Cosmochthonius zanini sp. n. (Acari, Oribatida, Cosmochthoniidae) from the Eastern Mediterranea

Cosmochthonius zanini Penttinen et Gordeeva sp. n. from the southern Coast of Crimea (Ukraine), Rhodes (Greece) and Turkey is described. It belongs to the reticulates foliatus group of species with thick cerotegument, but differs from other species by widened notogastral setae c and d, and comparatively long setae cp. Specimens from Turkey and Greece differ from the Crimean ones by longer secondary seta on setae f1 and f2. The description has been illustrated by SEM micrographs. The type material is deposited in the Zoological Museum of the University of Turku.Описан Cosmochthonius zanini Penttinen et Gordeeva sp. n. с южного берега Крыма (Украина), о. Родос (Греция) и Турции. Он относится к группе видов reticulates foliatus, имеющих толстый церотегумент, отличаясь от других видов рода расширенными хетами c и d и сравнительно длинными хетами cp. Экземпляры из Турции и Греции отличаются от крымских более длинными вторичными щетинками на хетах f1 и f2. Описание иллюстрировано микрофотографиями, сделанными с помощью сканирующего электронного микроскопа. Типовой материал хранится в Зоологическом музее Университета г. Турку (Финляндия)

1.4 µm continuous-wave diamond Raman laser

The longest wavelength (~1.4 µm) emitted by a diamond Raman laser pumped by a semiconductor disk laser (SDL) is reported. The output power of the intracavity-pumped Raman laser reached a maximum of 2.3 W with an optical conversion efficiency of 3.4% with respect to the absorbed diode pump power. Narrow Stokes emission (FWHM 40 nm was achieved via rotation of an intracavity birefringent filter that tuned the SDL oscillation wavelength

InGaAs-QW VECSEL emitting >1300nm via intracavity Raman conversion

We report intracavity Raman conversion of a long-wavelength InGaAs-QW VECSEL to ~1320 nm, the longest wavelength yet achieved by a VECSEL-pumped Raman laser. The setup consisted of a VECSEL capable of emitting >17W at 1180nm and tunable from 1141-1203nm and a 30-mm-long KGd(WO4)2 (KGW) Raman crystal in a coupled-cavity Raman resonator. The Raman cavity was separated from the VECSEL resonator by a tilted dichroic mirror, which steers the Raman beam to an output coupler external to the VECSEL. The spectral emission of the VECSEL, and consequently of the Raman laser, was set by a 4-mm-thick quartz birefringent filter in the VECSEL cavity. The KGW Raman laser was capable of emitting 2.5W at 1315 nm, with M2~2.7 and >4% diode-to-Stokes conversion efficiency. The Raman laser emission was tunable from 1295-1340 nm, limited by the free spectral range of the birefringent filter. Spectral broadening of the fundamental emission was observed during Raman conversion. At the maximum Raman laser output power, the total linewidth of the VECSEL spectrum was ~0:7nm FWHM. As a consequence, the Raman laser emission was also relatively broad (~0.9nm FWHM). Narrow (<0.2nm FWHM) Raman emission was obtained by inserting an additional 100 µm etalon within the VECSEL cavity. With this configuration the fundamental intracavity power clamped at its value at the Raman threshold, suggesting an enhanced effective Raman gain, but the maximum output power of the Raman laser was 1.8 W

Healthy and Unhealthy Food Consumption in Relation to Quality of Life among Finnish Female Municipal Employees: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aspects of good quality of life (QoL) have been found to motivate people to make lifestyle changes. There is also evidence that certain dietary patterns are associated with QoL. The aim of this work was to examine whether consumption frequencies of healthy and unhealthy food items are associated with QoL in female employees. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 631 Finnish female employees (mean age 49 years, SD = 10) from 10 municipal work units in 2015. Information about the participants was collected by physical examination, laboratory tests, self-administered questionnaires, including the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and from medical history. QoL was assessed with the EUROHIS-Quality of Life 8-item index. A significant positive association was seen between consumption frequency of healthy foods and the EUROHIS-QOL mean score (p = 0.002). The association was small but comprehensive, also involving most dimensions of QoL. The consumption frequency of unhealthy foods was not associated with QoL. These findings are relevant when designing diet counselling, since QoL is an outcome that has been found to motivate people to change their health habits. Recommending abundant use of healthy foods could be a simple and convenient way of diet counselling at many health care appointments, where time consuming approaches are difficult to conduct

~1400-nm continuous-wave diamond Raman laser intracavity-pumped by an InGaAs semiconductor disk laser

We present a ~1400nm-emitting diamond Raman laser intracavity-pumped by an ~1180nm semiconductor disk laser. We measured a maximum output power of 2.3 W at ~1400nm with an output coupling of 3.5%. The Raman laser was tunable from 1373 to 1415nm using a 4-mm-thick birefringent filter

DVCS on the nucleon : study of the twist-3 effects

We estimate the size of the twist-3 effects on deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) observables, in the Wandzura-Wilczek approximation. We present results in the valence region for the DVCS cross sections, charge asymmetries and single spin asymmetries, to twist-3 accuracy.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure

Start of the 2014/15 influenza season in Europe: drifted influenza A(H3N2) viruses circulate as dominant subtype

Members of the WHO European Region and European Influenza Surveillance Network: Portugal: Raquel Guiomar, Pedro Pechirra, Paula Cristovão, Inês Costa, Baltazar Nunes, Ana Rodrigues.The influenza season 2014/15 started in Europe in week 50 2014 with influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominating. The majority of the A(H3N2) viruses characterised antigenically and/or genetically differ from the northern hemisphere vaccine component which may result in reduced vaccine effectiveness for the season. We therefore anticipate that this season may be more severe than the 2013/14 season. Treating influenza with antivirals in addition to prevention with vaccination will be important

Future Elementary School Teachers' Conceptual Change Concerning Photosynthesis

The purpose of this study was to examine conceptual change among future elementary school teachers while studying a scientific text concerning photosynthesis. Students' learning goals in relation to their learning outcomes were also examined. The participants were future elementary school teachers. The design consisted of pre- and post-tests. The study revealed that student teachers have severe misconceptions concerning photosynthesis. However, the results indicated that a coherent expository text works as an effective support in the learning process. Further, results showed that students who express high-level learning goals are more likely to undergo conceptual change than students with low-level learning goals. The study highlights the importance of science education in teacher training at universities.</p