Networking Behavior in Thin Film and Nanostructure Growth Dynamics

Thin film coatings have been essential in development of several micro and nano-scale devices. To realize thin film coatings various deposition techniques are employed, each yielding surface morphologies with different characteristics of interest. Therefore, understanding and control of the surface growth is of great interest. In this paper, we devise a novel network-based modeling of the growth dynamics of such thin films and nano-structures. We specifically map dynamic steps taking place during the growth to components (e.g., nodes, links) of a corresponding network. We present initial results showing that this network-based modeling approach to the growth dynamics can simplify our understanding of the fundamental physical dynamics such as shadowing and re-emission effects

Protective effect of leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast on smoking-induced lung injury in Wistar rats.

Increased activation of alveolar macrophage, neutrophil and mast cell has been proven in cigarette smoking (CS)-related lung disorders (CSLD). An increased production of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LTs), which are mediators secreted from the mentioned cells, in response to CS has been shown in humans. The protective effect of LT1 receptor-1 antagonist (LTR-1AT) on CSLD is, however, not known. In this study we aimed to determine whether there is any protective effect of a LTR-1AT, montelukast (MK), on CSLD in Wistar rats. Nine controls and twenty-three smoke-exposed rats were enrolled into this study. Controls were exposed to non-filtered air, and the smoke-exposed rats were exposed to CS for 6 h/day, 6 days/week for three weeks. The CS-exposed rats were also treated with 0.1 mg/kg/day of MK or saline. Morphometric criteria for lung injury were determined as the mean linear intercept of alveolar septa (Lm), the volume density of alveolar septa (Vvspt) and the density of the alveolar surface area per unit volume of lung parenchyma (Sva.pa). Lung mast cells (LMC), which are a major source of LTs, were also counted. Results showed that Lm of the control group was significantly lower and Vvspt, Sva.pa of the controls were significantly higher compared to those of the CS-exposed groups. Animals treated with MK had significant protection against CSLD. Lm was significantly higher and Vvspt, Sva.pa were lower in the saline group than in the MK-treated group. The number of LMC in the CS-exposed groups was also significantly higher than that in the control group. Based on these results, one can suggest that some part of the pathogenesis of CSLD may be related to an enhanced LTs synthesis and LTR-1AT. Therefore, montelukast may protect against active or passive smoking-induced lung injury and related disorders.</p

Cosmic PeV Neutrinos and the Sources of Ultrahigh Energy Protons

The IceCube experiment recently detected the first flux of high-energy neutrinos in excess of atmospheric backgrounds. We examine whether these neutrinos originate from within the same extragalactic sources as ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays. Starting from rather general assumptions about spectra and flavors, we find that producing a neutrino flux at the requisite level through pion photoproduction leads to a flux of protons well below the cosmic-ray data at ~10^18 eV, where the composition is light, unless pions/muons cool before decaying. This suggests a dominant class of accelerator that allows for cosmic rays to escape without significant neutrino yields.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures; v2: substantially updated to incorporate new IceCube data and model scenarios; v3: added references, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Lack of Social Policy and Security as a Determinant Factor in Human Trafficking

The aim of this study is to reveal to what extent social policy and social security are important for the elimination of the human trafficking. Social policy and social security are the disciplines that strive to guarantee the future of the individuals against the social risks that is possible to occur in every kind of society. Social policies aim to improve the human welfare and the humanitarian needs such as education, health, housing and social security. Social Security systems, at the same time, are defined as the systems that are carried out by means of either government or private initiatives in order to take some certain precautions for the future risks. As the sub-discipline of social policy, the social security system generally reallocates and redistributes incomes. The issue of human trafficking that is the modern slavery today and that occurs as a result of the lack or inefficiency of social policy and security will be the main basis here in this study

From Human Trafficking to Human Resources: Acquisition of Victims of Human Exploitation in Terms of Human Resources

Human exploitation is one of the most noncompliant and unacceptable invasion of human rights. Even though generally developed countries are interested in the effects on their own political and economical scheme, actually socio-psychological conditions of victims should be considered regarding the human exploitation. These people who are forced to be in a totally different environment are having a difficulty of integration. Integration and rehabilitation will be effective if applied in all areas with many extensions. In this paper, human exploitation in working places and human resources policies and strategies which would make the integration period shorter for refugee employees