Planar refraction and lensing of highly confined polaritons in anisotropic media

Refraction between isotropic media is characterized by light bending towards the normal to the boundary when passing from a low- to a high-refractive-index medium. However, refraction between anisotropic media is a more exotic phenomenon which remains barely investigated, particularly at the nanoscale. Here, we visualize and comprehensively study the general case of refraction of electromagnetic waves between two strongly anisotropic (hyperbolic) media, and we do it with the use of nanoscale-confined polaritons in a natural medium: α-MoO3. The refracted polaritons exhibit non-intuitive directions of propagation as they traverse planar nanoprisms, enabling to unveil an exotic optical effect: bending-free refraction. Furthermore, we develop an in-plane refractive hyperlens, yielding foci as small as λp/6, being λp the polariton wavelength (λ0/50 compared to the wavelength of free-space light). Our results set the grounds for planar nano-optics in strongly anisotropic media, with potential for effective control of the flow of energy at the nanoscale.

Mobile Remote Presence Robots for Medical Consultation and Social Connectedness

We demonstrate that Mobile Remote Presence systems (MRP) aka telepresence robots can be successfully used in certain types of medical consultation such as consultation from a distance with residents of nursing homes. We argue that MRP afforded media richness also allows for supporting social connectedness during medically recommended isolation regimes similar to the ones that are implemented in residential care homes around the world during the SARS-CoVID-2 pandemic. Specifically, our research found that MRP are perceived as a more natural medium compared to typical telephones or videoconferencing via computers or tablets. MRP allow conversations to become more dynamic and engaging since remote participants are able to adjust their remote position and perspective during a conversation. Participants in our experiments reported they would be willing to engage even in difficult or emotional topics when using MRP however there are also certain types of situations that would still ask for face-to-face conversations.

Biomimetic carbohydrate recognition

Binding saccharides with non-covalent interactions is challenging, especially in the natural medium of water, but synthetic carbohydrate receptors can be surprisingly effective.

Dorothea or Jane? The Dilemmas of Early Feminist Criticism

I have never forgotten a comment made by a friend at the first feminist meeting, held in Bloomington Indiana, in the spring of 1969: “Nothing travels faster than an idea whose time has come.” We were amazed and thrilled to discover how much we had in common with other women, and how the women's movement in its early stages gave us permission to express in public a variety of extreme emotions. All of us at that meeting were young, untenured faculty and graduate students, and suddenly—or at least so it seemed—we could speak out against authority. And sometimes authority listened. We quickly turned to writing, our natural medium, for we realized that our academic work had an immediate resonance with our political ambitions. How rare and special this moment was for those of us who worked on the literature of dead authors!

Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan di Lingkungan Sekolah Sebagai Media Alami pada Materi Keanekaragaman Tumbuhan di SMA dan MA Kecamatan Montasik

Utilization of the learning environment in biology canprovidedirect learning experiences to the students by observing natural phenomena in accordance with the material being studied, which is expected to create the conditions that can develop students' interest and motivation to be active in the learning process. This study aims to fine out the students improvement and students learning activities by using plants in the school environment as a natural medium to the concept of plant diversity in SMA and MA at districts Montasik. The research was conducted at several SMA and MA at districts Montasik. The population and samples in this study was SMA and MA at districts Montasik. The data were collected by using test and observation. The hypothesis was tested by using t-test. The data obtained tcount was 16.94. ttable was 2.086, thus tcount ttable or 16.94  2.086. So Ho is rejected, while Ha is accepted. Showed that means the use of plants in the environment of the school as a natural medium on the material plant diversity can improve student learning outcomes. From the results of observation of students learning activity, it can be seen that the use of the school environment as a natural media can enhance students' learning activities.