Two scaling domains in multiple cracking phenomena.

The fragmentation of two-phase composite systems such as coatings on substrates and fibers in matrices under uniaxial tension shows two regimes: the evolution of the mean fragment length with applied strain displays different power laws for small and for large strains. From theoretical arguments, we find that in both cases the scaling exponent depends on the shape parameter of the strength distribution. The exponent for large applied strains depends also, as we show, on the way (linear or nonlinear) in which the stress transfer between the two constituents takes place.

[Osteoblastomas of the coccyx. Apropos of a case. Review of the literature].

A 24-year-old man presented with a painful and invalidating coccyx. Exploration revealed a bony lesion involving parts of 2nd and all of the 3rd coccygeal vertebrae. The pathology examination of the surgical specimen revealed the diagnosis of benign osteoblastoma of the coccyx.

[Traumatic lesions of the supra-hepaticocaval veins or lessons from failure. Apropos of 5 cases].

Strategic therapeutic principles in 5 cases of injury to supra-hepaticocaval veins were based on vascular exclusion of liver prior to any approach to the lesion. An approach to the intrapericardial inferior vena cava by sternotomy is proposed together with the use of an endocaval shunt introduced through the atrium.

Traumatic rupture of the thoracoabdominal aorta.

We report a case of traumatic rupture of the thoracoabdominal aorta that was successfully repaired 3 days following the accident. Associated lesions included rupture of the left renal and celiac arteries. This rare lesion should be suspected in the victims of violent hyperextension of the body with or without a fracture of the dorsolumbar spine.