Beam divergence studies on a hard edge unstable resonators for a long pulse XeCl excimer laser

The focusability of a long pulse XeCl excimer laser has been improved using confocal positive branch unstable resonators where the outcoupling is done through the convex mirror. A nearly diffraction limited output beam is obtained from hard edge unstable resonators. An improvement of the far field energy distribution is achieved with partial reflecting hard edge outcoupling mirrors. The phase delay between the central part of the beam and the beam edge caused by these partial reflecting mirrors can be reduced by using phase unifying mirrors. Using unstable resonators a brightness of 1.4 × 1015 W/cm2 sr has been obtained from a long pulse XeCl excimer lase

Long-pulse KrCl laser with a high discharge quality \ud

The discharge quality and optimum pump parameters of a long-pulse high-pressure gas discharge excited KrCl laser are investigated. A three-electrode prepulse–mainpulse excitation circuit is employed as pump source. The discharge volume contains a gas mixture of HCl/Kr/Ne operated at a total pressure of up to 5 bar. For a plane–plane resonator, the divergence of both output laser beams is measured. A low beam divergence of less than 1 mrad is measured as a result of the very high discharge homogeneity. A maximum laser pulse duration of 150 ns (FWHM) is achieved for a pump duration of 270 ns (FWHM) and a power density of 340 kW cm-3. Pumping the discharge under optimum conditions employing a stable resonator results in a maximum specific energy of 0.45 J/l with a laser pulse duration of 117 ns and an efficiency of 0.63% based on the deposited energy

Beam divergence studies on a long-pulse XeCl excimer laser

The focusability of a long pulse XeCl excimer laser has been improved using confocal positive branch unstable resonators where the outcoupling is done through the convex mirror. For the outcoupler different reflectivity profiles are used. A near diffraction limited output beam is obtained from hard edge unstable resonators. A beam with only one central spot in the focus of a lens can be obtained with a resonator fitted with a Gaussian outcoupling mirror

Variable profiles of plasma pulses generated from high-k dielectric barrier discharge

With a specific design of a high-k dielectric barrier discharge, we observed plasma pulses with variable spatial profiles as a consequence of excitation by a high-voltage pulse at different pressures. The dependence of the profile of the generated plasma pulses on the charging voltage and the operating gas (air) pressure is described and the description of their temporal and spatial build-up mechanism is given. We demonstrate that the profile variation of the plasma pulses is caused by the co-existence of dipole switching-based electron emission and field electron emission from triple junctions. Finally, we propose a scheme describing the interaction of these two electron emission mechanisms that leads to the pressure dependence of plasma pulse profile

White paper on guidelines concerning enteric nervous system stem cell therapy for enteric neuropathies.

Over the last 20 years, there has been increasing focus on the development of novel stem cell based therapies for the treatment of disorders and diseases affecting the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gastrointestinal tract (so-called enteric neuropathies). Here, the idea is that ENS progenitor/stem cells could be transplanted into the gut wall to replace the damaged or absent neurons and glia of the ENS. This White Paper sets out experts' views on the commonly used methods and approaches to identify, isolate, purify, expand and optimize ENS stem cells, transplant them into the bowel, and assess transplant success, including restoration of gut function. We also highlight obstacles that must be overcome in order to progress from successful preclinical studies in animal models to ENS stem cell therapies in the clinic

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in patients with esophageal atresia

Background: Patients born with esophageal atresia (EA) have a higher incidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS), suggestive of a relationship. A shared etiology makes sense from a developmental perspective as both affected structures are foregut derived. A genetic component has been described for both conditions as single entities and EA and IHPS are variable components in several monogenetic syndromes. We hypothesized that defects disturbing foregut morphogenesis are responsible for this combination of malformations. Methods: We investigated the genetic variation of 15 patients with both EA and IHPS with unaffected parents using exome sequencing and SNP array-based genotyping, and compared the results to mouse transcriptome data of the developing foregut. Results: We did not identify putatively deleterious de novo mutations or recessive variants. However, we detected rare inherited variants in EA or IHPS disease genes or in genes important in foregut morphogenesis, expressed at the proper developmental time-points. Two pathways were significantly enriched (p < 1 × 10−5): proliferation and differentiation of smooth muscle cells and self-renewal of satellite cells. Conclusions: None of our findings could fully explain the combination of abnormalities on its own, which makes complex inheritance the most plausible genetic explanation, most likely in combination with mechanical and/or environmental factors. As we did not find one defining monogenetic cause for the EA/IHPS phenotype, the impact of the corrective surgery could should be further investigated