A Combined Experimental and First-Principles Based Assessment of Finite-Temperature Thermodynamic Properties of Intermetallic AlSc.

We present a first-principles assessment of the finite-temperature thermodynamic properties of the intermetallic Al3Sc phase including the complete spectrum of excitations and compare the theoretical findings with our dilatometric and calorimetric measurements. While significant electronic contributions to the heat capacity and thermal expansion are observed near the melting temperature, anharmonic contributions, and electron-phonon coupling effects are found to be relatively small. On the one hand, these accurate methods are used to demonstrate shortcomings of empirical predictions of phase stabilities such as the Neumann-Kopp rule.

Incidental findings in whole-body MR imaging of a population-based cohort study: Frequency, management and psychosocial consequences.

Objectives: Management of incidental findings (IF) remains controversial but highly relevant. Our aim was to assess the frequency, management and psychosocial consequences of IF reporting in a population-based cohort study undergoing whole-body MR imaging.

Methods: The study was nested in a prospective cohort from a longitudinal, population-based cohort (KORA-FF4) in southern Germany.

Evaluation of tubomanometry as a routine diagnostic tool for chronic obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction.

Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the reliability of tubomanometry (TMM) described by Estéve in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction.

Study Design: Combined prospective and retrospective clinical study.

Setting: Tertiary referral centre, affiliated to university.

[Therapy of chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction: evolution of applied therapies].

This paper reviews the past and present developments in the treatment of chronic obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction. Alongside tube catheterization and bougie insertion, modern approaches such as laser eustachian tuboplasty and balloon eustachian tuboplasty (BET) are described. In BET, transnasal endoscopic insertion via the pharyngeal ostium places a balloon catheter in the cartilaginous portion of the eustachian tube.

Petrous apex cholesterol granuloma involving the sphenoid sinus.

Petrous apex cholesterol granulomas are slowly expanding lesions that clinically present with a variety of cranial nerve deficits. We present a case of a 40-year-old man with a right-sided, sudden-onset hearing loss. Apart from a 60-dB high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear, all other neurotologic examinations were normal.