The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide advantages for remote laser delivery systems that conduct high levels of light energy through a fiber optic cable to a target surface. A culture which contains thus formed patterned spheroids of cultivated parenchymal cells is thereby provided by this invention. Each illumination pattern may illuminate the surface from a plurality of different directions and form an intensity gradient having an order of no more than two. The circuit has a comparator for determining whether the output current is less than or is increasing toward exceeding the predetermined value provides a corresponding control signal. The compositions can suitably be used as infant nutrition and advantageously reduce the incidence of infection. The in-band-flat-group-delay type dielectric filter includes a plurality of dielectric coaxial resonators, a coupling circuit comprising a combination of reactive elements, with which the dielectric coaxial resonators are coupled to one another, and inputoutput terminals connected to ends of the coupling circuit.