Spontaneous symmetry breaking in polar fluids.

Spontaneous symmetry breaking and emergent polar order are each of fundamental importance to a range of scientific disciplines, as well as generating rich phase behaviour in liquid crystals (LCs). Here, we show the union of these phenomena to lead to two previously undiscovered polar liquid states of matter. Both phases have a lamellar structure with an inherent polar ordering of their constituent molecules. The first of these phases is characterised by polar order and a local tilted structure; the tilt direction processes about a helix orthogonal to the layer normal, the period of which is such that we observe selective reflection of light. The second new phase type is anti-ferroelectric, with the constituent molecules aligning orthogonally to the layer normal. This has led us to term the phases the Sm C P H and SmAAF phases, respectively. Further to this, we obtain room temperature ferroelectric nematic (NF) and Sm C P H phases via binary mixture formulation of the novel materials described here with a standard NF compound (DIO), with the resultant materials having melting points (and/or glass transitions) which are significantly below ambient temperature. The new soft matter phase types discovered herein can be considered as electrical analogues of topological structures of magnetic spins in hard matter.

Chemical constituents of the essential oils of Sideritis scardica Griseb. and Sideritis raeseri Boiss and Heldr. from Bulgaria and Macedonia.

The essential oils of two species of Sideritis growing spontaneously in Bulgaria and Macedonia are reported, Sideritis scardica and Sideritis raeseri. The oils of S. scardica from different locations differed significantly: in the Macedonian sample alpha-cadinol (20%) predominated, while in the oil of Bulgarian samples the main components were diterpenic compounds and octadecenol (over 20%). This is the first report of ditrpenoids in essential oil of S. scardica. The oil of S. raeseri demonstrated a distinct chemical profile with its high concentration of sesquiterpenes, main components being germacrone (25%) and elemol acetate (15.9%). The observed qualitative variability of the oil composition of S. scardica of different geographic origin could be a result of different ecologic conditions but might also reflect the well-known tendency of some Sideritis species to hybridize.

Our experience in the application of lipofilling.

Autologous fat grafting, referred to as lipofilling was described first by Neuber in 1893. It has been gaining great popularity recently due in particular to the intensive development of liposuction and the anatomical availability of various subcutaneous adipose tissue depots in the human body. In the present study we present our experience in autulogous fat grafting for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects as well as for face rejuvenation and body contouring. Between May 2003 and May 2005 we performed lipofilling surgery in 13 patients at the Department of Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery in St. George University Hospital, Plovdiv. The grafts were harvested by lipoaspiration and, after subsequent treatment, re-injected. Our results are still preliminary because of the short terms of patients' follow-up. The most common complications at the recipient site were partial resorption of the graft and cyst formation, and at the donor site--hematoma.