CCD photometry and new models of 5 minor planets

We present new R filtered CCD observations of 5 faint and moderately faint asteroids carried out between October, 1998 and January, 1999. The achieved accuracy is between 0.01-0.03 mag, depending mainly on the target brightness. The obtained sinodic periods and amplitudes: 683 Lanzia - 4.6+/-0.2 h, 0.13 mag; 725 Amanda - >3.0 h, >=0.40 mag; 852 Wladilena - 4.62+/-0.01 h, 0.32 mag (December, 1998) and 0.27 mag (January, 1999); 1627 Ivar - 4.80+/-0.01, 0.77 mag (December, 1998) and 0.92 mag (January, 1999). The Near Earth Object 1998 PG unambiguously showed doubly-periodic lightcurve, suggesting the possibility of a relatively fast precession (P_1=1.3 h, P_2=5.3 h). Collecting all data from the literature, we determined new models for 3 minor planets. The resulting spin vectors and triaxial ellipsoids have been calculated by an amplitude-method. Sidereal periods and senses of rotation were calculated for two asteroids (683 and 1627) by a modified epoch-method. The results are: 683 - lambda_p=15/195+/-25 deg, beta_p=52+/-15 deg, a/b=1.15+/-0.05, b/c=1.05+/-0.05, P_sid=0.1964156+/-0.0000001 d, retrograde; 852 - lambda_p=30/210+/-20 deg, beta_p=30+/-10 deg, a/b=2.3+/-0.3, b/c=1.2+/-0.2; 1627 - lambda_p=145/325+/-8 deg, beta_p=34+/-6 deg, a/b=2.0+/-0.1, b/c=1.09+/-0.05, P_sid=0.1999154+/-0.0000003 d, retrograde. The obtained shape of 1627 is in good agreement with radar images by Ostro et al. (1990).Comment: 8 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Suppl. Serie

Instanton Expansion of Noncommutative Gauge Theory in Two Dimensions

We show that noncommutative gauge theory in two dimensions is an exactly solvable model. A cohomological formulation of gauge theory defined on the noncommutative torus is used to show that its quantum partition function can be written as a sum over contributions from classical solutions. We derive an explicit formula for the partition function of Yang-Mills theory defined on a projective module for arbitrary noncommutativity parameter \theta which is manifestly invariant under gauge Morita equivalence. The energy observables are shown to be smooth functions of \theta. The construction of noncommutative instanton contributions to the path integral is described in some detail. In general, there are infinitely many gauge inequivalent contributions of fixed topological charge, along with a finite number of quantum fluctuations about each instanton. The associated moduli spaces are combinations of symmetric products of an ordinary two-torus whose orbifold singularities are not resolved by noncommutativity. In particular, the weak coupling limit of the gauge theory is independent of \theta and computes the symplectic volume of the moduli space of constant curvature connections on the noncommutative torus.Comment: 52 pages LaTeX, 1 eps figure, uses espf. V2: References added and repaired; V3: Typos corrected, some clarifying explanations added; version to be published in Communications in Mathematical Physic

Hierarchic models for laminated plates

The research conducted in the formulation of hierarchic models for laminated plates is described. The work is an extension of the work done for laminated strips. The use of a single parameter, beta, is investigated that represents the degree to which the equilibrium equations of three dimensional elasticity are satisfied. The powers of beta identify members in the hierarchic sequence. Numerical examples that were analyzed with the proposed sequence of models are included. The results obtained for square plates with uniform loading and homogeneous boundary conditions are very encouraging. Several cross-ply and angle-ply laminates were evaluated and the results compared with those of the fully three dimensional model, computed using MSC/PROBE, and with previously reported work on laminated strips

Neutrino telescopes under the ocean: The case for ANTARES

Neutrino telescopes offer an alternative way to explore the Universe. Several projects are in operation or under construction. A detector under the ocean is very promising because of the very accurate angular resolution that it provides. The ANTARES project is intended to demonstrate the feasibilty of such a detector.Comment: Talk given at the Neutrino98 conference, Takayama, Japan, June 4-9, 199

Involvement of Nitric Oxide in Microcirculatory Reactions after Ischemia-Reperfusion of the Rat Urinary Bladder

Background: Nitric oxide ( NO) plays a role in inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the role of NO in the microcirculatory changes after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) of the bladder using intravital videomicroscopy (IVM). Methods: In rats, 60 min of bladder ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion was performed in the presence of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the NO precursor L-arginine, or saline pre-treatments. Venular red blood cell velocity (RBCV), functional capillary density (FCD), vessel diameters, and leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in postcapillary venules were determined. Concentrations of nitrite/nitrate in the plasma and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in the lungs and the bladder were measured. Results: Elevations of the numbers of rolling and adherent leukocytes, and of plasma nitrite/nitrate levels were found, while FCD and RBCV decreased. L-NAME pretreatment ameliorated the enhanced leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions without influencing the microcirculatory perfusion. In contrast, the L - arginine pretreatment further increased plasma nitrite/nitrate levels and preserved the FCD and RBCV, but did not affect leukocyte-endothelial interactions. None of these treatments influenced MPO activities. Conclusion: Our results suggest that NO plays an enhancing role in the I/R-induced neutrophil-endothelial interactions of the bladder. Supplementation of NO ameliorates the microcirculatory perfusion deficit without influencing the postischemic microcirculatory inflammatory reactions. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Base