Magnetically Actuated Liquid Crystals

Ferrimagnetic inorganic nanorods have been used as building blocks to construct liquid crystals with optical properties that can be instantly and reversibly controlled by manipulating the nanorod orientation using considerably weak external magnetic fields (1 mT). Under an alternating magnetic field, they exhibit an optical switching frequency above 100 Hz, which is comparable to the performance of commercial liquid crystals based on electrical switching. By combining magnetic alignment and lithography processes, it is also possible to create patterns of different polarizations in a thin composite film and control over the transmittance of light in particular areas. Developing such magnetically responsive liquid crystals opens the door toward various applications, which may benefit from the instantaneous and contactless nature of magnetic manipulation

Fractal-Mound Growth of Pentacene Thin Films

The growth mechanism of pentacene film formation on SiO2 substrate was investigated with a combination of atomic force microscopy measurements and numerical modeling. In addition to the diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) that has already been shown to govern the growth of the ordered pentacene thin films, it is shown here for the first time that the Schwoebel barrier effect steps in and disrupts the desired epitaxial growth for the subsequent layers, leading to mound growth. The terraces of the growing mounds have a fractal dimension of 1.6, indicating a lateral DLA shape. This novel growth morphology thus combines horizontal DLA-like growth with vertical mound growth.Comment: (5 Figures). Accepted to PR B (in print

God is Random: A Novel Argument for the Existence of God

Applying the concepts of Kolmogorov-Chaitin complexity and Turing’s uncomputability from the computability and algorithmic information theories to the irreducible and incomputable randomness of quantum mechanics, a novel argument for the existence of God is presented. Concepts of ‘transintelligence’ and ‘transcausality’ are introduced, and from them, it is posited that our universe must be epistemologically and ontologically an open universe. The proposed idea also proffers a new perspective on the nonlocal nature and the infamous wave-function-collapse problem of quantum mechanics

Situational Awareness Analysis of Port Pilotage Services

Situational Awareness (SA) is generally described as the perception of the elements in the environment within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning and the projection of their status in the near future. SA has emerged in the military aviation for improving safety and prevention of accidents. In the last decade, it was also used in user-focused areas like civil aviation sector, air and sea traffic operations, nuclear plant facilities, offshore oil platforms etc. In this study, maritime pilots and shipmasters situational awareness levels have been analyzed with the SAGAT method using bridge simulator system and the results have been obtained. The importance of the study is to examine the concept of situational awareness for port pilotage services, which is extremely important for the maritime safety. Some of the key findings are positive effects of experience on situational awareness and those who pay attention to factors such as speed and distance in maneuver possess highest situational awareness. In addition, some improvements are proposed in accordance with the conclusions of this study, to increase the quality of the techno nautical services used by pilots and masters

Magnetically Actuated Liquid Crystals

Ferrimagnetic inorganic nanorods have been used as building blocks to construct liquid crystals with optical properties that can be instantly and reversibly controlled by manipulating the nanorod orientation using considerably weak external magnetic fields (1 mT). Under an alternating magnetic field, they exhibit an optical switching frequency above 100 Hz, which is comparable to the performance of commercial liquid crystals based on electrical switching. By combining magnetic alignment and lithography processes, it is also possible to create patterns of different polarizations in a thin composite film and control over the transmittance of light in particular areas. Developing such magnetically responsive liquid crystals opens the door toward various applications, which may benefit from the instantaneous and contactless nature of magnetic manipulation

Otonomik sinir sistemi; prostat büyümesi ve LUTS arasındaki ilişki

Amaç: Alt üriner sistem semptomları ve prostat büyümesi ile otonomik sinir sistemi arasındaki ilişki değerlendirilmek. Gereç ve Yöntem: Alt üriner sistem semptomları olan 67 erkek (57.9±5.6) ve 22 sağlıklı erkek (59.1±5.3) çalışmaya alındı. Holter analizinde sempatik ve parasempatik aktiviteyi temsil eden parametreler gruplar arasında karşılaştırıldı. Her iki grupta prostat hacmi ile otonom sinir sistemi arasındaki ilişki araştırıldı. Bulgular: Alt üriner sistem semptomları olanlarda sempatik sinir sistemi aktivitesinde artış tespit edildi. Ancak bu artış istatistiki anlamlı düzeye ulaşmadı. Her iki grubun prostat hacimleri benzer düzeydeydi. Prostat hacmi sadece alt üriner sistem semptomları olanlarda sempatik sinir sitemi aktivitesi ile ilişkili bulundu. Tartışma: Bilgimiz dahilinde prostat hacmi ile sempatik sinir sitemi arasındaki ilişkinin araştırıldığı çalışmalar prostat hacmi benzer kontrol grubundan yoksundur. Çalışmamızda prostat hacimleri benzer olan iki grup arasında sadece semptomatik grupta prostat hacmi ile sempatik sistem arasında anlamlı ilişki saptandı. Prostat büyümesinde rol alan sempatik sinir sistemi aynı zamanda bu büyümenin semptomatik olup olmayacağını da belirliyor olabilir.Aim: To evaluate the relationship between autonomic nervous system and LUTS, prostate enlargement. Material and Method: A total of 67 men with LUTS (57.9±5.6years) and 22 healthy men (59.1±5.3years) were enrolled in the study. Parameters of holter influenced by sympathetic and parasympathetic system were compared between patients and controls. Correlation analysis was also done between prostate volume and autonomic system in each group. Results: Parameters of heart rate variability representing sym- pathetic system were higher in patients with LUTS. However these differences didn’t reach statistical significance. Prostate volumes were similar in both groups. Prostate volume was significantly associated with sympathetic system activity in only patients with LUTS. Discussion: To our knowledge in the previous studies the correlation between prostate volume and sympathetic tone was only investigated in patients not in prostate volume matched controls. Although each group has similar prostate volumes, only patients’ prostate volumes were significantly correlated with sympathetic tone. The reason for the growth of the prostate may also determine whether the growth will be symptomatic or not

Overactive bladder and pontine reticular formation

WOS: 000327925400007PubMed: 24296362Background: the etiology of overactive bladder (OAB) remains unclear. Observed neurogenic factors in the literature are limited to suprapontine or spinal pathologies. the blink reflex is a useful tool in the evaluation of brainstem functions. Blink reflex latency times were evaluated in order to reveal pathology in the brainstem. Methods: A total of 60 women, 30 patients with idiopathic OAB and 30 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. Blink reflex latency times were analyzed by electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve. Two responses in the orbicularis oculi muscle, early ipsilateral response (R1) and late bilateral response (R2) latency times, were recorded. Results: Mean ages of the patients and controls were 51.9 +/- 5.3 and 49.2 +/- 6.2 years, respectively. R2 latency times were significantly higher in patients than in controls. However, R1 latency times were similar between the two groups. Conclusions:The results of the study suggest a significant relation between late blink latencytimes and OAB. An oligosynaptic path via the trigeminal nuclei is responsible for R1; however, R2 response is relayed through the reticular formation. Stimulation of pontine reticular formation inhibits micturition contraction. in some patients, idiopathic OAB may result from reticular formation-originated pathology. Additional studies on other reticular formation-mediated reflexes are needed to reveal possible dysfunction of reticular formation. Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Base