As a discipline, skull-base surgery via the transtemporal route has matured since 1975. Previously considered unresectable, skull-base tumors with intracranial extension can now be successfully removed by means of modification of contemporary exposures with neurosurgical collaboration. Between September 1970 and February 1986, 126 skull-base tumors have been operated on by The Otology Group, P.C. Of these, 49 had intracranial extension. In this article, techniques for tumor removal and dural defect reconstruction are outlined. A single-staged procedure is advised. The advantages of and exceptions to this format are described. Techniques that will prevent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage are highlighted. Results and complications of this surgical series are discussed, and team aspects of this surgery are emphasized.

Patients with good clinical results 6 to 12 weeks after HR show even in the medium- to long-term follow-up good clinical outcomes as well as objective stability. In selected cases HR is an alternative treatment option for acute, proximal ACL ruptures. When indicating an HR procedure, it should be taken into consideration that up to 15 % of all patients could have a primary insufficiency.

Computer aided design of chemical plant. The effort necessary for computing and design of a chemical plant as well as the preparation of documentation has increased. This is a result of the growing complexity of process design in order to satisfy economic criteria and more stringent safety and environmental requirements. The available time is limited. CAD is one of the tools that assists the plant designer by solving all these requirements. Even at the very beginning of the development of digital computers, their possibilities in graphics electronic data processing were recognized. Since the 1970s, CAD has been utilized in plant design. The use of two‐dimensional or three‐dimensional CAD software is possible. In most cases this is done by using self‐contained dedicated solutions. The integration of the applications promises an increase of productivity. To reach this aim a database management system (DBMS) may be useful. DBMS is also useful as an interface to other computing tools like FEM‐ or process flowsheeting programs. The development of the soft‐ and hardware domain has reached a level of sophistication which makes the economic utilization of CAD possible. Nevertheless, much work still remains to be done.

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