Further evidence for a stiff nuclear equation of state from a transverse-momentum analysis of Ar(1800 MeV/nucleon) + KCl

The novel momentum analysis technique introduced by Danielewicz and Odyniec can be used to detect and exhibit collective flow in the light system Ar(1800 MeV/nucleon) + KCl where the usual kinetic energy flow analysis fails. The microscopic Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck theory which includes the nuclear mean field, two-body collisions, and Pauli blocking is used to study this phenomenon. The resulting transverse momentum transfers turn out to be quite sensitive to the nuclear equation of state. From a comparison with experimental data, evidence is presented for a rather stiff nuclear equation of state. The cascade model is unable to describe the data

Evolution of 4 pi observables in the Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck theory and the transverse momentum transfer as a barometer for hadronic matter

We study the dynamics of high energy heavy ion collisions through the Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck approach. Equilibration is observed, for central collisions. It is shown that the produced entropy, the pion multiplicity, flow angle, and transverse momentum distributions saturate at the moment of maximum compression and temperature. The effects of the nuclear equation of state and the Pauli principle are investigated. For the flow angle distribution there is a 20 deg reduction of the peak flow angle due to the Pauli principle. A stiff equation of state results in a 10–20 deg increase over the soft equation of state at all energies. The transverse momentum at projectile rapidity exhibits a peak structure as a function of impact parameter b. A 40% difference between soft and hard equation of state is observed for the peak impact parameter, i.e., for intermediate multiplicities

From 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem

This paper serves two purposes: (1) to introduce the Mine Warfare Association (MINWARA) and (2) to discuss how the Humanitarian Demining problem might be solved in less than a century. MINWARA is an international focal point for Mine Warfare (MIW), Mine CounterMeasures (MCM), and Humanitarian Demining (HMD)

Microscopic calculations of collective flow probing the short-range nature of the nuclear force

Collisions between two nuclei have been modeled by numerical solution of classical approximations to the equations of motion of the constituent nucleons. For the reaction Nb(400 MeV/u)+Nb, a correlated sidewards emission of nucleons is observed. This is attributed to the repulsive short-range component of the nucleon-nucleon potential. A strong dependence of the flow angle on the impact parameter is observed, in accord with recent experimental results

Intranuclear cascade models lack dynamic flow

We study the recent claim that the intranuclear cascade model exhibits collective sidewards flow. 4000 intranuclear cascade simulations of the reaction Nb(400 MeV/nucleon)+Nb are performed employing bound and unbound versions of the Cugnon cascade. We show that instability of the target and projectile nuclei in the unbound cascade produces substantial spurious sidewards flow angles, for spectators as well as for participants. Once the nuclear binding is included, the peak of the flow angle distributions for the participants alone is reduced from 35° to 17°. The theoretical ‘‘data’’ are subjected to the experimental multiplicity and efficiency cuts of the plastic ball 4π electronic spectrometer system. The flow angular distributions obtained from the bound cascade—with spectators and participants subjected to the plastic ball filter—are forward peaked, in contrast to the plastic ball data. We discuss the uncertainties encountered with the application of the experimental efficiency and multiplicity filter. The influence of the Pauli principle on the flow is also discussed. The lack of flow effects in the cascade model clearly reflects the absence of the nuclear compression energy that can cause substantially larger collective sidewards motion—there is too little intrinsic pressure built up in the cascade model

Time dependent dirac equation with relativistic mean field dynamics applied to heavy ion scattering

We treat the relativistic propagation of nucleons coupled to scalar- and vector-meson fields in a mean-field approximation. The time-dependent Dirac and mean-meson-field equations are solved numerically in three dimensions. Collisions of 16O(300, 600, and 1200 MeV/nucleon) + 16O are studied for various impact parameters. The results are compared to other recent theoretical approaches. The calculations predict spallation, large transverse-momentum transfer, and positive-angle sidewards flow, in qualitative agreement with the data in this energy regime

Microvascular endothelial injury and dysfunction during ischemic acute renal failure

Microvascular endothelial injury and dysfunction during ischemic acute renal failure. The pathophysiology of ischemic acute renal failure (ARF) appears to involve a complex interplay between renal hemodynamics, tubular injury, and inflammatory processes. While the current paradigm of the pathophysiology of ischemic ARF invokes both sublethal and lethal tubular injury as being of paramount importance to diminished renal function, a growing body of evidence supports the contribution of altered renal vascular function in potentially initiating and subsequently extending the initial tubular injury. We propose that the “extension phase” of ischemic ARF involves alterations in renal perfusion, continued hypoxia, and inflammatory processes that all contribute to continued tubular cell injury. Vascular endothelial cell injury and dysfunction play a vital part in this extension phase. In the constitutive state the endothelium regulates migration of inflammatory cells into tissue, vascular tone and perfusion, vasopermeability, and prevents coagulation. Upon injury, the endothelial cell loses its ability to regulate these functions. This loss of regulatory function can have a subsequent detrimental impact upon renal function. Vascular congestion, edema formation, diminished blood flow, and infiltration of inflammatory cells have been documented in the corticomedullary junction of the kidney, but linking their genesis to vascular endothelial injury and dysfunction has been difficult. However, new investigative approaches, including multiphoton microscopy and the Tie2-GFP mouse, have been developed that will further our understanding of the roles endothelial injury and dysfunction play in the pathophysiology of ischemic ARF. This knowledge should provide new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to ischemic ARF

O’ Brien Center

poster abstractThe O’Brien Center for Advanced Renal Microscopy and Analysis is based around the Indiana Center for Biological Microscopy in Indianapolis (ICBM), and is supported by partnerships with Purdue University and the University of North Carolina. The Center acts as a national resource for investigators to apply state-of-the-art techniques in fluorescence microscopy to research in kidney biology and pathophysiology. Investigators have access to four microscope systems capable of multiphoton and confocal imaging and optimized for intravital imaging studies on rodents. Point-scanning and spinning-disk confocal systems are also available. Training and assistance with development of imaging protocols are available from expert staff at the ICBM. The Center emphasizes development of new and improved methods for imaging the kidney and seeks to disseminate these innovations as widely as possible amongst renal investigators. Currently, the Center is (1) developing new software for rendering, segmentation, analysis and stabilization of three-dimensional data from live imaging experiments; (2) developing new fluorescent probes and delivery methods optimized for intravital imaging studies in the kidney; and (3) exploring methods to increase the reach of multiphoton imaging in the kidney. Funding is available through the Center’s O’Brien Fellows Program to support short visits (one-two weeks) to Indianapolis for data collection, development of imaging protocols to address particular questions and for training in fluorescence microscopy and image analysis. The Center also offers instructional workshops in fluorescence microscopy and intravital imaging every two years. Current information about how to access the resources available through the Center is available at http://medicine.iupui.edu/nephrology/obrien

Mechanism of Actin Polymerization in Cellular ATP Depletion

Cellular ATP depletion in diverse cell types results in the net conversion of monomeric G-actin to polymeric F-actin and is an important aspect of cellular injury in tissue ischemia. We propose that this conversion results from altering the ratio of ATP-G-actin and ADP-G-actin, causing a net decrease in the concentration of thymosinactin complexes as a consequence of the differential affinity of thymosin β4 for ATP- and ADP-G-actin. To test this hypothesis we examined the effect of ATP depletion induced by antimycin A and substrate depletion on actin polymerization, the nucleotide state of the monomer pool, and the association of actin monomers with thymosin and profilin in the kidney epithelial cell line LLC-PK1. ATP depletion for 30 min increased F-actin content to 145% of the levels under physiological conditions, accompanied by a corresponding decrease in G-actin content. Cytochalasin D treatment did not reduce F-actin formation during ATP depletion, indicating that it was predominantly not because of barbed end monomer addition. ATP-G-actin levels decreased rapidly during depletion, but there was no change in the concentration of ADP-G-actin monomers. The decrease in ATP-G-actin levels could be accounted for by dissociation of the thymosin-G-actin binary complex, resulting in a rise in the concentration of free thymosin β4 from 4 to 11 μM. Increased detection of profilin-actin complexes during depletion indicated that profilin may participate in catalyzing nucleotide exchange during depletion. This mechanism provides a biochemical basis for the accumulation of F-actin aggregates in ischemic cells

Comparison of Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck model with 4 π Heavy Ion Data

Streamer chamber data for collisions of Ar + KCl and Ar + BaI2 at 1.2 GeV/nucleon are compared with microscopic model predictions based on the Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck equation, for various density-dependent nuclear equations of state. Multiplicity distributions and inclusive rapidity and transverse momentum spectra are in good agreement. Rapidity spectra show evidence of being useful in determining whether the model uses the correct cross sections for binary collisions in the nuclear medium, and whether momentum-dependent interactions are correctly incorporated. Sideward flow results do not favor the same nuclear stiffness parameter at all multiplicities