity of the collars increased from 24 to 48 h post-treatment (pt) wherein tick numbers were reduced to 78.7% for I. ricinus and to 77% for R. sanguineus. The proportion of ticks controlled after the second infestation on D7 pt increased to 99% for I. ricinus and 99.5% for R. sanguineus. For I. ricinus adult ticks, an efficacy of 95.4% was reached over a period of 5.5 months and approximated 90% for R. sanguineus. Hence, the efficacy of the deltamethrin-impregnated dog collar was >90% for 6 months against both tick species. There was no significant difference between the efficacy of the collar against either R. sanguineus or I. ricinus. A subsequent field study wherein 82 dogs were wearing the collar and monitored for tick infestation indicated that the duration of efficacy was between 5 and 6 months.

Nursing takes a dual perspective on the future.

Nurses in service and academia joined to form the Nursing Resource Coalition in Southern California. The group works together to tackle common issues, such as shared resources, nursing's future, and measurement of vital indicators in both arenas.

Non-union of fractures of the mid-shaft of the clavicle. Treatment with a modified Hagie intramedullary pin and autogenous bone-grafting.

We reviewed a series of fifty patients who had a non-union of a fracture of the clavicle. Twenty-one patients (42 per cent) who had a symptomatic non-union of the middle of the shaft of the clavicle were treated with open reduction, internal fixation with a modified Hagie intramedullary pin, and autogenous bone-grafting, and those patients form the basis for the report. The average duration of follow-up was thirty-five months (range, five months to eleven years). Healing occurred in twenty (95 per cent) of the twenty-one patients. Intramedullary fixation has several advantages compared with other treatments, such as fixation with a plate and screws. It can be performed through a cosmetically acceptable incision in the Langer line; less dissection of the soft tissues is needed; and, after healing, the pin can be removed through a small incision under local anesthesia.

Operative management of children's fractures of the shoulder region.

Fractures about the shoulder in children rarely require operative treatment. Exceptions include open fractures and those associated with neurovascular compromise. Fractures of the proximal humerus in older children that cannot be adequately reduced and maintained should be treated with open reduction and internal fixation. Interposition of periosteum and biceps tendon can lead to difficulty in fracture reduction. Irreducible displaced fractures of the clavicular shaft, fractures that develop nonunion, and congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle can be treated by an intramedullary pin technique with bone grafting. Posterior displacement of fractures of the medical clavicle sometimes become an orthopedic emergency. Reduction by closed or open means should be accomplished to relieve compression of mediastinal structures. This injury does not require internal fixation. Types IV, V, and VI distal clavicle injuries require open reduction and reefing of the periosteal tube with occasional need for temporary lag-screw fixation. There is some debate about the type III injury. Large glenoid fractures involving the anterior rim that are associated with instability of the glenohumeral joint are best treated by open reduction and internal fixation.

Fractures and dislocations of the forearm.

Fractures and fracture dislocations of the forearm are common injuries that are being seen more frequently today in our active population. These injuries can occur in any sport, by direct blows to the arm or by falls on the outstretched hand. Many of these injuries are dramatic in their presentation and easily diagnosed, but only careful physical examination and radiographic evaluation avoids the pitfalls in diagnosis associated with the Monteggia's, Galeazzi's, and Essex-Lopresti's fracture dislocations. Most of these injuries require anatomic reduction to preserve the delicate interaction between radius and ulna in allowing forearm rotation. Owing to the instability of these fractures, open reduction and internal fixation is often required. Attention to detail in treatment and rehabilitation will avoid the problems of loss of motion, malunion, and nonunion associated with these injuries in the past.

Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with freeze dried fascia lata allografts in dogs. A preliminary report.

In 16 adult dogs the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was transected and then reconstructed using freeze dried fascia lata allografts. Eight of the dogs had the intraarticular graft passed through drill holes in the tibia and femur, while in the other eight dogs the graft was passed through a drill hole in the tibia and routed "over-the-top" of the lateral femoral condyle. In all dogs the grafts were then passed deep to the lateral collateral ligament and secondarily secured to the tibia as an extraarticular reconstruction. Specimens from each group underwent histologic study and biomechanical testing on a mechanical testing system at 3, 6, 12, and 24 week intervals. All grafts were found to be intact at sacrifice with no overt evidence of biologic incompatibility. The knees displayed only mild instability to clinical testing without evidence of arthrosis. Histologically, the grafts appeared to function as a collagenous scaffolding for revascularization and fibrovascular creeping substitution. The mean maximum load at failure in the 24 week specimens reached 536.44 N, compared to values of 801.85 N in contralateral knees with an intact ACL.

Amitraz in the control of non-ixodide ectoparasites of livestock.

Amitraz has been shown to be successful in controlling mange and lice infestations on pigs which had failed to respond to diazinon and gamma-BHC, respectively, and by the use of a prophylactic programme to maintain pig herds mange free. In addition, trials have indicated the elimination of psoroptic mange from sheep by applying the compound to the animal using either conventional or less conventional methods of treatment. Mixed infections of Chorioptes spp., Psoroptes spp. and Sarcoptes spp., in cattle have also been controlled using spray applications of amitraz, where in some cases organochlorine, organophosphorus and organotin compounds had failed. In a pilot study a heavy infestation of chorioptic mange was controlled on a calf using a pour-on formulation of amitraz.

Circadian rhythms in the concentration of plasma thyroxine in vitamin A-deprived calves.

Over a period of approximately 11 months, a total of 57 24 hour experiments was performed on 5 calves. The animals were fed a vitamin A-free diet and showed the common signs of vitamin A deficiency. During each experiment blood samples were taken hourly and the plasma iodoprotein content of each sample was determined. Each set of 24 values was subjected to Fourier analysis in an attempt to elucidate 24 hour, sinusoidal rhythms in iodoprotein concentration. A rhythm was deemed to be present where the chance of random sampling producing the observed pattern of concentration was less than or equal to 0.05. 25 such rhythms were detected. As the probability of random sampling giving rise to 25 rhythms in 57 tests is extremely small, circadian rhythms are assumed to exist in vitamin A-deficient, as in normal, calves. Rhythms, the characteristics of which are described here, were observed under natural conditions of day and night, and with controlled light and darkness. It is suggested that the occurrence of the rhythms, in relation to the environmental patterns of light and darkness, is better related to other aspects of brain activity than to those concerned with vision.