Light squeezing enhancement by coupling nonlinear optical cavities.

In this paper, we explore the squeezing effect generated by two coupled optical cavities. Each cavity contains a second-order nonlinear material and coherently pumped by a laser. Our results show that light intensity is strongly improved due to the presence of the nonlinearities and mainly depends on the detunings between external laser frequencies and cavity modes. More interestingly, the proposed scheme could enhance light squeezing for moderate coupling between cavities : the squeezing generated by one cavity is enhanced by the other one. For resonant interaction, highest squeezing effect is obtained near resonance. When fields are non resonant, squeezing increases near resonance of the considered cavity, but decreases for large detunings relative to the second cavity. Further, when the dissipation rate of the second cavity is smaller than the first, the squeezing could be improved, attaining nearly the perfect squeezing. While the temperature elevation has a negative impact overall on the nonclassical light, squeezing shows an appreciable resistance against thermal baths for appropriate parameter sets.

Managing data for the international, multicentre INTERGROWTH-21st Project.

The INTERGROWTH-21(st) Project data management was structured incorporating both a centralised and decentralised system for the eight study centres, which all used the same database and standardised data collection instruments, manuals and processes. Each centre was responsible for the entry and validation of their country-specific data, which were entered onto a centralised system maintained by the Data Coordinating Unit in Oxford. A comprehensive data management system was designed to handle the very large volumes of data. It contained internal validations to prevent incorrect and inconsistent values being captured, and allowed online data entry by local Data Management Units, as well as real-time management of recruitment and data collection by the Data Coordinating Unit in Oxford. To maintain data integrity, only the Data Coordinating Unit in Oxford had access to all the eight centres' data, which were continually monitored. All queries identified were raised with the relevant local data manager for verification and correction, if necessary. The system automatically logged an audit trail of all updates to the database with the date and name of the person who made the changes. These rigorous processes ensured that the data collected in the INTERGROWTH-21(st) Project were of exceptionally high quality.

Squeezed vacuum interaction with an optomechanical cavity containing a quantum well.

We investigate a hybrid system consisting of an optomechanical resonator and an optical cavity containing a quantum well. The system is coupled to a squeezed vacuum reservoir. We analyze the effect of the injection of squeezed photons inside the cavity on the intensity spectrum. The system reaches a regime of hybrid resonance where mechanical, excitonic and cavity modes are intermixed. Despite that the optomechanical interaction is the source of the nonlinearity in the system, the optimum squeezing is obtained at the hybrid resonance frequencies. However, when the squeezed vacuum is applied, at these frequencies the minimum squeezing is realized as well as an increase of fluctuations is observed. We show that the squeezed vacuum transforms the coherent states into highly squeezed states of light, and offers a great flexibility to obtain maximal squeezing. Furthermore, a perfect squeezing is predicted.

[Pleuro-pneumopathy revealing an unusual inhaled bronchial foreign body]. / Pleuro-pneumopathie révélant une inhalation d'un corps étranger bronchique inhabituel.

Inhalation of foreign bodies is not often observed in young adults, and may go unnoticed. A 37-year-old patient, with no significant medical history, was admitted for right basal pleuro-pneumopathy. Endoscopic examination revealed the presence of a brittle yellowish formation. It was a bone fragment, accidentally inhaled by the patient. It is necessary to look for an inhaled foreign body in cases of serious infection unusually observed in an immuno-competent patient.

[Association of pulmonary carcinoma and ductal breast cancer]. / Association d'un carcinome pulmonaire et d'un cancer canalaire du sein.

Multiple primary cancers are relatively rare. The association between lung and breast cancer is exceptional and requires genetic research and predisposing factors. We report the case of a female patient of 43years, hospitalized for atelectasis of the left lung with breast lumps. Bronchial biopsies have concluded a primary lung adenocarcinoma. Breast biopsy objectified ductal invasive breast cancer. The treatment was a palliative chemotherapy. The evolution is marked by the early death of the patient. Although the association of multiple cancers is rare, their discovery requires a particular treatment regimen depends on the staging of each cancer.

[Diagnostic means for tuberculosis]. / Les moyens diagnostiques de la tuberculose.

Tuberculosis is a public health problem. In recent years, there is a change in the epidemiological profile of tuberculosis. The diagnosis of tuberculosis is based on clinical and radiological arguments but confirmation is bacteriological and/or histological. Culture remains the gold standard. Technological progress especially in molecular biology provides the clinician now new means of tuberculosis diagnostics.

[Prevention of hypotension during spinal anesthesia for elective caesarean section: coloading with HAE 130/0.4 vs normal saline solution]. / Prévention de l'hypotension induite par la rachianesthésie au cours de la césarienne programmée : coremplissage par HEA 130/0,4 vs sérum salé isotonique.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of HES 130/0.4 coloading compared to normal saline solution for prevention of hypotension during spinal anesthesia for elective caesarean section. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty ASA I and II patients scheduled for elective caesarean section were recruited. Patients were randomized to receive either 500mL of HES 130/0.4 (Voluven(®)) coloading (GroupV) or 500mL of normal saline solution coloading (GroupC). Spinal anesthesia technique and ephedrine administration were standardized in both groups. The primary endpoint was the incidence of maternal hypotension during spinal anesthesia for elective caesarean section. RESULTS: Hypotension occurred in 43 patients in group C and 24 patients in group V (p=0.001). Ephedrine consumption was significantly lower in group V (P=0.005). Nausea, vomiting and headache incidence was higher in group C (p=0.006). Apgar scores and umbilical blood gazes were comparable between groups. CONCLUSION: HES 130/0.4 coload was more effective than normal saline solution to prevent hypotension following spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean section. HES 130/0.4 coload reduced the incidence, the duration of longest hypotension, the need for ephedrine and the adverse maternal effects.

[Imaging of hydatid cyst of the lung]. / Analyse de la sémiologie radioclinique du kyste hydatique pulmonaire.

The pulmonary hydatid cyst is frequent in Mediterranean countries such as Morocco. Our analytic study concerned 70 cases of lung hydatid cysts collected from 2007 to 2010. Mean age was 35years and we noted a male predominance (53%). Forty-seven percent of patients belong to rural environment where 64% of them were in contact with dogs. The respiratory symptomatology was made mostly by cough (86%) and chest pain (70%). Diagnosis was based on radioclinical arguments with positive hydatic serology in some cases. The cyst was single in 84% of the cases, safe in 55% of the cases. The location in the right lung was dominant with a major affection of the right lower lobe. Conventional surgery was indicated in 67 cases. The liver hydatid cyst was discovered in 20% of cases and treated at the same time phases in 71% of cases. The evolution was good in 73% of the cases and marked by a recurrence in three of the operated cases.

[Preloading with HES 130/0.4 versus normal saline solution to prevent hypotension during spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean section]. / Préremplissage par HEA 130/0,4 versus sérum salé isotonique dans la prévention de l'hypotension au cours de la rachianesthésie pour césarienne programmée.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of HES 130/0.4 preload compared to normal saline solution for prevention of hypotension during spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean section. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty ASA I patients scheduled for elective caesarean section were randomized to receive either 1000 mL of normal saline solution preload (Group C) or 500 mL of HES 130/0.4 preload (Group V) within 15 minutes prior to spinal anaesthesia. Spinal anaesthesia techniques and ephedrine administration was standardized in both groups. The primary endpoint was the incidence of maternal hypotension before fetal extraction. RESULTS: The incidence of hypotension before fetal extraction was significantly lower in group V compared to group C (40% vs 66%, P=0.03). Ephedrine consumption was significantly lower in group V (7.6 ± 13 mg vs 16.4 ± 15 mg). Lowest systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in group V (96 ± 14 vs 85 ± 14 mmHg, P=0.005). Incidence of adverse maternal effects and neonatal consequences were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: HES 130/0.4 preload reduced the incidence of hypotension, the duration of longest hypotension, and the need for ephedrine during spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean section. However, the efficacy of HES 130/0.4 alone in prevention of maternal hypotension during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section is still insufficient.