362 research outputs found
Characteristics and in vitro response of thin hydroxyapatite-titania films produced by plasma electrolytic oxidation of Ti alloys in electrolytes with particle additions
The enhancement of the biological properties of Ti by surface doping with hydroxyapatite (HA) is of great significance, especially for orthodontic applications. This study addressed the effects of HA particle size in the electrolyte suspension on the characteristics and biological properties of thin titania-based coatings produced on Tiâ6Alâ4V alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). Detailed morphological investigation of the coatings formed by a single-stage PEO process with two-step control of the electrical parameters was performed using the Minkowski functionals approach. The surface chemistry was studied by glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, whereas mechanical properties were evaluated using scratch tests. The biological assessment included in vitro evaluation of the coating bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF) as well as studies of spreading, proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. The results demonstrated that both HA micro- and nanoparticles were successfully incorporated in the coatings but had different effects on their surface morphology and elemental distributions. The micro-particles formed an irregular surface morphology featuring interpenetrated networks of fine pores and coating material, whereas the nanoparticles penetrated deeper into the coating matrix which retained major morphological features of the porous TiO2 coating. All coatings suffered cohesive failure in scratch tests, but no adhesive failure was observed; moreover doping with HA increased the coating scratch resistance. In vitro tests in SBF revealed enhanced bioactivity of both HA-doped PEO coatings; furthermore, the cell proliferation/morphometric tests showed their good biocompatibility. Fluorescence microscopy revealed a well-organised actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions in MC3T3-E1 cells cultivated on these substrates. The cell alkaline phosphatase activity in the presence of ascorbic acid and ÎČ-glycerophosphate was significantly increased, especially in HA nanoparticle-doped coatings
Atom trapping and two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates in field-induced adiabatic potentials
We discuss a method to create two-dimensional traps as well as atomic shell,
or bubble, states for a Bose-Einstein condensate initially prepared in a
conventional magnetic trap. The scheme relies on the use of time-dependent,
radio frequency-induced adiabatic potentials. These are shown to form a
versatile and robust tool to generate novel trapping potentials. Our shell
states take the form of thin, highly stable matter-wave bubbles and can serve
as stepping-stones to prepare atoms in highly-excited trap eigenstates or to
study `collapse and revival phenomena'. Their creation requires gravitational
effects to be compensated by applying additional optical dipole potentials.
However, in our scheme gravitation can also be exploited to provide a route to
two-dimensional atom trapping. We demonstrate the loading process for such a
trap and examine experimental conditions under which a 2D condensate may be
prepared.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure
Split-merge cycle, fragmented collapse, and vortex disintegration in rotating Bose-Einstein condensates with attractive interactions
The dynamical instabilities and ensuing dynamics of singly- and
doubly-quantized vortex states of Bose-Einstein condensates with attractive
interactions are investigated using full 3D numerical simulations of the
Gross-Pitaevskii equation. With increasing the strength of attractive
interactions, a series of dynamical instabilities such as quadrupole, dipole,
octupole, and monopole instabilities emerge. The most prominent instability
depends on the strength of interactions, the geometry of the trapping
potential, and deviations from the axisymmetry due to external perturbations.
Singly-quantized vortices split into two clusters and subsequently undergo
split-merge cycles in a pancake-shaped trap, whereas the split fragments
immediately collapse in a spherical trap. Doubly-quantized vortices are always
unstable to disintegration of the vortex core. If we suddenly change the
strength of interaction to within a certain range, the vortex splits into three
clusters, and one of the clusters collapses after a few split-merge cycles. The
vortex split can be observed using a current experimental setup of the MIT
group.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure
Generation and evolution of vortex-antivortex pairs in Bose-Einstein condensates
We propose a method for generating and controlling a spatially separated
vortex--antivortex pair in a Bose-Einstein condensate trapped in a toroidal
potential. Our simulations of the time dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation show
that in toroidal condensates vortex dynamics are different from the dynamics in
the homogeneous case. Our numerical results agree well with analytical
calculations using the image method. Our proposal offers an effective example
of coherent generation and control of vortex dynamics in atomic condensates.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
A Mathematical Model of Liver Cell Aggregation In Vitro
The behavior of mammalian cells within three-dimensional structures is an area of intense biological research and underpins the efforts of tissue engineers to regenerate human tissues for clinical applications. In the particular case of hepatocytes (liver cells), the formation of spheroidal multicellular aggregates has been shown to improve cell viability and functionality compared to traditional monolayer culture techniques. We propose a simple mathematical model for the early stages of this aggregation process, when cell clusters form on the surface of the extracellular matrix (ECM) layer on which they are seeded. We focus on interactions between the cells and the viscoelastic ECM substrate. Governing equations for the cells, culture medium, and ECM are derived using the principles of mass and momentum balance. The model is then reduced to a system of four partial differential equations, which are investigated analytically and numerically. The model predicts that provided cells are seeded at a suitable density, aggregates with clearly defined boundaries and a spatially uniform cell density on the interior will form. While the mechanical properties of the ECM do not appear to have a significant effect, strong cell-ECM interactions can inhibit, or possibly prevent, the formation of aggregates. The paper concludes with a discussion of our key findings and suggestions for future work
Spinor condensates and light scattering from Bose-Einstein condensates
These notes discuss two aspects of the physics of atomic Bose-Einstein
condensates: optical properties and spinor condensates. The first topic
includes light scattering experiments which probe the excitations of a
condensate in both the free-particle and phonon regime. At higher light
intensity, a new form of superradiance and phase-coherent matter wave
amplification were observed. We also discuss properties of spinor condensates
and describe studies of ground--state spin domain structures and dynamical
studies which revealed metastable excited states and quantum tunneling.Comment: 58 pages, 33 figures, to appear in Proceedings of Les Houches 1999
Summer School, Session LXXI
A Study of the -component of the wave-function in light nuclei
We have measured cross sections for the reactions on
, , and in quasi-free
kinematics at incident pion beam energy 500 MeV. An enhancement of the
cross section in this kinematics is observed. If this is
interpreted as due to quasi-free scattering from pre-existing
components of the nuclear wave function, the extracted probabilities are in
agreement with theoretical expectations.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
Density correlations and dynamical Casimir emission of Bogoliubov phonons in modulated atomic Bose-Einstein condensates
We present a theory of the density correlations that appear in an atomic
Bose-Einstein condensate as a consequence of the dynamical Casimir emission of
pairs of Bogoliubov phonons when the atom-atom scattering length is modulated
in time. Different regimes as a function of the temporal shape of the
modulation are identified and a simple physical picture of the phenomenon is
discussed. Analytical expressions for the density correlation function are
provided for the most significant limiting cases. This theory is able to
explain some unexpected features recently observed in numerical calculations of
Hawking radiation from analog black holes
Complex relationships among personality traits, job characteristics, and work behaviors
The aim of the study was to investigate the additive, mediating, and moderating effects of personality traits and job characteristics on work behaviors. Job applicants (N = 161) completed personality questionnaires measuring extraversion, neuroticism, achievement motivation, and experience seeking. One and a half years later, supervisors rated the applicants' job performance, and the job incumbents completed questionnaires about skill variety, autonomy, and feedback, work stress, job satisfaction, work self-efficacy, and propensity to leave. LISREL was used to test 15 hypotheses. Perceived feedback mediated the relationship between achievement motivation and job performance. Extraversion predicted work self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Work stress mediated the relationship between neuroticism and job satisfaction. Job satisfaction and experience seeking were related to propensity to leave. Autonomy, skill variety, and feedback were related to job satisfaction
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