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Biomedical subjects

G Blatter

Publications and source records attributed to G Blatter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Commensurate-incommensurate transition of cold atoms in an optical lattice.

An atomic gas subject to a commensurate periodic potential generated by an optical lattice undergoes a superfluid-Mott insulator transition. Confining a strongly interacting gas to one dimension generates an instability where an arbitrary weak potential is sufficient to pin the atoms into the Mott state; here, we derive the corresponding phase diagram. The commensurate pinned state may be detected via its finite excitation gap and the Bragg peaks in the static structure factor.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Topologically protected quantum bits using Josephson junction arrays.

All physical implementations of quantum bits (or qubits, the logical elements in a putative quantum computer) must overcome conflicting requirements: the qubits should be manipulable through external signals, while remaining isolated from their environment. Proposals based on quantum optics emphasize optimal isolation, while those following the solid-state route exploit the variability and scalability of nanoscale fabrication techniques. Recently, various designs using superconducting structures have been successfully tested for quantum coherent operation, however, the ultimate goal of reaching coherent evolution over thousands of elementary operations remains a formidable task. Protecting qubits from decoherence by exploiting topological stability is a qualitatively new proposal that holds promise for long decoherence times, but its physical implementation has remained unclear. Here we show how strongly correlated systems developing an isolated twofold degenerate quantum dimer liquid ground state can be used in the construction of topologically stable qubits; we discuss their implementation using Josephson junction arrays. Although the complexity of their architecture challenges the technology base available today, such topological qubits greatly benefit from their built-in fault-tolerance.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Osteonecrosis of the humeral head after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.

A 59-year-old woman with calcific tendinitis in her right shoulder underwent extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. Three years and four months later she presented with osteonecrosis of the head of the right humerus. It is known that shock waves in patients with urological disorders can damage blood vessels. A possible reason for the development of osteonecrosis in this patient may have been damage to the blood supply of the head of the humerus.

Female↗
PubMed2001

Superfluidity versus Bloch oscillations in confined atomic gases.

We study the superfluid properties of (quasi) one-dimensional bosonic atom gases/liquids in traps with finite geometries in the presence of strong quantum fluctuations. Driving the condensate with a moving defect we find the nucleation rate for phase slips using instanton techniques. While phase slips are quenched in a ring resulting in a superfluid response, they proliferate in a tube geometry where we find Bloch oscillations in the chemical potential. These Bloch oscillations describe the individual tunneling of atoms through the defect and thus are a consequence of particle quantization.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Vortex collisions: crossing or recombination?

We investigate the collision of two vortex lines moving with viscous dynamics and driven towards each other by an applied current. Using London theory in the approach phase we observe a nontrivial vortex conformation producing antiparallel segments; their attractive interaction triggers a violent collision. The collision region is analyzed using the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation. While we find that vortices will always recombine through the exchange of segments, a crossing channel appears naturally through a double collision process.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Sonographic measurement of instability of the subtalar joint.

A sonographic method of measuring instability of the subtalar joint was developed. After defining reference points, we determined a sonographic fibulo-trochlear angle. This angle was measured in a neutral position and under an inversion stress position. A ratio q representing the relationship between the fibulo-trochlear angle measured in the neutral position and under stress, was determined. The method was tested on volunteers with clinically and radiologically stable subtalar joints and a control group with unstable subtalar joints. The stress radiograph using the Zwipp method was utilized for radiologic correlation. A sonographic ratio q>1.6 correlated with a radiological unstable subtalar joint. The borderline zone in which there was an overlap of stable and unstable subtalar joints was characterized by a q value of 1.2-1.6. A ratio q<1.2 correlated with a stable subtalar joint.

Cadaver↗
PubMed2000

Evaporation of the pancake-vortex lattice in weakly coupled layered superconductors

We calculate the melting line of the pancake-vortex system in a layered superconductor, interpolating between two-dimensional (2D) melting at high fields and the zero-field limit of single-stack evaporation. Long-range interactions between pancake vortices in different layers permit a mean-field approach, the "substrate model, " where each 2D crystal fluctuates in a substrate potential due to the vortices in other layers. We find the thermal stability limit of the 3D solid, and compare the free energy to a 2D liquid to determine the first-order melting transition and its jump in entropy.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

[Pattern of injuries and prophylaxis in paragliding].

This study will present trends and recommendations to increase active and passive safety in paragliding on the basis of current state-of-the-art equipment and typical patterns of injury. This German-Swiss teamwork presents data of 55 male and 9 female patients treated after paragliding accidents between 1994 to 1998 respectively 1996 to 1998. 43.7% of the pilots presented with multiple injuries, 62.5% suffered spinal fractures and 18.8% pelvic fractures. 28.4% of the injured pilots were admitted with injuries of the lower extremities mainly affecting the tarsus or the ankle joint. Only three patients with single injuries could be treated in an ambulatory setting. 54.0% of the injuries left the patients with lasting functional residues and complaints. Main causes of accidents were either pilot error in handling the paraglider or general lack of awareness about potential risk factors. 46.0% of injuries occurred during landing, 42.9% of injuries during the flight and another 11.1% of injuries during starting procedures. With noticeable enhanced performance sails of the beginners and intermediate level are increasingly popular. Protective helmets and sturdy footwear reaching above the ankle joint are indispensable pieces of equipment. The use of protective gloves is highly recommended. Back protection devices of the new generation provide the best passive prophylaxis for the pilot against pelvic and spinal cord injuries. This area hold the most promise for increasing safety and reducing risk of injury in future, apart from using beginners and intermediate wings. After acquisition of the pilot license performance and security training provide the best preparing to master unforeseeable situations.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1997

Segmental avascularity of the humeral diaphysis after reamed intramedullary nailing.

Although the clinical experience with reamed intramedullary nailing has been successful for the treatment of femur and tibia fractures, similar success has not been duplicated when this technique has been applied in the humerus. Although the cortical vascular response to nailing of the humerus is presently assumed to be similar to that of the femur, the response of the humerus to reaming has not been documented in vivo. The following case depicts avascularity of the humeral diaphyseal cortex as a complication of reamed intramedullary nailing and illustrates the sensitivity of the humerus to this treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The use of 2-deoxy-2-trichloroacetamido-D-glucopyranose derivatives in syntheses of hyaluronic acid-related tetra-, hexa-, and octa-saccharides having a methyl beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid at the reducing end.

Expeditious and stereocontrolled syntheses are reported of beta-D-Glc pNAc-(1-->4)-[beta-D-Glc pA-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glc pNAc-(1-->4)]n-beta-D-Glc pA-(1-->OMe), where n = 1, 2, and 3, which represent structural elements of the extracellular polysaccharide hyaluronic acid. Condensation of 4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-chloroacetyl-2-deoxy-2-trichloroacetamido- alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with methyl (4-methoxyphenyl 2,3-di-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosid)uronate gave the disaccharide derivative 9, which was demethoxyphenylated and imidoylated to afford the pivotal disaccharide trichloroacetimidate 7. Condensation of 7 with methanol followed by O-dechloroacetylation gave the acceptor 8. Coupling of 7 with 8 gave the tetrasaccharide derivative 4. O-Dechloroacetylation of 4 followed by condensation with imidate 7 afforded hexasaccharide 5, which was transformed into octasaccharide 6 by a similar two-step procedure. Subsequent O-dechloroacetylation, transformation of the N-trichloroacetyl groups into N-acetyl, debenzylidenation, and saponification of 4-6 afforded the tetra- (1), hexa- (2), and octa-saccharide (3) derivatives in high yields, as their sodium salts.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗