Experimental study of the delayed threshold phenomenon in a semiconductor laser

An experimental study of the delayed threshold phenomenon in a Vertical Extended Cavity Semiconductor Emitting Laser is carried out. Under modulation of the pump power, the laser intensity exhibits a hysteresis behavior in the vicinity of the threshold. The temporal width of this hysteresis is measured as a function of the modulation frequency, and is proved to follow the predicted scaling law. A model based on the rate equations is derived and used to analyze the experimental observations. A frequency variation of the laser around the delayed threshold and induced by the phase-amplitude coupling is predicted and estimated

Fluorescence spectrum of a two-level atom driven by a multiple modulated field

We investigate the fluorescence spectrum of a two-level atom driven by a multiple amplitude-modulated field. The driving held is modeled as a polychromatic field composed of a strong central (resonant) component and a large number of symmetrically detuned sideband fields displaced from the central component by integer multiples of a constant detuning. Spectra obtained here differ qualitatively from those observed for a single pair of modulating fields [B. Blind, P.R. Fontana, and P. Thomann, J. Phys. B 13, 2717 (1980)]. In the case of a small number of the modulating fields, a multipeaked spectrum is obtained with the spectral features located at fixed frequencies that are independent of the number of modulating fields and their Rabi frequencies. As the number of the modulating fields increases, the spectrum ultimately evolves to the well-known Mellow triplet with the sidebands shifted from the central component by an effective Rabi frequency whose magnitude depends on the initial relative phases of the components of the driving held. For equal relative phases, the effective Rabi frequency of the driving field can be reduced to zero resulting in the disappearance of fluorescence spectrum, i.e., the atom can stop interacting with the field. When the central component and the modulating fields are 180 degrees out of phase, the spectrum retains its triplet structure with the sidebands located at frequencies equal to the sum of the Rabi frequencies of the component of the driving field. Moreover, we shaw that the frequency of spontaneous emission can be controlled and switched from one frequency to another when the Rabi frequency or initial phase of the modulating fields are varied

Prescribing patterns in premenstrual syndrome

BACKGROUND: Over 300 therapies have been proposed for premenstrual syndrome. To date there has been only one survey conducted in the UK of PMS treatments prescribed by GPs, a questionnaire-based study by the National Association of Premenstrual Syndrome in 1989. Since then, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors have been licensed for severe PMS/PMDD, and governmental recommendations to reduce the dosage of vitamin B6 (the first choice over-the-counter treatment for many women with PMS) have been made. This study investigates the annual rates of diagnoses and prescribing patterns for premenstrual syndrome (1993–1998) within a computerised general practitioner database. METHODS: Retrospective survey of prescribing data for premenstrual syndrome between 1993–1998 using the General Practice Research Database for the West Midlands Region which contains information on 282,600 female patients RESULTS: Overall the proportion of women with a prescription-linked diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome has halved over the five years. Progestogens including progesterone were the most commonly recorded treatment for premenstrual syndrome during the whole study period accounting for over 40% of all prescriptions. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors accounted for only 2% of the prescriptions in 1993 but rose to over 16% by 1998, becoming the second most commonly recorded treatment. Vitamin B6 accounted for 22% of the prescriptions in 1993 but dropped markedly between 1997 and 1998 to 11%. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a yearly decrease in the number of prescriptions linked to diagnoses for premenstrual syndrome. Progestogens including progesterone, is the most widely prescribed treatment for premenstrual syndrome despite the lack of evidence demonstrating their efficacy

Et in Arcadia Eco: Law & Masonic Literature

Este trabajo explora como la novela de Umberto Ecco, El péndulo de Foucault, pudo haber sido interpretada como una parodia de Holy Blood and Holy Grail por sus autores, Baigent y Leigh. Exploramos porqué Baigent y Leigh eligieron llevar a juicio la novela de Dan Brown “El Codigo Da Vinci” cuando la obra de Foucault era un caso parecido. Especialmente porque la obra de Eco es conocida como “El código Da Vinci del hombre que piensa”. Primero, hemos analizado la proximidad de las estructuras de la novela de Eco a la de Holy Blood and Holy Grail. Después, ilustramos las semejanzas temáticas en las obras de Brown y Eco para demostrar cómo cualquier intento de litigio contra cualquiera de las dos publicaciones, según los jueces que ajusticiaron el caso en el Tribunal Supremo y en el de Apelación del Reino Unido resultaría en la pérdida del caso para los demandantes.This paper explores how Umberto Eco’s novel Foucault’s Pendulum can be interpreted as a critical parody of The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail by the historians Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln respectively. We explore why two of these authors chose Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code as the object of their copyright grievance when Eco’s work was at least potentially an equal case. Especially since Eco’s work is frequently referred to as ‘the thinking man’s Da Vinci Code.’ First, we have analyzed the proximity of the structure of Eco’s novel with that of The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail’s. Second, we have highlighted the similarities between the themes in both Eco’s and Brown’s novels to show how any attempt of copyright litigation against either publication, according to the ruling of the judges in the United Kingdom’s High Court and Court of Appeal would still result in a loss for the claimants

Et in Arcadia Eco: Law & Masonic Literature

This paper explores how Umberto Eco’s novel Foucault’s Pendulum can be interpreted as a critical parody of The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail by the historians Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln respectively. We explore why two of these authors chose Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code as the object of their copyright grievance when Eco’s work was at least potentially an equal case. Especially since Eco’s work is frequently referred to as ‘the thinking man’s Da Vinci Code.’ First, we have analyzed the proximity of the structure of Eco’s novel with that of The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail’s. Second, we have highlighted the similarities between the themes in both Eco’s and Brown’s novels to show how any attempt of copyright litigation against either publication, according to the ruling of the judges in the United Kingdom’s High Court and Court of Appeal would still result in a loss for the claimants.Este trabajo explora como la novela de Umberto Ecco, El péndulo de Foucault, pudo haber sido interpretada como una parodia de Holy Blood and Holy Grail por sus autores, Baigent y Leigh. Exploramos porqué Baigent y Leigh eligieron llevar a juicio la novela de Dan Brown “El Codigo Da Vinci” cuando la obra de Foucault era un caso parecido. Especialmente porque la obra de Eco es conocida como “El código Da Vinci del hombre que piensa”. Primero, hemos analizado la proximidad de las estructuras de la novela de Eco a la de Holy Blood and Holy Grail. Después, ilustramos las semejanzas temáticas en las obras de Brown y Eco para demostrar cómo cualquier intento de litigio contra cualquiera de las dos publicaciones, según los jueces que ajusticiaron el caso en el Tribunal Supremo y en el de Apelación del Reino Unido resultaría en la pérdida del caso para los demandantes

Et in Arcadia Eco: Law & Masonic Literature

This paper explores how Umberto Eco’s novel Foucault’s Pendulum can be interpreted as a critical parody of The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail by the historians Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln respectively. We explore why two of these authors chose Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code as the object of their copyright grievance when Eco’s work was at least potentially an equal case. Especially since Eco’s work is frequently referred to as ‘the thinking man’s Da Vinci Code.’ First, we have analyzed the proximity of the structure of Eco’s novel with that of The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail’s. Second, we have highlighted the similarities between the themes in both Eco’s and Brown’s novels to show how any attempt of copyright litigation against either publication, according to the ruling of the judges in the United Kingdom’s High Court and Court of Appeal would still result in a loss for the claimants.Este trabajo explora como la novela de Umberto Ecco, El péndulo de Foucault, pudo haber sido interpretada como una parodia de Holy Blood and Holy Grail por sus autores, Baigent y Leigh. Exploramos porqué Baigent y Leigh eligieron llevar a juicio la novela de Dan Brown “El Codigo Da Vinci” cuando la obra de Foucault era un caso parecido. Especialmente porque la obra de Eco es conocida como “El código Da Vinci del hombre que piensa”. Primero, hemos analizado la proximidad de las estructuras de la novela de Eco a la de Holy Blood and Holy Grail. Después, ilustramos las semejanzas temáticas en las obras de Brown y Eco para demostrar cómo cualquier intento de litigio contra cualquiera de las dos publicaciones, según los jueces que ajusticiaron el caso en el Tribunal Supremo y en el de Apelación del Reino Unido resultaría en la pérdida del caso para los demandantes

A Tale of Two Phonologies: Problems in Armenian ASR

International audienceArmenian is a traditionally under-resourced language, which has seen a recent uptick in interest in the development of its tools and presence in the digital domain. Some of this recent interest has centered around the development of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technologies. However, the language boasts two standard variants which diverge on several levels, the most salient of which being on the phonetic-phonological level. Despite this divergence several social factors render a unified ASR system preferable and practical. These factors include :• a high level of mutual-intelligibility• intense social overlap of the speech communities• increased contact between the two; bi-variant households and speakersIn terms of ASR, the most problematic feature of the divergence between Standard Western Armenian (SWA) and Standard Eastern Armenian (SEA), is that of the phonologies, and more specifically, the voicing systems

A Tale of Two Phonologies: Problems in Armenian ASR

International audienceArmenian is a traditionally under-resourced language, which has seen a recent uptick in interest in the development of its tools and presence in the digital domain. Some of this recent interest has centered around the development of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technologies. However, the language boasts two standard variants which diverge on several levels, the most salient of which being on the phonetic-phonological level. Despite this divergence several social factors render a unified ASR system preferable and practical. These factors include :• a high level of mutual-intelligibility• intense social overlap of the speech communities• increased contact between the two; bi-variant households and speakersIn terms of ASR, the most problematic feature of the divergence between Standard Western Armenian (SWA) and Standard Eastern Armenian (SEA), is that of the phonologies, and more specifically, the voicing systems

A Tale of Two Phonologies: Problems in Armenian ASR

International audienceArmenian is a traditionally under-resourced language, which has seen a recent uptick in interest in the development of its tools and presence in the digital domain. Some of this recent interest has centered around the development of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technologies. However, the language boasts two standard variants which diverge on several levels, the most salient of which being on the phonetic-phonological level. Despite this divergence several social factors render a unified ASR system preferable and practical. These factors include :• a high level of mutual-intelligibility• intense social overlap of the speech communities• increased contact between the two; bi-variant households and speakersIn terms of ASR, the most problematic feature of the divergence between Standard Western Armenian (SWA) and Standard Eastern Armenian (SEA), is that of the phonologies, and more specifically, the voicing systems