117 research outputs found
Investigation of quasi-periodic variations in hard X-rays of solar flares. II. Further investigation of oscillating magnetic traps
In our recent paper (Solar Physics 261, 233) we investigated quasi-periodic
oscillations of hard X-rays during impulsive phase of solar flares. We have
come to conclusion that they are caused by magnetosonic oscillations of
magnetic traps within the volume of hard-X-ray (HXR) loop-top sources. In the
present paper we investigate four flares which show clear quasi-periodic
sequences of HXR pulses. We also describe our phenomenological model of
oscillating magnetic traps to show that it can explain observed properties of
HXR oscillations. Main results are the following: 1. We have found that
low-amplitude quasi-periodic oscillations occur before impulsive phase of some
flares. 2. We have found that quasi-period of the oscillations can change in
some flares. We interpret this as being due to changes of the length of
oscillating magnetic traps. 3. During impulsive phase a significant part of the
energy of accelerated (non-thermal) electrons is deposited within the HXR
loop-top source. 4. Our analysis suggests that quick development of impulsive
phase is due to feedback between pulses of the pressure of accelerated
electrons and the amplitude of magnetic-trap oscillation. 5. We have also
determined electron number density and magnetic filed strength for HXR loop-top
sources of several flares. The values fall within the limits of cm, gauss.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, submitted to Solar Physic
Splitting the voter criticality
Recently some two-dimensional models with double symmetric absorbing states
were shown to share the same critical behaviour that was called the voter
universality class. We show, that for an absorbing-states Potts model with
finite but further than nearest neighbour range of interactions the critical
point is splitted into two critical points: one of the Ising type, and the
other of the directed percolation universality class. Similar splitting takes
place in the three-dimensional nearest-neighbour model.Comment: 4 pages, eps figures include
Gamma Ray Bursts as Probes of Quantum Gravity
Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) are short and intense pulses of -rays
arriving from random directions in the sky. Several years ago Amelino-Camelia
et al. pointed out that a comparison of time of arrival of photons at different
energies from a GRB could be used to measure (or obtain a limit on) possible
deviations from a constant speed of light at high photons energies. I review
here our current understanding of GRBs and reconsider the possibility of
performing these observations.Comment: Lectures given at the 40th winter school of theretical physics:
Quantum Gravity and Phenomenology, Feb. 2004 Polan
Chaos in a double driven dissipative nonlinear oscillator
We propose an anharmonic oscillator driven by two periodic forces of
different frequencies as a new time-dependent model for investigating quantum
dissipative chaos. Our analysis is done in the frame of statistical ensemble of
quantum trajectories in quantum state diffusion approach. Quantum dynamical
manifestation of chaotic behavior, including the emergence of chaos, properties
of strange attractors, and quantum entanglement are studied by numerical
simulation of ensemble averaged Wigner function and von Neumann entropy.Comment: 9 pages, 18 figure
The role of cytokine gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms: A case-control study
AbstractBackground: Cytokines are the primary mediators of inflammation and also influence matrix metalloproteinase expression, both of which are important in development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). A significant, but as yet unknown, familial factor contributes to the pathogenesis of AAA. Many cytokine genes contain polymorphic sites, some of which affect cytokine production in vitro. Cytokine gene polymorphisms may therefore influence the pathogenesis of AAA. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is any association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and AAA. Methods and Results: This case-control study comprised 100 patients with AAA and 100 age-matched and sex-matched control subjects. For each case and control subject in the study, genotypes at the following cytokine gene polymorphic loci were determined: interleukin (IL)-1β +3953, IL-6 −174, IL-10 −1082, IL-10 −592, and tumor necrosis factors-α −308. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared between AAA and control groups, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated for the presence of AAA with each allele at each locus examined as risk factors. The IL-10 −1082 A allele was significantly more common in the AAA group than the control group (P =.03). The OR for the IL-10 −1082 A allele as a risk factor for AAA was 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 0.9-3.6). Discussion: These associations suggest a significant role for IL-10 in the pathogenesis of AAA. This association of AAA with the IL-10 −1082 A allele is also biologically plausible; the IL-10 −1082 A allele is associated with low IL-10 secretion, and it may be that AAA develops in patients who are unable to mount the same anti-inflammatory response as those who do not have AAA. (J Vasc Surg 2003;37:999-1005.
Yersinia Infection with Clostridium Difficile Colitis
Antibimic associated diarrhea appears to be largely due to Closcridium difficile and may have, at least in part. a toxin mediated pathogenesis. Because a
poor correlation exists between measurable toxin titres and symptoms, additional
copathogenic factors may be important. All patients seen during a two year period
with diarrhea within four weeks of antibiotic therapy, a positive tool culture for C difficile and a positive stool cytotoxin assay specific for C difficile were investigated. All
patients had stools cultured for cnteric bacterial pathogens including Salmonella,
Shigella. Campylobacter, Aeromonas and Yersinia species. Seven patients had Yersinia
species isolated during the course of their illness; no other entcric pathogens were
identified. In four patients, Y enrerocolitica was cultured simultaneously with C difficile
prior to treatment, and in one of these, Y fredriksenii was also isolated. Of six patients
with persistent or recurrent sympcoms after treatment for C difficile ( ie, vancomycin
in five and mecronidazole in one patient), four had positive yersinia cultures at the
conclusion of therapy (Y enrerocolitica in three and Y fredriksenii in two patients). All
but one of these patients had been yersinia culture negative prior to therapy for
C difficile Patients with and without yersinia isolates were then compared with respect
to age, sex, clinical symptoms and sigmoldoscopic as well as rectal biopsy findings.
The presence of yersinia was associated with male sex, younger age and abdominal
pain; other features including hematochezia, fever, arthralgia, cytotoxin titre , sigmoidoscopy
and rectal biopsy could not distinguish patients with and without Yersinia
species. Thus, ycrsinia may be associated with an antibiotic related diarrheal illness
usually attributed to C difficile alone and may be observed in the setting of persistent
or recurrent symptoms following treatment for C difficile diarrhea
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