Undisplaced femoral neck fractures-no problems? A consecutive study of 224 patients treated with internal fixation.

224 patients with undisplaced femoral neck fractures treated with two parallel Hansson hook pins were studied. After a mean follow-up time of 32 months (S.D. 5.2), 15% had a reoperation. 11% were considered failures, mostly avascular necrosis, and 9% had a secondary arthroplasty. Possible risk factors for poor outcome were analysed. Neither high age nor surgical delay was associated with increased failure rate. Survivors received a questionnaire, and 40% stated that they had mild or severe pain in the hip when walking, 25% had pain at rest and 25 stated that they thought "always" or "often" about their injury. The younger the patient, the more frequent the report of subjective pain. 51% of individuals under 80 years reported pain when walking, compared to 27% aged 80 or older (p=0.016). Corresponding numbers for pain at rest were 32 and 12% (p=0.034). The failure rate did not differ between the age groups, but the younger patients had more reoperations (p=0.046) and thought more frequently about their injury (p=0.016). An undisplaced femoral neck fracture is a major injury with a long-term daily discomfort in about 25% and clinical failure in 11%

Muscular and neurologic function in patients with recurrent dislocation after total hip arthroplasty: a matched controlled study of 65 patients using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and postural stability tests

Twenty-two patients with recurrent dislocation after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) were compared with 43 randomly selected, stratified THA patients without dislocation with regard to radiographic cup position; body composition of bone, fat, and muscle (lean body mass) as determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; strength in abduction and adduction; range of motion; balance; and vibration sense. Balance and sensitivity to vibration were impaired in the patients with dislocation. No differences were found in any other variables except a subset of tall men in the dislocation group

Distribution of ice marginal moraines in NW Russia

Here we present results from a mapping project on the distribution of glacial end moraine zones in NW Russia, covering an area from the Baltics in the west (30°E) to Taymyr Peninsula and Byrranga mountains (120°E) in the East. Several previous studies have been made in the area, but none have mapped end moraine zones in a uniform way over the whole field area. We suggest that our mapping of moraine distribution in NW Russia, covering an area of about 7 million km2 is the most consistent to date. Much of the mapped area lies north of 60°N and is thus outside coverage of the high-quality Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model. We have been using a new digital elevation data-set consisting of digitized Russian topographic maps (scales 1:100,000 and 1:200,000), combined with optical remote sensing data to map moraine zone distribution. The mapped moraines in this study are largely in agreement with recent reconstructions of former ice sheet extent in the area. However, several previously undocumented moraines have been identified and our results show that the last glacial maximum Scandinavian ice sheet probably extended further east into Russia than previously thought. In other areas, we also add considerable more detail on former ice sheet extent

Using a molten organic conducting material to infiltrate a nanoporous semiconductor film and its use in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

We describe a method to fill thin films of nanoporous TiO2 with solid organic hole-conducting materials and demonstrate the procedure specifically for use in the preparation of dye-sensitized solar cells. Cross-sections of the films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and it was observed that a hot molten organic material fills pores that are 10 mu m below the surface of the film. We characterized the incident photon to current conversion efficiency properties of the solid TiO2/organic dye/organic hole-conductor heterojunctions and the spectra show that the dye is still active after the melting process. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Controlling energy level positions in hole conducting molecular films by additives

Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) has been used to study the bulk electronic structure of thin molecular films of the organic compounds 2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis (N,N’-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)-9,9’-spiro-bifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD), 4-(diethylamino)-benzaldehyde-1,1)-diphenyl-hydrazone (DEH) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). Molecular layers of these compounds are hole conducting, a property that for example has been used in different solar cell configurations. The function of such a device benefits from the inclusion of additives such as Li-TFSI, or dopants such as Co-complexes, into the molecular layer. Here we report on effects of adding Li-TFSI to DEH and P3HT as observed by photoelectron spectroscopy and we compare with results on the spiro-OMeTAD hole conductor. It can be concluded that the Li-salt causes a shift of the Fermi level in DEH and P3HT towards the HOMO resulting in a p-doping of the molecular material. Similar shifts of the Fermi level could also be observed when adding different Co(+III) complexes to the Spiro-OMeTAD hole conductor, indicating means for more controlled doping

The glacial geomorphology of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Reconstructing the response of present-day ice sheets to past global climate change is important for constraining and refining the numerical models which forecast future contributions of these ice sheets to sea-level change. Mapping landforms is an essential step in reconstructing glacial histories. Here we present a new map of glacial landforms and deposits on nunataks in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Nunataks are mountains or ridges that currently protrude through the ice sheet and may provide evidence that they have been wholly or partly covered by ice, thus indicating a formerly more extensive (thicker) ice sheet. The map was produced through a combination of mapping from Worldview satellite imagery and ground validation. The sub-metre spatial resolution of the satellite imagery enabled mapping with unprecedented detail. Ten landform categories have been mapped, and the landform distributions provide evidence constraining spatial patterns of a previously thicker ice sheet

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Introduction Longer travel times are associated with increased adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Geospatial modelling has been increasingly used to estimate geographic proximity in emergency obstetric care. In this study, we aimed to assess the correlation between modelled and patient-reported travel times and to evaluate its clinical relevance. Methods Women who delivered by caesarean section in nine hospitals were followed up with home visits at 1 month and 1 year. Travel times between the location before the delivery and the facility where caesarean section was performed were estimated, based on two models (model I Ouma et al; model II Munoz et al). Patient-reported and modelled travel times were compared applying a univariable linear regression analysis, and the relation between travel time and perinatal mortality was assessed. Results The median reported travel time was 60 min, compared with 13 and 34 min estimated by the two models, respectively. The 2-hour access threshold correlated with a patient-reported travel time of 5.7 hours for model I and 1.8 hours for model II. Longer travel times were associated with transport by boat and ambulance, visiting one or two facilities before reaching the final facility, lower education and poverty. Lower perinatal mortality was found both in the group with a reported travel time of 2 hours or less (193 vs 308 per 1000 births, p<0.001) and a modelled travel time of 2 hours or less (model I: 209 vs 344 per 1000 births, p=0.003; model II: 181 vs 319 per 1000 births, p<0.001). Conclusion The standard model, used to estimate geographical proximity, consistently underestimated the travel time. However, the conservative travel time model corresponded better to patient-reported travel times. The 2-hour threshold as determined by the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, is clinically relevant with respect to reducing perinatal death, not a clear cut-off