Mode-locking induced by coherent driving in fiber lasers

Mode-locking is a broad concept that encompasses different processes enabling short optical pulse formation in lasers. It typically requires an intracavity mechanism that discriminates between single and collective mode lasing, which can be complex and sometimes adds noise. Moreover, known mode-locking schemes do not guarantee phase stability of the carrier wave. Here, we theoretically propose that injecting a detuned signal seamlessly leads to mode-locking in fiber lasers. We show that phase-locked pulses, akin to cavity solitons, exist in a wide range of parameters. In that regime the laser behaves as a passive resonator due to the non-instantaneous gain saturation

Sharing the slope: depth partitioning of agariciid corals and associated <i>Symbiodinium</i> across shallow and mesophotic habitats (2-60 m) on a Caribbean reef

Background: Scleractinian corals and their algal endosymbionts (genus Symbiodinium) exhibit distinct bathymetric distributions on coral reefs. Yet, few studies have assessed the evolutionary context of these ecological distributions by exploring the genetic diversity of closely related coral species and their associated Symbiodinium over large depth ranges. Here we assess the distribution and genetic diversity of five agariciid coral species (Agaricia humilis, A. agaricites, A. lamarcki, A. grahamae, and Helioseris cucullata) and their algal endosymbionts (Symbiodinium) across a large depth gradient (2-60 m) covering shallow to mesophotic depths on a Caribbean reef.<br>Results: The five agariciid species exhibited distinct depth distributions, and dominant Symbiodinium associations were found to be species-specific, with each of the agariciid species harbouring a distinct ITS2-DGGE profile (except for a shared profile between A. lamarcki and A. grahamae). Only A. lamarcki harboured different Symbiodinium types across its depth distribution (i.e. exhibited symbiont zonation). Phylogenetic analysis (atp6) of the coral hosts demonstrated a division of the Agaricia genus into two major lineages that correspond to their bathymetric distribution ("shallow": A. humilis / A. agaricites and "deep": A. lamarcki / A. grahamae), highlighting the role of depth-related factors in the diversification of these congeneric agariciid species. The divergence between "shallow" and "deep" host species was reflected in the relatedness of the associated Symbiodinium (with A. lamarcki and A. grahamae sharing an identical Symbiodinium profile, and A. humilis and A. agaricites harbouring a related ITS2 sequence in their Symbiodinium profiles), corroborating the notion that brooding corals and their Symbiodinium are engaged in coevolutionary processes.<br>Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that the depth-related environmental gradient on reefs has played an important role in the diversification of the genus Agaricia and their associated Symbiodinium, resulting in a genetic segregation between coral host-symbiont communities at shallow and mesophotic depths

Ahorro energético en el consumo de gas residencial mediante aislamiento térmico en la construcción

Se determinaron los coeficientes volumétricos de pérdidas de calor, tanto en una vivienda “tipo casa” como en otra “tipo edificio”, considerando tres sistemas constructivos diferentes utilizados frecuentemente en el país. Se verificaron luego éstos mismos, pero aislando el techo y los muros con 3” y 2” respectivamente, de un aislante térmico convencional de conductividad media. Además, se cambiaron las carpinterías de vidrio simple por doble vidriado hermético. La tipología utilizada es una vivienda de 3 ambientes de aproximadamente 60 m² de superficie; obtenida como promedio de datos del Censo 2001, como así también de las cantidades de viviendas tipo “Hogares Casas” y tipo “Hogares Departamentos” relevados en cada Provincia. La demanda de gas en millones de m³ por día, destinada a calefacción para uso residencial y la cantidad de usuarios registrados, correspondientes al año 2006, fueron recabadas de ENARGAS. Como resultado, se estimó un ahorro de aproximadamente 40% aislando muros y techos; valor que puede superar el 50% si también se emplea doble vidriado hermético en las carpinterías.Volumetric heat loss coefficient was determined not only for a detached house but also for a unit in an apartment building. Three different construction systems usually used in our country were considered. Then, the same construction systems with added conventional 3” roof insulation and 2” wall insulation of medium thermal conductivity were analyzed. In addition, single glazing windows were changed for insulated double glazing ones. The pattern is a housing consisting of three rooms about 60 m² obtained as average from Census 2001 data, as well as the amount of single-unit and multi-unit dwellings taken form data of each Province. Daily gas demand for residential use, in millions of m³, and amount of registered users, were obtained from ENARGAS during 2006. As a result, savings of about 40% were obtained by roof and wall insulation; this value may exceed 50% if insulated double glazing windows are used.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Ahorro energético en el consumo de gas residencial mediante aislamiento térmico en la construcción

Se determinaron los coeficientes volumétricos de pérdidas de calor, tanto en una vivienda “tipo casa” como en otra “tipo edificio”, considerando tres sistemas constructivos diferentes utilizados frecuentemente en el país. Se verificaron luego éstos mismos, pero aislando el techo y los muros con 3” y 2” respectivamente, de un aislante térmico convencional de conductividad media. Además, se cambiaron las carpinterías de vidrio simple por doble vidriado hermético. La tipología utilizada es una vivienda de 3 ambientes de aproximadamente 60 m² de superficie; obtenida como promedio de datos del Censo 2001, como así también de las cantidades de viviendas tipo “Hogares Casas” y tipo “Hogares Departamentos” relevados en cada Provincia. La demanda de gas en millones de m³ por día, destinada a calefacción para uso residencial y la cantidad de usuarios registrados, correspondientes al año 2006, fueron recabadas de ENARGAS. Como resultado, se estimó un ahorro de aproximadamente 40% aislando muros y techos; valor que puede superar el 50% si también se emplea doble vidriado hermético en las carpinterías.Volumetric heat loss coefficient was determined not only for a detached house but also for a unit in an apartment building. Three different construction systems usually used in our country were considered. Then, the same construction systems with added conventional 3” roof insulation and 2” wall insulation of medium thermal conductivity were analyzed. In addition, single glazing windows were changed for insulated double glazing ones. The pattern is a housing consisting of three rooms about 60 m² obtained as average from Census 2001 data, as well as the amount of single-unit and multi-unit dwellings taken form data of each Province. Daily gas demand for residential use, in millions of m³, and amount of registered users, were obtained from ENARGAS during 2006. As a result, savings of about 40% were obtained by roof and wall insulation; this value may exceed 50% if insulated double glazing windows are used.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

High plasma levels of C1-inhibitor are associated with lower risk of future venous thromboembolism

Background - C1-inhibitor (C1INH) is a broad-acting serine protease inhibitor with anticoagulant activity. The impact of C1INH plasma levels within the normal physiological range on risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unknown. We assessed the association of plasma C1INH levels and VTE risk and evaluated the impact of C1INH on thrombin and plasmin generation in ex vivo assays. Methods - A nested case-control study with 405 patients with VTE and 829 age- and sex-matched controls was derived from the Tromsø Study. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for VTE were estimated across plasma C1INH quartiles. Genetic regulation of C1INH was explored using quantitative trait loci analysis of whole exome sequencing data. The effect of plasma C1INH levels on coagulation was evaluated ex vivo by calibrated automated thrombography. Results - Individuals with C1INH levels in the highest quartile had a lower risk of VTE (OR 0.68, 95% CI: 0.49-0.96) compared with those with C1INH in the lowest quartile. In subgroup analysis, the corresponding ORs were 0.60 (95% CI: 0.39-0.89) for deep vein thrombosis and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.52-1.38) for pulmonary embolism, respectively. No significant genetic determinants of plasma C1INH levels were identified. Addition of exogenous C1INH to normal human plasma reduced thrombin generation triggered by an activator of the intrinsic coagulation pathway, but not when triggered by an activator of the extrinsic coagulation pathway. Conclusions - High plasma levels of C1INH were associated with lower risk of VTE, and C1INH inhibited thrombin generation initiated by the intrinsic coagulation pathway ex vivo

Global Phylogenomic Assessment of \u3ci\u3eLeptoseris\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eAgaricia\u3c/i\u3e Reveals Substantial Undescibed Diversity at Mesophotic Depths

Background: Mesophotic coral communities are increasingly gaining attention for the unique biological diversity they host, exemplified by the numerous mesophotic fish species that continue to be discovered. In contrast, many of the photosynthetic scleractinian corals observed at mesophotic depths are assumed to be depth-generalists, with very few species characterised as mesophotic-specialists. This presumed lack of a specialised community remains largely untested, as phylogenetic studies on corals have rarely included mesophotic samples and have long suffered from resolution issues associated with traditional sequence markers. Results: Here, we used reduced-representation genome sequencing to conduct a phylogenomic assessment of the two dominant mesophotic genera of plating corals in the Indo-Pacific and Western Atlantic, respectively, Leptoseris and Agaricia. While these genome-wide phylogenies broadly corroborated the morphological taxonomy, they also exposed deep divergences within the two genera and undescribed diversity across the current taxonomic species. Five of the eight focal species consisted of at least two sympatric and genetically distinct lineages, which were consistently detected across different methods. Conclusions: The repeated observation of genetically divergent lineages associated with mesophotic depths highlights that there may be many more mesophotic-specialist coral species than currently acknowledged and that an urgent assessment of this largely unstudied biological diversity is warranted

Deep reefs of the Great Barrier Reef offer limited thermal refuge during mass coral bleaching

Our rapidly warming climate is threatening coral reefs as thermal anomalies trigger mass coral bleaching events. Deep (or "mesophotic") coral reefs are hypothesised to act as major ecological refuges from mass bleaching, but empirical assessments are limited. We evaluated the potential of mesophotic reefs within the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and adjacent Coral Sea to act as thermal refuges by characterising long-term temperature conditions and assessing impacts during the 2016 mass bleaching event. We found that summer upwelling initially provided thermal relief at upper mesophotic depths (40 m), but then subsided resulting in anomalously warm temperatures even at depth. Bleaching impacts on the deep reefs were severe (40% bleached and 6% dead colonies at 40 m) but significantly lower than at shallower depths (60-69% bleached and 8-12% dead at 5-25 m). While we confirm that deep reefs can offer refuge from thermal stress, we highlight important caveats in terms of the transient nature of the protection and their limited ability to provide broad ecological refuge.XL Catlin Seaview Survey; Waitt Foundation; XL Catlin Group; Underwater Earth; University of Queensland; ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) [DE160101433]; Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) [SFRH/BPD/110285/2015]; Australian Research Council (ARC

United in Separation? Lozi Secessionism in Zambia and Namibia

Secessionism perseveres as a complex political phenomenon in Africa, yet often a more in-depth analysis is overshadowed by the aspirational simplicity of pursuing a new state. Using historical and contemporary approaches, this edited volume offers the most exhaustive collection of empirical studies of African secessionism to date. The respected expert contributors put salient and lesser known cases into comparative perspective, covering Biafra, Katanga, Eritrea and South Sudan alongside Barotseland, Cabinda, and the Comoros, among others. Suggesting that African secessionism can be understood through the categories of aspiration, grievance, performance, and disenchantment, the book's analytical framework promises to be a building block for future studies of the topic

Towards Customary Legal Empowerment

Rule of Law and Development: Formation, Implementation and Improvement of Law and Governance in Developing Countrie