SuperCam Calibration Targets: Design and Development.

SuperCam is a highly integrated remote-sensing instrumental suite for NASA's Mars 2020 mission. It consists of a co-aligned combination of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Time-Resolved Raman and Luminescence (TRR/L), Visible and Infrared Spectroscopy (VISIR), together with sound recording (MIC) and high-magnification imaging techniques (RMI). They provide information on the mineralogy, geochemistry and mineral context around the Perseverance Rover. The calibration of this complex suite is a major challenge. Not only does each technique require its own standards or references, their combination also introduces new requirements to obtain optimal scientific output. Elemental composition, molecular vibrational features, fluorescence, morphology and texture provide a full picture of the sample with spectral information that needs to be co-aligned, correlated, and individually calibrated. The resulting hardware includes different kinds of targets, each one covering different needs of the instrument. Standards for imaging calibration, geological samples for mineral identification and chemometric calculations or spectral references to calibrate and evaluate the health of the instrument, are all included in the SuperCam Calibration Target (SCCT). The system also includes a specifically designed assembly in which the samples are mounted. This hardware allows the targets to survive the harsh environmental conditions of the launch, cruise, landing and operation on Mars during the whole mission. Here we summarize the design, development, integration, verification and functional testing of the SCCT. This work includes some key results obtained to verify the scientific outcome of the SuperCam system.

Pre-launch radiometric calibration of the infrared spectrometer onboard SuperCam for the Mars2020 rover.

Near-infrared spectroscopy has become a well-known remote sensing technique for the surface characterization of planetary objects. Among them, Mars was observed in the past by three imaging spectrometers from orbit. The Infrared Spectrometer/SuperCam instrument performs near-infrared spectroscopy from the martian surface for the first time, with a 1.15 mrad field of view, in the 1.3 µm-2.6 µm range, enabling the identification of a variety of mafic and altered minerals. Before integration aboard the rover, the spectrometer underwent a calibration campaign. Here, we report the radiometric and linearity responses of the instrument, including the optical and thermal setups used to perform them over its nominal range of operations, in terms of instrument detector temperatures and spectral range. These responses were constrained by accuracy requirements (20% in absolute radiometry, 1% in relative). The derived instrument transfer function fits within these requirements (<15% in absolute and <0.8% in relative) and shall be used to calculate the expected instrumental signal-to-noise ratio for typical observation scenarios of mineral mixtures expected to be found in the Jezero crater, and ultimately to retrieve the spectral properties of the regions of interest observed by the rover.

Efficacy and safety of pramipexole in restless legs syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pramipexole in patients with moderate to severe restless legs syndrome (RLS) METHODS: The authors conducted a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fixed doses of pramipexole (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 mg/day). Patients (N = 344) were up-titrated to their randomized dose over 3 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoints were patient ratings of symptom severity on the International RLS Study Group Rating Scale (IRLS) and clinician ratings of improvement on the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. Secondary efficacy endpoints included visual analogue ratings of sleep and quality of life (QOL) RESULTS: By both primary measures, pramipexole was superior to placebo. For IRLS, the adjusted mean (SE) change from baseline to week 12 was -9.3 (1.0) for placebo, -12.8 (1.0) for 0.25 mg/day, -13.8 (1.0) for 0.50 mg/day, and -14.0 (1.0) for 0.75 mg/day (all p < 0.01). Similarly, pramipexole increased the percentage of patients with a CGI-I rating of "very much improved" or "much improved" at the end of the trial (51.2% for placebo and 74.7%, 67.9%, and 72.9% for pramipexole; all p < 0.05). Pramipexole significantly improved ratings of symptom severity, day and night, and also ratings of sleep satisfaction and QOL. Pramipexole was well tolerated: The most frequent adverse events with higher occurrence in the pramipexole group were nausea (19.0% vs 4.7%) and somnolence (10.1% vs 4.7%) CONCLUSION: As rated by patients and by clinicians, pramipexole was efficacious and safe in reducing the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.

Interferometric coupling of the Keck telescopes with single-mode fibers.

Here we report successful interferometric coupling of two large telescopes with single-mode fibers. Interference fringes were obtained in the 2- to 2.3-micrometer wavelength range on the star 107 Herculis by using the two Keck 10-meter telescopes, each feeding their common interferometric focus with 300 meters of single-mode fibers. This experiment demonstrates the potential of fibers for future kilometric arrays of telescopes and is the first step toward the 'OHANA (Optical Hawaiian Array for Nanoradian Astronomy) interferometer at the Mauna Kea observatory in Hawaii. It opens the way to sensitive optical imagers with resolutions below 1 milli-arc second. Our experimental setup can be directly extended to large telescopes separated by many hundreds of meters.

Both paracetamol and ibuprofen are equally effective in managing flu-like symptoms in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients during interferon beta-1a (AVONEX) therapy.

Interferon beta-1a is an established therapy for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Adverse effects in the first weeks of treatment are common. This open-label, multicenter, randomized, prospective study compared treatment of flu-like symptoms (FLS) with paracetamol versus ibuprofen administered 48 h within interferon injection. The percentage of patients with FLS was comparable between both treatment groups and improved during the course of the study (baseline: paracetamol 92%, ibuprofen 90%; week 12: paracetamol 60%, ibuprofen 57%). More than 75% of patients receiving either paracetamol or ibuprofen reported no or only mild impairment of daily activities. There was no significant difference in general satisfaction or incidence of additional symptoms (weakness, nausea, headache; paracetamol 84.6% patients, ibuprofen 86.0% patients) between the two groups. A significant overall improvement from baseline to week 12 was observed for all parameters studied (paracetamol and ibuprofen groups were pooled). These results indicate that neither the paracetamol nor the ibuprofen treatment regimen is better.

[Traumatic occlusion of the internal carotid artery as an injury sequela of soccer]. / Traumatischer Verschluss der A. carotis interna als Verletzungsfolge beim Fussballspiel.

The largest number of people engaged in sports in Germany play football. There were about 1.5 million sports injuries annually in the previous Federal Republic of Germany. Steinbrück (5) reported that the highest number was found in football players, in whom the injuries of the legs are most frequent. Head and vascular injuries are unusual and seldom in football players. We report on the case of a patient who received an elbow blow from his opponent. He developed a stroke with hemiparesis because of a traumatic dissection of the A. carotis interna.

[Simultaneous occurrence of sarcoidosis and MS or sarcoidosis within the clinical picture of multiple sclerosis?]. / Gemeines Auftreten von Sarkoidose und MS oder Sarkoidose mit dem Vollbild einer multiplen Sklerose?

Twelve years following the diagnosis of a histologically proved Sarcoidosis, a patient developed a central paresis of one lower limb. Two years later, tetraparesis, bladder dysfunction, ataxia and an internuclear bilateral ophthalmoplegia occurred. In CSF oligoclonal IgG without dysfunction of the blood brain barrier was found. On the basis of these data multiple sclerosis was diagnosed.

Spectral analysis of EEG during self-paced movements: differences between untreated schizophrenics and normal controls.

Thirteen untreated schizophrenic patients, among them nine who had never been treated, were compared with a corresponding number of matched normal controls with regard to changes of the spectral composition of the electroencephalogram (EEG) accompanying voluntary movements. Triggered by self-paced movements of the right fingers (fast fist closure), the spectral composition of three epochs was analyzed: (1) rest (2,5-1,5 sec before movement), (2) movement preparation (last sec before movement onset), and (3) movement execution (1st sec following movement onset). For frequencies above 6 Hz, marked differences between schizophrenics and controls were evident, in particular over the parietal electrodes. Whereas patients exhibited a clear decrease of power density during movement as compared to rest, controls showed only a small decrease (left and mid parietal) or virtually none (only right parietal). Consequently there were significant differences over the right parietal area (P4) between patients and controls in the theta, alpha- and beta-bands with regard to the mean power density and center frequencies of these bands. Also at parietal positions, schizophrenics lacked the enhancement of theta-power during the preparatory epoch that was characteristic for normal controls at all parietal positions. The results are discussed with regard to the well-known disturbances of voluntary motor behavior in schizophrenia.

Anticholinergic influences of biperidene on the EEG effects of haloperidol.

15 normal volunteers demonstrated after 14 days of haloperidol (HA) medication (3 mg/day) a higher mean power density (mpd) in all frequency bands of the EEG power spectra combined with a higher theta and a lower alpha center frequency (cf). After further 7 days of HA medication together with the additionally applied anticholinergic biperidene (BI) (6 mg/day) the HA effects were antagonized especially in the theta cf and the alpha mpd. The higher delta and theta mpd were not antagonized. The EEG spectra of the pre- and posttreatment condition did not differ. There was a significant effect of HA on the "Adjective Mood Scale" and on the "Complaint List", which disappeared during the additional BI medication. The reaction times were prolonged with HA and decreased with BI. Blocked dopaminergic impulses on the cholinergic EEG mechanisms possibly produce higher amplitudes during HA medication. Schizophrenic patients treated with neuroleptic drugs showed similar EEG spectra in previous studies during rest but not during motor activation.

[Subacute organic psychosyndrome as a clinical manifestation of infection with stage II Borrelia burgdorferi without further neurologic manifestations]. / Subakutes organisches Psychosyndrom als klinische Manifestation einer Infektion mit Borrelia burgdorferi im Stadium II ohne weitere neurologische Störungen.

A 60-year old man developed a subacute psychoorganic syndrome over four weeks. CCT was normal, except a slight atrophy of the cerebellar superior vermiform process. In the CSF we found 1696/3 cells, suggesting a lesion of the hemato-encephalic barrier, an autochthonous IgG production and an increased specific antibody-titre (10.3) for Borrelia burgdorferi. Based on these data a Lyme-Neuroborreliosis being diagnosed. Treatment with Cefotaxim and Gentamycin was successful, a complete remission of the psychopathological symptoms had been obtained. This case is an uncommon manifestation of a Borrelia-burgdorferi-infection of the CNS with psychopathological symptoms but no neurological deficit. We conclude that an affection of the CNS with Borrelia burgdorferi must always be taken into consideration in patients presenting a subacute psychoorganic syndrome of unknown etiology.

Slower theta activity over the midfrontal cortex in schizophrenic patients.

Disturbances of the topographical distribution of theta activity in the EEG spectra before and during voluntary movements were investigated in 31 neuroleptic-treated and in 13 untreated schizophrenics and matched controls as well as in 15 normals medicated with haloperidol. All 4 groups demonstrated similar topographical distribution of theta mean power density, with highest values over the midfrontal region. In the center frequency of the theta band, however, treated and untreated schizophrenics had lower values over the midfrontal region than at parietal electrodes. In controls and normals medicated with haloperidol, this frontoparietal "gradient" demonstrated the inverse picture, with highest values at the frontal midline electrode. Patients and controls differed significantly in this gradient. The slower theta activity over the midfrontal cortex in the schizophrenic patients is related to the hypofrontality hypothesis.

EEG-spectra parameters distinguish pathophysiological and pharmacological influences on the EEG in treated schizophrenics.

Movement related EEG segments of one second duration were analyzed by Fast Fourier Transformation in the Bereitschaftspotential paradigm in 31 neuroleptic treated schizophrenics compared to 21 matched controls. Schizophrenics demonstrated a higher theta mean power density and center frequency together with a lower radius of gyration, skewness and kurtosis in the theta band than controls. The higher theta power in the faster frequency range of the theta band is probably due to neuroleptic medication, but the higher theta power in the lower frequency range may be related to the disease. In the alpha band the schizophrenic group differed from controls by a lower center frequency, higher radius of gyration and skewness. Both groups did not differ in the alpha mean power density. The lower center frequency reflects the fact that alpha activity is distributed towards the lower frequency range which seems to be a consequence of the neuroleptic treatment. The more widespread alpha activity (higher radius of gyration) in schizophrenics indicates less frequency stability, i.e., more desynchronized alpha rhythm which corresponds to a highly activated functional state. By means of the applied spectral parameters more detailed quantitative descriptions of the power distributions in each frequency band are available, allowing to test hypothesis in relation to underlying physiological processes.