The Portevin-Le Chatelier effect in the Continuous Time Random Walk framework

We present a continuous time random walk model for the Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect. From our result it is shown that the dynamics of the PLC band can be explained in terms of the Levy Walk

High order amplitude equation for steps on creep curve

We consider a model proposed by one of the authors for a type of plastic instability found in creep experiments which reproduces a number of experimentally observed features. The model consists of three coupled non-linear differential equations describing the evolution of three types of dislocations. The transition to the instability has been shown to be via Hopf bifurcation leading to limit cycle solutions with respect to physically relevant drive parameters. Here we use reductive perturbative method to extract an amplitude equation of up to seventh order to obtain an approximate analytic expression for the order parameter. The analysis also enables us to obtain the bifurcation (phase) diagram of the instability. We find that while supercritical bifurcation dominates the major part of the instability region, subcritical bifurcation gradually takes over at one end of the region. These results are compared with the known experimental results. Approximate analytic expressions for the limit cycles for different types of bifurcations are shown to agree with their corresponding numerical solutions of the equations describing the model. The analysis also shows that high order nonlinearities are important in the problem. This approach further allows us to map the theoretical parameters to the experimentally observed macroscopic quantities.Comment: LaTex file and eps figures; Communicated to Phys. Rev.

Recurrence analysis of the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect

Tensile tests were carried out by deforming polycrystalline samples of Al-2.5%Mg alloy at room temperature in a wide range of strain rates where the Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect was observed. The experimental stress-time series data have been analyzed using the recurrence analysis technique based on the Recurrence Plot (RP) and the Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) to study the change in the dynamical behavior of the PLC effect with the imposed strain rate. Our study revealed that the RQA is able to detect the unique crossover phenomenon in the PLC dynamics.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure

Singular perturbation of reduced wave equation and scattering from an embedded obstacle

We consider time-harmonic wave scattering from an inhomogeneous isotropic medium supported in a bounded domain $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^N$ ($N\geq 2$). {In a subregion $D\Subset\Omega$, the medium is supposed to be lossy and have a large mass density. We study the asymptotic development of the wave field as the mass density $\rho\rightarrow +\infty$} and show that the wave field inside $D$ will decay exponentially while the wave filed outside the medium will converge to the one corresponding to a sound-hard obstacle $D\Subset\Omega$ buried in the medium supported in $\Omega\backslash\bar{D}$. Moreover, the normal velocity of the wave field on $\partial D$ from outside $D$ is shown to be vanishing as $\rho\rightarrow +\infty$. {We derive very accurate estimates for the wave field inside and outside $D$ and on $\partial D$ in terms of $\rho$, and show that the asymptotic estimates are sharp. The implication of the obtained results is given for an inverse scattering problem of reconstructing a complex scatterer.

Radiation exposure of adrenal vein sampling: a German Multicenter Study

Objective: Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) represents the current diagnostic standard for subtype differentiation in primary aldosteronism (PA). However, AVS has its drawbacks. It is invasive, expensive, requires an experienced interventional radiologist and comes with radiation exposure. However, exact radiation exposure of patients undergoing AVS has never been examined. Design and methods: We retrospectively analyzed radiation exposure of 656 AVS performed between 1999 and 2017 at four university hospitals. The primary outcomes were dose area product (DAP) and fluoroscopy time (FT). Consecutively the effective dose (ED) was approximately calculated. Results: Median DAP was found to be 32.5Gy*cm(2) (0.3-3181) and FT 18 min (0.3-184). The calculated ED was 6.4 mSv (0.1-636). Remarkably, values between participating centers highly varied: Median DAP ranged from 16 to 147 Gy*cm(2), FT from 16 to 27 min, and ED from 3.2 to 29 mSv. As main reason for this variation, differences regarding AVS protocols between centers could be identified, such as number of sampling locations, frames per second and the use of digital subtraction angiographies. Conclusion: This first systematic assessment of radiation exposure in AVS not only shows fairly high values for patients, but also states notable differences among the centers. Thus, we not only recommend taking into account the risk of radiation exposure, when referring patients to undergo AVS, but also to establish improved standard operating procedures to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure

Impact of tumor burden on normal organ distribution in patients imaged with CXCR4-targeted [68Ga]Ga-PentixaFor PET/CT

BACKGROUND: CXCR4-directed positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been used as a diagnostic tool in patients with solid tumors. We aimed to determine a potential correlation between tumor burden and radiotracer accumulation in normal organs. METHODS: Ninety patients with histologically proven solid cancers underwent CXCR4-targeted [(68)Ga]Ga-PentixaFor PET/CT. Volumes of interest (VOIs) were placed in normal organs (heart, liver, spleen, bone marrow, and kidneys) and tumor lesions. Mean standardized uptake values (SUV(mean)) for normal organs were determined. For CXCR4-positive tumor burden, maximum SUV (SUV(max)), tumor volume (TV), and fractional tumor activity (FTA, defined as SUV(mean) x TV), were calculated. We used a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ) to derive correlative indices between normal organ uptake and tumor burden. RESULTS: Median SUV(mean) in unaffected organs was 5.2 for the spleen (range, 2.44 – 10.55), 3.27 for the kidneys (range, 1.52 – 17.4), followed by bone marrow (1.76, range, 0.84 – 3.98), heart (1.66, range, 0.88 – 2.89), and liver (1.28, range, 0.73 – 2.45). No significant correlation between SUV(max) in tumor lesions (ρ ≤ 0.189, P ≥ 0.07), TV (ρ ≥ -0.204, P ≥ 0.06) or FTA (ρ ≥ -0.142, P ≥ 0.18) with the investigated organs was found. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with solid tumors imaged with [(68)Ga]Ga-PentixaFor PET/CT, no relevant tumor sink effect was noted. This observation may be of relevance for therapies with radioactive and non-radioactive CXCR4-directed drugs, as with increasing tumor burden, the dose to normal organs may remain unchanged

Distinct Hypothalamic Neurons Mediate Estrogenic Effects on Energy Homeostasis and Reproduction

SummaryEstrogens regulate body weight and reproduction primarily through actions on estrogen receptor-α (ERα). However, ERα-expressing cells mediating these effects are not identified. We demonstrate that brain-specific deletion of ERα in female mice causes abdominal obesity stemming from both hyperphagia and hypometabolism. Hypometabolism and abdominal obesity, but not hyperphagia, are recapitulated in female mice lacking ERα in hypothalamic steroidogenic factor-1 (SF1) neurons. In contrast, deletion of ERα in hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons leads to hyperphagia, without directly influencing energy expenditure or fat distribution. Further, simultaneous deletion of ERα from both SF1 and POMC neurons causes hypometabolism, hyperphagia, and increased visceral adiposity. Additionally, female mice lacking ERα in SF1 neurons develop anovulation and infertility, while POMC-specific deletion of ERα inhibits negative feedback regulation of estrogens and impairs fertility in females. These results indicate that estrogens act on distinct hypothalamic ERα neurons to regulate different aspects of energy homeostasis and reproduction

Plastic localization phenomena in a Mn-alloyed austenitic steel

A 0.5 wt pct C, 22 wt pct Mn austenitic steel, recently proposed for fabricating automotive body structures by cold sheet forming, exhibits plastic localizations (PLs) during uniaxial tensile tests, yet showing a favorable overall strength and ductility. No localization happens during biaxial Erichsen cupping tests. Full-thickness tensile and Erichsen specimens, cut from as-produced steel sheets, were polished and tested at different strain rates. During the tensile tests, the PL phenomena consist first of macroscopic deformation bands traveling along the tensile axis, and then of a series of successive stationary deformation bands, each adjacent to the preceding ones; both types of bands involve the full specimen width and yield a macroscopically observable surface relief. No comparable surface relief was observed during the standard Erichsen tests. Because the stress state is known to influence PL phenomena, reduced-width Erichsen tests were performed on polished sheet specimens, in order to explore the transition from biaxial to uniaxial loading; surface relief lines were observed on a 20-mm-wide specimen, but not on wider ones