723 research outputs found
Superfluid vortices in neutron stars
A microscopic, quantum mechanical model for neutron vortices in the crust of
a neutron star is presented. After a brief introduction to the Bogoliubov- de
Gennes equations, which form the basis for our calculations, we present results
for density distributions, vortex core sizes and vortex energies, both for an
isolated neutron vortex and for the case when the vortex core overlaps with a
cylindrical nucleus. Earlier results on the vortex core size are confirmed,
indicating a much less dramatic variation of the vortex core size with density
than predicted by the BCS formula.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figures. To appear in Astronomy & Astrophysic
Modern meson--exchange potential and superfluid neutron star crust matter
In this work we study properties of neutron star crusts, where matter is
expected to consist of nuclei surrounded by superfluid neutrons and a
homogeneous background of relativistic electrons. The nuclei are disposed in a
Coulomb lattice, and it is believed that the structure of the lattice
influences considerably the specific heat of the neutronic matter inside the
crust of a neutron star. Using a modern meson--exchange potential in the
framework of a local--density approximation we calculate the neutronic specific
heat accounting for various shapes of the Coulomb lattice, from spherical to
non--spherical nuclear shapes. We find that a realistic nucleon--nucleon
potential leads to a significant increase in the neutronic specific heat with
respect to that obtained assuming a uniform neutron distribution. The increase
is largest for the non--spherical phase of the crust. These results may have
consequences for the thermal history of young neutron stars.Comment: Revtex, 5 pages, 4 figures included as uuencoded p
Microscopic structure of a vortex line in superfluid neutron star matter
The microscopic structure of an isolated vortex line in superfluid neutron
star matter is studied by solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. Our
calculation, which is the starting point for a microscopic calculation of
pinning forces in neutron stars, shows that the size of the vortex core varies
differently with density, and is in general smaller than assumed in some
earlier calculations of vortex pinning in neutron star crusts. The implications
of this result are discussedComment: 5 pages, 2 figure
Preliminary study on the assessment of visceral adipose tissue using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Background: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was shown to be increased in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to control subjects with comparable body mass index (BMI). Our aim was to determine the relation of VAT by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in patients with COPD by disease severity, BMI, other indices of body composition and static lung volumes. Methods: 294 COPD patients admitted for rehabilitation were studied. Lung function, static lung volumes and body composition (i.e. BMI, waist circumference, fat-free mass, fat mass and fat distribution between android and gynoid fat mass) were assessed before entering pulmonary rehabilitation. VAT was estimated within the android region by using DEXA. Patients were stratified for gender, BMI (cut-off of 25 kg/m2) and GOLD stage. To assess the impact of VAT on lung volumes, patients were also stratified for VAT less and above 50th percentile. Results: Both male and female patients with more severe airflow limitation had significantly lower VAT values, but these differences disappeared after stratification for BMI. VAT was significantly and strongly correlated with other body composition parameters (all p < 0.001). Patients with moderate to severe airflow limitation and lower VAT had increased static lung hyperinflation and lower diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. Nevertheless, multivariate stepwise regression models including for BMI, age, gender and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) as confounders did not confirm an independent role for VAT on static lung hyperinflation and diffusion capacity. Conclusion: After stratification for BMI, VAT is comparable in moderate to very severe COPD patients. Furthermore, BMI and demographics, but not VAT, were independent predictors of static lung hyperinflation and diffusing capacity in COPD
R-modes in Neutron Stars with Crusts: Turbulent Saturation, Spin-down, and Crust Melting
Rossby waves (r-modes) have been suggested as a means to regulate the spin
periods of young or accreting neutron stars, and also to produce observable
gravitational wave radiation. R-modes involve primarily transverse,
incompressive motions of the star's fluid core. However, neutron stars gain
crusts early in their lives: therefore, r-modes also imply shear in the fluid
beneath the crust. We examine the criterion for this shear layer to become
turbulent, and derive the rate of dissipation in the turbulent regime. Unlike
dissipation from a viscous boundary layer, turbulent energy loss is nonlinear
in mode energy and can therefore cause the mode to saturate at amplitudes
typically much less than unity. This energy loss also reappears as heat below
the crust. We study the possibility of crust melting as well as its
implications for the spin evolution of low-mass X-ray binaries. Lastly, we
identify some universal features of the spin evolution that may have
observational consequences.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Ap
Prospective study of the efficacy of antibiotics versus antitussive drugs for the management of URTI-related acute cough in children
Semiclassical Approximation to Neutron Star Superfluidity Corrected for Proximity Effects
The inner crust of a neutron star is a superfluid and inhomogeneous system,
consisting of a lattice of nuclei immersed in a sea of neutrons. We perform a
quantum calculation of the associated pairing gap and compare it to the results
one obtains in the Local Density Approximation (LDA). It is found that the LDA
overestimates the spatial dependence of the gap, and leads to a specific heat
of the system which is too large at low temperatures, as compared with the
quantal result. This is caused by the neglect of proximity effects and the
delocalized character of the single-particle wavefunctions close to the Fermi
energy. It is possible to introduce an alternative, simple semiclassical
approximation of the pairing gap which leads to a specific heat that is in good
agreement with the quantum calculation.Comment: RevteX, 8 Postscript Figure
Effects of a walking aid in COPD patients receiving oxygen therapy
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To elucidate whether a simple walking aid may improve physical performance in COPD patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency who usually carry their own heavy oxygen canister. DESIGN: Randomized crossover trial. SETTING: Physiopathology laboratory of three rehabilitation centers. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: We studied 60 stable COPD patients (mean age, 70.6 +/- 7.9 years; FEV(1), 44.8 +/- 14.3% of predicted [+/- SD]) with chronic respiratory insufficiency who randomly performed, on 2 consecutive days, a standardized 6-min walking test using two different modalities: a full-weight oxygen canister transported using a small wheeled cart and pulled by the patient (Aid modality) or full-weight oxygen canister carried on the patient's shoulder (No-Aid modality). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The distance walked, peak effort dyspnea, and leg fatigue scores as primary outcomes, and other cardiorespiratory parameters as secondary outcomes were recorded during both tests. A significant difference (p < 0.05) between the two tests occurred for all the measured outcomes in favor of the Aid modality. Most importantly, significant changes for distance (+ 43 m, p < 0.001), peak effort dyspnea (- 2.0 points, p < 0.001), leg fatigue (- 1.4 points, p < 0.001), as well as for mean and nadir oxygen saturation and heart rate with the Aid modality (but not with the No-Aid modality) were recorded in the subgroup of patients walking < 300 m at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a simple walking aid may be helpful in COPD patients receiving long-term oxygen therapy, particularly in those with lower residual exercise capacity
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