924 research outputs found
Coagulation changes and the influence of the early perfusate in the course of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) when aprotinin is used intraoperatively
Mediators of leukocyte yctivation play a role in disseminated intravascular coagulation during orthotopic liver transplantation
Leukocytes play an important role in the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In the reperfusion phase of OLT a DIC-like situation has been described and has been held responsible for the high blood loss during this phase.
We investigated the role of leukocytes in the pathogenesis of DIC in OLT by measuring the leukocytic mediators released upon activation (cathepsin B, elastase, TNF, neopterin) and the levels of thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complexes, seen as markers of prothrombin activation. Arterial blood samples were taken at 10 different time points during and after OLT. Samples were also taken of the perfusate released from the liver graft vein during the flushing procedure before the reperfusion phase. Aprotinin was given as a continuous infusion (0.2-0.4 Mill. KlU/hr) and its plasma levels were determined.
Significantly elevated levels of neopterin (15-fold; P<0.01), cathepsin B (440-fold; P<0.01) in the perfusate, as compared with the systemic circulation, as well as their significant increases in the early reperfusion phase suggested that they were released by the graft liver. This was paralleled by elevated levels of elastase (1.3-fold, P<0.05), TNF (1.5-fold, P=NS), and TAT complexes (1.4-fold; P<0.1) in the perfusate. Significant correlations could be identified between the parameters of leukocyte activation and TAT complexes, whereas no correlation was observed between any of the parameters investigated and the aprotinin levels.
Our results strongly indicate a release of leukocytic mediators from the graft liver during its reperfusion which seems to be related to the parallely increased prothrombin activation. No correlation could be seen between levels of aprotinin and levels of leukocytic mediators
Phase-sensitive detection of Bragg scattering at 1D optical lattices
We report on the observation of Bragg scattering at 1D atomic lattices. Cold
atoms are confined by optical dipole forces at the antinodes of a standing wave
generated by the two counter-propagating modes of a laser-driven high-finesse
ring cavity. By heterodyning the Bragg-scattered light with a reference beam,
we obtain detailed information on phase shifts imparted by the Bragg scattering
process. Being deep in the Lamb-Dicke regime, the scattered light is not
broadened by the motion of individual atoms. In contrast, we have detected
signatures of global translatory motion of the atomic grating.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
On the inclusion of collisional correlations in quantum dynamics
AbstractWe present a formalism to describe collisional correlations responsible for thermalization effects in finite quantum systems. The approach consists in a stochastic extension of time dependent mean field theory. Correlations are treated in time dependent perturbation theory and loss of coherence is assumed at some time intervals allowing a stochastic reduction of the correlated dynamics in terms of a stochastic ensemble of time dependent mean-fields. This theory was formulated long ago in terms of density matrices but never applied in practical cases because of its complexity. We propose here a reformulation of the theory in terms of wave functions and use a simplified 1D model of cluster and molecules allowing to test the theory in a schematic but realistic manner. We illustrate the performance in terms of several observables, in particular global moments of the density matrix and single particle entropy built on occupation numbers. The occupation numbers remain fixed in time dependent mean-field propagation and change when evaluating the correlations, then taking fractional values. They converge asymptotically towards Fermi distributions which is a clear indication of thermalization
Dimensional Crossover in Bragg Scattering from an Optical Lattice
We study Bragg scattering at 1D optical lattices. Cold atoms are confined by
the optical dipole force at the antinodes of a standing wave generated inside a
laser-driven high-finesse cavity. The atoms arrange themselves into a chain of
pancake-shaped layers located at the antinodes of the standing wave. Laser
light incident on this chain is partially Bragg-reflected. We observe an
angular dependence of this Bragg reflection which is different to what is known
from crystalline solids. In solids the scattering layers can be taken to be
infinitely spread (3D limit). This is not generally true for an optical lattice
consistent of a 1D linear chain of point-like scattering sites. By an explicit
structure factor calculation we derive a generalized Bragg condition, which is
valid in the intermediate regime. This enables us to determine the aspect ratio
of the atomic lattice from the angular dependance of the Bragg scattered light.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Ultra-cold atoms in an optical cavity: two-mode laser locking to the cavity avoiding radiation pressure
The combination of ultra-cold atomic clouds with the light fields of optical
cavities provides a powerful model system for the development of new types of
laser cooling and for studying cooperative phenomena. These experiments
critically depend on the precise tuning of an incident pump laser with respect
to a cavity resonance. Here, we present a simple and reliable experimental
tuning scheme based on a two-mode laser spectrometer. The scheme uses a first
laser for probing higher-order transversal modes of the cavity having an
intensity minimum near the cavity's optical axis, where the atoms are confined
by a magnetic trap. In this way the cavity resonance is observed without
exposing the atoms to unwanted radiation pressure. A second laser, which is
phase-locked to the first one and tuned close to a fundamental cavity mode
drives the coherent atom-field dynamics.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure
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