Resonance polarization and phase-mismatched CARS of pheophytin b excited in the Qy band

Resonance polarization and phase-mismatched coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) measurements were performed on pheophytin b dissolved in acetone excited in the Qy absorption band, where strong broad fluorescence makes spontaneous Raman spectroscopy impossible. The phase-mismatching technique was applied to suppress solvent background and used in combination with the polarization-sensitive CARS technique to measure directly the x1111(3) and x1221(3) components to estimate depolarization ratios. The spectra were fitted by a non-linear least-squares procedure yielding vibrational band parameters. Some CARS dispersion information on the vibrational amplitudes was obtained by varying the pump wavelength. CARS excitation profiles based on transform theory were calculated and partly explain the observed amplitude dispersion. The application of the combined phase-mismatched polarization CARS technique may be useful in many other cases of highly fluorescing molecules when resonantly excited

Researching trust in Wikipedia

As the use of collaborative online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia grows, so does the need for research on how users evaluate its credibility. In this paper we compare three experimental approaches to study trust in Wikipedia, namely think aloud, eye-tracking, and online questionnaires. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed. We conclude that it is best to use multiple methods when researching information trust, as each single one of the discussed methods alone does not give all possible information

Spin motive forces and current fluctuations due to Brownian motion of domain walls

We compute the power spectrum of the noise in the current due to spin motive forces by a fluctuating domain wall. We find that the power spectrum of the noise in the current is colored, and depends on the Gilbert damping, the spin transfer torque parameter $\beta$, and the domain-wall pinning potential and magnetic anisotropy. We also determine the average current induced by the thermally-assisted motion of a domain wall that is driven by an external magnetic field. Our results suggest that measuring the power spectrum of the noise in the current in the presence of a domain wall may provide a new method for characterizing the current-to-domain-wall coupling in the system.Comment: Submitted to "Special issue: Caloritronics" in Solid State Communication

Tips for research recruitment: The views of sexual minority youth

Researchers often experience difficulties recruiting hard-to-reach populations. This is especially so for studies involving those who have been historically stigmatized, such as individuals who challenge heteronormative expectations or people who experience mental ill health. The authors aimed to obtain the views of sexual minority adolescents (n=25) about what encouraged their participation in a research project. The authors used a general inductive approach to analyze interview data. Feedback consisted of 2 main overarching themes: tips and suggestions for future research and appreciate participants’ motivation to get involved in research. Strategies for how recruitment can be optimized for studies involving sexual minority young people are discussed

Who is teaching the kids to cook? Results from a nationally representative survey of secondary school students in New Zealand

Learning how to cook is an important skill for developing healthy eating behaviors. Moreover, involvement in home cooking may offer young people opportunities for skill building, identity development and social engagement with their families. Recently, there have been concerns that the current generation of young people may not have the opportunities to develop sufficient cooking skills. These concerns have been addressed by the initiation of numerous, localized interventions. Yet, little is known about where the current generation of young people learn cooking skills. The objective of this study was to describe where the current generation of young people report learning to cook, drawing on nationally representative data from New Zealand. Data were collected as part of Youth2012, a nationally representative survey of secondary school students (n = 8500) in New Zealand. Almost all students reported learning to cook and from multiple sources. Almost all students reported learning to cook from a family member (mother, father, or other family member), approximately 60% of students reported that they learned to cook from certain media (cookbooks, TV, or the Internet) and half of all students reported learning to cook at school. There were numerous differences in where students learned to cook by socio-demographic characteristics. Findings from the current research highlight the important role that families play in teaching young people to cook and will be useful for those working with young people to develop these skills

Possibilities and limitations of off-resonance polarization sensitive cars of short chain proteins

Polarization sensitive CARS in the absence of resonance enhancement is applied to a short chain protein. The minimum concentration to record polarization sensitive CARS spectra of protein solutions is estimated to be 10 mg/ml. The effects limiting the protein concentration are discussed and regarded from an experimental point of view. Signal strength and line parameters of polarization sensitive CARS spectra of the short chain protein Lysyl-Tryptophyl-Lysine are compared with those of a normal Raman spectrum

Polarization-sensitive resonance CSRS of deoxy-and oxyhaemoglobin

Polarization-sensitive coherent Stokes Raman scattering (CSRS) measurements of oxy- and deoxyhaemoglobin in aqueous solutions are reported. The excitation wavelengths used were chosen in the region of the Q absorption bands to achieve twofold electronic resonance. The dispersion profiles of all independent susceptibility (3) components and purely anisotropic and anti-symmetric scattering contributions were resolved within the frequency non-degenerate CSRS scheme. Eight bands of oxyhaemoglobin and five bands of deoxyhaemoglobin were observed in the range 1500-1680 cm-1. Simultaneously fitting sets of polarization spectra provided vibrational parameters (positions, bandwidths, amplitudes, phases and CSRS depolarization ratios) for each compound. Major bands were assigned to the non-totally symmetric v10, v11 and v19 modes of the porphyrin macrocycle. The phases calculated exhibited a correlation with the symmetry of the vibrations. On the basis of the spectral fits, the three additional peaks arising in the oxyhaemoglobin spectra could be ascribed to the bands of intermediate deoxyhaemoglobin. The occurrence is due to the partial photolysis of oxyhaemoglobin. Vibrational parameters of these bands were found to be essentially similar to the parameters of the bands observed in the spectra of the stable deoxyhaemoglobin. Despite the asymmetric character predicted, the major bands were all contributed to by a considerable isotropic component. A decrease in the depolarization ratio PR1212 of the anomalously polarized v19 mode from 7.7 in oxyhaemoglobin to 4.3 in deoxyhaemoglobin was observed. Such a decrease in anti-symmetric character of the vibration on release of the ligand supports the occurrence of deformation of the haem ring system

Pilot testing a computerized CBT program in a remote Arctic region: Nunavut youth and youth workers reflect on SPARX

Background: Depression and suicidality amongst Inuit youth is one of the most significant health concerns in Nunavut (Canada), however access to mental health services remains limited (Kirmayer et al., 2000). It is thus crucial to explore innovative intervention modalities for this community. Evidence suggests that Computerized Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) may be effective for depressed adolescents and young adults (Andrews et al., 2010; Richardson, Stallard, and Velleman, 2010). SPARX is a form of cCBT that has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in indigenous youth of New Zealand (Merry et al., 2012; Shepherd et al., 2015). This presentation presents qualitative data derived from a recently completed pilot evaluation of SPARX in 25 remote Inuit communities in Nunavut. Method: Participants: A sub-sample of youth participants from the study (12 of a total of 49), who completed the SPARX program, and 8 community workers from Nunavut who had supervised the youth during their SPARX trial. Procedure: Participants completed phone-based focus group interviews about their experiences of SPARX; whether they would recommend the program to others and why they might do so; how they would describe the program to others; any changes they would like to see made to SPARX; and how the game could be rendered more culture-specific. Analysis: Thematic analysis was used to analyze focus group data (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Results: Feedback from youth who completed SPARX, and youth workers who supervised them, was overwhelmingly positive. Five themes were identified based on youth feedback: SPARX promotes emotional regulation; SPARX skills can be applied to daily life; SPARX should be recommended to peers; SPARX should be modified to be Inuit-specific; SPARX could be improved. Four further themes were identified based on youth worker feedback: Positive changes in youth who had completed SPARX; Need for access to SPARX for all youth; SPARX should be modified to be Inuit-specific; Systemic challenges encountered when administering SPARX should be addressed. Conclusion: SPARX is a novel computer-based program designed to foster resilience and protect against depression. SPARX is showing promise among some of Canada’s most vulnerable youth. There is currently a push for the provision of culturally-sensitive, accessible mental health services. Once culturally adapted, SPARX may be a useful tool for implementation in remote, often marginalized communities

A Lightweight Multilevel Markup Language for Connecting Software Requirements and Simulations

[Context] Simulation is a powerful tool to validate specified requirements especially for complex systems that constantly monitor and react to characteristics of their environment. The simulators for such systems are complex themselves as they simulate multiple actors with multiple interacting functions in a number of different scenarios. To validate requirements in such simulations, the requirements must be related to the simulation runs. [Problem] In practice, engineers are reluctant to state their requirements in terms of structured languages or models that would allow for a straightforward relation of requirements to simulation runs. Instead, the requirements are expressed as unstructured natural language text that is hard to assess in a set of complex simulation runs. Therefore, the feedback loop between requirements and simulation is very long or non-existent at all. [Principal idea] We aim to close the gap between requirements specifications and simulation by proposing a lightweight markup language for requirements. Our markup language provides a set of annotations on different levels that can be applied to natural language requirements. The annotations are mapped to simulation events. As a result, meaningful information from a set of simulation runs is shown directly in the requirements specification. [Contribution] Instead of forcing the engineer to write requirements in a specific way just for the purpose of relating them to a simulator, the markup language allows annotating the already specified requirements up to a level that is interesting for the engineer. We evaluate our approach by analyzing 8 original requirements of an automotive system in a set of 100 simulation runs

Animal-based measures: a step towards rights for farm animals?

While more than ever we are discussing animal rights and considering the possibility to extend the circle of our moral consideration, we are also more than ever inflicting suffering on more animals than in any time in history. This is especially the case for farm animals. This article aims to demonstrate that introducing animal-based measures into the legal system can be a practical and realistic step towards changing the familiar perspective of farm animals as mere commodities into the sentient beings they are. Currently, legislation on farm animals builds on what are called resource-based measures. These measures are not based on the animals but on their environment and the conditions in which the animals are living. They are very compatible with the legal system being relatively easy to assess, less subjective and highly repeatable. However, compliance with resource-based measures does not always mean good animal welfare, since these measures are generally considered to be less well correlated to the experiences of the animal. Animal-based measures, on the other hand, measure the state of the animal based on the actual animal, its behaviour (e.g. repetitive behaviour, human-animal relationship) and/or appearance (posture, facial expression, body condition). A change where laws on animals actually require looking at the animals has the potential to improve the relationship to the animals and is an essential shift towards farm animals being regarded as someone and not something. By acknowledging animals as whole sentient beings, we do not just see a complex system of "behaviours" (e.g. walking), but first and foremost we see a "behaver", a dynamic living being, whose movements are always meaningful and psychological expressive