High‐temperature specific heat by a pulse‐heating method

A pulse-heating method for measuring specific heat and electrical resistivity to high temperatures is described. This technique can be used for electrically conductive materials from room temperature to near 1300 K. As an example of this method, measurements of zirconium are presented

New Ce Heavy-Fermion System: CeCu

We have discovered a new heavy-fermion system, CeCu6, with a large susceptibility (=0.027 emu/mole G at 1.5 K) and a large, temperature-dependent specific heat below 10 K that is 840 mJ/mole K2 at 1.8 K and extrapolates to 1.6 J/mole K2 at T=0 in analogy with CeAl3. High-field specific-heat measurements agree almost perfectly with a narrow-band picture first proposed for UBe13. © 1984 The American Physical Society

Buried Versus Exposed Kirschner Wires Following Fixation of Hand Fractures: l Clinician and Patient Surveys

Background: Fractures of the metacarpals and phalanges are common. Placement of Kirschner wires (K-wires) is the most common form of surgical fixation. After placement, a key decision is whether to bury the end of a K-wire or leave it protruding from the skin (exposed). A recent systematic review found no evidence to support either approach. The aim of study was to investigate current clinical practice, understand the key factors influencing clinician decision-making, and explore patient preferences to inform the design of a randomized clinical trial. Methods: The steering group developed surveys for hand surgeons, hand therapists, and patients. Following piloting, they were distributed across the United Kingdom hand surgery units using the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network. Results: A total of 423 hand surgeons, 187 hand therapists, and 187 patients completed the surveys. Plastic surgeons and junior surgical trainees preferred to leave K-wires not buried. Ease of removal correlated with a decision to leave wires exposed, whereas perceived risk of infection correlated with burying wires. Cost did not affect the decision. Hand therapists were primarily concerned about infection and patient-related outcomes. Patients were most concerned about wire-related problems and pain. Conclusion: This national survey provides a new understanding of the use of K-wires to manage hand fractures in the United Kingdom. A number of nonevidence-based factors seem to influence the decision to bury or leave K-wires exposed. The choice has important clinical and health economic implications that justify a randomized controlled trial