Computed tomography-osteoaboorptiometry

A method of making a visual display of subchondral mineralization in the major synovial joints is described. Unlike existing procedures, it can be used on the living subject. A modified application of computed tomography-densitometry, computed tomography-osteoabsorptiometry makes it possible to explore the mechanical adaptability to the prevailing mechanical force. This claim is based upon the comparison of information obtained from 20 anatomical specimens with CT-osteoabsorptiometry and x-ray densitometry of sections; both methods yielding virtually identical results. The distribution of the subchondral density was then expressed as a map of the articular surface with the aid of an image analyser. This method can make a useful contribution to basic clinical research, as well as providing a diagnostic technique which can also be used for observing progress after a corrective osteotomy or any other procedure causing a change in mechanical function. Examples of its use on living patients are given

Von der Heiligkeit gefallener Kriegerkönige

Von der Heiligkeit gefallener Kriegerkönige. Die Inkulturation des Christlichen in Kriegergesellschaften am Beispiel der Königsheiligen der Angelsachsen und Skandinavier Unter Inkulturation wird in der Theologie jener Prozess verstanden, durch den das Christentum Teil der Kultur eines Volkes wird. Die Bewahrung des „essentiell Christlichen“ und die gleichzeitig notwendige Anpassung an divergierende gesellschaftliche Rahmenbedingungen und Werte stellte die Kirche im Lauf ihrer Geschichte vor enorme Herausforderungen. In der hier vorliegenden Arbeit wird dieser Prozess am Beispiel der Christianisierung germanischer Stammesgesellschaften im Norden Europas untersucht. Im Zuge dieser Christianisierung kann die Entstehung einer für das Christentum bis dahin fremden Vorstellung von Heiligkeit beobachtet werden: Die Verehrung von heiligen, kämpfenden Königen, die in der Schlacht fielen. Als Beispiele werden die Heiligen Oswald von Northumbrien, Olav II Haraldsson von Norwegen, Knut IV von Dänemark und Erik IX von Schweden behandelt. Nach einem allgemeinen Überblick über die Christianisierung in England und den skandinavischen Ländern wird kurz auf die in der Kirche verehrten Typen von Heiligen eingegangen. Von besonderem Interesse ist in diesem Zusammenhang die Frage der Gewalt. Ein Kapitel der Arbeit widmet sich deshalb dem Phänomen der Gewalt im relevanten Zeitraum und gesellschaftlichem Kontext und dem Zugang des Christentums dazu. Die zur selben Zeit beginnenden Kreuzzüge können wie die Verehrung der Königsheiligen als Symptom eines veränderten Zuganges der Kirche zur Gewalt interpretiert werden. Diese „Militarisierung“ steht in engem Zusammenhang mit der Inkulturation des Christlichen in kriegerische germanische Stammesgesellschaften. Die Frage, ob die heiligen Könige als eigener Heiligentypus anzusehen sind, wird in dieser Arbeit verneint. Zwar lassen sich bei diesen Heiligen über die in der Literatur beschriebenen Charakteristiken der Typen des Adelsheiligen und des Märtyrers hinaus Gemeinsamkeiten finden. Aus dieser kleinen Gruppe von Heiligen jedoch einen selbstständigen Heiligentypus schaffen zu wollen, geht zu weit. Aufgrund der Betonung ihrer Herkunft und dem breiten Raum, den ihr adeliges Leben in den Viten einnimmt, können sie dem in der Literatur beschriebenen Typus des Adelsheiligen zugeordnet werden.Holy kings, killed in action. Inculturation of Christianity in martial societies using the holy kings of the Anglo-Saxons and the Scandinavians as examples. In the terms of theology “inculturation” means the process that integrates Christianity in the culture of people. The perpetuation of the main substance of Christian belief and the necessary adjustments to new social conditions cause a huge challenge for the church during her history. In this thesis the process of inculturation is analysed using the Christianisation of Germanic clan people in the north of Europe as an example. In the course of that Christianisation the development of a new idea of sainthood can be found: The cult of holy, fighting kings, who died in battle. Oswald of Northumbria, Olav II Haraldson, Knut IV of Denmark and Eric IX of Sweden are presented as examples. A chapter of this thesis gives a short summary of the Christianisation in England and the Scandinavian countries. Another chapter tries to define Christian sainthood and presents different types of saints worshipped by the Catholic Church. The question of violence is of special interest for this work. Violence and the reaction of the church are only understandable considering the historical and social context. As the crusades also the adoration of the holy kings can be interpreted as a modified access of the church to violence. This change is closely connected to the inculturation of Christianity in martial Germanic clan nations. Additionally the question whether the holy kings can be considered as an independent type of saints or not has been studied in this thesis. This question is negated in this work. There are some discrete similarities above the characteristics of martyrs or noble saints described in the literature. Because of the small number of individuals that can be identified as holy kings, who died in battle and because of the emphasis that is given on the gentility it seems reasonable to add them to the type of noble saints

Migratory Sleeplessness in the White-Crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii)

Twice a year, normally diurnal songbirds engage in long-distance nocturnal migrations between their wintering and breeding grounds. If and how songbirds sleep during these periods of increased activity has remained a mystery. We used a combination of electrophysiological recording and neurobehavioral testing to characterize seasonal changes in sleep and cognition in captive white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) across nonmigratory and migratory seasons. Compared to sparrows in a nonmigratory state, migratory sparrows spent approximately two-thirds less time sleeping. Despite reducing sleep during migration, accuracy and responding on a repeated-acquisition task remained at a high level in sparrows in a migratory state. This resistance to sleep loss during the prolonged migratory season is in direct contrast to the decline in accuracy and responding observed following as little as one night of experimenter-induced sleep restriction in the same birds during the nonmigratory season. Our results suggest that despite being adversely affected by sleep loss during the nonmigratory season, songbirds exhibit an unprecedented capacity to reduce sleep during migration for long periods of time without associated deficits in cognitive function. Understanding the mechanisms that mediate migratory sleeplessness may provide insights into the etiology of changes in sleep and behavior in seasonal mood disorders, as well as into the functions of sleep itself