Positronium in intense laser fields

The dynamics and radiation of positronium is investigated in intense laser fields.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure

Is Loss a Laughing Matter?: A Study of Humor Reactions and Benign Violation Theory in the Context of Grief.

Death is not commonly considered a humorous topic; however, bereaved individuals often joke about their loss. The jokes grievers tell while grieving have been overlooked within research, resulting in a limited understanding of how this communication impacts those hearing it. This research sought to eliminate that gap by building an understanding of the interpersonal effects of grief-based humor through the lens of Benign Violation Theory. Twenty-two individuals participated in semi-structured interviews that revolved around whether humor could be found in grief and how this humor affected their relationship with the bereaved. The interviews identified that when a bereaved individual uses tenets Benign Violations (such as alternative meanings to a joke’s subject matter) humor can be found within jokes about loss. Further, the participants primarily felt closer to the bereaved individual through an increase of trust and value within their relationship and newfound ease of communication surrounding the loss

The public's acceptance of novel vaccines during a pandemic: a focus group study and its application to influenza H1N1

As influenza H1N1 spreads around the world, health officials are considering the development and use of a new vaccine to protect the public and help control the outbreak. Acceptance of novel vaccines during health crises, however, is influenced by perceptions of a range of risks, including the risk of infection, risk of becoming severely ill or dying if infected, as well as the risk of serious side and long-term effects of the vaccine. A study on 11 focus groups was conducted with the public in Vancouver, Canada in 2006 and 2007 to explore how people assess these risks and how these assessments relate to their willingness to use novel vaccines in a pandemic. Concerns about using new vaccines during a pandemic differ from concerns about using established products in a non-crisis situation. Participants were hesitant to use novel vaccines because of a low perception of the early risk of infection in a pandemic, coupled with the many uncertainties that surround new vaccines and the emerging infectious disease, and owing to the concern that unsafe pharmaceuticals may be rushed to market during a health crisis. Understanding the public´s assessment of the risks related to, and willingness to use, novel vaccines during a pandemic can help officials promote disease-control measures in ways that improve the likelihood of acceptance by the public and may increase uptake of an H1N1 vaccine

Sequential epiretinal membrane removal with internal limiting membrane peeling in brilliant blue G-assisted macular surgery

Purpose To assess the selectivity of brilliant blue G (BBG) staining by analysing the morphological components of unstained and stained tissue obtained during epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in BBG-assisted macular surgery. Methods Twenty-six surgical specimens were removed from 13 eyes with epiretinal gliosis during vitrectomy using BBG for ERM and ILM peeling. We included eyes with idiopathic macular pucker, idiopathic macular hole and vitreomacular traction syndrome. The dye was injected into the fluid-filled globe. Unstained and stained epiretinal tissue was harvested consecutively and placed into separate containers. All specimens were processed for conventional transmission electron microscopy. Results The first surgical specimen of all eyes showed no intraoperative staining with BBG and corresponded to masses of cells and collagen. The second surgical specimen demonstrated good staining characteristics and corresponded to the ILM in all patients included. In seven eyes, the ILM specimens were seen with minor cell proliferations such as single cells or a monolayer of cells. Myofibroblasts, fibroblasts and astrocytes were present. In five cases, native vitreous collagen fibrils were found at the ILM. In six of the eyes, ILM specimens were blank. Conclusion Our clinicopathological correlation underlines the selective staining properties of BBG. The residual ILM is selectively stained by BBG even when a small amount of cells and collagen adheres to its vitreal side. To reduce the retinal exposure to the dye, the surgeon might choose to remove the ERM without using the dye, followed by a BBG injection to identify residual ILM

Identifying Predictors of Diagnostic Instability of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Global Developmental Delay In Toddlers

Although Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered to be a lifelong condition, some toddlers experience diagnostic instability over time. In particular, some toddlers’ diagnosis changes between ASD and Global Developmental Delay (GDD). However, little is known about the subset of children who change diagnosis. In a total of 424 toddlers who either maintained or changed diagnosis, the current study identified predictors of change in diagnosis and severity in those who change from ASD to non-ASD (ASD-NON), ASD to GDD (ASD-GDD), non-ASD to ASD (NON-ASD), and GDD to ASD (GDD-ASD) between two years old and four years old. Initial ASD symptom severity and participation in intervention services were predictive of all transitions. Additionally, receptive language predicted ASD-NON transition and socioeconomic status predicted ASD-GDD transition. Implications for informing prognosis of children, identifying targets of intervention, refining of screening and diagnostic measures, and measuring change in severity regardless of categorical change are discussed

Exchange bias and interface electronic structure in Ni/Co3O4(011)

A detailed study of the exchange bias effect and the interfacial electronic structure in Ni/Co3O4(011) is reported. Large exchange anisotropies are observed at low temperatures, and the exchange bias effect persists to temperatures well above the Neel temperature of bulk Co3O4, of about 40 K: to ~80 K for Ni films deposited on well ordered oxide surfaces, and ~150 K for Ni films deposited on rougher Co3O4 surfaces. Photoelectron spectroscopy measurements as a function of Ni thickness show that Co reduction and Ni oxidation occur over an extended interfacial region. We conclude that the exchange bias observed in Ni/Co3O4, and in similar ferromagnetic metallic/Co3O4 systems, is not intrinsic to Co3O4 but rather due to the formation of CoO at the interface.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review B