55 research outputs found
Pinning and collective modes of a vortex lattice in a Bose-Einstein condensate
We consider the ground state of vortices in a rotating Bose-Einstein
condensate that is loaded in a corotating two-dimensional optical lattice. Due
to the competition between vortex interactions and their potential energy, the
vortices arrange themselves in various patterns, depending on the strength of
the optical potential and the vortex density. We outline a method to determine
the phase diagram for arbitrary vortex filling factor. Using this method, we
discuss several filling factors explicitly. For increasing strength of the
optical lattice, the system exhibits a transition from the unpinned hexagonal
lattice to a lattice structure where all the vortices are pinned by the optical
lattice. The geometry of this fully pinned vortex lattice depends on the
filling factor and is either square or triangular. For some filling factors
there is an intermediate half-pinned phase where only half of the vortices is
pinned. We also consider the case of a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate,
where the possible coexistence of the above-mentioned phases further enriches
the phase diagram. In addition, we calculate the dispersion of the low-lying
collective modes of the vortex lattice and find that, depending on the
structure of the ground state, they can be gapped or gapless. Moreover, in the
half-pinned and fully pinned phases, the collective mode dispersion is
anisotropic. Possible experiments to probe the collective mode spectrum, and in
particular the gap, are suggested.Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures, changes in section
Antenna design for fast ion collective Thomson scattering diagnostic for the international thermonuclear experimental reactor
NMR Experiments on Rotating Superfluid 3He-A : Evidence for Vorticity
Experiments on rotating superfluid 3He-A in an open cylindrical geometry show a change in the NMR line shape as a result of rotation: The amplitude of the peak decreases in proportion to f(T)g(Ω), where Ω is the angular velocity of rotation; at the same time the line broadens. Near Tc, f(T) is a linear function of 1−T/Tc. At small velocities g(Ω)∝Ω. These observations are consistent with the existence of vortices in rotating 3He-A.Peer reviewe
Transitions between turbulent and laminar superfluid vorticity states in the outer core of a neutron star
We investigate the global transition from a turbulent state of superfluid
vorticity to a laminar state, and vice versa, in the outer core of a neutron
star. By solving numerically the hydrodynamic Hall-Vinen-Bekarevich-Khalatnikov
equations for a rotating superfluid in a differentially rotating spherical
shell, we find that the meridional counterflow driven by Ekman pumping exceeds
the Donnelly-Glaberson threshold throughout most of the outer core, exciting
unstable Kelvin waves which disrupt the rectilinear vortex array, creating a
vortex tangle. In the turbulent state, the torque exerted on the crust
oscillates, and the crust-core coupling is weaker than in the laminar state.
This leads to a new scenario for the rotational glitches observed in radio
pulsars: a vortex tangle is sustained in the differentially rotating outer core
by the meridional counterflow, a sudden spin-up event brings the crust and core
into corotation, the vortex tangle relaxes back to a rectilinear vortex array,
then the crust spins down electromagnetically until enough meridional
counterflow builds up to reform a vortex tangle. The turbulent-laminar
transition can occur uniformly or in patches; the associated time-scales are
estimated from vortex filament theory. We calculate numerically the global
structure of the flow with and without an inviscid superfluid component, for
Hall-Vinen and Gorter-Mellink forms of the mutual friction. We also calculate
the post-glitch evolution of the angular velocity of the crust and its time
derivative, and compare the results with radio pulse timing data, predicting a
correlation between glitch activity and Reynolds number.Comment: (1) School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010,
Australia. (2) Departamento de Fisica, Escuela de Ciencias,Universidad de
Oriente, Cumana, Venezuela, (3) Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. 30 pages, 9 figures
(in jpg format
Fibrin structure in organized thrombotic material removed during pulmonary artery endarterectormy : the effect of vessel calibre
Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is a curative therapeutic approach in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The location-dependent structural differences of thrombotic material found in pulmonary arteries in CTEPH are poorly investigated. We present the case of a 47-year-old woman with antiphospholipid syndrome, diabetes mellitus and abnormal fibrin phenotype, who underwent PEA for CTEPH. Intravascular material removed bilaterally during PEA (from lobar, segmental and sub-segmental arteries) has been studied using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Light microscopy showed tighter fibrous network in the portions of intraluminal thrombotic material facing the vessel wall, which contained collagen and fibrin fibers, and abundant cells. Cells, evaluated by immunostaining, were present in the whole removed material. Tissue factor expression was also observed with the highest values in the portions of intravascular material facing the vessel wall. In the main pulmonary arteries, SEM images revealed thick fibers of fibrous proteins loosly meshed and few erythrocytes and platelets between them (both dysmorphic “wedged” and fresh cells were present). In the fibrotic layers, containing mainly collagen and fibrin, removed from the lobar/segmental pulmonary arteries we found a stepwise increase in fiber density with decreasing vessel calibre, followed by denser fibrous networks composed of thinner fibers. Elastic fibers in the lobar and segmental arteries were aligned along the blood flow vector. These findings demonstrate differences in the structure of endarterectomized PEA material dependent on the vessel calibre and might contribute to understanding of CTEPH pathophysiology
Physics of Neutron Star Crusts
The physics of neutron star crusts is vast, involving many different research
fields, from nuclear and condensed matter physics to general relativity. This
review summarizes the progress, which has been achieved over the last few
years, in modeling neutron star crusts, both at the microscopic and macroscopic
levels. The confrontation of these theoretical models with observations is also
briefly discussed.Comment: 182 pages, published version available at
<http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2008-10
Homocysteinylated Albumin Promotes Increased Monocyte-Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Up-Regulation of MCP1, Hsp60 and ADAM17
RATIONALE:The cardiovascular risk factor homocysteine is mainly bound to proteins in human plasma, and it has been hypothesized that homocysteinylated proteins are important mediators of the toxic effects of hyperhomocysteinemia. It has been recently demonstrated that homocysteinylated proteins are elevated in hemodialysis patients, a high cardiovascular risk population, and that homocysteinylated albumin shows altered properties. OBJECTIVE:Aim of this work was to investigate the effects of homocysteinylated albumin - the circulating form of this amino acid, utilized at the concentration present in uremia - on monocyte adhesion to a human endothelial cell culture monolayer and the relevant molecular changes induced at both cell levels. METHODS AND RESULTS:Treated endothelial cells showed a significant increase in monocyte adhesion. Endothelial cells showed after treatment a significant, specific and time-dependent increase in ICAM1 and VCAM1. Expression profiling and real time PCR, as well as protein analysis, showed an increase in the expression of genes encoding for chemokines/cytokines regulating the adhesion process and mediators of vascular remodeling (ADAM17, MCP1, and Hsp60). The mature form of ADAM17 was also increased as well as Tnf-α released in the cell medium. At monocyte level, treatment induced up-regulation of ICAM1, MCP1 and its receptor CCR2. CONCLUSIONS:Treatment with homocysteinylated albumin specifically increases monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells through up-regulation of effectors involved in vascular remodeling
Serum Adhesion Molecule Levels as Prognostic Markers in Patients with Early Systemic Sclerosis: A Multicentre, Prospective, Observational Study
Objective: To assess the utility of circulating adhesion molecule levels as a prognostic indicator of disease progression in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with early onset disease. Methods: Ninety-two Japanese patients with early onset SSc presenting with diffuse skin sclerosis and/or interstitial lung disease were registered in a multicentre, observational study. Concentrations of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) -1, E-selectin, L-selectin, and P-selectin in serum samples from all patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent asssay (ELISA). In 39 patients, adhesion molecule levels were measured each year for four years. The ability of baseline adhesion molecule levels to predict subsequent progression and severity in clinical and laboratory features were evaluated statistically. Results: At their first visit, serum levels of ICAM-1, E-selection, P-selectin were significantly elevated and serum L-selectin levels were significantly reduced in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls. Overall, serum ICAM-1 levels at each time point were significantly inversely associated with the %vital capacity (VC) of the same time and subsequent years by univariate analysis. The initial serum ICAM-1 levels were significantly inversely associated with the %VC at the fourth year by multiple regression analysis. The initial serum P-selectin levels were significantly associated with the health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) at the fourth year by multiple regression analysis. Initial adhesion molecule levels were not significantly associated with other clinical features including skin thickness score. Baseline adhesion molecule levels were not significantly associated with subsequent rate of change of clinical parameters. Conclusion: In patients with SSc, serum levels of ICAM-1 and P-selectin may serve as prognostic indicators of respiratory dysfunction and physical disability, respectively. Further longitudinal studies of larger populations are needed to confirm these findings
Fibrin structure in organized thrombotic material removed during pulmonary artery endarterectormy: the effect of vessel calibre
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α and δ activators induce ICAM-1 expression in quiescent non stimulated endothelial cells
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