Morphology of the two-dimensional MRI in Axial Symmetry

In this paper, we analyze the linear stability of a stellar accretion disk, having a stratified morphology. The study is performed in the framework of ideal magneto-hydrodynamics and therefore it results in a characterization of the linear unstable magneto-rotational modes. The peculiarity of the present scenario consists of adopting the magnetic flux function as the basic dynamical variable. Such a representation of the dynamics allows to make account of the co-rotation theorem as a fundamental feature of the ideal plasma equilibrium, evaluating its impact on the perturbation evolution too. According to the Alfvenic nature of the Magneto-rotational instability, we consider an incompressible plasma profile and perturbations propagating along the background magnetic field. Furthermore, we develop a local perturbation analysis, around fiducial coordinates of the background configuration and dealing with very small scale of the linear dynamics in comparison to the background inhomogeneity size. The main issue of the present study is that the condition for the emergence of unstable modes is the same in the stratified plasma disk, as in the case of a thin configuration. Such a feature is the result of the cancelation of the vertical derivative of the disk angular frequency from the dispersion relation, which implies that only the radial profile of the differential rotation is responsible for the trigger of growing modes.Comment: 7 pages, 0 figures, 2015 Workshop "Complex plasma phenomena in the laboratory and in the universe

Implications of the Co-rotation Theorem on the MRI in Axial Symmetry

We analyze the linear stability of an axially symmetric ideal plasma disk, embedded in a magnetic field and endowed with a differential rotation. This study is performed by adopting the magnetic flux function as the fundamental dynamical variable, in order to outline the role played by the co-rotation theorem on the linear mode structure. Using some specific assumptions (e.g. plasma incompressibility and propagation of the perturbations along the background magnetic field), we select the Alfvenic nature of the Magneto-Rotational Instability and, in the geometric optics limit, we determine the dispersion relation describing the linear spectrum. We show how the implementation of the co-rotation theorem (valid for the background configuration) on the linear dynamics produces the cancellation of the vertical derivative of the disk angular velocity (we check such a feature also in the standard vector formalism to facilitate comparison with previous literature, both in the axisymmetric and three-dimensional case). As a result, we clarify that the unstable modes have, for a stratified disk, the same morphology, proper of a thin disk profile, and the $z$ dependence has a simple parametric role.Comment: 10 pages. Major modification

Squeezing of toroidal accretion disks

Accretion disks around very compact objects such as very massive Black hole can grow according to thick toroidal models. We face the problem of defining how does change the thickness of a toroidal accretion disk spinning around a Schwarzschild Black hole under the influence of a toroidal magnetic field and by varying the fluid angular momentum. We consider both an hydrodynamic and a magnetohydrodynamic disk based on the Polish doughnut thick model. We show that the torus thickness remains basically unaffected but tends to increase or decrease slightly depending on the balance of the magnetic, gravitational and centrifugal effects which the disk is subjected to.Comment: 6 pages, 17 figures, to appear in EP

Dynamics in the Fitness-Income plane: Brazilian states vs World countries

In this paper we introduce a novel algorithm, called Exogenous Fitness, to calculate the Fitness of subnational entities and we apply it to the states of Brazil. In the last decade, several indices were introduced to measure the competitiveness of countries by looking at the complexity of their export basket. Tacchella et al (2012) developed a non-monetary metric called Fitness. In this paper, after an overview about Brazil as a whole and the comparison with the other BRIC countries, we introduce a new methodology based on the Fitness algorithm, called Exogenous Fitness. Combining the results with the Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDPp), we look at the dynamics of the Brazilian states in the Fitness-Income plane. Two regimes are distinguishable: one with high predictability and the other with low predictability, showing a deep analogy with the heterogeneous dynamics of the World countries. Furthermore, we compare the ranking of the Brazilian states according to the Exogenous Fitness with the ranking obtained through two other techniques, namely Endogenous Fitness and Economic Complexity Index

The course of cancer related fatigue up to ten years in early breast cancer patients. What impact in clinical practice?

Little is known about the cancer related fatigue (CRF) along cancer course and risk factors that could predict CRF development and persistence in breast cancer (BC) survivors. This prospective study detected incidence, timing of onset, duration of CRF, impact on QoL and psychological distress. Seventy-eight early BC patients, undergoing chemotherapy (CT) followed or not by hormonal therapy were assessed for QoL and psychological distress by EORTC QLQC30 and HADs questionnaires. Fatigue was investigated with mix methods, structured interview and psychometric measures. A qualitative analysis was added to assess the behavioral pattern of CRF. Low fatigue levels were identified after surgery (9%), increasing during (49%) and at the end of CT (47%), maintaining after 1 year (31%) and declining up to ten years of follow-up. Prevalence of CRF was higher at the end of CT and lower at follow-up. At the end and after 1 and 2 years from CT, persistence of CRF was associated to anxiety in 20%, 11% and 5% and to depression in 15%, 10% and 5% respectively. A relationship between CRF and psychological distress was observed; patients presenting depression and anxiety before CT were at higher risk for fatigue onset at a later period. A relationship between fatigue and QoL was noted at the end of CT. Our study shows the fatigue timely trend in early BC patients from surgery, CT and follow-up. Identification of biological, psychological, social predictor factors related to fatigue could be helpful for early interventions in patients at higher risk of developing fatigue

On the Polish doughnut accretion disk via the effective potential approach

We revisit the Polish doughnut model of accretion disks providing a comprehensive analytical description of the Polish doughnut structure. We describe a perfect fluid circularly orbiting around a Schwarzschild black hole, source of the gravitational field, by the effective potential approach for the exact gravitational and centrifugal effects. This analysis leads to a detailed, analytical description of the accretion disk, its toroidal surface, the thickness, the distance from the source. We determine the variation of these features with the effective potential and the fluid angular momentum. Many analytical formulas are given. In particular it turns out that the distance from the source of the inner surface of the torus increases with increasing fluid angular momentum but decreases with increasing energy function defined as the value of the effective potential for that momentum. The location of torus maximum thickness moves towards the external regions of the surface with increasing angular momentum, until it reaches a maximum an then decreases. Assuming a polytropic equation of state we investigate some specific cases.Comment: 33 pages, 28 figures, 1 table. This is a revised version to meet the published articl