Yield and fiber quality properties of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under water stress and non-stress conditions

The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of water stress and non-stress conditions on cotton yield and fiber quality properties. A two-year field study was carried out at the Southeastern Anatolia Agricultural Research Institute (SAARI), in 2009 and 2010, with the aim of evaluating 12 cotton genotypes for yield and fiber quality properties under irrigated and water stress conditions. The experiment was laid out as a randomized split block design (RSBD) with four replications. Significant differences were observed among genotypes and water treatments for seed cotton yield, fiber yield, ginning percentage and all fiber quality properties except fiber uniformity. Yield differences among genotypes under water stress and non-stress conditions were higher during the first season. In both years, SER-18 and Stoneville 468 cotton genotypes produced higher yield under water stress conditions, while Stoneville 468 produced higher yield under well-irrigated conditions. The results during the two years indicated that seed cotton yield decreased (48.04%) and fiber yield decreased (49.41%), due to water stress. Ginning percentage and fiber quality properties were also negatively affected by water stress treatment. Fiber length, fiber strength, fiber fineness and fiber elongation were decreased, while fiber uniformity was not affected by water stress treatment.Key words: Cotton, yield, fiber quality properties, water stress, non-stress

Direct imaging of localized surface plasmon polaritons

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In this Letter, we report on dark field imaging of localized surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in plasmonic waveguiding bands formed by plasmonic coupled cavities. We image the light scattered from SPPs in the plasmonic cavities excited by a tunable light source. Tuning the excitation wavelength, we measure the localization and dispersion of the plasmonic cavity mode. Dark field imaging has been achieved in the Kretschmann configuration using a supercontinuum white-light laser equipped with an acoustooptic tunable filter. Polarization dependent spectroscopic reflection and dark field imaging measurements are correlated and found to be in agreement with finite-difference time-domain calculations. (C) 2011 Optical Society of Americ

Plexcitonic crystals: a tunable platform for light-matter interactions

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Coupled states of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and excitons are collectively called plexcitons [Nano Lett. 8, 3481 (2008)]. Plexcitonics is an emerging field of research aiming to control light-matter interaction at the nanometer length scale using coupled pairs of surface-plasmons and excitons. Ability to control the interaction between localized excitons and propagating surface-plasmons is important for realization of new photonic devices. In this letter, we report plexcitonic crystals that yield direction-dependent plasmon-exciton coupling. We have fabricated one- and two-dimensional plexcitonic crystals on periodically corrugated silver surfaces, which are loaded with J-aggregate complexes. We show that plasmon-exciton coupling is blocked for some crystal directions when exciton energy falls inside the plasmonic band gap of the periodically corrugated metallic surface. (C) 2014 Optical Society of Americ

Absorption enhancement of molecules in the weak plasmon-exciton coupling regime

Cataloged from PDF version of article.We report on the experimental and theoretical investigations of enhancing the optical absorption of organic molecules in the weak plasmon–exciton coupling regime. A metal–organic hybrid structure consisting of dye molecules embedded in the polymer matrix is placed in close vicinity to thin metal films. We have observed a transition from a weak coupling regime to a strong coupling one as the thickness of the metal layer increases. The results indicate that absorption of the self-assembled J-aggregate nanostructures can be increased in the weak plasmon–exciton coupling regime and strongly quenched in the strong coupling regime. A theoretical model based on the transfer-matrix method qualitatively confirms the experimental results obtained from polarization-dependent spectroscopic reflection measurements

Strong coupling between localized and propagating plasmon polaritons

We investigate plasmon-plasmon (PP) coupling in the strongly interacting regimes by using a tunable plasmonic platform consisting of triangular Ag nanoprisms placed nanometers away from Ag thin films. The nanoprisms are colloidally synthesized using a seed-mediated growth method and having size-tunable localized surface plasmon polariton (SPP) resonances immobilized on Si3N4 films. The PP coupling between the localized SPPs of metal nanoprisms and the propagating SPPs of the metal film is controlled by the nanoprism concentration and the plasmon damping in the metal film. Results reveal that Rabi splitting energy determining the strength of the coupling can reach up to several hundreds meV, thus demonstrating the ultrastrong coupling occurring between localized and propagating SPPs. The metal nanoparticle-metal thin film hybrid system over the square-centimeter areas presented here provides a unique configuration to study PP coupling all the way from the weak to ultrastrong coupling regimes in a broad range of wavelengths. © 2015 Optical Society of America

Slow plasmons in grating cavities

Recent research on surface plasmon polaritons and their applications have brought forward a wealth of information and continues to be of interest to many. In this report, we concentrate on propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and their interaction with matter. Using grating based metallic structures, it is possible to control the electrodynamics of propagating SPPs. Biharmonic gratings loaded with periodic Si stripes allow excitation of SPPs that are localized inside the band gap with grating coupling, [1]. The cavity state is formed due to periodic effective index modulation obtained by one harmonic of the grating and loaded Si stripes. More complicated grating structures such as metallic Moiré surfaces have also been shown to form a localized state inside the band gap when excited with Kretschmann configuration, [1-6]. © 2016 SPIE

Lasing in a Slow Plasmon Moiré Cavity

We report on lasing from dye-based excitons coupled to slow plasmon states inside metallic Moiré cavities. Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) inside the cavity were slowed down to a maximum group velocity of 0.3c. Varying the modulation of the Moiré cavity, we tune the output wavelength of the plasmonic laser by varying the fast modulation period of the Moiré cavity. This work opens a new way to study SPP-matter interaction dynamics and plasmonic lasing with Bragg cavity confined slow plasmons. © 2015 American Chemical Society

3D printed Artificial Cornea for Corneal Stromal Transplantation

The aim of this study is to understand the optical, biocompatible, and mechanical properties of chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) based corneal stroma constructs using 3D printing process. Corneal stroma is tested for biocompatibility with human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs). Physico-chemical and chemical characterization of the construct was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Optical transmittance was analyzed using UV-Spectrophotometer. Results showed fabricated constructs have required shape and size. SEM images showed construct has thickness of 400 µm. The FTIR spectra demonstrated the presence of various predicted peaks. The swelling and degradation studies of 13%(wt)PVA and 13%(wt)PVA/(1, 3, 5)%(wt)CS showed to have high swelling ratios of 7 days and degradation times of 30 days, respectively. The light transmittance values of the fabricated cornea constructs decreased with CS addition slightly. Tensile strength values decreased with increasing CS ratio, but we found to support intraocular pressure (IOP) which ranges from 12 to 22 mm-Hg. Preliminary biostability studies showed that composite constructs were compatible with hASCs even after 30 days’ of degradation, showing potential for these cells to be differentiated to stroma layer in future. This study has implications for the rapid and custom fabrication of various cornea constructs for clinical applications

Malatya’da Sporun Yaygınlaştırılması Açısından Spor Tesislerinin Yeterlilik Düzeyinin İncelenmesi,

Sporu oluşturan bileşenlerden biri de spor tesisleridir. Topluma en iyi şekilde spor hizmeti verilmesinde spor tesislerinin niteliği önemli bir kriterdir. Sporun yaygınlaştırılmasında spor tesislerinin sayı ve çeşitliliğinin, toplumun spora ilişkin beklenti ve ihtiyaçlarının belli bir politika çerçevesinde ele alınması gerekmektedir. Bu araştırmanın amacı; Malatya’da sporun yayınlaştırılmasında spor tesislerinin yeterlilik düzeyi ve halkın spor eğiliminin incelenmesidir. Bu çalışmaya Malatya il merkezinde bulunan değişik meslek, yaş ve cinsiyet gruplarından oluşan toplam 2020 kişi gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Çalışmaya katılan deneklere anket uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen verilerin değerlendirilmesinde frekans ve yüzde dağılımları hesaplanarak değişkenler arasında ilişki olup olmadığı Ki-Kare testi uygulanarak test edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, Malatya’da yaşayan halkın çoğunluğunun spora ilgi duyduğu, ilgi duyulan spor branşları arasında futbolun ilk sırada yer aldığı, spor yapılmasına engel teşkil eden etmenlerin başında yeterli spor tesisinin olmamasının yer aldığı, kamu kurum ve kuruluşların yeterince spor tesislerine sahip olmadığı tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca Malatya‘da kitle sporunun yaygınlaştırılması için spor tesislerinin ve spor kulüplerinin sayısının arttırılması gerektiği, halkın ilgisini çekecek spor organizasyonlarının düzenlenmesi ve mahallelerde semt sahalarının sayısının artırılmasının önemli olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır