We demonstrate experimentally that the energy from a highly localized free-electron-beam excitation can be converted via a planar plasmonic metamaterial to a low-divergence free-space light beam. ...This emission, which emanates from a collectively oscillating coupled metamolecule nanoantenna ensemble much larger in size than the initial excitation, is distinctly different from cathodoluminescence and bears some similarity with laser light. It offers a novel, flexible paradigm for the development of scalable, threshold-free light sources.
New limits are presented on the cross section for weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) nucleon scattering in the KIMS CsI(Tℓ) detector array at the Yangyang Underground Laboratory. The exposure ...used for these results is 24 524.3 kg·days. Nuclei recoiling from WIMP interactions are identified by a pulse shape discrimination method. A low energy background due to alpha emitters on the crystal surfaces is identified and taken into account in the analysis. The detected numbers of nuclear recoils are consistent with zero and 90% confidence level upper limits on the WIMP interaction rates are set for electron equivalent energies from 3 to 11 keV. The 90% upper limit of the nuclear recoil event rate for 3.6-5.8 keV corresponding to 2-4 keV in NaI(Tℓ) is 0.0098 counts/kg/keV/day, which is below the annual modulation amplitude reported by DAMA. This is incompatible with interpretations that enhance the modulation amplitude such as inelastic dark matter models. We establish the most stringent cross section limits on spin-dependent WIMP-proton elastic scattering for the WIMP masses greater than 20 GeV/c2.
The Korea Invisible Mass Search (KIMS) collaboration has developed low-background NaI(Tl) crystals that are suitable for the direct detection of WIMP dark matter. Building on experience accumulated ...during the KIMS-CsI programs, the KIMS-NaI experiment will consist of a 200 kg NaI(Tl) crystal array surrounded by layers of shielding structures and will be operated at the Yangyang underground laboratory. The goal is to provide an unambiguous test of the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation signature. Measurements of six prototype crystals show progress in the reduction of internal contamination from radioisotopes. Based on our understanding of these measurements, we expect to achieve a background level in the final detector configuration that is less than 1 count/day/keV/kg for recoil energies around 2 keV. The annual modulation sensitivity for the KIMS-NaI experiment shows that an unambiguous 7
σ
test of the DAMA/LIBRA signature would be possible with a 600 kg year exposure with this system.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The Korea Invisible Mass Search (KIMS) experiment presents new limits on the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP)-nucleon cross section using data from an exposure of 3409 kg.d taken with ...low-background CsI(Tl) crystals at the Yangyang Underground Laboratory. The most stringent limit on the spin-dependent interaction for a pure proton case is obtained. The DAMA signal region for both spin-independent and spin-dependent interactions for the WIMP masses greater than 20 GeV/c2 is excluded by the single experiment with crystal scintillators.
Objectives
Quality of life studies in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) have traditionally relied upon clinician‐designed survey instruments. This study's objective is to report quality of ...life outcomes from a patient‐designed questionnaire.
Methods
Patients who provided health information and completed a quality of life questionnaire were identified from the RRPF‐CoRDS patient registry. Demographic, clinical, and quality of life measures were collected. Means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous data, and frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical data. Outcomes for patients with juvenile‐onset RRP (JORRP) and adult‐onset RRP (AORRP) were compared using Student's t‐tests for continuous data and χ2 analyses for categorical data.
Results
Seventy‐three patients with RRP were identified (JORRP: 32; AORRP: 41). Common clinical symptoms included raspy voice (78.1%) and dyspnea (61.6%). The majority (97.3%) of patients reported feeling debilitated by their diagnosis, and 94.5% of patients reported avoiding participation in career and/or social activities due to their voice quality. Due to their RRP, 65.7% reported missing at least five work days each month. Social anxiety was reported in 79.5% of patients, though only 28.8% of the cohort reported utilizing mental health services. The median (range) lifetime number of surgeries received was 20 (1 ‐ 300). Most patients (57.5%) reported paying at least 5% of their annual income towards RRP‐related medical care.
Conclusion
RRP presents high mental and fiscal burden. Our results highlight data from a quality of life questionnaire designed by RRP patients, and may help to elucidate potential disconnects between what clinicians and RRP patients consider most impactful.
Level of Evidence
4 Laryngoscope, 133:1919–1926, 2023
Quality of life outcomes for patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis have traditionally been derived from clinician‐designed survey instruments. In this manuscript, we are the first to describe quality of life data from a questionnaire designed by patients and other stakeholders of the Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Foundation. The results of our study highlight the significant medical, mental, and fiscal burden faced by patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
This study reviews empirical research articles published in the field of technology‐enhanced learning in the out‐of‐class contexts in primary schools between the years 2007 and 2016 and explores how ...the body of research has connected formal and informal learning experiences, referred to in the paper as bridging the gap. The review focuses on 43 selected experiments from 41 research papers, which are in detail examined and classified using the 3 criteria: (a) the Bloom's taxonomy for learning, (b) the intentionality to physical settings classification used to differentiate types of learning in various environments, and (c) the characteristics of seamless learning design. The findings confirm that technology can enhance learning in and out of classroom, especially by impacting student interest, motivation, and engagement. The close examination of the subset of studies with cognitive gains shows that they successfully bridged the gap between learning spaces and that such bridging positively correlates with the number of steps in the learning activity design. The successful bridging of the gap between learning spaces could further benefit from including more online social learning activities into the designed learning process and from involving teachers as cocreators of the learning process and resources.
Lay Description
What is already known about this topic?
Learning is a continuous process that occurs in and out of the classroom.
Out‐of‐class learning is the dominant way of knowledge building with up to 80% of learning occurring out of the formal learning environment.
Technology integration into the learning process can improve students' academic performance.
Bridging of learning between formal and informal contexts refers to strengthening the ties between in‐class learning and (formal or informal) learning happening in the out‐of‐class contexts.
What this paper adds?
This review paper selects cutting‐edge studies that use technology to enhance learning in and out of classroom, especially by improving interest, motivation, and engagement.
Bridging of learning in different contexts could be achieved by and could benefit from activities such as online social learning and simple collaboration or cooperation.
Bridging of learning in different contexts can be further enhanced by involving teachers in the learning environment design process.
Implications for practice and/or policy:
Technology‐enhanced learning activities have positive effect in cognitive and affective domains.
Efforts should be made by learning lessons designers to enhance bridging of learning activities through different contexts, in order to improve the amount of acquired knowledge.
Teachers/practitioners should be included in the learning lessons design process, to further improve the knowledge acquisition and to obtain better learning results.
Aims: Lactobacilli are widely distributed in food and the environment, and some colonize the human body as commensal bacteria. The aim of this study was to determine the species of lactobacilli that ...colonize the vagina and compare them with those found in food and the environment.
Methods and Results: Thirty‐five Lactobacillus strains from women from seven countries were isolated, and sequences from 16S rRNA genes were determined and compared with existing data in GenBank. A phylogenetic tree was achieved using the Neighbour‐Joining method based on the analysis of 1465 nucleotides. The results showed that most vaginal isolates were L. crispatus, L. jensenii and L. gasseri. Some were L. vaginalis, L. fermentum, L. mucosae, L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus. Two isolates from a native American woman displayed distinct branches, indicating novel phylotypes. Few vaginal isolates matched food or environmental Lactobacillus species.
Conclusions: Most women worldwide were colonized by three common Lactobacillus species: L. crispatus, L. jensenii and L. gasseri.
Significance and Impact of Study: Knowledge of vaginal Lactobacillus species richness and distribution in women worldwide may lead to the design of better probiotic products as bacterial replacement therapy.
In this retrospective study, we investigate the frequency and types of psychiatric disorders and their relationship to systemic manifestations in a cohort of 391 Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) and ...hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) patients based on the current 2017 International Classification of EDS diagnostic criteria. A detailed, systematic retrospective chart review was undertaken for patients assessed for HSD or EDS at two Canadian health centres. Patients were diagnosed according to the Villefranche criteria and reclassified for this study according to the 2017 International Classification of EDS. Data validation and statistical analyses were conducted. Psychiatric disorders were very common, with 49.4% of the total cohort affected; 28.9% reported multiple psychiatric diagnoses. Mood (34.5%) and somatoform (28.6%) disorders were most common. Interestingly, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was significantly enriched in the HSD, but not EDS cohort (
p
= 0.0002, 95% CI 3.48–9.00) compared to the general population. There were no differences in the systemic associations with having psychiatric manifestations in the HSD compared to the EDS subsets. Muscle/body pain (OR 1.99) and gastrointestinal dysfunction (OR 2.07) were significantly associated with having mood disorders, and gastrointestinal dysfunction (OR 2.61) and nerve-related pain (OR 3.27) were associated with having somatoform disorders across the cohort. The common systemic associations with the presence of psychiatric manifestations in both HSD and EDS reaffirm that the conditions should be treated as a spectrum rather than as wholly separate entities, particularly with respect to psychiatric management. EDS and HSD patients share common psychiatric presentations, though ADHD is more common with HSD.
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