Cladding for transverse-pumped solid-state laser

In a transverse pumped, solid state laser, a nonabsorptive cladding surrounds a gain medium. A single tranverse mode, namely the Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) sub 00 mode, is provided. The TEM sub 00 model has a cross sectional diameter greater than a transverse dimension of the gain medium but less than a transverse dimension of the cladding. The required size of the gain medium is minimized while a threshold for laser output is lowered

Neurosyphilis in a Non-HIV Patient: More than a Psychiatric Concern

Neurosyphilis is a form of tertiary syphilis infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. Patients suffering from this illness can present with neurological manifestations such as headaches, seizures, hearing loss, and ataxia. However, the typical presentation of neurosyphilis is the insidious onset of psychiatric symptoms including personality changes. A good history and clinical work-up is essential in the diagnostic process. There has been a recent increase in the incidence of infectious syphilis in Canada (1). However, in other parts of the world including China, infectious syphilis rates have remained high due to limited access to primary care and affordable treatments (2 Here, we present a case of neurosyphilis in a 40 year old Chinese male residing in China who presents with an 18 month history of personality changes as well as neurological and physical manifestations of the infection

Crude oil risk forecasting : new evidence from multiscale analysis approach

Fluctuations in the crude oil price allied to risk have increased significantly over the last decade frequently varying at different risk levels. Although existing models partially predict such variations, so far, they have been unable to predict oil prices accurately in this highly volatile market. The development of an effective, predictive model has therefore become a prime objective of research in this field. Our approach, albeit based in part on previous research, develops an original methodology, in that we have created a risk forecasting model with the ability to predict oil price fluctuations caused by changes in both fundamental and transient risk factors. We achieve this by disintegrating the multi-scale risk-structure of the crude oil market using Variational Mode Decomposition. Normal and transient risk factors are then extracted from the crude oil price using Variational Mode Decomposition and modelled separately using the Quantile Regression Neural Network (QRNN) model. Both risk factors are integrated and ensembled to produce the risk estimates. We then apply our proposed risk forecasting model to predicting future downside risk level in three major crude oil markets, namely the West Taxes Intermediate (WTI), the Brent Market, and the OPEC market. The results demonstrate that our model has the ability to capture downside risk estimates with significantly improved precision, thus reducing estimation errors and increasing forecasting reliability

The use of Mood Disorder Questionnaire Hypomania Checklist-32 and clinical predictors for screening previously unrecognised bipolar disorder in a general psychiatric setting

Bipolar disorder is often unrecognised and misdiagnosed in the general psychiatric setting. This study compared the psychometric properties of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the Hypomania Checklist-32 (HCL-32), examined the clinical predictors of bipolar disorder and determined the best approach for screening previously unrecognised bipolar disorder in a general psychiatric clinic. A random sample of 340 non-psychotic outpatients with no previous diagnosis of bipolar disorder completed the MDQ and HCL-32 during their scheduled clinic visits. Mood and alcohol/substance use disorders were reassessed using a telephone-based Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. We found that the HCL-32 had better psychometric performance and discriminatory capacity than the MDQ. The HCL-32's internal consistency and 4-week test-retest reliability were higher. The area under the curve was also greater than that of the MDQ at various clustering and impairment criteria. The optimal cut-off of the MDQ was co-occurrence of four symptoms with omission of the impairment criterion; for the HCL-32, it was 11 affirmative responses. Multivariable logistic regression found that bipolar family history was associated with an increased risk of bipolar disorder (odds ratio = 4.93). The study showed that simultaneous use of the HCL-32 and bipolar family history was the best approach for detecting previously unrecognised bipolar disorder. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.postprin

Die Sanktionierung des Umsatzsteuerbetruges im Vergleich zwischen Deutschland und Taiwan

Unter Ausnutzung der Gewährung eines Vorsteuerabzugs im zwischenunternehmerischen Handel eröffnet das geltende Mehrwertsteuersystem eine stark zunehmende Missbrauchsmöglichkeit und führt damit in Deutschland und Taiwan zu vielfältigen Erscheinungsformen des Umsatzsteuerbetrugs. Vor diesem Hintergrund untersucht die Arbeit aus Sicht der Rechtsvergleichung eingehend, welche Varianten des Umsatzsteuerbetrugs in den beiden Ländern zu beobachten sind und welche repressiven Maßnahmen, namentlich Verwaltungssanktionen und Kriminalstrafen, im Hinblick darauf jeweils geeignet und verhältnismäßig sind. Ein Schwerpunkt liegt hierbei auf dem Zusammenspiel der umsatzsteuerlichen Tatbestände mit steuerlichen Sanktionsvorschriften und der Abstimmung von Steuerstraf- und Steuerordnungswidrigkeitsvorschriften. Schließlich mündet die Untersuchung in rechtspolitischen Empfehlungen an die Gesetzgeber beider Länder.<br

Chemistry of chlorinated species in the Antarctic stratosphere

The chemistry of Cl sub 2 O sub 2, the chlorine monoxide dimer, has been further investigated in order to better asses its potential role in catalytic ozone destruction cycles. The dimer has been generated in a flow system, in the 200 to 250 K temperature range, by using ozone and chlorine atoms as ClO precursors. The Cl-atoms are produced by a microwave discharge of either Cl sub 2, or of F sub 2 with subsequent addition of HCl. With this later scheme the dimer can be generated in the absence of Cl sub 2. The Fourier transform infrared spectra of the products clearly indicates the presence of two isomers, in agreement with earlier results (J. Phys. Shen., 91, 433, 1987). None of the observed IR bands can be attributed to a ClO-OClO adduct, since they all appear in the absence of any detectable amount of OCl. It is likely that the particles in the polar stratospheric clouds will have a relatively dilute nitric acid outer layer, even if the core is the nitric acid monohydrate, since the particles are in equilibrium with the ambient water vapor, which is present at levels of a few parts per million

Plasma lipocalin-2 concentration is related to blood pressure and is increased in hypertension

Oral PresentationINTRODUCTION: Lipocalin-2 is secreted by adipocytes and is upregulated in obesity. As obesity is known to be a cause of hypertension, we investigated whether the plasma level of lipocalin-2 is related to blood pressure and hypertension. METHODS: The plasma concentration of lipocalin-2 was measured by immunoassay in 1925 subjects of …published_or_final_versionThe 17th Medical Research Conference, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 14 January 2012. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2012, v. 18 suppl. 1, p. 18, abstract no. 1

Plasma lipocalin-2 concentration is related to blood pressure and is increased in hypertension

Poster Sessions: no. P085INTRODUCTION: Lipocalin-2 is secreted by adipocytes and is upregulated in obesity. As obesity is known to be a cause of hypertension, we investigated whether the plasma level of lipocalin-2 is related to blood pressure and hypertension …postprin