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Objective: The presence of Carhart's notch at 2000 Hz in otosclerosis links the changed bone conduction for this frequency with the otosclerotic process occurring in the oval window. The aim of this study is to perform an audiometric assessment of the effectiveness of surgical treatment of otosclerosis depending on the incidence of Carhart's notch. Methods: The analysis included 116 patients treated surgically for the first time due to otosclerosis. Patients were divided into 4 groups depending on the occurrence of Carhart's notch, determined by pure-tone audiometry (PTA) before the surgery and 36 months afterward. The mean value of bone conduction thresholds was calculated for 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 3000 Hz in the groups in which the Cahart's notch was observed. This value of bone conduction (BC) was a reference point for further analysis in patients who had no preoperative or postoperative Carhart's notch. Results: The analysis indicated that Cahart's notch in preoperative PTA is a statistically significant improvement factor for average BC. It was found that over a longer observation period, the presence of Carhart's notch has adverse effects on the size of the postoperative air-bone gap, and consequently on hearing improvement after surgical treatment. A comparison between patients from the two groups without preoperative Carhart's notch found that no beneficial effects of the surgery on speech comprehension were observed regarding high-level sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Conclusions: (1) In a long-term observation post-stapedotomy, average BC values were found to improve. Nevertheless, the improvement is less evident in patients with preoperative Carhart's notch. (2) Disappearance of Cahart's notch after surgical treatment of otosclerosis is a good prognosis of improvement in speech audiometry. (3) Deep SNHL in the absence of Carhart's notch in PTA constitutes a bad prognostic factor for improvement in speech audiometry in patients qualified for surgical treatment of otosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: During the postoperative period, most patients with otosclerosis report vertigo and/or nausea caused by interventions within the inner ear. The aim of this study was to evaluate both early and late vertigo associated with hearing improvement after stapes surgery for otosclerosis. Methods: The analysis included 170 patients admitted to the hospital undergoing their first surgery for otosclerosis. Audiological diagnostics, surgical techniques, and symptoms reported by the patients were all analyzed. Results: A statistical correlation and an unfavorable influence of late, undesired symptoms, such as vertigo, nausea/vomiting, and nystagmus, on final hearing improvement after surgical treatment of otosclerosis were found. Prostheses that were too long or placed too deep within the inner ear space were the most frequent cause of both vertigo and lack of hearing improvement observed after stapedotomy. Conclusions: A significant negative influence on bone conduction thresholds, particularly at 2000 Hz, was associated with vestibular symptoms persisting for 7 days after the surgery. Symptoms of impaired bony labyrinth function after stapedotomy, persisting for more than 1 year, were associated with insufficient reduction of the air–bone gap and worse improvement in bone conduction thresholds at 1000 and 2000 Hz. The cause of both problems was related to a prosthesis that was too long or placed too deep in the inner ear during stapedotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Eustachian tube is a complex and inaccessible structure, which is responsible for the ventilation of the middle ear. Aim: The aim of the study was the assessment of an impact of chronic sinusitis on the auditory tube function. Methods: The prospective analysis of 84 surgically treated chronic sinusitis patients was carried out. This study is based on preoperative results of impedance audiometry in correlation with the data from the medical history of chronic sinusitis, symptoms reported by the patients, results of Computed Tomography (CT), and the stage of inflammatory changes according to Lund and Mackay score. Results: The significant majority of patients in our study (65) had advanced auditory tube symptoms, while 4 patients suffered from symptoms significantly impacting daily functioning. In patients with chronic sinusitis the analysis demonstrated that tympanometry type B (12.67) and C (12.4) occured with significantly higher Lund-Mackay score than type A (9.2). In allergy sufferers type B of tympanometry was more often observed with characteristically bilaterally located inflammatory changes in maxillary and anterior ethmoid sinuses. Conclusions: The profile of chronic sinusitis patient in whom Eustachian tube dysfunction is more often observed, is as follows: g Lund and Mackay score above 12; g pathological changes are bilaterally observed in maxillary and anterior ethmoid sinuses; g decrease of nasal patency and postnasal drip; g allergy; g overusing alcohol and cigarettes, at least alcohol; gworse result of Lund and Mackay score and the age of patients - 2 factors favoring the dysfunction of the Eustachian tube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Otosclerosis is a disease of the osseous labyrinth. The disease causes 5% to 9% of all cases of hearing loss and 18% to 22% of conductive hearing loss. The treatment of choice is a surgery. The hearing improvement after the operation is determined by various factors. Aims/Objectives: The aim of the analysis is to determinate changes in hearing after stapedoplasty in view of surgery side in the patients operated on otosclerosis by right-handed surgeons. Material and Methods: The analysis involved patients hospitalized and operated on otosclerosis between 2012 and 2018. Only patients with their first middle ear surgery due to otosclerosis were included in the study. The patients were operated by 2 right-handed surgeons who used the same surgical technique and had similar experience in otosclerosis surgery. The study included patients who were divided into 2 groups: with self-tightening prosthesis and with manually tightening prosthesis. Results: The procedure performed by right-handed operators on the left side using prostheses requiring manual fixation on the incus was associated with poorer audiometric results compared to the results of surgeries on the right side. In patients with the self-tightening prostheses, the audiometric improvement of hearing was bilaterally comparable independently from operation side. Conclusion: (1) The dependence of hearing improvement on the surgery side was demonstrated in cases of surgeries performed on the left ear by right-handed surgeons, particularly with manually tightening prosthesis. (2) Self-tightening prostheses in stapedotomy limit the human factor, reducing the risk of complications after otosclerosis surgery and provide repeatable hearing improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Otosclerosis is a disease that occurs only in humans, in the course of which there are foci of pathological ossification in the temporal bone. The etiology of the dise ase is not fully understood. Treatment of the conductive component of hearing loss is surgical. The results of the treatment are influenced by factors related to the surgery, the local condition of the middle ear and the function of the inner ear. Aim: The aim of the study is to identify factors influencing the improvement of hearing in patients treated surgically due to otosclerosis. Material and methods: The study included patients who underwent otosclerosis for the first middle ear surgery and underwent stapedotomy. Considering the factors that may affect the outcome of surgical treatment, the patients qualified for the analysis were divided into subgroups. All patients underwent a medical history and physical examination of otorhinolaryngology and a complete set of audiological examinations. Results: A statistically significant reduction in cochlear reserve was observed in all patients after stapedotomy. The beneficial effect of the performed treatment on the improvement of threshold values of bone conduction in patients with mild sensorineural hearing loss was also confirmed. Intraoperative removal of adhesions present in the tympanic cavity significantly improved hearing in terms of bone conduction values, especially at 500 Hz. Conclusions: (1) The conducted study confirmed the influence of factors related to the local condition of the middle ear lining on the final result of otosclerosis surgery; (2) Audiometric markers of cochlear otosclerosis, observed before surgical treatment, are an unfavorable factor in the improvement of hearing after the performed treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incessant downscaling of building blocks for memory and logic in computer chips requires energy-efficient devices. Thermoelectric-based temperature sensing, cooling as well as energy harvesting could be useful methods to reach reliable device performance with stable operating temperatures. For these applications, complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible and application ready thin films are needed and have to be optimized. In this work, we investigate the power factor of different phosphorous-doped silicon germanium (SiGe) films fabricated in a 300 mm CMOS-compatible cleanroom. For the thermoelectric characterization, we used a custom-built setup to determine the Seebeck coefficient and sheet resistance. For sample preparation, we used low pressure chemical vapor deposition with in situ doping and subsequent rapid thermal annealing on 300 mm wafers. Thin film properties, such as film thickness (12–250 nm), elemental composition, crystallinity, and microstructure, are studied via spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and TEM. The SiGe-based thin films vary in the ratio of Si to Ge to P and doping concentrations. A power factor of 0.52 mW/m K2 could be reached by doping variation. Our results show that SiGe is a very attractive CMOS-compatible material on the 300 mm wafer level and is immediately ready for production of thermoelectric embedded applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Otorhinolaryngological Review / Polski Przegląd Otorynolaryngologiczny (Index Copernicus) is the property of Index Copernicus International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Despite different etiologies, chronic otitis media involves the damaging and restructuring of bone tissue. The inflammatory process destroys elements of the ossicular chain, and bone lesions may appear that allow the development of otogenous complications. Aims/Objectives: A correlation between the degree of damage to the ossicular chain as well as the bony walls of the middle ear and the type of chronic inflammatory lesions was sought. Destructive changes to bones were observed using scanning microscopy. Material and Methods: The removed damaged fragments of the ossicles were prepared for evaluation with a scanning microscope. Preparations were sputter-coated with a thin layer of gold and subsequently evaluated. Results: Of 220 surgeries carried out in the discussed period, destruction of the middle ear bone walls, opening the way for the development of intracranial complications, was found in 27 patients. Most of them had ongoing chronic otitis media with granulation. Conclusions: (1) Bone loss of the skull base was observed more frequently in patients with chronic otitis media with granulation than with cholesteatoma. (2) In chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma, damage to the ossicular chain was observed significantly more frequently than in the case of otitis media with granulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Septal perforations are among the most common craniofacial defects. The causes of septal perforations are varied. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to develop a septal cartilage implant biomaterial for use in the reconstruction of nasal septal perforations and prepare personalized implants for each patient individually using 3D printing technology. Methods: Fragments of septal nasal cartilage from 16 patients undergoing surgery for a deviated nasal septum were analyzed to establish microfeatures in individual samples. A scanning electron microscope was used to estimate the microstructure of the removed septal cartilage. 3D models of porous scaffolds were prepared, and a biomaterial was fabricated in the shape of the collected tissue using a 3D printer. Results: Of the various materials used in the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology of 3D printing, PLLA was indicated as the most useful to achieve the expected implant features. The implant was designed using the indicated pre-designed shape of the scaffold, and appropriate topography, geometry and pore size were included in the design. Conclusions: The implant's structure allows the use of this device as a framework to carry nanoparticles (antibiotics or bacteriophages). It is possible to create a porous scaffold with an appropriately matched shape and a pre-designed geometry and pore size to close nasal septal perforations even in cases of large septal cartilage defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chronic otitis media is a heterogeneous disorder. Chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma and, to a lesser extent, chronic otitis media with granulation lead to the destruction of bone structures within the middle ear. Bone loss may appear in the prominence of the horizontal semicircular canals and the bony canal of the facial nerve. The inflammatory process may spread to the bony labyrinth of the sigmoidal sinuses and the cranial cavities. Materials and Methods: The analysis comprised the examination of fragments of auditory ossicles removed during surgery in 21 patients with various types of chronic inflammation of the middle ear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of scanning electron microscopy in evaluating the erosion of middle ear ossicles in different types of chronic otitis media. Images captured at various magnifications were used for the best possible illustration of the observed lesions in bone tissue. Results: The observed lesions and the degree of bone surface damage were dependent on the type of chronic inflammation of the middle ear. The largest destructive changes in the ossicular chain were observed in chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma; smaller changes were observed in chronic otitis media with granulation. Conclusion: In the case of damage to the ossicles inflicted by inflammation, the use of a modeled bone block made of a temporal bone taken from outside the tympanic cavity or a biomaterial prosthesis is a good choice in ossiculoplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hafnium oxide material class is characterized by the coexistence of several polymorphs between which phase transitions are induced by means of composition and external electric fields. Pyroelectric materials, which convert heat into electrical energy, exhibit the largest response at such morphotropic or field-induced phase transitions. The hafnium oxide material system is of special interest for pyroelectric applications since it allows for scalable and semiconductor-compatible fabrication. Here, we report large pyroelectric coefficients at the morphotropic transition from the ferroelectric orthorhombic to the centrosymmetric tetragonal phase. The electric field-induced transition between these two phases in doped HfO2 is found to yield large pyroelectric coefficients of up to −142 µCm−2 K−1, a value that is 20 times larger compared to AlN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Otosclerosis is an underlying disease of the bony labyrinth. This disorder, occurring only within the area of a person's temporal bone, is characterized by a progressive hearing loss and tinnitus. Material and Methods: The study looked for the answer to the question of whether the presence or absence of Carhart notch in the presurgical tonal audiogram affects the final outcome of the otosclerosis surgery. Results: The analysis included 140 patients operated on for the first time due to otosclerosis between 2010 and 2016. The study group consisted of 107 women aged from 19 to 62 (average age: 40.33) and 33 men aged 27 to 59 (average age: 38.23). Analysis showed a statistically better result of stapedotomy in patients without the notch than in the same procedure in patients with the notch present. The opposite situation occurred in the case of stapedectomy. Conclusion: (1) The presence of a refraction of the bone conduction curve with a depth of 10 to 20 dB at a frequency of 2000 Hz (the so-called Carhart notch) in the presurgical tonal audiogram is an unfavorable prognostic factor in relation to closing the cochlear reserve and improving bone conduction after the stapedotomy. (2) Regardless of the presence or absence of Carhart notch in the presurgical tonal audiogram, stapedotomy is the procedure with the highest efficiency in the treatment of otosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic purulent cholesteatoma of the middle ear, as well as to a lesser extent chronic granulomatous otitis media, lead to destruction of bone structures within the middle ear space. The above process is controlled by the OPG/RANKL/RANK system. Aim: The aim of the study is a comparative analysis of surgical material obtained from patients with diagnosed chronic cholesteatoma and chronic otitis media with inflammatory granulation in the assessment of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Material and methods: An analysis of 140 patients operated on due to chronic otitis media was performed. Forty patients who had been diagnosed with chronic cholesteatoma of the middle ear and chronic granulomatous otitis media were selected for a detailed analysis in the SEM. The final study under SEM included 20 patients. Results: The regular structure of cholesteatoma depicted in the SEM concerned 5 patients. In the remaining 7 patients, the system was irregular and even chaotic. The lack of regularity can also be observed in the case of granulation tissue, which in the SEM image presented itself as an irregular tissue mass without detectable regularities. Conclusions: (1) The regular pattern of the cholesteatoma matrix cells observed in some patients with chronic cholesteatoma of the middle ear reduces the molecular permeability of inflammatory cytokines, concurrently limiting the destructive activity on bone structures; (2) the presence of inflammatory granulation tissue in the middle ear is accompanied by an influx of leukocytes: neutrophils and lymphocytes, which are the source of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the growth of which activates the processes leading to the damage of bone tissue and the development of inflammation; (3) no specimen of acquired cholesteatoma revealed the presence of commensal organisms from Demodex species on the surface of the exfoliated human epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Otosclerosis is an underlying disease of the bony labyrinth. The associated hearing loss is most often of conductive nature, in some cases the involvement of the bony part of the cochlea results in mixed hearing loss. Aim: The aim of the analysis was to answer the question whether a surgery on one of the ears affects the state of the other ear in the course of otosclerosis. Methods: The analysis included 140 patients hospitalized and operated on between 2010-2016. Only those patients who did not undergo a surgical operation in the middle ear due to otosclerosis prior to the study were enrolled. An audiological assessment was performed with the use of pure-tone threshold audiometry. Results: In the group of patients with no Carhart's notch, the mean bone conduction threshold was statistically lower than before the procedure for the frequencies of 500, 1000 Hz and statistically equal for the frequency of 2000 Hz. The same analysis in the group of patients with Carhart's notch present in the presurgical tonal audiogram of the non-operated ear showed a statistically significant lower value of the postoperative bone conduction threshold. Conclusions: The study confirmed the possibility of improving hearing in the non-operated ear after stapedotomy in the opposite ear by an average of 5 dB in the low-frequency range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Otosclerosis is an underlying disease of the bony labyrinth that results in hearing loss. In some cases, the involvement of the bony part of the cochlea results in mixed hearing loss. The aim of this analysis was to seek a correlation between the results of speech audiometry tests and the changes in bone-conduction thresholds observed after surgical treatment. MATERIALS and METHODS: The analysis included 140 patients who were hospitalized and surgically treated for otosclerosis. The patients who were treated with stapedotomy were divided into subgroups based on the value of the bone-conduction threshold before the surgery. An audiological assessment was performed, with pure-tone threshold audiometry and speech audiometry tests taken into account. RESULTS: The effectiveness of the surgery was judged by the change in the speech audiometry test results after 12 months of observation. After the surgery, it was found that a significant improvement, characterized as achieving 100% understanding of speech, occurred in 61.90% of the patients. CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between the improvement in speech audiometry tests and bone-conduction curve after stapedotomy. The changes achieved in the bone-conduction curve at the frequency range up to 3,000 Hz (hertz) had a significant impact on the improvements in speech audiometry test results. Higher frequencies provide more data for improving the hearing process. A mean bone-conduction threshold between 21 and 40 dB (decibels) in the pure-tone audiometry examination performed before surgery is a favorable prognostic factor in the improvement of the bone-conduction threshold after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Otolaryngology / Otolaryngologia Polska is the property of Index Copernicus International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Backgrounds: Otosclerosis is the cause of between 5% and 9% of all deafness cases and between 18% and 22% of conductive hearing loss cases. Neurosensory deafness develops in 30% of patients with otosclerosis. Aims/Objectives: The aim was to seek a correlation that would reflect the dependence of the results of middle ear surgery on the type of abnormalities atypical of otosclerosis but found during the stapedotomy surgery. Materials and Methods: The analysis included 140 patients who underwent surgery for otosclerosis. The hearing of all patients was assessed using an audiometric test. Results: In the assessment of changes in the mean bone conduction values, statistically significant differences between the reference group and the subgroup of patients on whom a myringoplasty was performed, as well as in patients with adhesions present in the middle ear spaces, were found only for the 500 Hz frequency. Conclusion and Significance: The removal of abnormalities, such as the loss of the eardrum (iatrogenic), changes to the lining and adhesions other than those typical of otosclerosis, restores middle ear mechanics after a stapedotomy on the inner ear and leads to a measurable improvement in mean bone conduction values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Knowledge about the physiology of a healthy middle ear is essential for understanding the activity and mechanics of the ear as well as the basics of ossiculoplasty. Trauma of the epithelial lining of the tympanic cavity as well as the ossicular chain may be the result of chronic inflammation and surgery. Depending on the observed changes of the middle ear lining, there are several types of distinguished chronic inflammatory changes: simple, with cholesteatoma, with the formation of inflammatory granulation tissue, in course of specific diseases. Purpose: The aim of the article is presentation of the microstructure and vasculature of the ossicular chain in the Scanning Electron Microscope. Particular attention is drawn to the anatomical aspects of the structure and connections of auditory ossicles as vital elements for reconstruction of the conduction system of the middle ear. Material and method: The analysis covered auditory ossicles standardly removed in accordance with the methodology of the investigated surgical procedures. The preparations were evaluated in a scanning electron microscope. Results: The exposure of bone surface promotes deep erosion. The advanced process of destruction of bone surface in the case of chronic otitis media correlates with a significant degree of damage to both the lining covering the auditory ossicles and that surrounding articular surfaces. Conclusions: (1) The ossicles in the image of the Scanning Electron Microscope are covered with lining. It passes from the surface of the ossicles to the vascular bundles, forming vascular sheaths; (2) Damage to lining continuity on the surface of the auditory ossicles promotes the rapid destruction of bone tissue in the inflammatory process; (3) The dimensions of the individual ossicles are respectively: malleus - 8.36 +/- 0.01, incus - 8.14 +/- 0.0, stapes - 3.23 +/- 0.01 mm. Behavior of the anatomical length of ossicular chain during tympanoplasty appears to be essential to maintaining adequate vibration amplitude of the conductive system of the middle ear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Ossiculoplasty can be carried out in a number of ways, depending on the anatomical and functional conditions encountered during otosurgery and the experience of a given centre. The objective: The objective of the study was to analyse treatment effects in terms of postoperative hearing improvement in patients with chronic otitis media, with a particular emphasis on stapedial superstructure preservation. Methods: The records of 294 consecutive patients undergoing their first ENT surgery due to chronic otitis media at the Department of Otolaryngology in Cracow, in 2009-2013 were analysed. In order to assess the role of preserved stapedial superstructure, 96 patients were eligible for further analysis. Results: The analysis points to a significant hearing improvement after ossiculoplasty with the preserved stapedial superstructure as compared with the patients after footplate mobilisation. On the other hand, the research results point to signifi- cantly smaller hearing improvement in those patients, in whom only stapes was preserved, as compared with those, in whom a more extensive reconstruction of the ossicular chain was possible. Conclusion: The air-bone gap measured before otosurgery often fails to reflect the extent of abnormalities and cannot, therefore, be considered as the only prognostic factor for postoperative hearing improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Different types of chronic otitis media are distinguished based on the observed lesions in the middle ear mucous. Hearing improvement is a measurable effect of the surgical treatment of patients with chronic otitis media. Chronic cholesteatoma otitis media and chronic otitis media with inflammatory granulation have a tendency to damage the bone tissue, leading to the development of intratemporal and intracranial complications. MATERIALS and METHODS: A prospective analysis of patients who underwent surgery for the first time due to chronic otitis media from 2009 to 2012 was performed. Patients were divided into groups according to the abnormalities of the middle ear mucous observed during otosurgery. Special attention was given to patients diagnosed with chronic otitis media with inflammatory granulation and chronic cholesteatoma otitis media, which are characterized by a tendency to damage the bone tissue. RESULTS: A total of 293 individuals met the criteria for inclusion in the study. The analysis showed that chronic otitis media with inflammatory granulation had an unfavorable effect on hearing improvement prognosticated postoperatively. Defects in the middle cranial fossa were observed to occur five times more often than defects in the posterior cranial fossa. These defects were usually observed with granulation tissue and rarely with the concurrence of cholesteatoma and granulation tissue. CONCLUSION: The presence of granulation tissue is an unfavorable prognostic factor for improvement in air and bone conduction. The probability of exposing the dura mater of the brain is higher in cases with granulation tissue than in cases with cholesteatoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One major concern of channel engineering in nanotransistors is the coupling of the conduction channel to the source/drain contacts. In a number of previous publications, we have developed a semiempirical quantum model in quantitative agreement with three series of experimental transistors. On the basis of this model, an overlap parameter 0 ≤ C ≤ 1 can be defined as a criterion for the quality of the contact-to-channel coupling: A high level of C means good matching between the wave functions in the source/drain and in the conduction channel associated with a low contact-to-channel reflection. We show that a high level of C leads to a high saturation current in the ON-state and a large slope of the transfer characteristic in the OFF-state. Furthermore, relevant for future device miniaturization, we analyze the contribution of the tunneling current to the total drain current. It is seen for a device with a gate length of 26 nm that for all gate voltages, the share of the tunneling current becomes small for small drain voltages. With increasing drain voltage, the contribution of the tunneling current grows considerably showing Fowler–Nordheim oscillations. In the ON-state, the classically allowed current remains dominant for large drain voltages. In the OFF-state, the tunneling current becomes dominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Voice abnormalities are among the symptoms occurring in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They are divergent and range from hoarseness, through the excessive adduction of false folds, up to the weakness of the vocal folds. The aim of the study was to analyze the phonatory function of the larynx in ALS patients. Methods: Seventeen patients with ALS were evaluated with subjective perceptual voice assessment (including the GRBAS scale), videolaryngostroboscopy including voice range and maximum phonation time (MPT), and objective acoustic voice analysis with IRIS software (including evaluation of jitter, shimmer, mean fundamental frequency, and noise-to-harmonics ratio (NHR)). Examinations were performed three times at 6-month intervals. Results: Hoarseness, roughness, and breathiness of voice were all found more frequently in the majority of these patients. Voice range, amplitude of vibration, mucosal wave, and glottal closure showed significant abnormalities with repeated examinations. MPT was shortened especially among women with ALS. Acoustic analysis of voice among men showed increased jitter value in the first examination only, while jitter, shimmer, and NHR in women with ALS were increased in all examinations. Conclusions: Analysis of voice qualities among patients with ALS allows for the detection of various abnormalities associated with the natural progression of the disease. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective; Otorrhoea can be iatrogenic, posttraumatic or can be a result of chronic otitis media. We present a case of a 44-year-old woman operated on in the Otolaryngology Department in Krakow due to persistent profuse discharge of the cerebrospinal fluid from the right ear. Materials & Methods; The patient had experienced a head injury 26 years previously which resulted in recurrent episodes of meningitis. Previous surgeries, one neurosurgical operation and three middle ear operations were ineffective. The patient constantly complained about headaches, dizziness, balance disorder, hypoacusis in the right ear and visual dysfunction. During the middle ear surgery, it was revealed that there was a large bone loss in the middle and posterior cranial fossae, filled by meningoencephalocele and a discharge of the cerebrospinal fluid around the meningoencephalocele. Despite reconstructing skull bones, small discharge of the cerebrospinal fluid was still observed postoperatively. Then, a decision was made to close the defect by the way of neurosurgical approach. Craniotomy was performed, and the defect was closed from the side of the cranial cavity. Results; The treatment proved effective. The discharge of the cerebrospinal fluid discontinued and the external auditory meatus was reconstructed as well. Conclusion; Managing otorrhoea through the otological approach using the TachoComb(r) and the oxycel(r) with obliterating the mastoid process with the pedicle flap of the temporal muscle may be effective in the case of small defect. Larger defects require bony support via neurosurgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we propose a new method to calculate the inversion channel charge in the mobility region of fully depleted (FD) SOI-MOSFETs. The proposed calculation is based on our DC model [Technische Fakulta¨t der CAU Kiel, Ph.D. Thesis, 1999 ], which includes both the partially depleted (PD) and the FD operation modes as well as the FD–PD transition. A new approach for the description of integrated minority concentration relying on piece-wise linear dependencies on the quasi-Fermi potential of electrons is used. This approach allows a very accurate description of the total intrinsic inversion channel charge of FD double gate devices, accounting for all possible conditions at both silicon film surfaces. We introduce the piece-wise linear description of the integrated concentration first. Then we explain the proposed calculation in detail and give a comparison between the gained analytical expressions and results of numerical simulations using MEDICI [MEDICI. Avant! Corporation, Freemont, CA 94538, 1996–2000 ]. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An overview about the German cluster project Cool Silicon aiming at increasing the energy efficiency for semiconductors, communications, sensors and software is presented. Examples for achievements are: 1000 times reduced gate leakage in transistors using high-fc (HKMG) materials compared to conventional poly-gate (SiON) devices at the same technology node; 700 V transistors integrated in standard 0.35 μm CMOS; solar cell efficiencies above 19% at < 200 W/m2 irradiation; 0.99 power factor, 87% efficiency and 0.088 distortion factor for dc supplies; 1 ns synchronization resolution via Ethernet; database accelerators allowing 85% energy savings for servers; adaptive software yielding energy reduction of 73% for e-Commerce applications; processors and corresponding data links with 40% and 70% energy savings, respectively, by adaption of clock frequency and supply voltage in less than 20 ns; clock generator chip with tunable frequency from 83-666 MHz and 0.62-1.6 mW dc power; 90 Gb/s on-chip link over 6 mm and efficiency of 174 fJ/mm; dynamic biasing system doubling efficiency in power amplifiers; 60 GHz BiCMOS frontends with dc power to bandwidth ratio of 0.17 mW/MHz; driver assistance systems reducing energy consumption by 10% in cars [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction. The process of ageing and exposure to noise constitute major causes of the sensorineural hearing loss in adult people. Both those processes are characterised by hearing threshold shift in the high frequency range. Aim. The aim of the present study was to determine the hearing threshold shifts at the high (>8kHz) frequency range, compared to pure-tone audiometry, in patients exposed to occupational noise. Material and methods. The study group included 102 otologically healthy men occupationally exposed to noise above 85 dB(A). Hearing tests (conventional and high-frequency audiometry, HFA) were performed before the employment and after 8 years of employment in the noisy environment. The follow-up tests were performed in 59 men. Results. Hearing impairment in the studied group of workers after 8 years of employment under exposure to noise was detected both by conventional and high-frequency audiometry (HFA). However, higher hearing threshold shifts were recorded in the HFA; in the conventional audiometry the changes for 8 kHz were of the order of 10 dB, while for the HFA the shift was up to 25 dB. Also the analysis of the frequency of hearing deficits points to a greater progression in the HFA; after 8 years, a >5 dB hearing threshold shift was observed in 60% to 76% of the ears, while for the conventional audiometry the corresponding value was from few to 36% of the ears, depending on the frequency. Conclusions. In people occupationally exposed to noise, high-frequency audiometry is a sensitive method for monitoring of hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The immune system of the pharynx in children has a specific role, as it constitutes the first line of contact with antigens of the external environment. In some infants, Waldeyer's ring hypertrophy exceeds the normal physiological limits and impairs patients' health. Aim. To analyse indications for adenotomy and tonsillotomy in children by age and to assess the outcomes of the surgery. Material and methods. Medical records of 730 children aged 3 to 13, hospitalized in 2002-2006 for hypertrophy of the adenoid were analysed. As much as 1/4 of the children showed coexistent palatine tonsil hypertrophy. Results. In the study group, rhinologic signs and symptoms were observed in 90% of children, while otologic signs and symptoms dominated in 46% of the patients. Rhinologic indications for the surgery dominated among the younger, while otologic indications prevailed among the older children. Adenoid hypertropthy-related ortodontic abnormalities were detected in 27 (3,7%) children. In spite that improvement was noted immediately after adenotomy, approximately 24% of the patients required further treatment, such as pharmacological treatment, application of ventilation tubes, or orthodontic correction depending on the symptoms. Conclusions. The most frequent indications for surgical treatment of Waldeyer's ring hypertrophy are rhinologic symptoms followed by otologic symptoms. However, none of those pathologies are sufficiently specific to enable firm decision to perform the surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]