High brightness continuous wave ceramic Yb:LuAG thin-disk laser.

We report on a ceramic Yb:LuAG thin-disk laser in continuous wave operation. The Yb:LuAG ceramic was fabricated using solid-state reactive sintering method. In multi-mode operation in open-air, an output power of 1.74 kW with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 65.0% and slope efficiency of 71.2% was obtained. In near-fundamental mode operation we obtained an output power of 1.29 kW and an average beam quality factor of M2 = 1.44 with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 48.2%. The near-fundamental mode result was realized with a simple evacuated, stable resonator cavity with just the thin-disk gain medium and output coupler. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is not only the first time more than 1 kW has been demonstrated from a ceramic Yb:LuAG medium, but this is also currently the brightest continuous wave Yb-doped ceramic laser.

Near fundamental mode 1.1 kW Yb:YAG thin-disk laser.

We report on a Yb:YAG thin-disk laser with 1.1 kW output power and beam quality factor M²<1.4 using a simple stable resonator comprising just a single cavity mirror and a single thin disk, without the use of any aspherical elements or any adaptive optics. An optical-to-optical efficiency of 40% was obtained. The cavity was designed to give good beam quality and low misalignment sensitivity to maintain stable and robust laser operation throughout the changes in the thin-disk curvature. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time an output power beyond 1 kW has been achieved from a single thin-disk laser in near fundamental mode operation (M²<1.4).

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of multidrug-resistant and -sensitive strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a Malaysian hospital.

Over a period of 6 months from January to June 2002, an unusual increase in the isolation of highly resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains was observed in the various wards and intensive care units of a large general hospital in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. An equal number of multidrug resistant (MDR) and drug-susceptible strains were collected randomly from swabs, respiratory specimens, urine, blood, cerebral spinal fluid, and central venous catheters to determine the clonality and genetic variation of the strains. Macrorestriction analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that the 19 MDR strains were genetically very homogenous; the majority showed the dominant profile S1 (n = 10), the rest very closely related profiles S1a (n = 1), S2 (n = 4), and S2a (n = 3), indicating the endemicity of these strains. In contrast, the 19 drug-sensitive strains isolated during the same time period were genetically more diverse, showing 17 pulsed-field profiles (F = 0.50-1.00), and probably derived from the patients themselves. The presence of the MDR clone poses serious therapeutic problems as it may become endemic in the hospital and give rise to future clonal outbreaks. There is also the potential for wider geographical spread.

Research note: Molecular subtyping of Salmonella enterica serovar Tshiongwe recently isolated in Malaysia during 2001-2002.

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and antimicrobial susceptibility analysis were undertaken on twenty-three strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Tshiongwe, an unusual serovar, which recently emerged in Malaysia. Antimicrobial susceptibility analysis showed that all the strains were sensitive to ampicilin, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, and kanamycin. Twenty (87%) and 8 (3.5%) strains had resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin respectively. PFGE analysis subtyped 23 strains into 10 profiles (Dice coefficient of similarity, F = 0.7-1.0). The predominant profile, X1 was found in both clinical and environmental isolates and was widely distributed in different parts of Malaysia during the study period. In addition, isolates recovered from food, a hand-towel, apron and the surface of a table-top in one particular location had unique, indistinguishable profiles (X4/4a) and identical antibiograms. Similarly, isolates from cooked meat and a chopping board had PFGE profiles similar to some human isolates. These probably indicated cross-contamination and poor hygiene in food practices, hence contributing to Salmonellosis. Factors causing the emergence of this rare Salmonella serovar being responsible for food poisoning episodes during the study period remained unclear. The study reiterated the usefulness and versatility of PFGE in the molecular subtyping of this rare Salmonella serovar in Malaysia.

Synthesis and nonlinear optical absorption of novel porphyrin-osmium-cluster complexes.

Reaction of azido(tetra-p-tolylporphyrinato)indium(III) [TTPInN(3)] and [Os(3)(mu-H)(2)(CO)(10)] in toluene at 80 degrees C overnight gave two major products, complexes 1 and 2. Complex 1 had an axial bridge of "NH", while 2 had an axial bridge of "N" between the porphyrin and osmium cluster moieties. Complex 1 could be converted to 2 when refluxed in toluene. These two novel porphyrin-osmium clusters are the first axially linked porphyrin-metal cluster complexes. UV/Vis spectroscopy revealed the significant ground state electronic perturbation in the capped complex 2, demonstrating that the remarkable electronic interaction of the moieties within the molecule was achieved by this special structural arrangement. In addition, the electrochemistry of 1 and 2 were investigated and their oxidation current voltage curves are similar to those of indium(III)-porphyrins with a metal-metal sigma bond such as [TPPInRe(CO)(5)] (TPP=tetraphenylporphyrin). The two new molecules also exhibit large nonlinear optical absorption at 532 nm with a ns pulse laser and are potential optical limiting materials for sensor protection in the visible region.