Universal fluctuations of global geometrical measurements in planar clusters.

We characterize universal features of the sample-to-sample fluctuations of global geometrical observables, such as the area, width, length, and center-of-mass position, in random growing planar clusters. Our examples are taken from simulations of both continuous and discrete models of kinetically rough interfaces, including several universality classes, such as Kardar-Parisi-Zhang. We mostly focus on the scaling behavior with time of the sample-to-sample deviation for those global magnitudes, but we have also characterized their histograms and correlations.

Hearing results after type III tympanoplasty: incus transposition versus PORP. A systematic review.

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare hearing improvements in the air-bone gap (ABG) after type III tympanoplasties, comparing between incus transposition (IT) and partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP).

Materials And Methods: Publications in English were searched in PUBMED database and were systematically reviewed. A total of 14 articles were included, obtaining 1055 patients, 614 for the IT group and 441 for the PORP group.

Analysis of predisposing factors for complications of percutaneous tracheostomy.

Since the turn of the century, percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) has become an alternative to the classic open technique and is an elective procedure in intensive care units at most centers. We conducted a prospective study to identify and quantify the complication rate with PT and to analyze this procedure's association with potential risk factors. Our study population was made up of 114 patients-83 men (72.

[Results in the surgical treatment of giant acoustic neuromas].

Introduction And Objectives: To compare the results obtained in the resection of 21 giant vestibular schwannomas via retrosigmoid (RS) and combined retrosigmoid/translabyrinthine (RS/TL) approaches with respect to intra- and postoperative complications, facial nerve preservation and postsurgical sequelae.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 21 patients who underwent a resection of a giant vestibular neuroma according to the Tos & Thomsen Scale (greater than or equal to 4 centimetres) in a tertiary care centre in the period between 2000 and 2008. We present the most significant characteristics of the series studied and the analysis of the advantages and inconveniences of each approach.