Carrier-envelope offset dynamics of mode-locked lasers.

We investigate coupling mechanisms between the amplitude and the carrier-envelope offset phase in mode-locked lasers. We find that nonlinear beam steering in combination with the intracavity prism compressor is the predominant mechanism that causes amplitude-to-phase conversion in our laser. A second mechanism, induced by self-steepening, is also identified.

Frequency-sheared, time-delayed extreme-ultraviolet pulses produced by high-harmonic generation in argon.

We report the production of frequency-sheared high harmonics in argon by control of the envelope and chirp of the electric field of the femtosecond driving laser pulse. Using the classic three-step model of high-harmonic generation, we established a direct link between the properties of the harmonics and the fully characterized driving pulses. A simulation of the single-atom response in the strong-field approximation confirms the simple picture and shows good agreement with the experimental results.

Breakthrough pain characteristics and syndromes in patients with cancer pain. An international survey.

Breakthrough pain (BKP) is a transitory flare of pain that occurs on a background of relatively well controlled baseline pain. Previous surveys have found that BKP is highly prevalent among patients with cancer pain and predicts more severe pain, pain-related distress and functional impairment, and relatively poor quality of life. An international group of investigators assembled by a task force of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of BKP as part of a prospective, cross-sectional survey of cancer pain.

1,25(OH)2D3 receptors and endorgan response in experimental aluminium intoxication.

Severe aluminium-induced osteomalacia is refractory to treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 which frequently causes hypercalcemia. To further explore the mechanisms involved, we have utilized a model of short-term aluminium intoxication in the rat (total: 11 mg elemental aluminium in 3 weeks) to study (a) 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor status in a variety of classical and non-classical target organs for 1,25(OH)2D3; (b) circulating 1,25(OH)2D3 levels; (c) baseline duodenal calcium transport, utilising the Ussing chamber, to investigate the functional significance of receptor status in a classical target organ; and (d) duodenal calcium transport response to exogenously administered 1,25(OH)2D3. Both in the three week model and in the 16 week model (total: 41 mg elemental calcium) increased maximal specific binding capacity for 1,25(OH)2D3 (Nmax), that is, number of unoccupied receptors, was observed in nuclear fractions of all tissues studied.