The Laser

The laser is an oscillator of light using an amplification process based on stimulated emission from atoms in an optical resonator. Laser light has a narrow spectral width and a high degree of spatial coherence. Laser beams are highly directional and can be focused into a tiny spot. Pulsed lasers produce ultrashort light pulses with ultrahigh peak power. Since its invention in 1960, the laser has enabled many scientific discoveries and has been at the core of a plethora of light-based technologies. It is truly a light fantastic

Avocats et divorce aux Etats-Unis: la transformation des pratiques professionnelles

Les transformations sociales et les évolutions juridiques qui sont intervenues aux États-Unis depuis les années 60 ont eu de multiples effets sur le travail des avocats en matière de divorce. Le présent article analyse ces transformations en s\u27appuyant sur des entretiens avec des avocats et sur l\u27analyse de l\u27activité des tribunaux dans les États du Maine et du New Hampshire. Il souligne notamment l\u27importance que revêt l\u27accroissement du nombre des divorces parmi les couples ayant des ressources moyennes ou faibles. Il décrit aussi la féminisation rapide du barreau, une tendance qui se trouve particulièrement accentuée en ce qui concerne les spécialistes du divorce. Sont également évoquées les règles nouvelles qui s\u27appliquent à la garde des enfants et à la division du patrimoine familial. L\u27analyse faite suggère que le rôle des avocats en matière de divorce s\u27est fortement différencié en fonction des catégories sociales qui constituent leur clientèle et du degré de leur spécialisation ; elle met en évidence le développement d\u27une approche féministe du travail de l\u27avocat du divorce, à l\u27initiative de quelques avocates, en même temps qu\u27elle montre que les changements légaux et l\u27introduction de la médiation ont réduit le conflit judiciaire dans ce domaine. Social and legal changes in the United States since the I960\u27s have affected the practice of divorce law in a variety of ways. This article analyzes these developments by drawing on interview data and court records from the states of Maine and New Hampshire. Prominent among the changes examined are the increased incidence of divorce among middle and lower income couples; the rapid rise in the number of women attorneys, a trend particularly notable among divorce specialists; new rules governing child custody and division of marital property; an increased use of mediation in divorce cases. The analysis shows, for example, how the roles and work of divorce lawyers have become differentiated according to the class of clientele and degree of legal specialization, how some women lawyers have brought a new style of feminist advocacy to divorce, and how legal changes and the introduction of mediation have reduced adversarial legal conflict in divorce

Avocats et divorce aux Etats-Unis: la transformation des pratiques professionnelles

Les transformations sociales et les évolutions juridiques qui sont intervenues aux États-Unis depuis les années 60 ont eu de multiples effets sur le travail des avocats en matière de divorce. Le présent article analyse ces transformations en s\u27appuyant sur des entretiens avec des avocats et sur l\u27analyse de l\u27activité des tribunaux dans les États du Maine et du New Hampshire. Il souligne notamment l\u27importance que revêt l\u27accroissement du nombre des divorces parmi les couples ayant des ressources moyennes ou faibles. Il décrit aussi la féminisation rapide du barreau, une tendance qui se trouve particulièrement accentuée en ce qui concerne les spécialistes du divorce. Sont également évoquées les règles nouvelles qui s\u27appliquent à la garde des enfants et à la division du patrimoine familial. L\u27analyse faite suggère que le rôle des avocats en matière de divorce s\u27est fortement différencié en fonction des catégories sociales qui constituent leur clientèle et du degré de leur spécialisation ; elle met en évidence le développement d\u27une approche féministe du travail de l\u27avocat du divorce, à l\u27initiative de quelques avocates, en même temps qu\u27elle montre que les changements légaux et l\u27introduction de la médiation ont réduit le conflit judiciaire dans ce domaine. Social and legal changes in the United States since the I960\u27s have affected the practice of divorce law in a variety of ways. This article analyzes these developments by drawing on interview data and court records from the states of Maine and New Hampshire. Prominent among the changes examined are the increased incidence of divorce among middle and lower income couples; the rapid rise in the number of women attorneys, a trend particularly notable among divorce specialists; new rules governing child custody and division of marital property; an increased use of mediation in divorce cases. The analysis shows, for example, how the roles and work of divorce lawyers have become differentiated according to the class of clientele and degree of legal specialization, how some women lawyers have brought a new style of feminist advocacy to divorce, and how legal changes and the introduction of mediation have reduced adversarial legal conflict in divorce

An Atom Laser with a cw Output Coupler

We demonstrate a continuous output coupler for magnetically trapped atoms. Over a period of up to 100 ms a collimated and monoenergetic beam of atoms is continuously extracted from a Bose- Einstein condensate. The intensity and kinetic energy of the output beam of this atom laser are controlled by a weak rf-field that induces spin flips between trapped and untrapped states. Furthermore, the output coupler is used to perform a spectroscopic measurement of the condensate, which reveals the spatial distribution of the magnetically trapped condensate and allows manipulation of the condensate on a micrometer scale.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Predictors of Progress in Smoking Cessation

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71613/1/j.1525-1446.1995.tb00143.x.pd

Physics and Applications of Laser Diode Chaos

An overview of chaos in laser diodes is provided which surveys experimental achievements in the area and explains the theory behind the phenomenon. The fundamental physics underpinning this behaviour and also the opportunities for harnessing laser diode chaos for potential applications are discussed. The availability and ease of operation of laser diodes, in a wide range of configurations, make them a convenient test-bed for exploring basic aspects of nonlinear and chaotic dynamics. It also makes them attractive for practical tasks, such as chaos-based secure communications and random number generation. Avenues for future research and development of chaotic laser diodes are also identified.Comment: Published in Nature Photonic

A rare case of complete C2–C3 dislocation with mild neurological symptoms

The authors report a rare case of complete C2–C3 dislocation with unexpectedly mild neurological symptoms in a 57 year old man involved in a motor vehicle accident, who had previously undergone posterior laminectomy from C3 through C7. A retrospective chart analysis and a thorough radiographic review were performed. X-rays and CT of the cervical spine demonstrated a complete dislocation at the C2–C3 level. Computed tomographic angiography revealed disruption of both vertebral arteries; however, blood flow was evident in the basilar artery. After radiologically guided placement in cervical traction with tongs that reduced the subluxation by approximately 50% the patient had spontaneous eye opening and was able to follow commands. A two-stage 360(o) stabilization and fusion was performed and the patient was finally discharged 24 days after admission with his neurological status essentially unchanged. In conclusion, our patient presented with surprisingly mild neurological symptoms. The previously performed laminectomy could have both predisposed to injury as well as protected his spinal cord from potentially fatal trauma

Cervical Screening within HIV Care: Findings from an HIV-Positive Cohort in Ukraine

HIV-positive women have an increased risk of invasive cervical cancer but cytologic screening is effective in reducing incidence. Little is known about cervical screening coverage or the prevalence of abnormal cytology among HIV-positive women in Ukraine, which has the most severe HIV epidemic in Europe

Cervical cytological changes in HIV-infected patients attending care and treatment clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

\ud Tanzania is among Sub-Saharan countries mostly affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic, females being more vulnerable than males. HIV infected women appear to have a higher rate of persistent infection by high risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) strongly associated with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and invasive cervical carcinoma. Furthermore, although HIV infection and cervical cancer are major public health problems, the frequency and HIV/HPV association of cervical cancer and HSIL is not well documented in Tanzania, thus limiting the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies. A prospective unmatched, case-control study of HIV-seropositive, ≥ 18 years of age and consenting non-pregnant patients attending the care and treatment center (CTC) at Muhimbili National Hoospital (MNH) as cases was done between 2005 and 2006. HIV seronegative, non-pregnant and consenting women recruited from the Cervical Cancer Screening unit (CCSU) at ORCI were used as controls while those who did not consent to study participation and/or individuals under < 18 years were excluded. Pap smears were collected for routine cytodiagnosis and P53 immunohistochemistry (IHC). Cervical lesions were classified according to the Modified Bethesda System. A total of 170 participants from the two centers were recruited including 50 HIV-seronegative controls were from the CCSU. Ages ranged from 20-66 years (mean 40.5 years) for cases and 20-69 years (mean 41.6 years) for controls. The age group 36-45 years was the most affected by HIV (39.2%, n = 47). Cervicitis, squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) and carcinoma constituted 28.3% (n = 34), 38.3% (n = 46) and 5.8% (n = 7) respectively among cases, and 28% (n = 14), 34% (n = 17) and 2% (n = 1) for controls, although this was not statistically significant (P-value = 0.61). IHC showed that p53 was not detectable in HPV + Pap smears and cell blocks indicating possible degradation. The frequency of SIL and carcinoma appeared to be higher among HIV-infected women on HAART compared to seronegative controls and as expected increased with age. HIV seropositive patients appeared to present earlier with SIL compared to those HIV seronegative suggesting a role of HIV in altering the natural history of HPV infection and cervical lesions. The absence of p53 immunoreactivity in HPV + lesions is indicative of the ability of HPV E6 proteins to interact with the tumor suppressor gene and pave way for viral-induced oncogenesis in the studied Tanzanian women.\u

Prevalence and cumulative incidence of abnormal cervical cytology among HIV-infected Thai women: a 5.5-year retrospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical cancer is one of the most common AIDS-related malignancies in Thailand. To prevent cervical cancer, The US Public Health Service and The Infectious Disease Society of America have recommended that all HIV-infected women should obtain 2 Pap smears 6 months apart after the initial HIV diagnosis and, if results of both are normal, should undergo annual cytological screening. However, there has been no evidence in supporting whether this guideline is appropriate in all settings - especially in areas where HIV-infected women are living in resource-constrained condition.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To determine the appropriate interval of Pap smear screenings for HIV-infected Thai women and risk factors for subsequent abnormal cervical cytology, we assessed the prevalence, cumulative incidence and associated factors of cervical cell abnormalities (atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance or higher grades, ASCUS+) among this group of patients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of ASCUS+ was 15.4% at the first visit, and the cumulative incidence of ASCUS+ gradually increased to 37% in the first 3.5 years of follow-up appointments (first 7 times), and tended to plateau in the last 2 years. For multivariate correlation analysis, women with a CD4 count <350 cells/μL had a significant correlation with ASCUS+ (<it>P </it>= 0.043). There were no associations of subsequent ASCUS+ with age, pregnancy, contraceptive method, highly active anti-retroviral treatment, assumed duration of infection, or the CD4 count nadir level.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There are high prevalence and cumulative incidence of ASCUS+ in HIV-infected Thai women. With a high lost-to-follow-up rate, an appropriate interval of Pap smear screening cannot be concluded from the present study. Nevertheless, the HIV-infected Thai women may require more than two normal semi-annual Pap smears before shifting to routinely annual cytologic screening.</p