Orientation in space using the sense of smell

Several studies reported that respiration interacts with olfactory perception. Therefore, in the pilot study of this experiment series human breathing was investigated during an olfactory experiment. Breathing parameters (respiratory minute volume, respiratory amplitude, and breathing rate) were quantified in response to odor stimulation and olfactory imagery. We provide evidence that respiration changed during smelling and during olfactory imagery in comparison to the baseline condition. In conclusion, olfactory perception and olfactory imagery both have an impact on the human respiratory profile, which is hypothesized to be based on a common underlying mechanism named sniffing. Our findings underline that for certain aspects of olfactory research it may be necessary to control and/or monitor respiration during olfactory stimulation. The human ability to localize odors has been investigated in a limited number of studies, but the findings are contradictory. We hypothesized that this was mainly due to differential effects of olfactory and trigeminal stimulation. Only few substances excite selectively the olfactory system. One of them is hydrogen sulphide (H2S). In contrast, most odorants stimulate both olfactory and trigeminal receptors of the nasal mucosa. The main goal of this study was to test the human ability to localize substances, which excite the olfactory system selectively. For this purpose we performed localization experiment using low and high concentrations of the pure odorant H2S, the olfactory-trigeminal substance isoamyl acetate (IAA), and the trigeminal substance carbon dioxide (CO2). In preparation for the localization study a detection experiment was carried out to ensure that subjects perceived the applied stimuli consciously. The aim of the detection study was to quantify the human sensitivity in response to stimulation with H2S, IAA, and CO2. We tested healthy subjects using an event-related experimental design. The olfactory stimulation was performed using an olfactometer. The results showed that humans are able to detect H2S in low concentration (2 ppm) with moderate sensitivity, and possess a high sensitivity in response to stimulation with 8ppm H2S, 50% v/v CO2, and 17.5% v/v IAA. The localization experiment revealed that subjects can localize H2S neither in low nor in high concentrations. In contrast to that, subjects possess an ability to localize both IAA and CO2 stimuli. These results clearly demonstrate that humans are able to localize odorants which excite the trigeminal system, but they are not able to localize odors that stimulate the olfactory system exclusively, in spite of consciously perceiving the stimuli

The causal effect of restrictive bank lending on employment growth: A matching approach

Does restrictive bank lending cause lower employment growth at the firm-level or does it reflect firm characteristics that drive the deterioration of employment figures? Applying propensity score matching, we estimate the treatment effect of restrictive bank lending on employment growth. Combining balance sheet information and survey data on a firm's current and expected future business situation, we rule out the impact of firm heterogeneity. We find that credit constraints have a significant negative effect on employment growth. Restricted firms also apply for short-time work more often, but this effect is small and not significant in all estimations

Two-dimensional behavior of the sublattice magnetization in three-dimensional Ising antiferromagnets

A three-dimensional layered Ising-Antiferromagnet with a ferromagnetic intra-layer coupling to z neighbors, zJ > 0, and an antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling to z' neighbors, z'J' < 0, is investigated by Monte Carlo simulations on a hexagonal lattice. The physical nature of the anomalous temperature bahavior of the sublattice magnetizations, which is found for certain values of r=zJ/z'J' and z' in magnetic fields is explained in terms of successive phase transitions. They take place on the ferromagnetic 2-dimensional spin-down sublattice at T = T_c^{2d}, smeared by a finite stabilizing molecular field, and on both antiferromagnetically coupled sublattices at T_c^{3d} > T_c^{2d}.Comment: 8 pages (TeX), 6 figures (eps), submitted to World Scientific: Proceedings SDHS'99 Duisbur

Finite-Element Simulations of Light Propagation through Circular Subwavelength Apertures

Light transmission through circular subwavelength apertures in metallic films with surrounding nanostructures is investigated numerically. Numerical results are obtained with a frequency-domain finite-element method. Convergence of the obtained observables to very low levels of numerical error is demonstrated. Very good agreement to experimental results from the literature is reached, and the utility of the method is demonstrated in the investigation of the influence of geometrical parameters on enhanced transmission through the apertures

Das Gräberfeld von Zauschwitz

Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 dofinansowane zostało ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Organic Electronic Devices - Fundamentals, Applications, and Novel Concepts

This work addresses two substantial problems of organic electronic devices: the controllability and adjustability of performance, and the integration using scalable, high resolution patterning techniques for planar thin-film transistors and novel vertical transistor devices. Both problems are of particular importance for the success of transparent and flexible organic electronics in the future. To begin with, the static behavior in molecular doped organic pin-diodes is investigated. This allows to deduce important diode parameters such as the depletion capacitance, the number of active dopant states, and the breakdown field. Applying this knowledge, organic pin-diodes are designed for ultra-high-frequency applications and a cut-off-frequency of up to 1GHz can be achieved using optimized parameters for device geometry, layer thickness, and dopant concentration. The second part of this work is devoted to organic thin-film transistors, high resolution patterning techniques, as well as novel vertical transistor concepts. In particular, fluorine based photo-lithography, a high resolution patterning technique compatible to organic semiconductors, is introduced fielding the integration of organic thin-film transistors under ambient conditions. However, as it will be shown, horizontal organic thin-film transistors are substantially limited in their performance by charge carrier injection. Hence, down-scaling is inappropriate to enlarge the transconductance of such transistors. To overcome this drawback, a novel vertical thin-film transistor concept with a vertical channel length of ∼50nm is realized using fluorine based photo-lithography. These vertical devices can surpass the performance of planar transistors and hence are prospective candidates for future integration in complex electronic circuits

An investigation into solid dielectrics

Direct measurement techniques for the investigation of electrical processes in solid dielectrics are reviewed and their respective strengths and weaknesses are discussed, particularly the complementary nature of thermally stimulated current measurements. The successful design and construction of a new Thermally Stimulated Discharge Current (TSDC) Spectrometer at the University of Southampton is presented and its correct function validated with experimental measurements of the well known and often characterized synthetic polymers low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Results were found to correspond well to published data. First TSDC observations of filled and oil impregnated papers are presented.The second aspect of this work is the investigation of natural polymer insulation materials,specifically paper for oil-paper insulation systems. For the first time, electrical insulation papers with filler contents up to 50% were investigated. Bentonite and talcum were compared as filler materials and found to have negative and positive effects respectively.The superior electrical strength of a talcum filled kraft paper was verified, and a series of constructive modifications was undertaken to further maximise its electrical strength at comparable or improved dielectric performance. An increase in electrical breakdown strength of 20% to 30% has been observed, but the substitution of such great amounts of fiber with fillers also lead to a reduction in mechanical strength of the paper. Further trials with chemical additives were conducted to counteract this effect and polyvinyl alcohol and starch were found to enhance the paper strength. Additional trials also comprised sizing agents, guar gum and wet strength agents. Uncharged or slightly charged chemical additives provided best results with regard to dielectric performance. The significance of the trialled paper modifications is judged in light of statistical analysis