South African multicentre trial with voltaren in osteo-arthritis of the knee

Patients suffering from osteo-arthritis of the knee were admitted to a multicentre, double-blind trial comparing the efficacy and tolerability of two dose levels of Voltaren (diclophenac sodium), 25 mg t.d.s and 50 mg t.d.s., and acetylsalicylic acid 1 000 mg t.d.s. Eighty-three patients from 4 centres were evaluated. Three racial groups were studied: White, Asian, and Coloured. Both preparations were effective in alleviating the symptoms of osteoarthritis. The two dose levels of diclophenac sodium had slightly superior effects over acetylsalicylic acid. Preference statements by both investigators and patients favoured diclophenac sodium. In this short-term study both dose regimens of diclophenac sodium were better tolerated. The incidence of gastro-intestinal side-effects was lower with diclophenac sodium. No major adverse reactions were recorded. Results of the blood morphology and uric acid study carried out in one centre showed that none of the treatments produced any abnormalities.S. Afr. Med. J. 48, 1973 (1974)

Role of isospin in the nuclear liquid-gas phase transition

We study the thermodynamics of asymmetric nuclear matter using a mean field approximation with a Skyrme effective interaction, in order to establish its phase diagram and more particularly the influence of isospin on the order of the transition. A new statistical method is introduced to study the thermodynamics of a multifluid system, keeping only one density fixed the others being replaced by their intensive conjugated variables. In this ensemble phase coexistence reduces to a simple one dimensional Maxwell construction. For a fixed temperature under a critical value, a coexistence line is obtained in the plane of neutron and proton chemical potentials. Along this line the grand potential presents a discontinuous slope showing that the transition is first order except at the two ending points where it becomes second order. This result is not in contradiction with the already reported occurrence of a continuous transformation when a constant proton fraction is imposed. Indeed, the proton fraction being an order parameter in asymmetric matter, the constraint can only be fulfilled by gradual phase mixing along the first-order phase transition line leading to a continuous pressure.Comment: To appear in Nuclear Physics

New Formulation of Causal Dissipative Hydrodynamics: Shock wave propagation

The first 3D calculation of shock wave propagation in a homogeneous QGP has been performed within the new formulation of relativistic dissipative hydrodynamics which preserves the causality. We found that the relaxation time plays an important role and also affects the angle of Mach cone.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, Proceedings of Quark Matter 200

Isospin fractionation : equilibrium versus spinodal decomposition

This paper focuses on the isospin properties of the asymmetric nuclear-matter liquid-gas phase transition analyzed in a mean-field approach, using Skyrme effective interactions. We compare two different mechanisms of phase separation for low-density matter: equilibrium and spinodal decomposition. The isospin properties of the phases are deduced from the free-energy curvature, which contains information both on the average isospin content and on the system fluctuations. Some implications on experimentally accessible isospin observables are presented

Isospin-dependent clusterization of Neutron-Star Matter

Because of the presence of a liquid-gas phase transition in nuclear matter, compact-star matter can present a region of instability against the formation of clusters. We investigate this phase separation in a matter composed of neutrons, protons and electrons, within a Skyrme-Lyon mean-field approach. Matter instability and phase properties are characterized through the study of the free-energy curvature. The effect of beta-equilibrium is also analyzed in detail, and we show that the opacity to neutrinos has an influence on the presence of clusterized matter in finite-temperature proto-neutron stars.Comment: To appear in Nuclear Physics

Cluster formation in asymmetric nuclear matter: semi-classical and quantal approaches

The nuclear-matter liquid-gas phase transition induces instabilities against finite-size density fluctuations. This has implications for both heavy-ion-collision and compact-star physics. In this paper, we study the clusterization properties of nuclear matter in a scenario of spinodal decomposition, comparing three different approaches: the quantal RPA, its semi-classical limit (Vlasov method), and a hydrodynamical framework. The predictions related to clusterization are qualitatively in good agreement varying the approach and the nuclear interaction. Nevertheless, it is shown that i) the quantum effects reduce the instability zone, and disfavor short-wavelength fluctuations; ii) large differences appear bewteen the two semi-classical approaches, which correspond respectively to a collisionless (Vlasov) and local equilibrium description (hydrodynamics); iii) the isospin-distillation effect is stronger in the local equilibrium framework; iv) important variations between the predicted time-scales of cluster formation appear near the borders of the instability region.Comment: 27 pages, 11 figures, Submitted to Nuclear Physics A, Nuclear Physics A In press (2008

Model of multifragmentation, Equation of State and phase transition

We consider a soluble model of multifragmentation which is similar in spirit to many models which have been used to fit intermediate energy heavy ion collision data. We draw a p-V diagram for the model and compare with a p-V diagram obtained from a mean-field theory. We investigate the question of chemical instability in the multifragmentation model. Phase transitions in the model are discussed.Comment: Revtex, 9 pages including 6 figures: some change in the text and Fig.

Inhibition of T-type calcium channels protects neurons from delayed ischemia-induced damage.Mol

Abstract: 174 words Introduction: 536 word

The Legacy of Rolf Hagedorn: Statistical Bootstrap and Ultimate Temperature

In the latter half of the last century, it became evident that there exists an ever increasing number of different states of the so-called elementary particles. The usual reductionist approach to this problem was to search for a simpler infrastructure, culminating in the formulation of the quark model and quantum chromodynamics. In a complementary, completely novel approach, Hagedorn suggested that the mass distribution of the produced particles follows a self-similar composition pattern, predicting an unbounded number of states of increasing mass. He then concluded that such a growth would lead to a limiting temperature for strongly interacting matter. We discuss the conceptual basis for this approach, its relation to critical behavior, and its subsequent applications in different areas of high energy physics.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figures; to appear in R. Hagedorn and J. Rafelski (Ed.), "Melting Hadrons, Boiling Quarks", Springer Verlag 201

Dpes massless QCD have vacuum energy?

It is widely thought that this question has a positive answer, but we argue that the support for this belief from both experiment and theory is weak or nonexistent. We then list some of the ramifications of a negative answer.Comment: 8 pages, no figures, version to appear in NJ