In vivo testing of a bioabsorbable magnesium alloy serving as total ossicular replacement prostheses

Magnesium alloys have been investigated in different fields of medicine and represent a promising biomaterial for implants due to characteristics like bioabsorbability and osteoinduction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usability of magnesium as implant material in middle ear surgery. Magnesium implants were placed into the right middle ear of eighteen New Zealand White rabbits. Nine animals were euthanized after four weeks and nine animals after three month. The petrous bones were removed and embedded in epoxy resin. The specimens were then polished, stained and evaluated with the aid of a light microscope. The histological examination revealed a good biocompatibility. After four weeks, a beginning corrosion of the implant's surface and low amount of trabecular bone formation in the area of the stapes base plate was observed. A considerable degradation of implants and obvious bone formation was found three month after implantation. The magnesium alloy used in the present study partly corroded too fast, so that a complete bone reconstruction could not be established in time. The increased osteoinduction on the stapes base plate resulted in a tight bone-implant bonding. Thus, a promising application of magnesium could be a coating of biomaterials in order to improve the bony integration of implants. © The Author(s) 2012 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav

Nanoporous Silica Films as Novel Biomaterial: Applications in the Middle Ear

We have introduced nanoporous silica as a novel biomaterial. Nanoporous silica is non-toxic and biocompatible. It provides a high surface area and pore volume, uniform and tunable pore sizes and the possibility for chemical modification. We have shown that nanoporous silica coatings on middle ear prostheses provide a suitable basis for installing various functionalizations which can improve the healing after the insertion of the implant.DF

Kants Autonomie der Ethik und Rechtslehre und das thomasische Naturrechtsdenken

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Das Naturrecht, Grundlage der Gesellschaftsordnung?

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Freiheit als zentraler Wert einer ideologiefreien rechtlichen Gemeinschaftsordnung

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Минеральные микровключения в глауконитах Бакчарского месторождения (Томская область)

За счет своих уникальных свойств глауконит является ценным источником геологической информации. Как активный природный сорбент глауконит способен накапливать элементы в обстановке седиментации, которые впоследствии образуют новые минеральные фазы внутри глауконитовых гранул. Актуальность исследования определяется возможностью познания процессов осадкообразования на основе и посредством изучения созданного ими вещества в пределах Бакчарского месторождения. Цель работы: изучение ультрадисперсных минеральных включений в глауконитах Бакчарского месторождения для характеристики минерального субстрата, поступающего в бассейн седиментации. Методы исследования: разделение проб на гранулометрические классы размером более 1 мм, 1…0,5, 0,5…0,2, 0,2…0,1, менее 0,1 мм методом «мокрого» ситования; электромагнитная сепарация (ЭВС 10/5) при силе тока 4…2 А; дочистка минеральных монофракций глауконита из магнитной фракции под бинокуляром; изготовление полированных шашек; сканирующая электронная микроскопия на оборудовании TESCAN VEGA 3 SBU с энергодисперсионной приставкой OXFORD X-Max50 для рентгеноспектрального анализа. В результате проведенных исследований в глауконитах Бакчарского месторождения были обнаружены микроскопические включения золота, серебра и некоторых других минералов (фосфатов, сульфидов, сульфатов, оксидов и силикатов). Минеральные ассоциации микровключений указывают на наличие в среде осадкообразования благородных, цветных и редких металлов. Предполагается, что глауконит как активный природный сорбент «загружался» металлами и терригенными ультрадисперсными компонентами на фоне сероводородного заражения осадка микроорганизмами. Эти условия способствовали образованию новых минеральных фаз сульфидов, сульфатов и золота. Полученные данные являются признаком потенциальной золотоносности глауконитовых пород Бакчарского месторождения.Due to its unique properties glauconite is a prospective geological information source. Glauconite is an active natural sorbent. It can accumulate elements in the environment of sedimentation, which subsequently form a new mineral phase within the granules of glauconite. The relevance of the study is determined by the possibility of awareness of sedimentation on the basis and through the study of the matter created by them within the Bakchar deposit. The main aim of the research is to study the mineral microinclusions in glauconite of Bakchar deposit to describe the mineral substrate coming into sedimentation basin. The methods used in the study: samples sieving into granulometric classes with the size more than 1mm, 1…0,5, 0,5…0,2, 0,2…0,1, less than 0,1 mm; electromagnetic separation (EVS 10/5) at 4…2 A; additional cleaning of glauconite grains from magnetic fraction under a binocular microscope; pressed pellet production; scanning electron microscope (TESCAN VEGA 3 SBU) with energy dispersive attachment OXFORD X-Max50 for X-ray spectroscopic analysis. With the help of electron microscopy, microinclusions of gold, silver and other minerals (phosphates, sulfides, sulfates, oxides, and silicates) were found in the glauconites of Bakchar deposit. Mineral associations of microinclusions indicate the occurrence of precious, non-ferrous and rare metals in the sedimentation environment. It is assumed that glauconite as an active natural sorbent «was loaded» by metals and ultrafine terrigenous components on the background of hydrogen sulfide contamination of sediment with microorganisms. These conditions were favorable for forming new mineral phases of sulfides, sulfates and gold. The findings are a sign of potential gold mineralization of glauconite rocks of Bakchar deposit

Linguistic and (micro-)cultural differences in the global debate about re-naming 'schizophrenia': A mixed-methods survey from Switzerland

Background and hypothesis: This survey explores Swiss mental health professionals', users', and relatives' opinions on re-naming schizophrenia exploiting Switzerland's specific multilingualism to examine possible effects of linguistic and microcultural differences on the issue. Study design: Opinions on 'schizophrenia' were collected using a self-rated online questionnaire incl. Freetext answers available in the three main Swiss languages, German, French and Italian. It was distributed to the main professional and self-help organizations in Switzerland between June and October 2021. Study results: Overall, 449 persons completed the questionnaire, 263 in German, 172 in French and 14 in Italian. Of the total sample, 339 identified as mental health professionals, 81 as relatives and 29 as users. Considering the whole sample, almost half favored a name-change with a significant difference between stakeholder- and between language groups. Also, the name 'schizophrenia' was evaluated more critically than the diagnostic concept. Qualitative analysis of freetext answers showed a highly heterogenous argumentation, but no difference between language groups. Conclusions: Our results suggest the attitude towards re-naming might itself be subject to (micro)cultural difference, and they highlight the nature of 'schizophrenia' as not only a scientific, but also a linguistic and cultural object. Such local factors ought to be taken into consideration in the global debate