High-power single-frequency operation, at 1064nm and 1061.4nm of a Nd:YAG ring laser end-pumped by a beam-shaped diode bar

A Nd:YAG laser having a ring configuration, with Faraday rotator to provide unidirectional operation has been end-pumped by a single 20 W diode bar equipped with a beam-shaper. A single-frequency TEMoo output of 5.4 W is achieved at 1064 nm. Using a thin intracavity etalon for wavelength selection, a single-frequency output of 4.2 W is obtained on the 1061.4 nm transition

Synthesis and use of a stable aminal derived from TsDPEN in asymmetric organocatalysis

A stable aminal formed stereoselectively from (R,R)-N-tosyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenediamine (TsDPEN) is capable of asymmetric organocatalysis of Diels-Alder and alpha-amination reactions of aldehydes

3 W of single-frequency output at 532 nm by intracavity frequency doubling of a diode-bar-pumped Nd:YAG ring laser 3 W of single-frequency output at 532 nm by intracavity frequency doubling of a diode-bar-pumped Nd:YAG ring laser

A beam-shaped 20W diode-bar has longitudinally pumped a Nd:YAG laser in a ring configuration. Unidirectional single-frequency operation is enforced by a Faraday rotator. Intracavity frequency doubling, using a KTP crystal has produced 3W of stable, single-frequency TEMoo output at 532nm

Risk across design domains

Design processes involve risk: to life and limb if the product is unsafe, to the financial health of the company if the product is late, unsuccessful or simply the wrong product, as well as to the emotions and careers of the designers. Many of the risks are shared universally by all designers, but each different industry and each different project faces its own spectrum of serious and minor risks. Different industries have put their methodological effort into finding ways to mitigate the risks they recognise as important. As part of the Across Design project exploring similarities and differences between design processes in different industries, this paper examines how risks are perceived and handled in different types of design process, and proposes that designers and managers can usefully look to other industries for ways to handle risks that are more central for those other industries

Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment

Background Treatment of cancer is increasingly effective but is associated with short and long term side effects. Oral and gastrointestinal side effects, including oral candidiasis, remain a major source of illness despite the use of a variety of agents to treat them. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of interventions for the treatment of oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both. Search strategy Computerised searches of Cochrane Oral Health Group and PaPaS Trials Registers (to 1 June 2010), CENTRAL via the Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2010, 1 June 2010), MEDLINE via OVID (1 June 2010), EMBASE via OVID (1 June 2010), CINAHL via EBSCO (1 June 2010), CANCERLIT via PubMed (1 June 2010), OpenSIGLE (1 June 2010) and LILACS via Virtual Health Library (1 June 2010) were undertaken. Reference lists fromrelevant articles were searched and the authors of eligible trials were contacted to identify trials and obtain additional information. Selection criteria All randomised controlled trials comparing agents prescribed to treat oral candidiasis in people receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer. The outcomes were eradication of oral candidiasis, dysphagia, systemic infection, amount of analgesia, length of hospitalisation, cost and patient quality of life. Data collection and analysis Data were independently extracted, in duplicate, by two review authors. Trial authors were contacted for details of randomisation and withdrawals and a quality assessment was carried out. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated using fixed-effect models. Main results Ten trials involving 940 patients, satisfied the inclusion criteria and are included in this review. Drugs absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were beneficial in eradication of oral candidiasis compared with drugs not absorbed from the GI tract (three trials: RR = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09 to 1.52), however there was significant heterogeneity. A drug absorbed from the GI tract, ketoconazole, wasmore beneficial than placebo in eradicating oral candidiasis (one trial: RR = 3.61, 95% CI 1.47 to 8.88). Clotrimazole, at a higher dose of 50 mg was more effective than a lower 10 mg dose in eradicating oral candidiasis, when assessed mycologically (one trial: RR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.60). Only one of the ten trials was assessed as at low risk of bias. Authors' conclusions There is insufficient evidence to claimor refute a benefit for any antifungal agent in treating candidiasis. Further well designed, placebo-controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of old and new interventions for treating oral candidiasis are needed. Clinicians need to make a decision on whether to prevent or treat oral candidiasis in patients receiving treatment for cancer. This review is published as a Cochrane Review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 7. Cochrane Reviews are regularly updated as new evidence emerges and in response to comments and criticisms, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews should be consulted for the most recent version of the Review.</p

High-power single-frequency operation and efficient intracavity frequency doubling of a Nd:YAG ring laser, end-pumped by a 20W diode bar

The re-shaped output from a 20W cw diode-bar is used to longitudinally pump a Nd:YAG ring laser, resulting in a single-frequency output at 1.06µm of 5W and an intracavity frequency-doubled output at 532nm of 3W

Shared Assessment: a Strategy for Managing Multidisciplinary Projects

Assessment-centered is the new black, apparently, if you believe recent research literature (eg. Boud & Associates, 2010) – but multi-disciplinary student assessments in multimedia are already challenging to assess. Naturally the more complex the project the more challenging it is for those administering the assessments, and in multi-unit settings (rather than end-of-course ‘capstone’ units) the complexity can be extreme. The consequential staff overload is insufficiently addressed even if the results are worth it. Shared assessments start with one large situated project and ask multiple staff running multiple units to collaborate whilst designing their assessments, all based around student teams ‘solving’ that project. This on-going research has developed criteria for better supporting staff in complex multidisciplinary projects in multimedia. After two years of iterations we thought to share the draft criteria, the positive results and the challenges through this paper and use feedback to better prepare for future iterations

Managing Multidisciplinary Student Design Teams

The management of multidisciplinary student teams is a challenge. In this paper we describe our experience in running a shared assessment across several units. Four multidisciplinary teams were formed, and success was mixed, with one team splitting into two along discipline lines and all experiencing communication issues. The main management challenges that arose were based around difficulty in communication and the understanding of the other disciplines requirements. We outline the process we used to construct the shared assessment, and provide some insight in how the student groups dealt with issues that arose