Lasing in Bose-Fermi mixtures.

Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, well-known for revolutionising photonic science, has been realised primarily in fermionic systems including widely applied diode lasers. The prerequisite for fermionic lasing is the inversion of electronic population, which governs the lasing threshold. More recently, bosonic lasers have also been developed based on Bose-Einstein condensates of exciton-polaritons in semiconductor microcavities.

Abdominal incisions: transverse vs vertical placement and continuous vs interrupted closure.

A previous retrospective review of 2,006 emergency laparotomies had suggested that anesthesia and operative times could be reduced by using a continuous stitch closure for all layers of the incision. A prospective, randomized study was then implemented through use of odd/even digits in the last and next-to-last digits in the hospital number. Of 551 patients subjected to laparotomy because of abdominal trauma, no intraperitoneal injury was found in 212.

Use of antibiotic prophylaxis in penetrating abdominal trauma.

Information concerning the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in patients sustaining penetrating abdominal trauma is limited. Duration of such therapy is also uncertain. Thus a prospective, randomized, double-blind study was performed at Grady Memorial and City of Memphis Hospitals.