High-conversion-efficiency all-optical wavelength converter based on cascaded highly nonlinear fibers.

All-optical wavelength converters based on parametric processing of highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) can provide low energy consumption, fast process speed, and modulation format agnosticism. A longer HNLF with a larger nonlinear coefficient and high pump power will contribute to achieve higher conversion efficiency. However, the injected pump power to the fiber is limited by its stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold, where longer fibers always have lower threshold powers. In the paper, we propose an all-optical wavelength converter with higher conversion efficiency by cascading two different HNLFs. We experimentally achieved -8 dB conversion efficiency and good converted signals with negligible power penalties.

Applicable Strains, Processing Techniques and Health Benefits of Fermented Oat Beverages: A Review.

Based on the high nutrients of oat and the demand of health-conscious consumers for value-added and functional foods, fermented oat beverages have great market prospects. This review summarizes the applicable strains, processing techniques and health benefits of fermented oat beverages. Firstly, the fermentation characteristics and conditions of the applicable strains are systematically described. Secondly, the advantages of pre-treatment processes such as enzymatic hydrolysis, germination, milling and drying are summarized. Furthermore, fermented oat beverages can increase the nutrient content and reduce the content of anti-nutritional factors, thereby reducing some risk factors related to many diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. This paper discusses the current research status of fermented oat beverages, which has academic significance for researchers interested in the application potential of oat. Future studies on fermenting oat beverages can focus on the development of special compound fermentation agents and the richness of their taste.

Effects of postoperative enteral immune-enhancing diet on plasma endotoxin level, plasma endotoxin inactivation capacity and clinical outcome.

This study examined the postoperative plasma endotoxin level, plasma endotoxin inactivation capacity and clinical outcome after administration of an enteral diet supplemented with glutamine, arginine and omega-3-fatty acid in patients undergoing gastrointestinal operations on an prospective, randomized and double-blind design. 40 patients undergoing gastrointestinal operations were randomized into two groups, with each having 20 patients. One group received standard enteral nutrition and the other was fed the formulation supplemented with glutamine, arginine and omega-3-fatty acid. The two groups were isonitrogenous. The infusion was started from day 1 after surgery and continued for 7 days. Blood samples were collected on the morning of day 1 before operation and on the morning of 1, 4 and 7 day(s) after operation and analyzed for plasma endotoxin level and endotoxin inactivation capacity (EIC). Our study found no differences between the two groups on plasma endotoxin level. After surgery a rapid reduction in plasma endotoxin inactivation capacity was observed in both groups, a significant recovery of the plasma endotoxin inactivation capacity was observed on morning of day 4 after surgery in the study group (0.12 +/- 0.02 EU/mL and 0.078 +/- 0.022 EU/mL respectively, P < 0.01). Shortened hospital stay was observed in the experimental group (11.7 +/- 2.0 days in the control group and 10.6 +/- 1.2 days in the experimental group respectively, P = 0.03). It is concluded that perioperative parenteral nutrition supplemented with glutamine, arginine and omega-3-fatty acid ameliorated postoperative immunodepression but without direct effect on endotoxemia.

[Meta-analysis on curative effects of surgical procedures for intrahepatic bile duct lithiasis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare curative effects of various surgical procedures of bile duct stones. METHODS: Two thousand nine hundred and fifty-five patients with intrahepatic bile duct lithiasis who had undergone various surgical procedures were analysed with Meta-analysis. Some of these cases were reported in Chinese Medical Journals from January 1990 to March 2001 and others were from Tongji Hospital. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between curative effects of non-hepatectomy and that of hepatectomy (chi(2) = 62.945, P < 0.01), and the outcomes of hepatectomy were much better than those of non-hepatectomy with OR(S) equalled to 0.303 (0.222 - 0.413). There was not a significant difference between curative effect of interposed jejunum and that of hepatectomy (95% CI of RR from 0.98 to 1.04). All the other operation, effects were worse than hepatectomy (upper limit of 95% CI of RR < 1). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatectomy is the most ideal surgery for intrahepatic bile duct stones and operation methods should be diversified since good effect could also be obtained when other operations are performed on suitable cases.