Active engineering of four-wave mixing spectral correlations in multiband hollow-core fibers.

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally a high level of control of the four-wave mixing process in an inert gas-filled inhibited-coupling guiding hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. The specific multiple-branch dispersion profile in such fibers allows both correlated and separable bi-photon states to be produced. By controlling the choice of gas and its pressure and the fiber length, we experimentally generate various joint spectral intensity profiles in a stimulated regime that is transferable to the spontaneous regime. The generated profiles may cover both spectrally separable and correlated bi-photon states and feature frequency tuning over tens of THz, demonstrating a large dynamic control that will be very useful when implemented in the spontaneous regime as a photon pair source.

Raman gas self-organizing into deep nano-trap lattice.

Trapping or cooling molecules has rallied a long-standing effort for its impact in exploring new frontiers in physics and in finding new phase of matter for quantum technologies. Here we demonstrate a system for light-trapping molecules and stimulated Raman scattering based on optically self-nanostructured molecular hydrogen in hollow-core photonic crystal fibre. A lattice is formed by a periodic and ultra-deep potential caused by a spatially modulated Raman saturation, where Raman-active molecules are strongly localized in a one-dimensional array of nanometre-wide sections. Only these trapped molecules participate in stimulated Raman scattering, generating high-power forward and backward Stokes continuous-wave laser radiation in the Lamb-Dicke regime with sub-Doppler emission spectrum. The spectrum exhibits a central line with a sub-recoil linewidth as low as ∼14 kHz, more than five orders of magnitude narrower than conventional-Raman pressure-broadened linewidth, and sidebands comprising Mollow triplet, motional sidebands and four-wave mixing.

Optimisation of oat milk formulation to obtain fermented derivatives by using probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri microorganisms.

Functional advantages of probiotics combined with interesting composition of oat were considered as an alternative to dairy products. In this study, fermentation of oat milk with Lactobacillus reuteri and Streptococcus thermophilus was analysed to develop a new probiotic product. Central composite design with response surface methodology was used to analyse the effect of different factors (glucose, fructose, inulin and starters) on the probiotic population in the product. Optimised formulation was characterised throughout storage time at 4 ℃ in terms of pH, acidity, ß-glucan and oligosaccharides contents, colour and rheological behaviour. All formulations studied were adequate to produce fermented foods and minimum dose of each factor was considered as optimum. The selected formulation allowed starters survival above 10(7)/cfu ml to be considered as a functional food and was maintained during the 28 days controlled. ß-glucans remained in the final product with a positive effect on viscosity. Therefore, a new probiotic non-dairy milk was successfully developed in which high probiotic survivals were assured throughout the typical yoghurt-like shelf life.

Fungal decay and shelf life of oranges coated with chitosan and bergamot, thyme, and tea tree essential oils.

UNLABELLED: Chitosan coatings, containing or not essential oils (bergamot, thyme and tea tree oil), were applied to oranges (cv. Navel Powell). Antifungal effect was evaluated by applying coatings before and after inoculating the fruit with Penicillium italicum CECT 2294 (10(5) spores/mL), preventive and curative treatments, respectively. The effect of coatings on the quality parameters (acidity, pH, soluble solids, juice percentage, weight loss, firmness, color parameters, and respiration rate) was controlled for the different oranges samples throughout the cold storage time. Preventive antimicrobial treatments with coatings containing tea tree oil were the most effective with a reduction of the microbial growth (expressed as the percentage of infected samples) of 50%, as compared to the uncoated samples. The coatings did not lead to any relevant changes in the development of the sample quality parameters throughout the cold storage, except for a slightly reduced loss of both weight and firmness when the coatings contained bergamot oil. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Results of this study are a useful tool for the development of new environmental friendly and healthier commercial applications in the control of the main postharvest fungal decay of citrus fruits.

Protocolo para el control de la Vasectomía / Guide about the assessment of semen samples after vasectomy

Recientemente, hemos diseñado en nuestro laboratorio unprotocolo para el control de la vasectomía basado en la guía depráctica clínica publicada por la Sociedad Británica de Andrología(BAS). Esta guía fue editada para ayudar a los profesionalesdel laboratorio en la estandarización del análisis seminalpara el control de la vasectomía y en el informe de los resultados,y sigue las recomendaciones de la Organización Mundialde la Salud (OMS) para la recogida de semen. En la parte superiorde nuestro protocolo, se incluyen las instrucciones preanalíticasadecuadas para recoger el eyaculado y, en la inferior, uncuestionario de calidad preanalítica (CCPA) compuesto por 12preguntas. En primer lugar, hay unas cuestiones relativas a losdatos demográficos y clínicos del paciente; en segundo lugar,hay una serie de puntos acerca de la información que ha recibidoprevia a la realización de la prueba que nos ayuda a conocerla calidad de esa muestra, la difusión y la comprensión de nuestroprotocolo, y a concienciar al paciente de la importancia deseguir las recomendaciones que se le han dado

Recently, in our laboratory we designed a guide about theassessment of semen samples after vasectomy, based uponthis of the British Andrology Society (BAS). These guidelineswere published to give guidance to laboratory staff to ensurestandarisation of seminal analysis protocol and reporting ofresults, and follow the World Health Organization reccomendationfor semen collection. In the upper part of the form thereare instructions to collect the ejaculate and, in the lower partof the form a questionnaire composed of 12 questions. First,there are some questions about identifiers and clinical data ofthe patients; secondly, there are some questions about theinformation that they received previous to the test that mayhelp us to know about sample quality and the diffusion of ourguide, and to make them conscious about the importance offollow our instructions

Cristales de colesterol en líquido ascítico / Cholesterol crystals in ascitic fluid

Se presenta un caso de un paciente de 44 años cuyas manifestacionesclínicas fueron diversos derrames pleurales y ascíticosen cuyo examen microscópico se evidenció la presencia decristales de colesterol. Tras descartar posibles etiologías comoel LES, mixedema u origen tumoral, el paciente fue diagnosticadode tuberculosis con afectación extrapulmonar, respondiendoeficazmente al tratamiento.El interés de este caso es resaltar la aparición de cristalesde colesterol en un líquido ascítico en un caso de tuberculosisextrapulmonar, hecho escasamente documentado en la literaturamédica

We report the case of a male aged 44 years, with severalepisodes of pleural and ascitic effusion whose microscopycalstudy showed cholesterol crystals. Systemic lupus erythematosus,mixedema or tumoral etiologies were ruled out and thepatient was diagnosed of extra pulmonary tuberculosis and theantituberculosis therapy was successful.The relevant finding in the case was the presence of cholesterolcrystals in the ascitic effusion in a case of extra pulmonarytuberculosis which has been rarely reported in the medicalliterature

Are serum zinc and copper levels useful as acute rejection markers in heart transplantation?

We assessed the usefulness of zinc and copper serum level changes as acute rejection markers in orthotopic heart transplantation. Mean serum zinc levels occurring without rejection were 74 +/- 1.9 micrograms/dl, whereas with rejection they were 67 +/- 3.2 micrograms/dl (p = 0.056). Mean serum copper levels occurring without rejection were 109 +/- 3.9 micrograms/dl, whereas with rejection they were 116 +/- 6.4 micrograms/dl (p = 0.32). Results of our study show that changes in serum zinc and copper levels are not useful as rejection markers in heart transplantation. Levels of these trace elements can be affected by clinical situation and therapy in heart transplant patients regardless of rejection.