Transport properties of quantum dots with hard walls

Quantum dots are fabricated in a Ga[Al]As-heterostructure by local oxidation with an atomic force microscope. This technique, in combination with top gate voltages, allows us to generate steep walls at the confining edges and small lateral depletion lengths. The confinement is characterized by low-temperature magnetotransport measurements, from which the dots' energy spectrum is reconstructed. We find that in small dots, the addition spectrum can qualitatively be described within a Fock-Darwin model. For a quantitative analysis, however, a hard-wall confinement has to be considered. In large dots, the energy level spectrum deviates even qualitatively from a Fock-Darwin model. The maximum wall steepness achieved is of the order of 0.4 meV/nm.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Transport properties of quantum dots with hard walls

Quantum dots are fabricated in a Ga[Al]As-heterostructure by local oxidation with an atomic force microscope. This technique, in combination with top gate voltages, allows us to generate steep walls at the confining edges and small lateral depletion lengths. The confinement is characterized by low-temperature magnetotransport measurements, from which the dots' energy spectrum is reconstructed. We find that in small dots, the addition spectrum can qualitatively be described within a Fock-Darwin model. For a quantitative analysis, however, a hard-wall confinement has to be considered. In large dots, the energy level spectrum deviates even qualitatively from a Fock-Darwin model. The maximum wall steepness achieved is of the order of 0.4 meV/nm.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Precision Upsilon Spectroscopy from Nonrelativistic Lattice QCD

The spectrum of the Upsilon system is investigated using the Nonrelativistic Lattice QCD approach to heavy quarks and ignoring light quark vacuum polarization. We find good agreement with experiment for the Upsilon(1S), Upsilon(2S), Upsilon(3S) and for the center of mass and fine structure of the chi_b states. The lattice calculations predict b-bbar D-states with center of mass at (10.20 +/- 0.07 +/- 0.03)GeV. Fitting procedures aimed at extracting both ground and excited state energies are developed. We calculate a nonperturbative dispersion mass for the Upsilon(1S) and compare with tadpole-improved lattice perturbation theory.Comment: 8 pages, latex, SCRI-94-57, OHSTPY-HEP-T-94-00

537Microparticles and exosomes differentially impact on endothelial cell function in coronary artery disease

Background and Purpose: Microparticles (MPs) and exosomes are released by cells using different mechanisms. Thus, quantitative as well as qualitative changes of both particle populations, MPs and exosomes, in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) might reflect an altered activation status of the endothelium, platelets and leukocytes. Moreover, they might exert differential effects on the target organs, such as the endothelium. Yet, alterations in both populations have not been studied side-by-side so far. The aim of the study was to compare the impact of MPs and exosomes from healthy subjects and CAD patients on endothelial cell (EC) functional characteristics. Methods: MPs and exosomes were isolated by stepwise filtration and ultracentrifugation from citrate-plasma and verified by electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. MP and exosome fractions, as well as the vehicle (PBS), were added to human arterial ECs and EC apoptosis, number, size, capacity for in vitro-reendothelialisation after scratching, expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were assessed. In parallel, platelet-, endothelial- and leukocyte-derived MPs were quantified. In a separate sub-study, the same parameters were assessed in plasma of CAD patients undergoing standard medical rehabilitation or an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme. Results: MPs of healthy, but not of CAD patients supported in vitro re-endothelialisation, while exosomes had no influence. Exercise, but not standard rehabilitation improved CAD MP capacity to support in vitro rehabilitation. This was negatively correlated to the number of leukocyte- and endothelial-derived MPs, but not total or platelet MPs. EC number was negatively affected by exposure to CAD MPs. ANCOVA analysis identified disease, but not the particle type as influencing factor. Instead, apoptotic cell death was influenced by particle type, but not by the disease, and was not altered in rehabilitation. Similarly, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression were enhanced on ECs after incubation with exosomes, but not with MPs, with no effect of disease or rehabilitation. Conclusion: MPs and exosomes differentially affect endothelial cell function and underlie differential modulation in disease and rehabilitation. Those findings might in the future help to optimize and monitor cardiovascular therap

Vector Correlators in Lattice QCD: methods and applications

We discuss the calculation of the leading hadronic vacuum polarization in lattice QCD. Exploiting the excellent quality of the compiled experimental data for the e^+e^- --> hadrons cross-section, we predict the outcome of large-volume lattice calculations at the physical pion mass, and design computational strategies for the lattice to have an impact on important phenomenological quantities such as the leading hadronic contribution to (g-2)mu and the running of the electromagnetic coupling constant. First, the R(s) ratio can be calculated directly on the lattice in the threshold region, and we provide the formulae to do so with twisted boundary conditions. Second, the current correlator projected onto zero spatial momentum, in a Euclidean time interval where it can be calculated accurately, provides a potentially critical test of the experimental R(s) ratio in the region that is most relevant for (g-2)mu. This observation can also be turned around: the vector correlator at intermediate distances can be used to determine the lattice spacing in fm, and we make a concrete proposal in this direction. Finally, we quantify the finite-size effects on the current correlator coming from low-energy two-pion states and provide a general parametrization of the vacuum polarization on the torus.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure files; corrected a factor 2 in Eq. (7) over the published versio

Quenched Approximation Artifacts: A study in 2-dimensional QED

The spectral properties of the Wilson-Dirac operator in 2-dimensional QED responsible for the appearance of exceptional configurations in quenched simulations are studied in detail. The mass singularity structure of the quenched functional integral is shown to be extremely compicated, with multiple branch points and cuts. The connection of lattice topological charge and exactly real eigenmodes is explored using cooling techniques. The lattice volume and spacing dependence of these modes is studied, as is the effect of clover improvement of the action. A recently proposed modified quenched approximation is applied to the study of meson correlators, and the results compared with both naive quenched and full dynamical calculations of the same quantity.Comment: 34 pages (Latex) plus 9 embedded figures; title change

Hamiltonian Study of Improved U(1U(1 Lattice Gauge Theory in Three Dimensions

A comprehensive analysis of the Symanzik improved anisotropic three-dimensional U(1) lattice gauge theory in the Hamiltonian limit is made. Monte Carlo techniques are used to obtain numerical results for the static potential, ratio of the renormalized and bare anisotropies, the string tension, lowest glueball masses and the mass ratio. Evidence that rotational symmetry is established more accurately for the Symanzik improved anisotropic action is presented. The discretization errors in the static potential and the renormalization of the bare anisotropy are found to be only a few percent compared to errors of about 20-25% for the unimproved gauge action. Evidence of scaling in the string tension, antisymmetric mass gap and the mass ratio is observed in the weak coupling region and the behaviour is tested against analytic and numerical results obtained in various other Hamiltonian studies of the theory. We find that more accurate determination of the scaling coefficients of the string tension and the antisymmetric mass gap has been achieved, and the agreement with various other Hamiltonian studies of the theory is excellent. The improved action is found to give faster convergence to the continuum limit. Very clear evidence is obtained that in the continuum limit the glueball ratio $M_{S}/M_{A}$ approaches exactly 2, as expected in a theory of free, massive bosons.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

A Prospective Pilot Study to Identify a Myocarditis Cohort who may Safely Resume Sports Activities 3 Months after Diagnosis

International cardiovascular society recommendations to return to sports activities following acute myocarditis are based on expert consensus in the absence of prospective studies. We prospectively enrolled 30 patients with newly diagnosed myocarditis based on clinical parameters, laboratory measurements and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with mildly reduced or pre served left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with a follow-up of 12 months. Cessation of physical activity was recommended for 3 months. The average age was 35 (19–80) years with 73% male patients. One case of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia was recorded during 48-h-Holter electrocardiogram. Except for this case, all patients were allowed to resume physical exercise after 3 months. At 6- (n = 26) and 12-month (n = 19) follow-up neither cardiac events nor worsening LVEF were recorded. The risk of cardiac events at 1 year after diagnosis of myocarditis appears to be low after resumption of exercise after 3 months among patients who recover from acute myocarditis