Freely falling point-like objects converge toward the center of the Earth. Hence the gravitational field of the Earth is inhomogeneous, and possesses a tidal component. The free fall of an extended quantum mechanical object such as a hydrogen atom prepared in a high principal-quantum-number state, i.e. a circular Rydberg atom, is predicted to fall more slowly than a classical point-like object, when both objects are dropped from the same height above the Earth’s surface. This indicates that, apart from transitions between (...) quantum states, the atom exhibits a kind of quantum mechanical incompressibility during free fall in inhomogeneous, tidal gravitational fields like those of the Earth.A superconducting ring-like system with a persistent current circulating around it behaves like the circular Rydberg atom during free fall. Like the electronic wavefunction of the freely falling atom, the Cooper-pair wavefunction is quantum mechanically incompressible. The ions in the lattice of the superconductor, however, are not incompressible, since they do not possess a globally coherent quantum phase. The resulting difference during free fall in the response of the nonlocalizable Cooper pairs of electrons and the localizable ions to inhomogeneous gravitational fields is predicted to lead to a charge separation effect, which in turn leads to a large Coulomb force that opposes the convergence caused by the tidal gravitational force on the superconducting system.A “Cavendish-like” experiment is proposed for observing the charge separation effect induced by inhomogeneous gravitational fields in a superconducting circuit. The charge separation effect is determined to be limited by a pair-breaking process that occurs when low frequency gravitational perturbations are present. (shrink)

Appearing in the “Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam” as an undefined referent for the limits on freedom of expression in Islam, Shariah is still to be chased as an indefinable referent which restricts freedom of the expression in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran’s Press Law as well as Constitution unveil Shariah’s referent to be a person: the Jurist-Ruler around whom a cult of personality is legalized in terms of “Imamate” and around whom all the limits on freedom (...) of expression revolve. Interpretation of Shariah is not a solution but part of the problem in Iran. Such problem can be dealt in terms of three modes of self-expression which were invented by the Iranian Reformists to avoid self-censorship. The notion of master-signifier can be the key to unraveling the problem of self-referentiality in freedom of expression and its Reformist solution in Iran’s legal system. (shrink)

A hidden isospin variable is coupled to the spin of particles observed in an EPR experiment. For spin-1/2 it is shown that isospin i≥3/2 is sufficient to ensure a locally realistic spin distribution. For spin-1, examples of violation of the Mermin-Schwarz inequalities in the case of i=0 are shown satisfied with isospin. The general feature of a softening of quantum nonlocality with isospin is suggested, as well as applications to quantum physics at high energy.

In this paper Professor Calne pleads for a more informed approach to the problem of donor transplants, particularly in cases of kidney disease. He is concerned to inform both the medical profession and lay people. Establishing a computerized register of names and addresses of those who do not wish to have their organs used for transplantation after death would allow enquiries to be made immediately after death. The second point of emphasis is that death of the brain is the death (...) of the individual. A code of practice is suggested which should be followed in all transplantation centres and would allay the fears of the public and encourage the cooperation of doctors. (shrink)

Starting from simple topological arguments due to Dirac on the classical rotational properties of extended rigid bodies, we abstract the concept of a finite-size spinor (FSS). The FSS is a concept distinct from both point spinors (e.g., electrons) and composite spinors (e.g., nuclei), and suggests a new model for baryons. The FSS offers a natural explanation of “threeness” for the quarks, excludes the existence of free quarks, denies the operational definition of quark spin statistics, and, moreover, leads to the dual (...) model of hadronic interactions. (shrink)

The advance in Internet of Things technology has increased the opportunities for a healthcare system design, which is an urgent need owing to the growth in population among the older adults in many countries. This requires giving thought to the kind of innovative technological design methods that can find suitable solutions for home care. The application of Health Smart Homes by means of the technologies of the Internet of Things, can be used to support rehabilitation treatment and help the senior (...) citizens to understand the importance of taking measures to maintain a healthy standard of living that can meet their needs. The aim of this article is to develop and assess a design method for the following purposes: to determine and map out the physical and emotional state of the home care users, such as senior citizens; to implement a participatory design that includes the user within its social, psychological and therapeutic context; to explore the flexible method when applied to older users; to provide a way for the users to be “personalized” through a wide range of solutions that involve analyzing the behavioral patterns of different individuals in a standardized manner and to define a set of smart technologies for each problem and senior citizen. This article sets out a collaborative method called FlexPersonas, which is employed for the flexible mapping of users and to improve decision-making with the support of Internet of Things technologies. In this context, computing systems can identify the behavior of the user and issue warnings to the Carers about any abnormal event. Studies with an interdisciplinary team point out the potential and drawbacks of the method. (shrink)

Education is so strongly emphasized in the Chinese culture that academic success is widely regarded as the only indicator of success, while too much physical activity is often discouraged because it drains energy and affects academic concentration. This study investigated the relations among academic achievement, self?esteem, school conduct and physical activity level. The participants were 333 Chinese pre?adolescents (aged 8?12) in Hong Kong. Examination results and conduct grades were obtained from the school records. Global self?esteem was measured with the Physical (...) self?description questionnaire (PSDQ), while physical activity patterns of the children were assessed with the Physical activity questionnaire for children (PAQ?C). Results showed that high academic achievers consistently attained better school conduct marks. However, physical activity level was quite an independent entity that was related neither to academic achievement nor school conduct. Furthermore, regression analyses showed that only academically high?achieving boys and physically active boys had higher self?esteem. (shrink)

Ülkemizde 6 Şubat 2023 tarihinde 11 il ve ilçelerini kapsayan büyük bir deprem yaşanmıştır. Bu depremde bütün kamu kurumları ve Sivil Toplum Kuruluşları (STK) bölgeye destek olmak için seferber olmuştur. Bazı kamu kurum ve kuruluşları enkaz kaldırma, yaralılara tıbbi müdahale, çadır temini, kurulması, iaşe ve ibate vb. ihtiyaçların karşılanması için görev yaparken, bazıları da yaşanan depremin travmatik etkilerini azaltmaya yönelik manevi destek hizmetleri yürütmüşlerdir. Bir kamu kurumu olan Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı’na (DİB) bağlı İl ve İlçe Müftülükleri personeli, merkez teşkilatı ve (...) Diyanet Vakfı çalışanları da sahada görev yapmıştır. DİB personelinin deprem bölgesinde manevi danışman olarak hizmet vermesi, o tarihlerde, bazı kesimler tarafından eleştirilmiştir. DİB personelinin alanda yaptıklarının incelenmesi bu çalışmanın konusunudur. Çalışmanın amacı manevi danışman olarak hizmet veren DİB personelinin alanda neler yaptıklarını detaylarıyla belirlemek ve yapılanların manevi danışmanlık mesleğinin ilkelerine uygunluğunu literatür esas alınarak değerlendirmektir. Araştırma nitel araştırma desenlerinden, durum çalışmasıyla (Case Study) yapılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu Kırşehir il ve ilçe müftülüklerinde çalışan din görevlileri oluşturmaktadır. Bu çalışma grubunun seçiminde amaçlı örneklem yöntemi kullanılarak ölçüt örneklem tekniği ile veri toplanmıştır. Burada tercih edilen ölçüt, Kırşehir İl ve İlçe Müftülüklerinde görev yapmak ve depremde manevi danışman olarak, alanda çalışmış olmak şeklinde belirlenmiştir. Katılımcılarla yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yoluyla sorulan sorulardan elde edilen verilere, betimsel analiz uygulanmıştır. Mülakat soruları araştırma amacına uygun olarak ve literatür taraması esas alınarak araştırmacı tarafından oluşturulmuştur. Bu araştırma sonucunda elde edilen bulgular, DİB tarafından manevi danışmanlara düzenlenecek eğitim programlarının düzenlenmesinde veri oluşturması yönüyle önemlidir. Araştırma sonunda bulgular şöyle sınıflandırılmıştır: Psikolojik/manevi danışmanlık: Ziyaretlerde depremzedelerin ellerinin tutulması, kucaklama, duygusal refakat, çocukların başlarının okşanması vs. yakınlık hissi verilerek depremzedelerin rahatça konuşmalarına imkân oluşturmuşlardır. Bölgenin yapısından dolayı mezhepsel ayırım yapmadan bütün köylere gidip “Siz bizim kardeşimizsiniz, sizin için geldik, yalnız değilsiniz, acınızı paylaşıyoruz, geçmiş olsun” ifadeleri ile duygudaşlık hissi verilmiş ve yardım götürülmüştür. Dinî/manevi danışmanlık: Cenaze yıkamak, kefenlemek, cenaze namazı kıldırmak, çadır mescidinde vakit ve Cuma namazı kıldırmak, Kur’an okumak, dua ve sohbet etmek gibi faaliyetler yapılmıştır. Depremzedelerin yaşadıkları evler, çadır kentler, konteynerler ve köyler düzenli ziyaret edilerek hal ve hatırlarının sorulup, vatandaşın isteği üzerine dini törenler yapılmıştır. Destek hizmeti: Özellikle ilk giden görevliler yemek/su dağıtma, çadır kurma ve AFAD çalışmalarında kurtarma işlemine katılmışlardır. Diğer hizmetler: Depremzede esnafın kalkınması ve ekonomik destek için, esnaftan alış-veriş yapmışlar, nişanlı kızlara çeyiz ve üniversite öğrencilerine kitap yardımında bulunmuşlardır. (shrink)