Fabrication of Arrays of Topological Solitons in Patterned Chiral Liquid Crystals for Real-Time Observation of Morphogenesis.

Topological solitons have knotted continuous field configurations embedded in a uniform background, and occur in cosmology, biology, and electromagnetism. However, real-time observation of their morphogenesis and dynamics is still challenging because their size and timescale are enormously large or tiny. Liquid crystal (LC) structures are promising candidates for a model-system to study the morphogenesis of topological solitons, enabling direct visualization due to the proper size and timescale.

Nanoscratch-Directed Self-Assembly of Block Copolymer Thin Films.

Directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymer (BCP) thin films is of particular interest in nanoscience and nanotechnology due to its superior ability to form various well-aligned nanopatterns. Herein, nanoscratch-DSA is introduced as a simple and scalable DSA strategy allowing highly aligned BCP nanopatterns over a large area. A gentle scratching on the target substrate with a commercial diamond lapping film can form uniaxially aligned nanoscratches.

Periodic Arrays of Chiral Domains Generated from the Self-Assembly of Micropatterned Achiral Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystal.

Achiral building blocks forming achiral structures is a common occurrence in nature, while chirality emerging spontaneously from an achiral system is usually associated with important scientific phenomena. We report on the spontaneous chiral symmetry-breaking phenomena upon the topographic confinement of achiral lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals in periodically arranged micrometer scale air pillars. The anisotropic fluid arranges into chiral domains that depend on the arrangement and spacing of the pillars.

Topological defects and geometric memory across the nematic-smectic A liquid crystal phase transition.

We study transformations of self-organised defect arrays at the nematic-smectic A liquid crystal phase transition, and show that these defect configurations are correlated, or "remembered", across the phase transition. A thin film of thermotropic liquid crystal is subjected to hybrid anchoring by an air interface and a water substrate, and viewed under polarised optical microscopy. Upon heating from smectic-A to nematic, a packing of focal conic domains melts into a dense array of boojums-nematic surface defects-which then coarsens by pair-annihilation.

Nanoscratching technique for highly oriented liquid crystal materials.

A simple, fast, and cost-effective technique to obtain highly oriented thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystal (LC) phases using a simple nanoscratching method is presented. Highly aligned linear nanogrooves are fabricated by scratching substrates such as normal, indium tin oxide (ITO), curved glasses, and ITO-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film using diamond lapping films. To demonstrate the feasibility of the platform, typical thermotropic and lyotropic LC materials in the nematic phase are used to demonstrate the well-aligned domains along with the resulting scratched nanogrooves.

Grooving of nanoparticles using sublimable liquid crystal for transparent omniphobic surface.

Hierarchical assembly of nanoparticles (NPs) is of interest for omniphobic surfaces in the way that hierarchical scale roughness possibly provides effective liquid repellency and also it is relatively easy to build large-area coatings via the bottom-up assembly process. However, all NP assemblies often lacks mechanical robustness. Hence, the development of the effective fabrication method to make well-deposited hierarchical NPs assembly is demanded.

The relationship between normal serum uric acid and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) level and the presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We analyzed data of 9,019 Koreans who visited a health check up center. The SUA levels of all of these subjects were within the normal range.

Effects of the NADPH oxidase p22phox C242T polymorphism on endurance exercise performance and oxidative DNA damage in response to aerobic exercise training.

We examined the effects of the NADPH oxidase p22phox C242T polymorphism on endurance exercise performance and oxidative DNA damage in response to acute and chronic exercises. One hundred three subjects were recruited, among which 26 healthy subjects (CC: 12, TC: 12, and TT: 2) were studied during rest, exercise at 85% VO(2)max, and recovery before and after 8 weeks of tread-mill running. Lymphocyte DNA damage increased significantly in response to exercise (p < 0.

Fluid replacement following dehydration reduces oxidative stress during recovery.

To investigate the effects of hydration status on oxidative DNA damage and exercise performance, 10 subjects ran on a treadmill until exhaustion at 80% VO(2max) during four different trials [control (C), 3% dehydration (D), 3% dehydration+water (W) or 3% dehydration+sports drink (S)]. Dehydration significantly decreased exercise time to exhaustion (D View Article and Find Full Text PDF