Casimir Force between two Half Spaces of Vortex Matter in Anisotropic Superconductors

We present a new approach to calculate the attractive long-range vortex-vortex interaction of the van der Waals type present in anisotropic and layered superconductors. The mapping of the statistical mechanics of two-dimensional charged bosons allows us to define a Casimir problem: Two half spaces of vortex matter separated by a gap of width R are mapped to two dielectric half planes of charged bosons interacting via a massive gauge field. We determine the attractive Casimir force between the two half planes and show that it agrees with the pairwise summation of the van der Waals force between vortices.Comment: Submitted to Physica C (4 pages, 2 figures

Strongly correlated 2D quantum phases with cold polar molecules: controlling the shape of the interaction potential

We discuss techniques to tune and shape the long-range part of the interaction potentials in quantum gases of polar molecules by dressing rotational excitations with static and microwave fields. This provides a novel tool towards engineering strongly correlated quantum phases in combination with low dimensional trapping geometries. As an illustration, we discuss a 2D crystalline phase, and a superfluid-crystal quantum phase transition.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Commensurate-incommensurate transition of cold atoms in an optical lattice

An atomic gas subject to a commensurate periodic potential generated by an optical lattice undergoes a superfluid--Mott insulator transition. Confining a strongly interacting gas to one dimension generates an instability where an arbitrary weak potential is sufficient to pin the atoms into the Mott state; here, we derive the corresponding phase diagram. The commensurate pinned state may be detected via its finite excitation gap and the Bragg peaks in the static structure factor.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

The nucleon axial-vector coupling beyond one loop

We analyze the nucleon axial-vector coupling to two loops in chiral perturbation theory. We show that chiral extrapolations based on this representation require lattice data with pion masses below 300 MeV.Comment: 9 pp, 2 fig

Renormalization group equations for effective field theories

We derive the renormalization group equations for a generic nonrenormalizable theory. We show that the equations allow one to derive the structure of the leading divergences at any loop order in terms of one-loop diagrams only. In chiral perturbation theory, e.g., this means that one can obtain the series of leading chiral logs by calculating only one loop diagrams. We discuss also the renormalization group equations for the subleading divergences, and the crucial role of counterterms that vanish at the equations of motion. Finally, we show that the renormalization group equations obtained here apply equally well also to renormalizable theories.Comment: 40 pages, 4 figures, plain Late

The role of octreotide in preventing complications after pancreatoduodenectomy for cancer

Background Although the mortality rate of pancreatoduodenectomy has fallen sharply over the last two decades, there is still a risk of serious complications resulting from leakage at the site of anastomosis between the pancreatic remnant and the gastrointestinal tract. Numerous techniques have been described to minimise the risk of these anastomotic leaks, but they can be difficult to avoid if the distal pancreas is unobstructed with a soft parenchyma and a non-dilated duct. The risk of leakage is largely dependent upon the presence of activated pancreatic enzymes, and this fact provides a rationale for the perioperative use of the somatostatin analogue octreotide to inhibit exocrine pancreatic secretion. Discussion Six prospective randomised controlled trials have been published on the use of prophylactic octreotide in pancreatic surgery, five from Europe and one from the USA. The five (multicentre) European studies have consistently shown that octreotide reduces the postoperative complication rate, but the American study does not confirm this benefit. Methodological differences may explain the discrepancy, notably the fact that most of the US patients had received preoperative chemoradiation which is likely to have reduced enzyme secretion. A meta-analysis of four of these studies showed that octreotide lowered the rate of postoperative complications from 37 to 21%, chiefly by reducing the risk of pancreatic fistula. Prophylactic octreotide therapy is cost effective and should be used at least in patients with normal pancreatic parenchyma

Improved Method for the Determination of Phospholipase A2 Catalytic Activity Concentration in Human Serum and Ascites

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