A ground-layer adaptive optics system with multiple laser guide stars.

To determine the influence of the environment on star formation, we need to study the process in the extreme conditions of massive young star clusters ( approximately 10(4) solar masses) near the centre of our own Galaxy. Observations must be carried out in the near infrared because of very high extinction in visible light within the Galactic plane. We need high resolution to identify cluster members from their peculiar motions, and because most such clusters span more than 1', efficient observation demands a wide field of view. There is at present no space-based facility that meets all these criteria. Ground-based telescopes can in principle make such observations when fitted with ground-layer adaptive optics (GLAO), which removes the optical aberration caused by atmospheric turbulence up to an altitude of approximately 500 m (refs 7-10). A GLAO system that uses multiple laser guide stars has been developed at the 6.5-m MMT telescope, in Arizona. In previous tests, the system improved the resolution of the telescope by 30-50%, limited by wavefront error in the optics, but that was insufficient to allow rapid determination of cluster membership. Here we report observations of the core of the globular cluster M3 made after commissioning a sensor to monitor and remove slowly varying aberration in the optics. In natural seeing of 0.7'', the point spread function at 2.2-mum wavelength was sharpened uniformly to 0.3'' over a field of at least 2'. The wide-field resolution was enhanced by a factor of two to three over previous work, with better uniformity, and extends to a wavelength of 1.2 mum. Entire stellar clusters may be examined in a single pointing, and cluster membership can be determined from two such observations separated by just one year.

[Ovarian transculdoscopic biopsy, technic and clinical evaluation]. / Biopsia de ovario transculdoscopia, técnica y evaluación clínica

PIP: 33 patients, 25 of whom were consulting for infertility problems and 8 for family planning, were evaluated as to the state of their endocrine systems. 38 ovarian biopsies were taken by culdoscopy, in 28 unilaterally and in the rest on both sides. They were done during the 2nd half of the cycle as a wedge resection. Both an endometrial biopsy and a salpingochromatoscopy were done at once. The histologic study found 30 normal ovaries, 1 case of diminished follicular tissue, and 2 cases without follicular tissue. The macroscopic examination found 20 normal ovaries, 2 hypoplastic, and 11 micropolycystic. A relationship was drawn between symptoms and macroscopic appearance of the ovary and histology of the follicular system. 93.9% of the patients were discharged in 24 hours. The biopsies gave a clearer indication of the total problem than the endocrine evaluation. 5 cases of amenorrhea were normalized and the other problems could be thoroughly considered. For example, the probability of pregnancy without follicular tissue is nil and with limited follicular tissue is unlikely.^ieng

[Removal from the abdominal cavity of an intrauterine device by culdoscopy]. / Remoción de cavidad abdominal de un dispositivo intrauterino por culdoscopía.

PIP: The article reports on the case of a 21-year old patient whose Lippes Loop D had translocated into the abdominal cavity causing uterine perforation and amenorrhea. The device was easily removed by culdoscopy, and amenorrhea, caused by the partial distruction of the endometrium, treated with hormonal therapy.^ieng