2,612 research outputs found
Phase Ordering in Nematic Liquid Crystals
We study the kinetics of the nematic-isotropic transition in a
two-dimensional liquid crystal by using a lattice Boltzmann scheme that couples
the tensor order parameter and the flow consistently. Unlike in previous
studies, we find the time dependences of the correlation function, energy
density, and the number of topological defects obey dynamic scaling laws with
growth exponents that, within the numerical uncertainties, agree with the value
1/2 expected from simple dimensional analysis. We find that these values are
not altered by the hydrodynamic flow. In addition, by examining shallow
quenches, we find that the presence of orientational disorder can inhibit
amplitude ordering.Comment: 21 pages, 14 eps figures, revte
A Lattice Boltzmann Model of Binary Fluid Mixture
We introduce a lattice Boltzmann for simulating an immiscible binary fluid
mixture. Our collision rules are derived from a macroscopic thermodynamic
description of the fluid in a way motivated by the Cahn-Hilliard approach to
non-equilibrium dynamics. This ensures that a thermodynamically consistent
state is reached in equilibrium. The non-equilibrium dynamics is investigated
numerically and found to agree with simple analytic predictions in both the
one-phase and the two-phase region of the phase diagram.Comment: 12 pages + 4 eps figure
Reconstructing Positions \& Peculiar Velocities of Galaxy Clusters within 25000 km/sec: The Bulk Velocity
Using a dynamical 3-D reconstruction procedure we estimate the peculiar
velocities of Abell/ACO galaxy clusters from their measured redshift
within 25000 km/sec. The reconstruction algorithm relies on the linear
gravitational instability hypothesis, assumes linear biasing and requires an
input value of the cluster -parameter (), which we estimated in Branchini \& Plionis (1995)
to be . The resulting cluster velocity field is dominated
by a large scale streaming motion along the Perseus Pisces--Great Attractor
base-line directed towards the Shapley concentration, in qualitative agreement
with the galaxy velocity field on smaller scales. Fitting the predicted cluster
peculiar velocities to a dipole term, in the local group frame and within a
distance of km/sec, we recover extremely well both the local group
velocity and direction, in disagreement with the Lauer \& Postman (1994)
observation. However, we find a probability that their observed
velocity field could be a realization of our corresponding one, if the latter
is convolved with their large distance dependent errors. Our predicted cluster
bulk velocity amplitude agrees well with that deduced by the POTENT and the da
Costa et al. (1995) analyses of observed galaxy motions at
km/sec; it decreases thereafter while at the Lauer \& Postman limiting depth
( km/sec) its amplitude is km/sec, in comfortable
agreement with most cosmological models.Comment: 8 pages, uuencoded compressed tarred postscript file uncluding text
and 3 figures. Accepted in ApJ Letter
Preliminary study on electrophysiological changes after cellular autograft in age-related macular degeneration
Background: Evolving atrophic macular degeneration represents at least 80% of all macular degenerations and is currently without a standardized care. Autologous fat transplantation (AFT) efficacy was demonstrated by several studies, since these cells are able to produce growth factors. The aim of the work was to demonstrate possible therapeutic effect of the joined suprachoroidal graft of adipocytes, adipose derived stem-cells (ADSCs) in tissue adipose’s stromal vascular fractions (SVF), and platelet rich plasma (PRP).
Methods: Twelve eyes in 12 dry age macular degeneration (AMD) patients, aged 71.25 (SD ± 6.8) between 62 and 80 years, were analyzed. A complete ocular evaluation was performed using: best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinographic analysis, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, microperimetry, computerized visual field, and standard electroretinogram (ERG). Each eye received a cell in graft between choroid and sclera by means of the variant second Limoli, grafting of mature fat cells and ADSCs in SVF enriched with PRP (LRRT). In order to test if the differences pre- and post-treatment were significant the Wilcoxon signed rank test has been performed.
Results: Adverse effects were not reported in the patients. After surgery with LRRT the most significant increase in the ERG values was recorded by scotopic rod-ERG (answer coming from the rods), from 41.26 to 60.83 μVolts (µV) with an average increase of 47.44% highly significant (p<0.05). Moderately significant was the one recorded by scotopic maximal ERG (answer coming from the rods and cones), from 112.22 to 129.68 μV with an average increase of 15.56% (p<0.1).
Conclusions: Cell-mediated therapy based on growth factors used appears interesting because it can improve the retinal functionality responses in the short term. The ERG could, therefore, be used to monitor the effect of cell-mediated regenerative therapies
Chiral exponents of the square-lattice frustrated XY model: A Monte Carlo transfer-matrix calculation
Thermal and chiral critical exponents of the fully frustrated XY model on a square lattice are obtained from a finite-size scaling analysis of the free energy of chiral domain walls. Data were obtained by extensive Monte Carlo transfer-matrix computations for infinite strips of widths up to 14 lattice spacings. Two transfer matrices were implemented, one for each of two principal lattice directions. The results of both are consistent, but the critical exponents differ significantly from the pure Ising values. This is in agreement with other recent Monte Carlo simulations. Our results also support the identification of the critical behavior of this model with that along the line of transitions of simultaneous ordering or becoming critical of Ising and planar rotor degrees of freedom in the XY-Ising model studied recently
Immune-Neuroendocrine Interactions: Evolution, Ecology, and Susceptibility to Illness
The integration between immune and neuroendocrine systems is crucial for maintaining homeostasis from invertebrates to humans. In the first, the phagocytic cell, i.e., the immunocyte, is the main actor, while in the latter, the principle player is the lymphocyte. Immunocytes are characterized by the presence of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) peptides, CRH, and other molecules that display a significant similarity to their mammalian counterparts regarding their functions, as both are mainly involved in fundamental functions such as immune (chemotaxis, phagocytosis, cytotoxicity, etc.) and neuroendocrine (stress) responses. Furthermore, the immune-neuroendocrine system provides vital answers to ecological and immunological demands in terms of economy and efficiency. Finally, susceptibility to disease emerges as the result of a continuous dynamic interaction between the world within and the world outside. New fields such as ecological immunology study the susceptibility to pathogens in an evolutionary perspective while the field of neuro-endocrine-immunology studies the susceptibility from a more immediate perspective
Approximate analytical description of the nonaffine response of amorphous solids
An approximation scheme for model disordered solids is proposed that leads to
the fully analytical evaluation of the elastic constants under explicit account
of the inhomogeneity (nonaffinity) of the atomic displacements. The theory is
in quantitative agreement with simulations for central-force systems and
predicts the vanishing of the shear modulus at the isostatic point with the
linear law {\mu} ~ (z - 2d), where z is the coordination number. The vanishing
of rigidity at the isostatic point is shown to be a consequence of the
canceling out of positive affine and negative nonaffine terms
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