Abstract We report on a functional Fabry-Perot mode interferometer and its application for absolute displacement sensing. The proposed device consists of two well-cleaved tips of standard optical fibers that were introduced into a microcapillary glass with an inner diameter of ∼ 125.5 um; one tip was stuck to the capillary by the application of an electric arc from a standard splice machine, while the other tip was free to be longitudinally moved. The transmission spectrum of the interferometric device exhibited an interferometric pattern due to the reflections of the fundamental mode on the two partial reflecting tip surfaces of the standard optical fibers. The period and the intensity level of the interference pattern depend strongly on the separation between the optical fiber tips caused by the displacement of the free optical fiber tip. This dependence allows for the use of either period or intensity changes for length displacement sensing interrogation. For the period interrogation, the length can be accurately calculated and measured by taking the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the detected interference pattern. For intensity interrogation, a simple photodetector can determine the distance that separates the optical fiber tips.

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess inter-observer reliability of sites of deep endometriosis findings found by MRI and laparoscopy. Materials and Methods: Retrospective, non-experimental study, inter-observer reliability. Data were collected at our institution from all pelvic MRI reports that included the word “endometriosis”, between May 2015 and April 2018 (36 months), identifying 339 records. The following were established as inclusion criteria. Of the 339 records, 62 patients were excluded for surgery prior to MRI. Another 243 patients were excluded because they had no record of the surgical protocol after the MRI. 34 patients met the study inclusion criteria, equivalent to 10% of the MRIs studied. The locations of the endometrial implants reported on MRI were reviewed and correlated with the findings found in the surgery. A table was prepared to identify the presence / absence of implants in the locations described in the literature. Statistical analysis using Stata software, applying weighted kappa with a 95% confidence interval. Results: The average age of the patients undergoing surgery was 38 years. The places with a moderate-important correlation (0.41-0.80) corresponded to the uterus, recto-sigmoid, ovary, vagina, and recto-uterine pouch. Conclusion: Pelvic MRI is essential in the evaluation of patients with endometriosis in whom surgical management is proposed, in order to characterize the location, shape and number of lesions, and thus achieve satisfactory laparoscopic treatment.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar concordancia de sitios de hallazgos de endometriosis profunda encontrados por RM y laparoscopia. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, no experimental, concordancia intertécnica. Se recolectaron datos en nuestra institución de todos los informes de RM de pelvis que incluyeran la palabra “endometriosis”, entre mayo de 2015 y abril de 2018 (36 meses), identificando 339 registros. Se establecieron criterios de inclusión. De los 339 registros, 62 pacientes fueron excluidas por cirugía antes de la RM. Otras 243 pacientes fueron excluidas porque no presentaban registro de protocolo quirúrgico posterior a la RM. 34 pacientes cumplieron los criterios de inclusión del estudio, lo que equivale al 10% de las RM estudiadas. Se revisaron las ubicaciones de los implantes endometriósicos informados en RM y se correlacionaron con los hallazgos encontrados en la cirugía. Se confecciono tabla para identificar la presencia/ausencia de implantes en las ubicaciones descritas en la literatura. Análisis estadístico mediante software Stata, aplicando kappa ponderada con intervalo de confianza de 95%. Resultados: El promedio de edad de las pacientes llevadas a cirugía fue de 38 años. Los lugares con correlación moderada-importante (0.41-0.80) correspondieron a útero, recto-sigmoides, ovario, vagina y fondos de saco. Conclusión: La RM de Pelvis es fundamental en la evaluación de pacientes con endometriosis en las que se plantea un manejo quirúrgico, con el objetivo de caracterizar la ubicación, forma y número de lesiones, y así lograr un satisfactorio tratamiento laparoscópico.

RESUMO Neste artigo apresentamos um estudo sobre o Problema de Corte de Estoque com Sobras Aproveitáveis (PCESA) unidimensional. O Problema de Corte de Estoque (PCE) consiste em cortar um conjunto de objetos, disponíveis em estoque, para produzir um conjunto de itens em quantidades e tamanhos especificados. O PCESA é um PCE no qual nem todas as sobras de um processo de corte são consideradas perdas, ou seja, quando uma sobra for maior que um determinado comprimento, ela retorna ao estoque para ser usada nos processos de corte subsequentes. Assim, o objetivo do problema abordado é otimizar os planos de corte a serem aplicados em objetos padronizados e objetos não padronizados (sobras de cortes anteriores); atender a demanda conhecida de itens menores, de forma a minimizar a perda de material, controlando a quantidade de retalhos gerados. Para resolver este problema, duas heurísticas e três versões da metaheurística Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure (GRASP) foram desenvolvidas. Testes computacionais foram realizados para os procedimentos propostos em instâncias da literatura. As abordagens propostas para a solução apresentaram boas soluções em relação ao número de sobras geradas.

ABSTRACT In this article we present a study of the one-dimensional Cutting Stock Problem with Usable Leftovers Stock (CSPUL). The Cutting Stock Problem (CSP) consists of cutting a set of objects, available in stock, to produce a set of items in specified quantities and sizes. CSPUL is a CSP in which not all leftovers from a cutting process are considered waste, that is, when a leftover is greater than a certain length, it returns to the stock to be used in the subsequent cutting processes. Therefore, the objective of the addressed problem is to optimize the cutting planes to be applied to standardized objects and non-standardized objects (leftovers from previous cuts); meet the known demand for smaller items, in order to minimize the waste of material, controlling the amount of generated leftovers. In order to solve this problem, two heuristics and three versions of the Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure metaheuristic (GRASP) were developed. Computational tests were performed for the procedures proposed in instances of the literature. The approaches proposed for the solution presented good solutions in relation to the number of surpluses generated.

Beta-adrenergic receptor (βAR)-dependent blood vessel relaxation is impaired in older animals and G protein activation has been suggested as the causative mechanism. Here, we investigated the role of βAR subtypes (β1AR, β2AR, and β3AR) and cAMP in maturation-dependent vasorelaxation impairment. Aortic rings from 15 Sprague-Dawley male rats (3 or 9 weeks old) were harvested and left intact or denuded of the endothelium. Vascular relaxation in aortic rings from younger and older groups was compared in the presence of βAR subtype agonists and antagonists along with cAMP and cGMP antagonists. Isolated aortic rings were used to evaluate relaxation responses, protein expression was evaluated by western blot or real time PCR, and metabolites were measured by ELISA. Expression of βAR subtypes and adenylyl cyclase was assessed, and cAMP activity was measured in vascular tissue from both groups. Isoproterenol- and BRL744-dependent relaxation in aortic rings with and without endothelium from 9-week-old rats was impaired compared with younger rats. The β1AR antagonist CGP20712A (10-7 M) did not affect isoproterenol or BRL744-dependent relaxation in arteries from either group. The β2AR antagonist ICI-118,551 (10-7 M) inhibited isoproterenol-dependent aortic relaxation in both groups. The β3AR antagonist SR59230A (10-7 M) inhibited isoproterenol- and BRL744-dependent aortic ring relaxation in younger but not in older rats. All βAR subtypes were expressed in both groups, although β3AR expression was lower in the older group. Adenylyl cyclase (SQ 22536) or protein kinase A (H89) inhibitors prevented isoproterenol-induced relaxation in younger but not in older rats. Production of cAMP was reduced in the older group. Adenylyl cyclase III and RyR3 protein expression was higher in the younger group. In conclusion, altered expression of β3AR and adenylyl cyclase III may be responsible for reduced cAMP production in the older group.

A method for reducing splice loss between dissimilar optical fibers is presented. The fibers are first spliced by using a standard fusion splicing procedure, and then the fiber with the greater core is tapered before the splice point, while the fiber with the smaller core is fattened. By using this technique we have consistently obtained splice loss values of 0.13 dB between a DS/SMF and an SMF28 fiber, and 0.09 dB between a 980HP fiber and an SMF28 fiber.

Presentamos un método para reducir las perdidas en empalmes entre fibras ópticas con diferentes características. Las fibras son unidas usando un procedimiento de fusión estándar, para luego reducir el diámetro de la fibra con el núcleo de mayor tamaño antes del punto de unión, mientras que la fibra con el diámetro de núcleo menor es ensanchada. Mediante el uso de esta técnica hemos obtenido de manera consistente perdidas de 0.13 dB en un empalme entre una fibra DS/SMF y una fibra SMF28, y perdidas de 0.09 dB en un empalme entre una fibra 980HP y una fibra SMF28.

We report an experimental characterization of a Q-switched operation of an all-fiber laser using ~30m of a double-clad ytterbium-doped fiber spliced to a piece of single-mode un-doped holey fiber. Loss modulation in the splicing point between the active and un-doped fiber due to a substantial coupling of light into lossy cladding modes stimulates pulsed operation of the fiber laser. Pulse energy of ~ 2.5 μJ was estimated and the repetition rate was measured in the range of 4-16 KHz.

Reportamos una caracterizacion experimental de la operación en conmutación Q de un láser de fibra óptica de doble revestimiento dopada con iones de iterbio usando 30 m de fibra dopada empalmados a una pieza de fibra hueca monomodal. Modulacion de pérdidas en el empalme entre la fibra activa y la fibra hueca no dopada debido a acoplamiento de luz a modos que viajan en el recubrimiento estimula la operacion pulsada del laser de fibra. Pulsos máximos de ~ 2.5 μJ fueron estimados y una taza de repeticion del pulso en un rango de 4-16 KHz fue medida.

An analytical approach for the design of cascaded Raman fiber lasers is presented. The model computes the values of the pump and Stokes powers at the fiber laser output based on the boundary conditions, the invariants resultanting from the analysis of the coupled differential equations, and assuming that the sum of the forward and backward Stokes waves resonated inside the cavity is constant. The model is applied to Raman fiber lasers based on five nested cavities and compared with published results based on numerical models obtaining a good correlation.

Presentamos una aproximación analítica para el diseño de láseres Raman de fibra óptica con configuración en cascada. El modelo calcula los valores de las potencias de las ondas de bombeo y ondas Stokes en el extremo de salida del láser de fibra usando las condiciones en la frontera, las invariantes resultantes del análisis del sistema de ecuaciones acopladas, y suponiendo que la suma de las ondas Stokes resonadas dentro de la cavidad es constante. El modelo se utiliza para analizar el caso de un láser Raman de fibra óptica con cinco cavidades anidadas, y los resultados, se comparan con los obtenidos mediante métodos numéricos en la literatura logrando una buena correlación.