Solid-state random microlasers fabricated via femtosecond laser writing.

Here we demonstrate resonant random lasing in Rhodamine B-doped polymeric microstructures fabricated by means of femtosecond laser writing via two-photon polymerization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of random lasing action in on-chip microdevices. Their feedback mechanism relies on diffuse reflections at the structure sidewall surfaces, which is known as spatially localized feedback since the scattering centers lie over the edges of the gain medium. By exciting the structures with a pulsed laser at 532 nm, a multimode emission with randomly distributed narrow peaks was observed, in accordance with the random nature of the feedback mechanism. Interestingly, their lasing threshold was found to be on the order of tens of nanojoules, which is comparable to what had been achieved for usual microcavities, thereby demonstrating the potentiality of these devices as solid-state lasers for integrated optics applications.

The effects of combining Artemisia annua and Curcuma longa ethanolic extracts in broilers challenged with infective oocysts of Eimeria acervulina and E. maxima.

Due to an increasing demand for natural products to control coccidiosis in broilers, we investigated the effects of supplementing a combination of ethanolic extracts of Artemisia annua and Curcuma longa in drinking water. Three different dosages of this herbal mixture were compared with a negative control (uninfected), a positive control (infected and untreated), chemical coccidiostats (nicarbazin+narazin and, later, salinomycin), vaccination, and a product based on oregano. Differences in performance (weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion rate), mortality, gross intestinal lesions and oocyst excretion were investigated. Broilers given chemical coccidiostats performed better than all other groups. Broilers given the two highest dosages of the herbal mixture had intermediate lesion scores caused by Eimeria acervulina, which was higher than in broilers given coccidiostats, but less than in broilers given vaccination, oregano and in negative controls. There was a trend for lower mortality (P = 0·08) in the later stage of the growing period (23-43 days) in broilers given the highest dosage of herbal mixture compared with broilers given chemical coccidiostats. In conclusion, the delivery strategy of the herbal extracts is easy to implement at farm level, but further studies on dose levels and modes of action are needed.

Use of Artemisia annua as a natural coccidiostat in free-range broilers and its effects on infection dynamics and performance.

This work investigated the preventive effect of Artemisia annua L. dried leaves supplied as a botanical coccidiostat to two broiler genotypes reared in a Danish free-range system in a factorial experiment (two genotypes and ± supplement of dried A. annua leaves). The genotypes White Bresse L40, a pure slow-growing line, and Kosmos 8 Ross, a hybrid genotype with medium growing characteristics, were used. Broilers were raised indoor until 29-days-old and kept free of parasites. Twelve groups of 30 randomly selected broilers were placed in the range forming three replicates for each treatment combination. The paddocks were cultivated with a mix of grass and clover. A separate group of broilers was naturally infected with Eimeria spp. oocysts and five animals nominated as "seeders" were introduced to the above mentioned 12 groups, 10 days after its formation, with each group consisting of 35 animals per plot. This infection strategy was meant to imitate the transmission pathway observed at farm level. Ten individual birds from each of the 12 groups, in total 120 animals of mixed sex, were monitored twice weekly for 30 days for oocysts excretion. PCR of pooled faecal samples, oocyst morphology and localization upon necropsy were used to identify the Eimeria species involved in the infection. In general, broilers from both genotypes in the range coped well with a coccidia infection caused by Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria maxima as no clinical symptoms, or deaths, were reported during the experiment. In general, broilers supplemented with A. annua dried leaves showed a significantly (p<0.05) reduced number of excreted oocysts during the infection with no interaction to genotype. Females generally had a significantly higher shedding of oocysts than males (p<0.05). The overall body weight gain and the daily weight gain when infection was subdued showed a three-way interaction among genotype, sex and treatment - accounted mainly for the fact that Kosmos females responded positively to the Artemisia treatment while Kosmos males responded negatively, and only minor differences were found between sexes for the White Bresse genotype. In conclusion, supply of A. annua dried leaves as a botanical coccidiostat significantly reduced oocyst output in free ranged broilers and thus may form part of a strategy to prevent commercial losses.

Mensuração da pressão intra-abdominal nas unidades de tratamento intensivo: a opinião dos médicos intensivistas / Measurement of intra-abdominal pressure in the intensive care unit: the opinion of the critical care physicians

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Os efeitos adversos da hipertensão intra-abdominal (PIA) são conhecidos há muitos anos, mas apenas recentemente deu-se importância à sua monitorização. Há evidências que cerca de um quarto dos centros de tratamento intensivo (CTI) não medem a PIA por falta de conhecimento da sua importância ou dificuldade na interpretação dos resultados. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o conhecimento dos médicos sobre a síndrome de compartimento abdominal (SCA) e as características do seu manuseio. MÉTODO: Para a realização deste estudo foi enviado um questionário, contendo 12 perguntas sobre o assunto, para médicos que trabalham em CTI. RESULTADOS: O conhecimento das definições internacionais de SCA não parece estar influenciado pelo tempo de exercício da Medicina, mas sim pelo tempo de atividade dedicada à Medicina Intensiva. Embora a maioria esteja ciente da existência da SCA, menos da metade dos médicos que responderam ao questionário conhece as definições internacionais de 2004. A medida da PIA é realizada em pacientes com predisposição para SCA, por via intravesical, com injeção de 25 a 100 mL de líquido, com intervalos de 4 a 8 horas. Não parece existir valor de PIA (associado ou não a disfunções orgânicas) de consenso entre médicos desta pesquisa em relação ao tratamento clínico ou cirúrgico. CONCLUSÕES: O conhecimento sobre SCA é satisfatório quando considerados apenas os médicos que atuam majoritariamente em Medicina Intensiva. Contudo, é necessária a educação acerca da presença e gravidade da hipertensão intra-abdominal para grande parte dos médicos atuantes na Medicina Intensiva na região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The adverse effects of intra-abdominal hypertension are known for many years. Only recently proper attention has been given to routine intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring. There is evidence that a quarter of intensive care units (ICU) do not measure IAP, due to a lack of knowledge of its importance or difficulty in results interpretation. The aim of this study is investigate the knowledge of ICU physicians about abdominal compartimental syndrome and its management. METHODS: A questionnaire with 12 questions about this issue was mailed to ICU physicians. RESULTS: The current knowledge of the international definitions of ACS does not seem to be linked to the number of years of medical practice, but was associated with the time spent working on intensive care. Although most physicians are aware of the existence of ACS, less than half know the present international definitions. The IAP monitoring is performed in patients at risk for ACS, by means of the intravesical filling with 25 to 100 mL of liquids, in intervals varying from of 4 to 8 hours. There was no consensus on the value of IAP values (with or without organ dysfunctions) for the clinical or surgical treatments of ACS in this survey. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of ACS is satisfactory when we consider only physicians that devote most of their time to ICU work. However, it is necessary to improve education and knowledge of most intensive care physicians regarding the presence and severity of intra-abdominal hypertension in Rio de Janeiro.

[Measurement of intra-abdominal pressure in the intensive care unit: the opinion of the critical care physicians]. / Mensuração da pressão intra-abdominal nas unidades de tratamento intensivo: a opinião dos médicos intensivistas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The adverse effects of intra-abdominal hypertension are known for many years. Only recently proper attention has been given to routine intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring. There is evidence that a quarter of intensive care units (ICU) do not measure IAP, due to a lack of knowledge of its importance or difficulty in results interpretation. The aim of this study is investigate the knowledge of ICU physicians about abdominal compartimental syndrome and its management. METHODS: A questionnaire with 12 questions about this issue was mailed to ICU physicians. RESULTS: The current knowledge of the international definitions of ACS does not seem to be linked to the number of years of medical practice, but was associated with the time spent working on intensive care. Although most physicians are aware of the existence of ACS, less than half know the present international definitions. The IAP monitoring is performed in patients at risk for ACS, by means of the intravesical filling with 25 to 100 mL of liquids, in intervals varying from of 4 to 8 hours. There was no consensus on the value of IAP values (with or without organ dysfunctions) for the clinical or surgical treatments of ACS in this survey. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of ACS is satisfactory when we consider only physicians that devote most of their time to ICU work. However, it is necessary to improve education and knowledge of most intensive care physicians regarding the presence and severity of intra-abdominal hypertension in Rio de Janeiro.