Schadensersatz anzuerkennen, eine erhebliehe Rolle. Verursacher eines Verkehrsunfallschadens m5chten oft durch die Anerkennung der Ersatzpflich~ polizeiliches Einschreiten mit allen daraus folgenden Wirkungen verhindern. Das Anerkennungsverbot wird yon den einen fiir eine veraltete Vorschrift, die dem modernen Verkehr und seinen Bedi~rfnissen nieht gereeht wird, yon den anderen fflr eine dem Interesse der Versicherer und der Gesamtheit der Versicherungsnehmer dienende, unentbehrliche I~egelung gehalten. Veff. weist vor allem darauf hin, dal~ die in der Praxis fiblichen Formulierungen des Anerkenntnisses kein Sehuldanerkenntnis im Sinne dos w 781 BGB darstellen, sondern nur die Best~tigung eines Fehlverhaltens und dessen reehtliche Beurteilung; bei diesen letzteren Erkl~rungen handelt es sieh nur um Beweismittel ohne rechtliche Bindungswirkung. K. HX~DEn (Waldshut)

The current status of European EVA (extravehicular activity) plans is reviewed. The major difference to already existing EVA scenarios in U.S.A. and Soviet Union consists in the adoption of a higher suit pressure, namely 500 hPa. The results of a study concerned with the physiological consequences of this adoption are presented, including recommendations for protective procedures and their necessary experimental validation. A certain discrepancy between laboratory experimental decompression data and EVA operational results is discussed, leading to the identification of several items which may influence space decompression. Microgravity and the influence of the space suit itself are most likely factors in the explanation of this discrepancy, and both experimental procedures and technological developments are proposed to clarify their role for the future design of EVA procedures.

Cardiac function is determined by preload, afterload, heart rate and contractility. During orthostatic stress,the footward blood shift is compensated for by an increase of afterload. LBNP is widely used to analyze effects of volume displacement during orthostatic stress. Comparisons of invasive (right heart catheterization) and non-invasive approach (echocardiography) yielded similar changes. Preload and afterload change with graded LBNP, heart rate increases, and stroke volume and cardiac output decrease. Thus, the working point on the left ventricular function curve is shifted to the left and downward, similar to hypovolemia. However, position on the Frank-Starling curve, the unchanged ejection fraction, and the constant Vcf indicate a normal contractile state during LBNP. A decrease of arterial oxygen partial pressure during LBNP shwos impaired ventilation/perfusion ratio. Finally, LBNP induced cardiac and hemodynamic changes can be effectively countermeasured by dihydroergotamine, a potent venoconstrictor. Comparison of floating catheter data with that of echocardiography resulted in close correlation for cardiac output and stroke volume. In addition, cardiac dimensions changed in a similar way during LBNP. From our findings, echocardiography as a non-invasive procedure can reliably used in LBNP and orthostatic stress tests. Some informations can be obtained on borderline values indicating collaps or orthostatic syncope. Early fainters can be differentiated from late fainters by stroke volume changes.

The paper reviews the main elements and major issues affecting human productivity and discusses some selected factors which might not be sufficiently identified and/or considered from the Bioastronautics point of view at the present stage of planning Space Station design and operation.

Central hemodynamics have been determined during stepwise decreasing LBP in head-down tilt (HDT) of -6 degrees. Measurements were performed on eight healthy volunteers using right heart catheterization. During LBNP, pressures in the right atrium, pulmonary artery, and pulmonary capillary (preload) decreased in parallel with the increase of negative pressure applied to the lower part of the body. Similarly, stroke volume and cardiac output decreased with increasing negative pressure. Heart rate moderately increased (30%) as well as total peripheral resistance. The left ventricular function curve was shifted downward and to the left during LBNP indicating hypovolemia with no evidence of decreased contractility. Cardiac dimensions determined by echocardiography changed in a similar way as those obtained by invasive measurements. There was a very close correlation between stroke volume determined by thermodilution and by echocardiography. Plasma norepinephrine and dopamine tended to increase at the end of LBNP. Echocardiography proved a useful and reliable approach to hemodynamic measurement during LBNP and is recommended for analysis of hemodynamic parameters during zero G and Gz simulation.

: The significance of circadian rhythms in aerospace operations is discussed under the following aspects: Characteristics and interrelationship of environmental and biological circadian systems; Circadian rhythms of mental and physical performance, as well as of susceptibility and resistance; Modification of circadian cycling through external and internal factors; Disturbance of circadian rhythmicity and sleep-wake cycling in air and space operations and shiftwork; Consequences for performance efficiency and health; Formulas, models and rest duty regulations; and Recommendations for the passenger, crew and management. Finally, the 'Biorhythm Theory' is critically reviewed.

Central hemodynamics during head-down tilt of -6 degrees lasting for 2 h were studied using catheterization of the pulmonary artery. M-mode echocardiography was performed simultaneously. Significant increases occurred for pressures in the right atrium, pulmonary artery in pulmonary wedge position, and for pulmonary vascular resistance. Cardiac and stroke volume index, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and total systemic resistance remained constant throughout the exposure time. Constancy was also observed for echocardiographic measures of cardiac dimensions. It is concluded that head-down tilt leads to an increase of preload without any evidence of disturbed left ventricular function. No distinct time course of hemodynamic variables could be seen. Echocardiography proved a useful method to study cardiovascular adaptations during head-down tilting.

The problem of crew size for regularly scheduled flights between Frankfurt and Rio de Janeiro is discussed. Factors affecting crew performance are examined, comparisons are drawn to regulations of other countries and crew questionnaires and tests are presented.

Medical studies were undertaken on the stress experience by the cockpit crew working the short routes in Europe and a special attempt was made to discover whether signs of a summation of stress due to flight work become visible during a circuit of several days. For this purpose the pulse and respiratory rates were determined for 22 crew members as an indication of the acute stress occurring during the flight and the amount of stress hormone in the urine as an indication of the extent of total stress in an extended study period.

A group of 12 highly trained athletes and a group of 12untrained students were subjected to passive changes of position on a tilt table and positive accelerations in a centrifuge. During a 20 min tilt, including two additional respiratory maneuvers, the number of faints and average cardiovascular responses did not differ significantly between the groups. During linear increase of acceleration, the average blackout level was almost identical in both groups. Statistically significant coefficients of product-moment correlation for various relations were obtained. The coefficient of multiple determination computed for the dependence of acceleration tolerance on heart-eye distance and systolic blood pressure at rest allows the explanation of almost 50% of the variation of acceleration tolerance. The maximum oxygen uptake showed the expected significant correlation to the heart rate at rest, but not the acceleration tolerance, or to the cardiovascular responses to tilting.