Temperature behavior of the AlH3 polymorph by in situ investigation using high resolution Raman scattering.

A Raman investigation of the AlH(3) polymorph has been carried out at a low temperature (20 K) under helium atmosphere (2 bar). The pristine material was composed of three polymorphs, namely, the α, ß, and γ phases. The ß phase has been removed by warming the sample to 70 °C, while further heating at 100 °C was used to remove the γ phase. This allowed us to evidence, on a purely experimental basis, the characteristic Raman spectrum for each phase. Raman spectra, for the three phases, have been also calculated using density functional theory, and the results have been compared to the present experimental data, allowing for a univocal assignment, to each phase, of its characteristic spectral features.

Prophylaxis of secondary osteoarthrosis with spherical osteotomy in residual acetabular dysplasia. Analysis of predictive factors of success.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not spherical acetabular osteotomy prevents progression of osteoarthrosis in hip joints with residual dysplasia and which radiological parameters can be used postoperatively as predictive factors concerning the outcome. Sixty-eight out of 78 joints were re-investigated with a mean follow-up of 11.2 years after the index operation. Twenty-three Wagner type 1 and 45 type II osteotomies were performed. At surgery, the mean age of the patients was 26 years; 90% of joints showed no or mild degenerative changes, 26% presented with a good or excellent Harris hip score. At follow-up, 28% of patients had improved in function, mean Harris hip score rated 75 points. The mean center-edge (CE) angle improved from -4 degrees to 18 degrees, and the anterior center-edge (ACE) angle from -4 degrees to 26 degrees. The weight-bearing zone of the acetabulum showed an acetabular index (AC) angle of 27 degrees preoperatively and 14 degrees postoperatively. Statistical analysis proved a significant correlation between the normal postoperative values of the acetabulum/femoral-head index of Heyman and Herndon and the absence of degenerative joint changes at follow-up. 73.5% of the hips had not markedly progressed to secondary osteoarthrosis, but 26.5% of joints had deteriorated: 7.4% of them due to perioperative complications and early postoperative trauma. In 8.8% (severe dysplasia) only partial reorientation was possible, which explains the progression of arthrosis, but 10.2% progressed despite sufficient correction.

Food liking and craving: A cross-cultural approach.

Spanish and American participants rated how much they liked three common sweets and three common beverages listed on a questionnaire. They also named the food or drink for which they had the strongest craving. Cross-cultural comparisons in liking were almost always consistent with cross-cultural comparisons in rates of exposure. In both cultures, among subjects whose cravings could be so classified more females (about 5/8) craved sweet foods than savories and more males (about 5/8) craved savories than sweets. Among sweet cravers, chocolate craving was much more frequent for American females (44.6%) than for American males (17.4%), but no such gender difference occurred for the Spaniards (28.6 and 22.2%). The results argue for a possible physiological basis for the gender differences in sweet/savory craving but against a physiological basis for chocolate craving.

Long-term results of spherical acetabular osteotomy.

We have examined the effect of the Wagner spherical acetabular osteotomy on preserving the joint in 38 hips with a mean follow-up of 17 years. At the time of the initial operation, 55% of patients had clinical symptoms and 30 joints showed minimal or absent radiological signs of osteoarthritis. At follow-up, 54% of patients had a good functional result. The osteotomy improved the mean centre-edge angle from -3 degrees to +15 degrees, the mean anterior centre-edge angle to 23 degrees and the acetabular head index to 75%. The obliquity of the acetabular roof decreased from 28 degrees to 16 degrees. One patient improved, but 14 deteriorated with joint degeneration. Of these, one progressed because of postoperative deep-tissue infection and five due to undercorrection. One patient needed total joint replacement after 14 years. At 17 years after operation, Wagner osteotomy had prevented progression of secondary arthritis in 63% of cases.

[Significance of the ear in the determination of age]. / Die Bedeutung des Ohres bei der Bestimmung des Lebensalters.

The morphology of human ear conch is said to be rather individual, but a perfect person-identification by this mean is not possible. It is demonstrated by photographs-made in a 15 years' interval-that ear conch and auricular area can be typically marked by proceeding age and specific diseases.