485 research outputs found
Localized magnetoplasmon modes arising from broken translational symmetry in semiconductor superlattices
The electromagnetic propagator associated with the localized collective
magnetoplasmon excitations in a semiconductor superlattice with broken
translational symmetry, is calculated analytically within linear response
theory. We discuss the properties of these collective excitations in both
radiative and non-radiative regimes of the electromagnetic spectra. We find
that low frequency retarded modes arise when the surface density of carriers at
the symmetry breaking layer is lower than the density at the remaining layers.
Otherwise a doublet of localized, high-frequency magnetoplasmon-like modes
occurs.Comment: Revtex file + separate pdf figure
Slow Radiation-Driven Wind Solutions of A-Type Supergiants
The theory of radiation-driven winds succeeded in describing terminal
velocities and mass loss rates of massive stars. However, for A-type
supergiants the standard m-CAK solution predicts values of mass loss and
terminal velocity higher than the observed values. Based on the existence of a
slow wind solution in fast rotating massive stars, we explore numerically the
parameter space of radiation-driven flows to search for new wind solutions in
slowly rotating stars, that could explain the origin of these discrepancies. We
solve the 1-D hydrodynamical equation of rotating radiation-driven winds at
different stellar latitudes and explore the influence of ionization's changes
throughout the wind in the velocity profile. We have found that for particular
sets of stellar and line-force parameters, a new slow solution exists over the
entire star when the rotational speed is slow or even zero. In the case of slow
rotating A-type supergiant stars the presence of this novel slow solution at
all latitudes leads to mass losses and wind terminal velocities which are in
agreement with the observed values. The theoretical Wind Momentum-Luminosity
Relationship derived with these slow solutions shows very good agreement with
the empirical relationship. In addition, the ratio between the terminal and
escape velocities, which provides a simple way to predict stellar wind energy
and momentum input into the interstellar medium, is also properly traced.Comment: 7 Pages, 3 figures, Astrophysical Journal, Accepte
K- and L-band spectroscopy of Be stars
We describe the behaviour of IR hydrogen emission lines of a sample of Be stars and discuss the physical properties of the circumstellar envelopes of Be stars classified in Groups I and II (Mennickent et al. 2009). We find that while Humphreys and Pfund lines of Group I stars form in an optically thick envelope/disk, Group II stars show Pfund lines that form in an optically thick medium and Humphreys lines originating in optically thinner regions. The transition between Groups I and II could be understood in terms of the evolution of the circumstellar disk of the star and might bring clues on the mechanism originating the Be phenomeno
Simultaneous J-, H-, K- and L-band spectroscopic observations of galactic Be stars. I. IR atlas
It is already accepted that Be stars are surrounded by circumstellar
envelopes, which are mostly compatible with a disc geometry in Keplerian
rotation. We aim to obtain a more complete characterisation of the properties
of the circumstellar environment of Be stars that helps to constrain the
theoretical models of the Be phenomenon. We present near-infrared,
medium-resolution spectra of a sample of galactic Be stars with different
spectral subtypes and luminosity classes. We measure different parameters of
the hydrogen recombination lines from the Paschen, Brackett, Pfund, and
Humphreys series, and use them to diagnose physical conditions in the
circumstellar environment. We analysed the equivalent-width (EW) ratio between
Br and Br lines and different diagrams of flux ratios. We also
identify lines from He I, C I, N I, O I, Na I, Mg I, Mg II, Si I, Fe I, and Fe
II. Analysing the EW measurements of particular He I, Mg II, Fe I, Fe II and O
I lines, we find that for some lines they correlate with the spectral type of
the star. Particularly, the emission of the O I~m line
decreases towards the later spectral types. We present an atlas of 22 Be stars,
that covers a wide infrared (IR) spectral range with quasi-simultaneous
observations. From a detailed analysis, we define new complementary criteria to
Mennickent's classification of Be stars according to their disc opacity. Some
objects in our sample present compact thick envelopes, while in others the
envelope is extended and optically thin. The correlation between the full
widths at half maximum (FWHM) and the peak separation ()
versus for the Br10, Br, and Hu14 lines reveals that the
broadening mechanism is rotational. The Ly fluorescence is a key
mechanism to explain the intensity of the emission of Mg II and O I lines.Comment: 27 pages, 14 figures. Accepted for publication in A&
Anisotropic Magnetoresistance in Manganites: Model and Experiment
We present measurements of anisotropic magnetoresistance of
La_{0.75}Sr_{0.25}MnO_3 films deposited on (001) SrTiO_3 substrates, and
develop a model to describe the low temperature AMR in manganites. We measure
an AMR of the order of 10^{-3} for the current I parallel to the [100] axis of
the crystal and vanishing AMR for I//[110], in agreement with the model
predictions.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Design and evaluation of an osteogenesis-on-a-chip microfluidic device incorporating 3D cell culture
Microfluidic-based tissue-on-a-chip devices have generated significant research interest for biomedical applications, such as pharmaceutical development, as they can be used for small volume, high throughput studies on the effects of therapeutics on tissue-mimics. Tissue-on-a-chip devices are evolving from basic 2D cell cultures incorporated into microfluidic devices to complex 3D approaches, with modern designs aimed at recapitulating the dynamic and mechanical environment of the native tissue. Thus far, most tissue-on-a-chip research has concentrated on organs involved with drug uptake, metabolism and removal (e.g., lung, skin, liver, and kidney); however, models of the drug metabolite target organs will be essential to provide information on therapeutic efficacy. Here, we develop an osteogenesis-on-a-chip device that comprises a 3D environment and fluid shear stresses, both important features of bone. This inexpensive, easy-to-fabricate system based on a polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion (polyHIPE) supports proliferation, differentiation and extracellular matrix production of human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells (hES-MPs) over extended time periods (up to 21 days). Cells respond positively to both chemical and mechanical stimulation of osteogenesis, with an intermittent flow profile containing rest periods strongly promoting differentiation and matrix formation in comparison to static and continuous flow. Flow and shear stresses were modeled using computational fluid dynamics. Primary cilia were detectable on cells within the device channels demonstrating that this mechanosensory organelle is present in the complex 3D culture environment. In summary, this device aids the development of ‘next-generation’ tools for investigating novel therapeutics for bone in comparison with standard laboratory and animal testing
Two-year longitudinal evaluation of a second-generation thin-strut sirolimus-eluting bioresorbable coronary scaffold with hybrid cell design in porcine coronary arteries
Background: The first commercially available bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) had a strut thickness of 156 microns. As such, it had the potential for delivery challenges and higher thrombogenicity. The aim herein, is to evaluate biomechanical performance, pharmacokinetics and vascular healing of a novel thin strut (100 μm) sirolimus eluting BRS (MeRes-100, Meril Life Sciences, Gujarat, India) against the once clinically used BRS (Absorb BVS, Abbott, Santa Clara, CA) in porcine coronary arteries.
Methods: Following device implantation, angiographic and optical coherence tomography (OCT) evaluation were performed at 45, 90, 180 days, 1 year and 2 years. Histological evaluation was performed at 30, 90 and 180 days.
Results: At 2 years, both lumen (MeRes-100 7.07 ± 1.82 mm2 vs. Absorb BVS 7.57 ± 1.39 mm2, p = NS) and scaffold areas (MeRes-100 9.73 ± 1.80 mm2 vs. Absorb BVS 9.67 ± 1.25 mm2, p = NS) were comparable between tested and control scaffolds. Also, the late lumen area gain at 2 years was similar in both groups tested (MeRes-100 1.03 ± 1.98 mm2 vs. Absorb BVS 0.85 ± 1.56 mm2, p = NS). Histologic examination up to 6 months showed comparable healing and inflammation profiles for both devices.
Conclusions: The novel sirolimus-eluting BRS with thinner struts and hybrid cell design showed similar biomechanical durability and equivalent inhibition of neointimal proliferation when compared to the first-ever Absorb BVS up to 2 years in normal porcine coronary arteries
Off-pump epicardial ventricular reconstruction restores left ventricular twist and reverses remodeling in an ovine anteroapical aneurysm model
ObjectiveThe loss of normal apical rotation is associated with left ventricular (LV) remodeling and systolic dysfunction in patients with congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of epicardial ventricular reconstruction, an off-pump, less-invasive surgical reshaping technique, on myocardial strain, LV twist, and the potential alteration of myocardial fiber orientation in an ovine model of LV anteroapical aneurysm.MethodsLV anteroapical myocardial infarction was induced by coil embolization of the left anterior descending artery. Eight weeks after occlusion, epicardial ventricular reconstruction was performed using left thoracotomy under fluoroscopic guidance in 8 sheep to completely exclude the scar. The peak systolic longitudinal/circumferential strains and LV twist were evaluated using speckle tracking echocardiography before (baseline), after device implantation, and at 6 weeks of follow-up.ResultsEpicardial ventricular reconstruction was completed in all sheep without any complications. Immediately after device implantation, LV twist significantly increased (4.18 ± 1.40 vs baseline 1.97 ± 1.92; P = .02). The ejection fraction had increased 17% and LV end-systolic volume had decreased 40%. The global longitudinal strain increased from −5.3% to −9.1% (P < .05). Circumferential strain increased in both middle and apical LV segments, with the greatest improvement in the inferior lateral wall (from −11.4% to −20.6%, P < .001). These effects were maintained ≥6 weeks after device implantation without redilation.ConclusionsLess invasive than alternative therapies, epicardial ventricular reconstruction on the off-pump beating heart can restore LV twist and systolic strain and reverse LV remodeling in an ovine anteroapical aneurysm model
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