On the relationship between structure and dynamics in a supercooled liquid

We present the dynamic propensity distribution as an explicit measure of the degree to which the dynamics in a liquid over the time scale of structural relaxation is determined by the initial configuration. We then examine, for a binary mixture of soft discs in two dimensions, the correlation between the spatial distribution of propensity and that of two localmeasures of configuration structure: the local composition and local free volume. While the small particles dominate the high propensity population,we find no strong correlation between either the local composition or the local free volume and the propensity. It is argued that this is a generic failure of purely local structural measures to capture the inherently non-local character of collective behaviour.Comment: Published, see below or http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0953-8984/17/49/001/ Editing comments have been remove

STRUCTURE OF Er | Y SUPERLATTICES

The magnetic structure of Er | Y superlattices has been determined by neutron diffraction and squid magnetometry on single crystal samples grown on sapphire substrates by molecular-beam-epitaxy techniques. The turn angle in the Er layers is magneto-elastically "clamped", and in fact locks-in to the commensurate state ω = 2π / 7 below about 35 K. For the [Er13 | Y26] superlattice the low temperature state is not 2π / 7 but can be shifted to that value by a magnetic field, since this state has a net moment of 8 µB / 7 atoms along the c-axis

A Multinational Cost-Consequence Analysis of a Bone Conduction Hearing Implant System-A Randomized Trial of a Conventional vs. a Less Invasive Treatment With New Abutment Technology

Background: It is hypothesized that, for patients with hearing loss, surgically placing an implant/abutment combination whilst leaving the subcutaneous tissues intact will improve cosmetic and clinical results, increase quality of life (QoL) for the patient, and reduce medical costs. Here, incremental costs and consequences associated with soft tissue preservation surgery with a hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated abutment (test) were compared with the conventional approach, soft tissue reduction surgery with an all-titanium abutment (control). Methods: A cost-consequence analysis was performed based on data gathered over a period of 3 years in an open randomized (1:1) controlled trial (RCT) running in four European countries (The Netherlands, Spain, France, and Sweden). Subjects with conductive or mixed hearing loss or single-sided sensorineural deafness were included. Results: During the first year, in the Netherlands (NL), France (FR), and Spain (ES) a net cost saving was achieved in favor of the test intervention because of a lower cost associated with surgery time and adverse event treatments [NL €86 (CI −50.33; 219.20), FR €134 (CI −3.63; 261.30), ES €178 (CI 34.12; 97.48)]. In Sweden (SE), the HA-coated abutment was more expensive than the conventional abutment, which neutralized the cost savings and led to a negative cost (SE €-29 CI −160.27; 97.48) of the new treatment modality. After 3 years, the mean cost saving reduced to €17 (CI −191.80; 213.30) in the Netherlands, in Spain to €84.50 (CI −117.90; 289.50), and in France to €80 (CI −99.40; 248.50). The mean additional cost in Sweden increased to €-116 (CI −326.90; 68.10). The consequences in terms of the subjective audiological benefit and Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were comparable between treatments. A trend was identified for favorable results in the test group for some consequences and statistical significance is achieved for the cosmetic outcome as assessed by the clinician. Conclusions: From this multinational cost-consequence analysis it can be discerned that health care systems can achieve a cost saving during the first year that regresses after 3 years, by implementing soft tissue preservation surgery with a HA-coated abutment in comparison to the conventional treatment. The cosmetic results are better. (sponsored by Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB; Clinical and health economic evaluation with a new Baha® abutment design combined with a minimally invasive surgical technique, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01796236)