Critical and tricritical exponents of the Gross-Neveu model in the large-NfN_f limit

The critical and the tricritical exponents of the Gross-Neveu model are calculated in the large-$N_f$ limit. Our results indicate that these exponents are given by the mean-field values.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Stress-Minimizing Orthogonal Layout of Data Flow Diagrams with Ports

We present a fundamentally different approach to orthogonal layout of data flow diagrams with ports. This is based on extending constrained stress majorization to cater for ports and flow layout. Because we are minimizing stress we are able to better display global structure, as measured by several criteria such as stress, edge-length variance, and aspect ratio. Compared to the layered approach, our layouts tend to exhibit symmetries, and eliminate inter-layer whitespace, making the diagrams more compact

Two dimensionality in quasi one-dimensional cobalt oxides

By means of muon spin rotation and relaxation ($\mu^+$SR) techniques, we have investigated the magnetism of quasi one-dimensional (1D) cobalt oxides $AE_{n+2}$Co$_{n+1}$O$_{3n+3}$ ($AE$=Ca, Sr and Ba, $n$=1, 2, 3, 5 and $\infty$), in which the 1D CoO$_3$ chain is surrounded by six equally spaced chains forming a triangular lattice in the $ab$-plane, using polycrystalline samples, from room temperature down to 1.8 K. For the compounds with $n$=1 - 5, transverse field $\mu^+$SR experiments showed the existence of a magnetic transition below $\sim$100 K. The onset temperature of the transition ($T_{\rm c}^{\rm on}$) was found to decrease with $n$; from 100 K for $n$=1 to 60 K for $n$=5. A damped muon spin oscillation was observed only in the sample with $n$=1 (Ca$_3$Co$_2$O$_6$), whereas only a fast relaxation obtained even at 1.8 K in the other three samples. In combination with the results of susceptibility measurements, this indicates that a two-dimensional short-range antiferromagnetic (AF) order appears below $T_{\rm c}^{\rm on}$ for all compounds with $n$=1 - 5; but quasi-static long-range AF order formed only in Ca$_3$Co$_2$O$_6$, below 25 K. For BaCoO$_3$ ($n$=$\infty$), as $T$ decreased from 300 K, 1D ferromagnetic (F) order appeared below 53 K, and a sharp 2D AF transition occurred at 15 K.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures, and 2 table

Incremental Grid-like Layout Using Soft and Hard Constraints

We explore various techniques to incorporate grid-like layout conventions into a force-directed, constraint-based graph layout framework. In doing so we are able to provide high-quality layout---with predominantly axis-aligned edges---that is more flexible than previous grid-like layout methods and which can capture layout conventions in notations such as SBGN (Systems Biology Graphical Notation). Furthermore, the layout is easily able to respect user-defined constraints and adapt to interaction in online systems and diagram editors such as Dunnart.Comment: Accepted to Graph Drawing 201

Orbiting Membranes in M-theory on AdS_7 x S^4 Background

We study classical solutions describing rotating and boosted membranes on AdS_7 x S^4 background in M-theory. We find the dependence of the energy on the spin and R-charge of these solutions. In the flat space limit we get E ~ S^{2/3}, while for AdS at leading order E-S grows as S^{1/3}. The membranes on AdS_4 x S^7 background have briefly been studied as well.Comment: 13 pages, latex, v2: a note and refs. added, some typos correcte

No First-Order Phase Transition in the Gross-Neveu Model?

Within a variational calculation we investigate the role of baryons for the structure of dense matter in the Gross-Neveu model. We construct a trial ground state at finite baryon density which breaks translational invariance. Its scalar potential interpolates between widely spaced kinks and antikinks at low density and the value zero at infinite density. Its energy is lower than the one of the standard Fermi gas at all densities considered. This suggests that the discrete gamma_5 symmetry of the Gross-Neveu model does not get restored in a first order phase transition at finite density, at variance with common wisdom.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, LaTe

Magnetic studies of Ca1-xMxRuO3 (M=La and Sr)

CaRuO3 is a perovskite with an orthorhombic distortion and shows the characteristics of spin-glass behavior below TC=87 K. The La3+ substitution for Ca2+ in Ca1-xLaxRuO3 samples, induces a disorder in the Ca site (the A site) and the system becomes antiferromagnetically (AFM) ordered with TN = 58 and 19 K for x=0.1 x=0.5 respectively. In the Ca1-xSrxRuO3 system, the Ca0.8Sr0.2RuO3 sample is canted-AFM ordered at 107 K. The compounds with higher Sr concentration display ferromagnetic behavior and the saturation moment increases with Sr. Huge magnetic hysteresis loops are obtained at low temperatures. The coercive field (HC) decreases with Sr. For x=0.4 HC =9.5 kOe (at 5 K) whereas for SrRuO3 HC =2.4 kOe. For x=0.4 and 0.6, HC decreases sharply with temperature and than increases again with a peak at 95 and 115 K, respectively. On the other hand, for SrRuO3, HC remains practically unchanged up to 50 K and shows a peak at 90 K and than decrease sharply up to TC =165 K.Comment: This paper was submitted to JMM

Effects of oxidized low density lipoprotein, lipid mediators and statins on vascular cell interactions

The integrin heterodimer CD11b/CD18 (alpha M beta 2, Mac-1, CR3) expressed on monocytes or polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is a receptor for iC3b, fibrinogen, heparin, and for intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 on endothelium, crucially contributing to vascular cell interactions in inflammation and atherosclerosis. In this report, we summarize our findings on the effects of lipid mediators and lipid-lowering drugs. Exposure of endothelial cells to oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) induces upregulation of ICAM-1 and increases adhesion of monocytic cells expressing Mac-1. Inhibition experiments show that monocytes use distinct ligands, i.e. ICAM-1 and heparan sulfate proteoglycans for adhesion to oxLDL-treated endothelium. An albumin-transferable oxLDL activity is inhibited by the antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), while 8-epi-prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-epi-PGF2 alpha) or lysophosphatidylcholine had no effect, implicating yet unidentified radicals. Sequential adhesive! and signaling events lead to the firm adhesion of rolling PMN on activated and adherent platelets, which may occupy areas of endothelial denudation. Shear resistant arrest of PMN on thrombin-stimulated platelets in flow conditions requires distinct regions of Mac-1, involving its interactions with fibrinogen bound to platelet alpha llb beta 3, and with other platelet ligands. Both arrest and adhesion strengthening under flow are stimulated by platelet-activating factor and leukotriene B4, but not by the chemokine receptor CXCR2. We tested whether Mac-1-dependent monocyte adhesiveness is affected by inhibitors of hydroxy-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A reductase (statins) which improve morbidity and survival of patients with coronary heart disease. As compared to controls, adhesion of isolated monocytes to endothelium ex vivo was increased in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Treatment with statins decreased total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol plasma levels, surface expression of Mac-1, and resulted in a dramatic reduction of Mac,mediated monocyte adhesion to endothelium. The inhibition of monocyte adhesion was reversed by mevalonate but not LDL in vitro,indicating that isoprenoid precursors are crucial for adhesiveness of Mac-1. Such effects may crucially contribute to the clinical benefit of statins, independent of cholesterol-lowering, and may represent a paradigm for novel, anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action by this class of drugs