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Tactile sensation is a powerful method for probing the temperature of an arbitrary object due to its intuitive operating mechanism. However, the disruptive interface commonly formed between the thermometer and the object gives rise to thermal contact resistance, which is the primary source of measurement inaccuracy. Here, we develop a bioinspired bimodal temperature sensor exhibiting robust measurement accuracy by precisely decoupling contact resistance from the associated thermal circuit. In our sensors, a micropatterned resistive thermometer is placed underneath a thermoelectric heat fluxmeter, which resembles thermoreceptors located in human biomembranes. The object temperature is probed by modulating the thermometer temperature within the sensor system and precisely extrapolating the zero-heat flux point of the Seebeck voltage developed across the fluxmeter. At this zero-heat flux point, the object and thermometer temperatures coincide with each other regardless of the contact resistance formed at the fluxmeter-object interface. An experimental study shows that our sensors display excellent measurement accuracy within ∼0.5 K over a wide range of contact resistance values. Our work opens up new avenues for highly sensitive tactile thermal sensation in thermal haptics, medical devices, and robotics if combined with flexible devices.

Intestinal organoids are emerging tools in intestinal disease modeling and regeneration. Matrigel, a basement membrane matrix extracted from mouse sarcoma, is the gold standard material for intestinal organoid culture. Yet, the tumor origin of this matrix does not effectively provide organoids with native intestine-like microenvironments. To overcome this limitation, we demonstrate a decellularized small intestine-derived hydrogel reinforced with three extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that are essential for intestinal development. To identify optimal conditions for intestinal organoid culture, we optimized the concentrations of the ECM hydrogel derived from decellularized intestine and three ECM proteins. The intestinal organoids grown in the established ECM hydrogels have shown similarity to those grown in Matrigel in terms of organoid forming efficiency, size, and gene expression patterns of intestine-specific markers. Our intestine-mimetic hydrogel could increase the feasibility of intestinal organoids for more clinically relevant applications in disease modeling and regenerative medicine.

Metals are canonical plasmonic media at infrared and optical wavelengths, allowing one to guide and manipulate light at the nanoscale. A special form of optical waveguiding is afforded by highly anisotropic crystals revealing the opposite signs of the dielectric functions along orthogonal directions. These media are classified as hyperbolic and include crystalline insulators, semiconductors, and artificial metamaterials. Layered anisotropic metals are also anticipated to support hyperbolic waveguiding. However, this behavior remains elusive, primarily because interband losses arrest the propagation of infrared modes. Here, we report on the observation of propagating hyperbolic waves in a prototypical layered nodal-line semimetal ZrSiSe. The observed waveguiding originates from polaritonic hybridization between near-infrared light and nodal-line plasmons. Unique nodal electronic structures simultaneously suppress interband loss and boost the plasmonic response, ultimately enabling the propagation of infrared modes through the bulk of the crystal.

Despite the proliferation of explainable AI (XAI) methods, little is understood about end-users' explainability needs and behaviors around XAI explanations. To address this gap and contribute to understanding how explainability can support human-AI interaction, we conducted a mixed-methods study with 20 end-users of a real-world AI application, the Merlin bird identification app, and inquired about their XAI needs, uses, and perceptions. We found that participants desire practically useful information that can improve their collaboration with the AI, more so than technical system details. Relatedly, participants intended to use XAI explanations for various purposes beyond understanding the AI's outputs: calibrating trust, improving their task skills, changing their behavior to supply better inputs to the AI, and giving constructive feedback to developers. Finally, among existing XAI approaches, participants preferred part-based explanations that resemble human reasoning and explanations. We discuss the implications of our findings and provide recommendations for future XAI design., CHI 2023

In this paper, a new robust computational method that applies the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) in conjunction with the ray tracing (RT) technique is developed to evaluate the electromagnetic scattering pattern due to a plane wave represented as beam of parallel rays incident on a rough surface of quite arbitrary statistical parameters. The development of the proposed technique is explained in detail taking into consideration the generation of the geometrical model of the rough surface. The Fresnel reflection model is applied under the assumption of arbitrary electrical and optical properties of the rough surface material. Also the polarization of the plane wave primarily incident on the rough surface is taken into consideration. The algorithm developed in the present work accounts for multiple bounces of an incident ray and, hence, it can be considered arbitrary higher-order GTD-RT technique. The accuracy of the obtained results is verified through the comparison with the experimental measurements of the scattering pattern of a light beam incident on rough sheets with specific statistical properties. The numerical results of the present work are concerned with investigating the dependence of the scattering pattern on the surface roughness, refractive index, angle of incidence, and the resolution of the geometric model of the rough surface. Also, it is shown that, for limited resolution of the rough surface model, the accuracy of the calculated scattered field depends on the angle of incidence of the primary beam and the surface roughness.

Poncirus trifoliata (P. trifoliata) fruits exert phytotherapeutic effects, depending on their maturity level. However, the mechanism by which these phytotherapeutic effects are exerted remains undefined - especially in cancers. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of the immature fruit extract of P. trifoliata on a B16 melanoma cell line.The effect of immature P. trifoliata extract on B16 cells was evaluated by MTT assay, cell proliferation, FACScan analysis of cell cycles, confocal imaging analysis, nuclear (Hoechst) staining, apoptosis assay (Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining), and Western blot assay. The capacity of immature P. trifoliata extract to inhibit the invasion and migration of B16 cells was assessed using the scratch-wound assay and Matrigel migration assay. The effect of immature P. trifoliata extract on mitochondrial function was determined via the mitochondrial membrane potential assay, activity, and fraction and cytosol proteins.Treating B16 cells with a methanol extract of immature P. trifoliata (MEPT) significantly inhibited cell viability, migration, and invasiveness in a dose- (p0.01) and time (p0.01)- dependent manner. MEPT arrested the cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and led to the activation of the PI3K/AKT/p21 pathway. Furthermore, MEPT dose-dependently induced apoptosis in B16 cells by increasing the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Apaf-1, while decreasing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. MEPT treatment also decreased mitochondrial membrane potential.Immature P. trifoliata extract inhibited the growth of melanoma cells by inducing cell apoptosis through mitochondrial pathways. Therefore, further research into immature P. trifoliata extract as a potential therapeutic compound for melanoma treatment is warranted.

Autorzy: Abe K., Adrich P., Aihara H., Akutsu, R., Alekseev I., Ali A. , Ameli F., Anghel I., Anthony L. H. V., Antonova M. , Araya A., Asaoka Y., Ashida Y., Aushev V., Ballester F., Bandac I., Barbi M., Barker G. J., Barr G., Batkiewicz-Kwasniak M., Bellato M., Berardi V., Bergevin M., Bernard L., Bernardini E., Berns L., Bhadra S., Bian J., Blanchet A., Blaszczyk F. d. M., Blonde A., Boiano A., Bolognesi S., Bonavera L., Booth N., Borjabad S., Boschi, T., Bose D., Boyd S . B., Bozza C., Bravar A., Bravo-Berguño D., Bronner C., Brown L., Bubak Arkadiusz, Buchowicz A., Buizza Avanzini M., Cafagna F. S., Calabria N. F., Calvo-Mozota J. M., Cao S., Cartwright S.L., Carroll A., Catanesi M. G., Cebriàn, S., Chabera M., Chakraborty, S., Checchia C., Choi J.H., Choubey S., Cicerchia M., Coleman J., Collazuol G., Cook L., Cowan G., Cuen-Rochin, S., Danilov M., Díaz López G., De la Fuente E., de Perio P., De Rosa G., Dealtry T., Densham C. J., Dergacheva A., Deshmukh N., Devi M. M., Di Lodovico F., Di Meo, P., Di Palma I., Doyle T. A., Drakopoulou E., Drapier O., Dumarchez J., Dunne P., Dziewiecki M., Eklund L., El Hedri S., Ellis J., Emery S., Esmaili A., Esteve R., Evangelisti A., Feely M., Fedotov S., Feng J., Fernandez P., Fernández-Martinez E., Ferrario P., Ferrazzi,B., Feusels T., Finch A., Finley C., Fiorentini A., Fiorillo G., Fitton M., Frankiewicz K., Friend M., Fujii Y., Fukuda Y., Galinski G., Gao J., Garde C., Garfagnini A., Garode S., Gialanella L., Giganti C., Gomez-Cadenas J.J., Gonin M., González-Nuevo J., Gorin A., Gornea R., Gousy-Leblanc V. Gramegna F. Grassi M. Grella G. Guigue M. Gumplinger P. Hadley D.R. Harada M., Hartfiel B., Hartz M., Hassani S., Hastings N.C., Hayato Y., Hernando-Morata J.A., Herrero V., Hill J., Hiraide K., Hirota S., Holin A., Horiuchi S., Hoshina K., Hultqvist K., Iacob F., Ichikawa A.K., Idrissi Ibnsalih W., Iijima T., Ikeda M., Inomoto M., Inoue K., Insler J., Ioannisian A., Ishida T., Ishidoshiro K., Ishino H., Ishitsuka M., Ito H., Ito S., Itow Y., Iwamoto K., Izmaylov A., Izumi N., Izumiyama S., Jakkapu M., Jamieson B., Jang H.I., Jang J.S., Jenkins S.J., Jeon S.H., Jiang M., Jo H.S., Jonsson P., Joo K.K., Kajita T., Kakuno H., Kameda J., Kano Y., Kalaczynski P., Karlen D., Kasperek J., Kataoka Y., Kato A., Katori T., Kazarian N., Kearns E., Khabibullin M., Khotjantsev A., Kikawa T., Kekic M., Kim J.H., Kim J.Y., Kim S.B., Kim S.Y., King S., Kinoshita T., Kisiel Jan, Klekotko A., Kobayashi T., Koch L., Koga M., Koerich L., Kolev N., Konaka A., Kormos L.L., Koshio Y., Korzenev A., Kotsar Y., Kouzakov K.A., Kowalik K.L., Kravchuk L., Kryukov A.P., Kudenko Y., Kumita T., Kurjata R., Kutter T., Kuze M., Kwak K., La Commara M., Labarga L., Lagoda J., Lamers James J., Lamoureux M., Laveder M., Lavitola L., Lawe M., Learned J.G., Lee J., Leitner R., Lezaun V., Lim I.T., Lindner T., Litchfield R.P., Long K.R., Longhin A., Loverre P., Lu X., Ludovici L., Maekawa Y., Magaletti L., Magar K., Mahn K., Makida Y., Malek M., Malinský M., Marchi T., Maret L., Mariani C., Marinelli A., Martens K., Marti L., Martin J.F. Martin D., Marzec J., Matsubara T., Matsumoto R., Matsuno S., Matusiak M., Mazzucato E., McCarthy M., McCauley N., McElwee J., McGrew C., Mefodiev A., Medhi A., Mehta P., Mellet L., Menjo H., Mermod P., Metelko C., Mezzetto M., Migenda J., Migliozzi P., Mijakowski P., Miki S., Miller E.W., Minakata H., Minamino A., Mine S., Mineev O., Mitra A., Miura M., Moharana R., Mollo C.M., Mondal T., Mongelli M., Monrabal F., Moon D.H., Moon C.S., Mora F.J., Moriyama S., Mueller Th.A., Munteanu L., Murase K., Nagao Y., Nakadaira T., Nakagiri K., Nakahata M., Nakai S., Nakajima Y., Nakamura K., Nakamura KI., Nakamura H., Nakano Y., Nakaya T., Nakayama S., Nakayoshi K., Nascimento Machado L., Naseby C.E.R., Navarro-Garcia B., Needham M., Nicholls T., Niewczas K., Nishimura Y., Noah E., Nova F., Nugent J.C., Nunokawa H., Obrebski W., Ochoa-Ricoux J.P., O’Connor E., Ogawa N., Ogitsu T., Ohta K., Okamoto K., O’Keeffe H.M., Okumura K., Onishchuk Y., Orozco-Luna F., Oshlianskyi A., Ospina N., Ostrowski M., O’Sullivan E., O’Sullivan L., Ovsiannikova T., Oyama Y., Ozaki H., Pac M.Y., Paganini P., Palladino V., Paolone V., Pari M., Parsa S., Pasternak J., Pastore C., Pastuszak G., Patel D.A., Pavin M., Payne D., Peña-Garay C., Pidcott C., Pinzon Guerra E., Playfer S., Pointon B.W., Popov A., Popov B., Porwit Kamil, Posiadala-Zezula M., Poutissou J.M., Pozimski J., Pronost G., Prouse N.W., Przewlocki P., Quilain B., Quiroga A.A., Radicioni E., Radics B., Rajda P.J., Renner J., Rescigno M., Retiere F., Ricciardi G., Riccio C., Richards B., Rondio E., Rose H.J., Roskovec B., Roth S., Rott C., Rountree S.D., Rubbia A., Ruggeri A.C., Ruggles C., Russo S., Rychter A., Ryu D., Sakashita K., Samani S., Sánchez F., Sánchez M.L., Sanchez M.C., Sano S., Santos J.D., Santucci G., Sarmah P., Sashima I., Sato K., Scott M., Seiya Y., Sekiguchi T., Sekiya H., Seo J.W., Seo S.H., Sgalaberna D., Shaikhiev A., Shan Z., Shaykina A., Shimizu I., Shin C.D., Shinoki M., Shiozawa M., Sinnis G., Skrobova N., Skwarczynski K., Smy M.B., Sobczyk J., Sobel H.W., Soler F. J. P., Sonoda Y., Spina R., Spisso B., Spradlin B., Stankevich K.L., Stawarz L., Stellacci S.M., Stopa K., Studenikin A.I., Suárez Gómez S.L., Suganuma T., Suvorov S., Suwa Y., Suzuki A.T., Suzuki S.Y., Suzuki Y., Svirida D., Svoboda R., Taani M., Tada M., Takeda A., Takemoto Y., Takenaka A., Taketa A., Takeuchi Y., Takhistov V., Tanaka H., Tanaka H.A., Tanaka H.I., Tanaka M., Tashiro T., Thiesse M., Thompson L.F., Toledo J., Tomatani-Sánchez A.K., Tortone G., Tsui K.M., Tsukamoto T., Tzanov M., Uchida Y., Vagins M.R., Valder S., Valentino V., Vasseur G., Vijayvargi A., Vilela C., Vinning W. G. S., Vivolo D., Vladisavljevic T., Vogelaar R.B., Vyalkov M.M., Wachala T., Walker J., Wark D., Wascko M.O., Wendell R.A., Wilkes R.J., Wilking M.J., Wilson M.R., Wronka S., Xia J., Xie Z., Xin T., Yamaguchi Y., Yamamoto K., Yanagisawa C., Yano T., Yen S., Yershov N., Yeum D.N., Yokoyama M., Yonenaga M., Yoo J., Yu I., Yu M., Zakrzewski T., Zaldivar B., Zalipska J., Zaremba K., Zarnecki G., Ziembicki M., Zietara K., Zito M., Zsoldos S., Core-collapse supernovae are among the most magnificent events in the observable universe. They produce many of the chemical elements necessary for life to exist and their remnants-neutron stars and black holes-are interesting astrophysical objects in their own right. However, despite millennia of observations and almost a century of astrophysical study, the explosion mechanism of core-collapse supernovae is not yet well understood. Hyper-Kamiokande is a next-generation neutrino detector that will be able to observe the neutrino flux from the next galactic core-collapse supernova in unprecedented detail. We focus on the first 500 ms of the neutrino burst, corresponding to the accretion phase, and use a newly-developed, high-precision supernova event generator to simulate Hyper-Kamiokandeʼs response to five different supernova models. We show that Hyper-Kamiokande will be able to distinguish between these models with high accuracy for a supernova at a distance of up to 100 kpc. Once the next galactic supernova happens, this ability will be a powerful tool for guiding simulations toward a precise reproduction of the explosion mechanism observed in nature.

Polaritons in hyperbolic van der Waals materials—where principal axes have permittivities of opposite signs—are light-matter modes with unique properties and promising applications. Isofrequency contours of hyperbolic polaritons may undergo topological transitions from open hyperbolas to closed ellipse-like curves, prompting an abrupt change in physical properties. Electronically-tunable topological transitions are especially desirable for future integrated technologies but have yet to be demonstrated. In this work, we present a doping-induced topological transition effected by plasmon-phonon hybridization in graphene/α-MoO3 heterostructures. Scanning near-field optical microscopy was used to image hybrid polaritons in graphene/α-MoO3. We demonstrate the topological transition and characterize hybrid modes, which can be tuned from surface waves to bulk waveguide modes, traversing an exceptional point arising from the anisotropic plasmon-phonon coupling. Graphene/α-MoO3 heterostructures offer the possibility to explore dynamical topological transitions and directional coupling that could inspire new nanophotonic and quantum devices.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of adding temozolomide (TMZ) to preoperative capecitabine (CAP)-based chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and validate OLARC patients with clinical stage II (cT3-4N0) or III (cTBetween November 2017 and July 2020, 64 patients were randomised. Slow accrual caused early study termination. After excluding four ineligible patients, 60 were included in the full analysis set. The pCR rate was 15.0% (9/60), 0%, 14.3%, 18.8% and 26.7% for the entire cohort, arms A, B, C and D, respectively (P = 0.0498 between arms A and D). The pCR rate was 9.7% in the CAP group (arms A + C), 20.7% in the TMZ + CAP group (arms B + D), 6.9% in the uMGMT group (arms A + B) and 22.6% in the mMGMT group (arms C + D). Grade 1-2 nausea or vomiting was significantly more frequent in the TMZ + CAP treatment groups (arms B + D) than in the CAP treatment groups (arms A + C, P0.001) with no difference in grade 3 adverse events. There were no grade 4 or 5 adverse events.The addition of TMZ to CAP-based chemoradiotherapy tended to improve pCR rates, particularly in those with mMGMT LARC. MGMT status may warrant further investigation as a predictive biomarker for chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy.

Individuals with social anxiety disorder (iSAD) experience adverse outcomes in daily life due to the disorder (e.g., lower educational and work achievement compared to their healthy counterparts). They are prone to social isolation, even though they desire intimate interpersonal relationships. Yet, little research on iSAD is devoted to understanding in detail a) when they interpret social situations as social-anxiety-provoking, b) how this interpretation motivates their assessments of their efficacy and likely interaction outcomes, and c) how they choose specific information-seeking strategies in uncertain social situations. Leveraging the theory of motivated information management (TMIM) and the emotional systems (ES) model, we explored the lived experiences of iSAD. We conducted in-depth interviews (N = 27) and analyzed them using thematic analysis. iSAD perceived discrepancies in a) mutual goals, b) common ground, and c) self-image as social-anxiety-provoking. These interpretations motivated their assessments of a) socializing benefits, b) communication competency, and c) interactant partner's amiability, which led to a mix of information-seeking decisions in social situations. Practical and theoretical implications for future research are discussed.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to assess the susceptibility to and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease (AIRD) and following AIRD drug use.\ud \ud MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included observational and case-controlled studies assessing susceptibility and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with AIRD as well as the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 with or without use of steroids and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs).\ud \ud RESULTS: Meta-analysis including three studies showed that patients with AIRD are not more susceptible to COVID-19 compared to patients without AIRD or the general population (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.58 to 2.14). Incidence of severe outcomes of COVID-19 (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 0.76 to 2.35) and COVID-19 related death (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.68 to 2.16) also did not show significant difference. The clinical outcomes of COVID-19 among AIRD patients with and without csDMARD or steroid showed that both use of steroid (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 0.96 to 2.98) or csDMARD (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 0.63 to 3.08) had no effect on clinical outcomes of COVID-19.\ud \ud CONCLUSIONS: AIRD does not increase susceptibility to COVID-19, not affecting the clinical outcome of COVID-19. Similarly, the use of steroids or csDMARDs for AIRD does not worsen the clinical outcome.

Despite extensive research on quasi-ballistic phonon transport, anomalous phonon transport is still observed in numerous nanostructures. Herein, we investigate the transport characteristics of two sets of samples: straight beams and nanoladders comprising two straight beams orthogonally connected with bridges. A combination of experiments and analysis with a Boltzmann transport model suggests that the boundary scattering within the bridges considerably dictates the distribution of phonon mean free paths, despite its negligible contribution to the net heat flux. Statistical analysis of those boundary scatterings shows that phonons with large axial angles are filtered into bridges, creating dead spaces in the line-of-sight channels. Such redistribution induces Lévy walk conduction along the line-of-sight channels, causing the remaining phonons within the bridges to exhibit Brownian motion. Phonon conduction in the nanoladders is suppressed below that of the straight beams with equivalent cross-sectional areas due to trapped phonons within the bridges. Our work reveals the origin of unusual thermal conductivity suppression at the nanoscale, suggesting a method to modulate phonon conduction via systematic nanostructuring.

The intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) is a useful technique for mandibular setback surgery. However, there is a tendency for lateral flaring of the proximal segments on the non-deviation side after the correction of mandibular asymmetry with this technique. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the positional changes of the proximal segments after IVRO setback in skeletal class III patients with asymmetry, using preoperative and postoperative computed tomography scan data, and to apply the results in clinical practice. A total of 28 skeletal class III patients with asymmetry who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery were included. A three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography scan was obtained preoperative, at 1month postoperative, and at 1year postoperative. At 1month after the surgery, the proximal segments showed an outward rotation, lateral flaring, and anterior rotation of the condylar head. All postsurgical directional changes had returned to the preoperative state at 1year postoperative, and there was no statistically significant difference in postoperative angulation changes between the two sides. The results showed no statistical differences in the positional changes of the proximal segments between the deviation and non-deviation sides. This study reaffirms the benefits of the IVRO for a minimal bony interference between the proximal and distal segments in three dimensions, including mandibular asymmetry cases.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) was related to a 1.28 times higher risk of osteoporosis. In addition, osteoporosis was associated with a 1.34 times higher risk of BPPV. This bidirectional relation was maintained after adjusting past medical histories and lifestyle factors, including obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the reciprocal association between BPPV and osteoporosis. In subgroup analyses, only women showed a reciprocal association between BPPV and osteoporosis. A previous population cohort study suggested an association between osteoporosis and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This study aimed to investigate the bidirectional association between BPPV and osteoporosis. The Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort data from 2002 to 2013 were used. In study I, the 50,897 osteoporosis patients were 1:1 matched with control I participants for age, sex, income, and region of residence. The previous histories of BPPV were analyzed in both groups using conditional logistic regression analysis. In study II, 9621 BPPV patients were 1:4 matched with control II participants. The previous histories of osteoporosis were analyzed in both groups using conditional logistic regression analysis. According to age and sex, subgroup analyses were achieved in both studies I and II. A total of 1.6% (822/50,897) of osteoporosis patients and 1.3% (644/50,897) of control I participants had BPPV. The osteoporosis patients demonstrated a 1.28 times higher chance of developing BPPV (95% confidence intervals [95% CI] = 1.16–1.42, P < 0.001). In study II, 21.2% (2040/9621) of BPPV patients and 17.6% (6790/38,484) of control II participants had osteoporosis. The BPPV patients showed 1.34 times higher chance of having osteoporosis (95% CI = 1.26–1.43, P < 0.001). In the analysis of the women subgroup, these relations were reliable. Osteoporosis patients had increased odds of having BPPV. On the other hand, BPPV patients had increased odds of having osteoporosis. This bidirectional relation was consistent only in the women subgroup.

The Reactor Experiment for Neutrino Oscillation (RENO) experiment has been taking data using two identical liquid scintillator detectors of 44.5 tons since August 2011. The experiment has observed the disappearance of reactor neutrinos in their interactions with free protons, followed by neutron capture on hydrogen. Based on 1500 live days of data taken with 16.8 GW$_{th}$ reactors at the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in Korea, the near (far) detector observes 567690 (90747) electron antineutrino candidate events with a delayed neutron capture on hydrogen. This provides an independent measurement of $\theta_{13}$ and a consistency check on the validity of the result from n-Gd data. Furthermore, it provides an important cross-check on the systematic uncertainties of the n-Gd measurement. Based on a rate-only analysis, we obtain sin$^{2}$2$\theta _{13}$= 0.087 $\pm$ 0.008 (stat.) $\pm$ 0.014 (syst.)., Comment: 26 pages, 19 figures, 6 tables

We visualized negative refraction of phonon polaritons, which occurs at the interface between two natural crystals. The polaritons—hybrids of infrared photons and lattice vibrations—form collimated rays that display negative refraction when passing through a planar interface between the two hyperbolic van der Waals materials: molybdenum oxide (MoO 3 ) and isotopically pure hexagonal boron nitride (h 11 BN). At a special frequency ω 0 , these rays can circulate along closed diamond-shaped trajectories. We have shown that polariton eigenmodes display regions of both positive and negative dispersion interrupted by multiple gaps that result from polaritonic-level repulsion and strong coupling.