The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

High-tech IPOs in the USA, UK and Europe after the dot-com bubble

From 1998 to 2001, the high-tech industry saw a dramatic increase and subsequent sharp decline in market capitalisation during a phenomenon known as the dot-com bubble. During this time there were a large number of private companies that made the decision to go public via an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of stock on the general equities market. After the dot-com crash of 2001, the IPO market for high-tech companies changed dramatically. Far fewer companies went public, and they had much lower first-day returns than those during the bubble. This paper explores the first-day returns of high-tech IPOs in the USA and Europe in the post-bubble era. We compare the results of the 2002–2005 post-bubble period with those of the 1998–2001 dot-com bubble period. We find that the high-tech IPO market was dramatically affected by the dot-com crash and that, after the crash, the number of high-tech IPOs dropped considerably, as did the average first-day returns of these IPOs. Finally, we find that the European high-tech IPO market was not as adversely affected by the dot-com crash as the American market.initial public offerings; IPO; first-day returns; corporate finance; USA; United States; UK; United Kingdom; Europe; dot-com bubble; market capitalisation; high-tech companies; high technology; dot-com crash.

Developing a Green IS to support the move to eco-effective packaging: A Design Science Research study

United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 12.6 aims to “encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle” [43]. Using Design Science Research, GReenstreets Integrated Packaging Sustainability reporting system (“GRIPS”) is an expository artefact built using the BAO design theory for green information systems (Green IS) (c.f. Recker) [34]. The artefact aims to support organizations in overcoming sustainability challenges by providing information to help them make effective decisions around packaging sustainability and to facilitate the move from eco-efficiency to eco-effectiveness practices. This study adds to practice by helping companies to act, measure and monitor the move towards eco-effective packaging. It adds to research by providing an expository artefact based on the design theory for Green IS proposed by Recker [34]

The Contribution of Normal Pregnancy to Eclampsia.

Eclampsia, clinically defined as unexplained seizure in a woman with preeclampsia, is a life threatening complication unique to the pregnant state. However, a subpopulation of women with seemingly uncomplicated pregnancies experience de novo seizure without preeclamptic signs or symptoms, suggesting pregnancy alone may predispose the brain to seizure. Here, we hypothesized that normal pregnancy lowers seizure threshold and investigated mechanisms by which pregnancy may affect seizure susceptibility, including neuroinflammation and plasticity of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) subunit expression. Seizure threshold was determined by quantifying the amount of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) required to elicit electrical seizure in Sprague Dawley rats that were either nonpregnant (Nonpreg, n = 7) or pregnant (Preg; d20, n = 6). Seizure-induced vasogenic edema was also measured. Further, activation of microglia, a measure of neuroinflammation (n = 6-8/group), and GABAAR δ- and γ2-subunit protein expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus (n = 6/group) was determined. Seizure threshold was lower in Preg compared to Nonpreg rats (36.7±9.6 vs. 65.0±14.5 mg/kg PTZ; p<0.01) that was associated with greater vasogenic edema formation (78.55±0.11 vs. 78.04±0.19% water; p<0.05). The % of active microglia was similar between groups; however, pregnancy was associated with downregulation of cortical GABAAR-δ and hippocampal GABAAR-γ2 expression. Overall, pregnancy appears to be a state of increased seizure susceptibility that is not due to neuroinflammation, but rather is associated with reduced expression of GABAAR subunits and greater edema. Understanding neurophysiological changes occurring in normal pregnancy could allow for better prevention and management of de novo seizure, including pathologic states such as eclampsia

A Novel Presentation of an Ocular Geste Antagoniste in Cervical Dystonia: A Case Report

Background:&nbsp;A geste antagoniste or sensory trick is a well described phenomenon associated with primary cervical dystonia. Craniocervical tactile stimulation or stereotyped limb movements allow patients to transiently ameliorate dystonic activation of cervical musculature.Case Report:&nbsp;We report a patient with primary cervical dystonia who presented with a novel &ldquo;ocular&rdquo; geste antagoniste. Through a sensory trick of tonic left eye deviation, the patient transiently reduces cervical dystonic activity (improved range of motion and reduced dystonic tremor). Multi‐channel surface electromyography and video are used to illustrate these findings.Discussion:&nbsp;This case presents a unique clinical observation of specific voluntary eye movements attenuating cervical dystonia. The phenomenon is phenotypically consistent with previously described limb sensorimotor tricks.</p

Risk Indicators and Treatment Needs of Children 2–5 Years of Age Receiving Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia in Saskatchewan

Background: When compared to national averages in Canada, Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) and average costs per child. Thus, the purpose of this cross-sectional study is to explore the risk indicators and treatment needs of children receiving dental treatment under GA in Saskatchewan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited caregivers of children between 24 and 71 months of age in Saskatoon, Canada. Caregivers completed a 40-item questionnaire, which was supplemented with clinical data and then subject to statistical analysis (independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA). Results: A total of 90 caregiver/child dyads were enrolled with the mean age for children being 49.5 ± 12.3 months. The mean age of a child’s first dental visit was 34.7 ± 15.3 months with only 37.9% of children having a dental home. The mean deft index was 11.7 ± 3.4, with an average of 10.9 ± 3.5 teeth receiving treatment. Additionally, location of primary residence (p = 0.03), family income (p = 0.04), family size (p = 0.01), parental education (p = 0.03), dental home (p = 0.04), and body mass index (p = 0.04) had a statistically significant association with a higher mean deft. Conclusions: Our cross-sectional study confirms that children who require dental treatment under GA have a high burden of disease. While individual risk indicators such as diet and oral hygiene play a role in the progression of early childhood caries (ECC), we also demonstrate that children who do not have access to early preventive visits or a dental home are at a higher risk. In addition to improving motivation for oral hygiene at home and nutritional education, improving access to oral health care should be addressed in strategies to reduce ECC

The effect of pregnancy on GABA_AR δ- and γ2-subunit protein expression in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.

<p>(A) Representative Western blots showing protein expression of the GABA_AR <b>γ</b>2-subunit and δ-subunit in the cerebral cortex of nonpregnant (Nonpreg) and pregnant (Preg) rats. (B) GABA_AR <b>γ</b>2-subunit protein expression was significantly lower in the hippocampus from Preg compared to Nonpreg rats, and GABA_AR δ-subunit expression trended towards being decreased in the hippocampus of Preg compared to Nonpreg rats. (C) Cortical GABA_AR <b>γ</b>2-subunit expression was similar in Preg and Nonpreg rats, however, GABA_AR δ-subunit expression was decreased in the cerebral cortex of Preg compared to Nonpreg rats. ** p < 0.01; * p < 0.05 vs. Nonpreg using Student’s t-test.</p