3,053 research outputs found
The rationale for a spine registry
In the discussion about the rationale for spine registries, two basic questions have to be answered. The first one deals with the value of orthopaedic registries per se, considering them as observational studies and comparing the evidence they generate with that of randomised controlled trials. The second question asks if the need for registries in spine surgery is similar to that in the arthroplasty sector. The widely held view that randomised controlled trials are the ‘gold standard' for evaluation and that observational methods have little or no value ignores the limitations of randomised trials. They may prove unnecessary, inappropriate, impossible, or inadequate. In addition, the external validity and hence the ability to make generalisations about the results of randomised trials is often low. Therefore, the false conflict between those who advocate randomised trials in all situations and those who believe observational data provide sufficient evidence needs to be replaced with mutual recognition of their complementary roles. The fact that many surgical techniques or technologies were introduced into the field of spine surgery without randomised trials or prospective cohort comparisons makes obvious an even increased need for spine registries compared to joint arthroplasty. An essential methodological prerequisite for a registry is a common terminology for reporting results and a sophisticated technology that networks all participants so that one central data pool is created and accessed. Recognising this need, the Spine Society of Europe has researched and developed Spine Tango, the first European spine registry, which can be accessed under www.eurospine.or
Elementary structural building blocks encountered in silicon surface reconstructions
Driven by the reduction of dangling bonds and the minimization of surface
stress, reconstruction of silicon surfaces leads to a striking diversity of
outcomes. Despite this variety even very elaborate structures are generally
comprised of a small number of structural building blocks. We here identify
important elementary building blocks and discuss their integration into the
structural models as well as their impact on the electronic structure of the
surface
Exciton condensation driving the periodic lattice distortion of 1T-TiSe2
We address the lattice instability of 1T-TiSe2 in the framework of the
exciton condensate phase. We show that, at low temperature, condensed excitons
influence the lattice through electron-phonon interaction. It is found that at
zero temperature, in the exciton condensate phase of 1T-TiSe2, this exciton
condensate exerts a force on the lattice generating ionic displacements
comparable in amplitude to what is measured in experiment. This is thus the
first quantitative estimation of the amplitude of the periodic lattice
distortion observed in 1T-TiSe2 as a consequence of the exciton condensate
phase.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures and 1 tabl
Electronic Structure of the YH3 Phase from Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy
Yttrium can be loaded with hydrogen up to high concentrations causing
dramatic structural and electronic changes of the host lattice. We report on
angle-resolved photoemission experiments of the Y trihydride phase. Most
importantly, we find the absence of metal d-bands at the Fermi level and a set
of flat, H-induced bands located at much higher binding energy than predicted,
indicating an increased electron affinity at H sites
Doping nature of native defects in 1T-TiSe2
The transition metal dichalcogenide 1T-TiSe2 is a quasi two-dimensional
layered material with a charge density wave (CDW) transition temperature of
TCDW 200 K. Self-doping effects for crystals grown at different temperatures
introduce structural defects, modify the temperature dependent resistivity and
strongly perturbate the CDW phase. Here we study the structural and doping
nature of such native defects combining scanning tunneling
microscopy/spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The dominant native single
atom dopants we identify in our single crystals are intercalated Ti atoms, Se
vacancies and Se substitutions by residual iodine and oxygen.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
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