Optical parametric oscillation with distributed feedback in cold atoms

There is currently a strong interest in mirrorless lasing systems, in which the electromagnetic feedback is provided either by disorder (multiple scattering in the gain medium) or by order (multiple Bragg reflection). These mechanisms correspond, respectively, to random lasers and photonic crystal lasers. The crossover regime between order and disorder, or correlated disorder, has also been investigated with some success. Here, we report one-dimensional photonic-crystal lasing (that is, distributed feedback lasing) with a cold atom cloud that simultaneously provides both gain and feedback. The atoms are trapped in a one-dimensional lattice, producing a density modulation that creates a strong Bragg reflection with a small angle of incidence. Pumping the atoms with auxiliary beams induces four-wave mixing, which provides parametric gain. The combination of both ingredients generates a mirrorless parametric oscillation with a conical output emission, the apex angle of which is tunable with the lattice periodicity

Respiratory pattern changes in elderly yoga practitioners

The purpose of this research was to study yoga induced thoracoabdominal motion pattern changes during breathing in elderly female subjects. A group of 11 elderly volunteers (mean age: 66.7 +/- 6.4yrs) who had been practising yoga (YG) regularly for over 3yrs was compared to a control group (CG) of 11 non-sedentary volunteers (mean age: 65.7 +/- 7.0yrs). Each subject had 14 markers fixed directly to the skin of the anterior trunk surface and performed twelve vital capacity (VC) manoeuvres in an upright position. A kinematical analysis system was used to measure the trajectory of these markers. Bivariate interpolation function and smooth surface fittings for irregularly distributed data were applied to the set of reconstructed points and thus accurate representation of the trunk surface was obtained as a function of time. Total and partial areas of the surface and a temporal evolution of these measures were calculated. The correlation coefficients for the thorax area (TA) and the abdomen area (AA) of the anterior part of the trunk were used as measures related to the subject's respiratory pattern. No significant differences (p>0.05) were found regarding age, height, weight, mean TA and mean AA in the YG and CG. Highly significant differences were obtained (p<0.001) with regard to the mean values of YG and CG (in parenthesis), breathing frequency, root mean square deviation of TA and AA and in the z-transformed correlation coefficient used to measure the respiratory patterns. The results indicate that yoga techniques may lead to the formation of specific respiratory patterns as well as to reduced breathing frequency and increased breathing amplitude.44538740

Na boca da CRUSP: Programa de Prevenção e Acolhimento em caso de uso problemático de álcool e drogas En el Crusp: Programa de Prevención y acogida en el caso de uso problemático de alcohol y drogas Inside the Crusp: Program for Prevention and Assistance in case of problematic use of alcohol and drugs

Este estudo descreve a experiência de um programa de prevenção do uso problemático de álcool e outras drogas, desenvolvido no Conjunto Residencial da Universidade de São Paulo, no campus Butantã. O programa objetiva divulgar informações atualizadas sobre drogas lícitas e ilícitas e doenças sexualmente transmissíveis. Para estudantes com situação problemática de uso de álcool e outras drogas, adota estratégias como acolhimento, aconselhamento, sensibilização e encaminhamento para instituições de apoio, tratamento e acompanhamento. A avaliação do programa constituiu parte da dissertação de mestrado "Uso problemático de álcool e outras drogas em moradia estudantil: conhecer para enfrentar". A experiência permitiu concluir que a prevenção de drogas na universidade deve ser aberta a diversas estratégias de aproximação com os usuários e trabalhar de acordo com a realidade que se apresenta nos distintos meios sociais. Foi possível concluir também que um programa de acompanhamento e apoio a tratamento no próprio ambiente fez diferença no processo saúde-doença das pessoas atendidas.<br>Este estudio describe la experiencia de un programa de prevención del uso problemático de alcohol y otras drogas en el Conjunto Residencial de la Universidad de São Paulo (USP), en el campus Butantã. El programa tiene como objetivo divulgar informaciones actualizadas sobre drogas lícitas e ilícitas, así como sobre enfermedades sexualmente trasmisibles. Para estudiantes con una situación problemática de uso de alcohol y otras drogas, se adoptan estrategias tales como acogida, consejo, sensibilización y encaminamiento para instituciones de apoyo, tratamiento y acompañamiento. La evaluación del programa ha sido una de las partes de la disertación de maestría "Uso problemático de alcohol y otras drogas en una residencia estudiantil: conocer para enfrentar". La experiencia permitió concluir que la prevención de drogas en la Universidad debe estar abierta a diversas estrategias de aproximación con los usuarios y trabajar de acuerdo con la realidad que se presenta en los distintos medios sociales. También fue posible concluir que un programa de acompañamiento y apoyo para tratamientos en el propio ambiente hace la diferencia en el proceso salud-enfermedad de las personas atendidas.<br>This study describes the experience of a prevention program in cases of problematic consumption of alcohol and other drugs in the Residential Area of the University of São Paulo, at the Butantã campus. The program aims to divulge updated information about licit and illicit drugs and sexually transmissible diseases. For students bearing a problematic condition in the consumption of alcohol and other drugs, adopt strategies such as assistance, advising, emotionally moving and forwarding to support institutions, treatment and follow-up. The evaluation of the program was extracted from the master dissertation "Problematic Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs in the Students Residence: Knowing How to Face it". The experience allowed us to conclude that the prevention of drugs at the University should be open to several approaching strategies with users and work according to the reality that is present on different social levels. It was also possible to conclude that a program of accompaniment and support to the treatment in the environment itself made quite a difference in the process health-disease of the people attended