Malonyl coenzyme A decarboxylase deficiency.

Two new cases of malonyl coenzyme A (CoA) decarboxylase deficiency are described. Hitherto, the worldwide experience of the disorder has been confined to reports on two affected Australian children. The new cases are Scots born and are the offspring of consanguinous parents of Scots/Irish origin. They were investigated during episodes of vomiting and febrile convulsions associated with concomitant developmental delay. Malonic aciduria and grossly reduced malonyl CoA decarboxylase activity were demonstrated and the total ion current chromatograms of urinary organic acid profiles obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry are presented. The clinical and biochemical features of the Scots and Australian patients are compared

Crossover from photon to exciton-polariton lasing

We report on a real-time observation of the crossover between photon and exciton-polariton lasing in a semiconductor microcavity. Both lasing phases are observed at different times after a high-power excitation pulse. Energy-, time- and angle-resolved measurements allow for the transient characterization of carrier distribution and effective temperature. We find signatures of Bose-Einstein condensation, namely macroscoping occupation of the ground state and narrowing of the linewidth in both lasing regimes. The Bernard-Douraffourgh condition for inversion was tested and the polariton laser as well as the photon laser under continuous wave excitation were found to operate at estimated densities below the theoretically predicted inversion threshold