Non-standard Dirac adjoint spinor: The emergence of a new dual

In this present communication we provide a new derivation of the Dirac dual structure by employing a different approach from the originally proposed. Following a general and rigorous mathematical process to compute the dual structure, we investigate if is possible to break the existing "rigidity" in its primordial formulation. For this task, firstly, we look towards to understand the core of the Dirac spinors construction and then, we suggest to built an alternative dual structure for the Dirac spinor, which preserve an invariant norm under any $SL(2,\mathcal{C})$ transformation. Finally, we verify if the prominent physical contents are maintained or if it is affected by such construction.Comment: 7 pages, 0 figure

Cultivating Well-Being in English as a Second Language: Teaching Stress Reduction Techniques in the Adult ESL Classroom

Adult immigrant and refugee speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL) including California community college students may suffer trauma and stressors that can lead to negative mental health outcomes during the stages of migration, yet underutilize mental health services owing to cultural stigma, structural barriers, and a lack of English language proficiency. In addition, ESL speakers may also suffer from language anxiety evoked by speaking the less-developed language in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom during interactions with the majority language community. Both forms of anxiety share symptoms including tense muscles, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, sweaty palms, and an inability to focus. While ESL teachers may not feel equipped with mental health resources to support their students, stress reduction techniques including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and progressive muscle relaxation have been taught to health studies undergraduate and graduate students with self-reported positive impacts. The project is a website for ESL teachers and students that presents these stress reduction techniques with the aim of teaching self-care while de-stigmatizing mental health issues, and it is informed by the Affective Filter hypothesis and the Input hypothesis of Stephen Krashen’s theory of second language acquisition. The website is designed with scripts and recordings geared to adult ESL students, vocabulary, and a self-care plan with activities that support multiple intelligences as well as learning styles in order for adult immigrant and refugee students to attend to the psychological health of themselves and their families

Diagnostic Accuracy of Tele-ophthalmology for Diabetic Retinopathy Assessment: A Meta-analysis and Economic Analysis

Tele-ophthalmology is a screening alternative that facilitates compliance to eye care guidelines regardless of geographic constraints, promoting adequate delivery of health services to underserved communities. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic performance of tele-ophthalmology (TO) programs for the detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and used decision-tree modeling to explore its cost-effectiveness compared to in-person examination in a semi-urban scenario. From the 1,060 articles initially identified, 23 met inclusion criteria for data extraction. The diagnostic performance of TO for the detection of any DR and referable DR met the minimum diagnostic criteria by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (sensitivity \u3e80%, specificity \u3e90%). Interpretation of clinical significance is limited due to significant heterogeneity. Considering a semi-urban scenario, the incremental cost per additional case of any DR detected after the introduction of pharmacy-based TO was $314.1, being more costly and more effective than in-person examination

Questing for Algebraic Mass Dimension One Spinor Fields

This work deals with new classes of spinors of mass dimension one in Minkowski spacetime. In order to accomplish it, the Lounesto classification scheme and the inversion theorem are going to be used. The algebraic framework shall be revisited by explicating the central point performed by the Fierz aggregate. Then the spinor classification is generalized in order to encompass the new mass dimension one spinors. The spinor operator is shown to play a prominent role to engender the new mass dimension one spinors, accordingly.Comment: 7 pages, final version to appear in Eur. Phys. J.

Type-4 spinors: transmuting from Elko to single-helicity spinors

In this communication we briefly report an unexpected theoretical discovery which emerge from the mapping of Elko mass-dimension-one spinors into single helicity spinors. Such procedure unveils a class of spinor which is classified as type-4 spinor field within Lounesto classification. In this paper we explore the underlying physical and mathematical contents of the type-4 spinor.Comment: 9 pages, 0 figure