Fuzzy network technique for technological forecasting

The stochastic network technique is known to be a powerful tool carrying out a technological forecast of complex systems. A network dealt with is characterized by a tetrad of essential elements: logical nodes with some inputs and outputs, probabilistics activity branches, feedback loops, and multiple sources and sinks. A set of network parameters is defined for each element and their values are estimated for practical analysis of the network. In the case where the system to be treated is very large and/or complex, it cannot always be represented by a definite network and therefore forecasted values of parameters are inevitably indefinite themselves. A conventional probabilistic approach is sometimes inadequate in such a case. In the light of these facts, the paper proposes a fuzzy network technique, in which among activity branches emanating from a node, a branch to be undertaken once the node is realized belongs to a fuzzy set; and the time required to complete an activity branch belongs to a fuzzy set. Operations of maximum and minimum for sum and product of fuzzy sets take the place of manipulations of addition and multiplication for probabilities, respectively. Although the operations are somewhat formal, the obtained results seem interesting. A numerical example is attached to show a comparison of the proposed technique with the conventional one.     

Optical third-harmonic generation from some high-index glasses

Optical third-harmonic generation from some high-index glasses was investigated. The highest χ⁽³⁾ was obtained from As₂S₃ glass 2.2 × 10⁻¹² esu/ This value was 100 times higher than that of pure SiO₂ glass and comparable with that of the polymer with monomer-doping, which are known as organic materials with quite high χ⁽³⁾. From the relationship between χ⁽³⁾ and composition, sulfide glasses were found to have higher χ⁽³⁾ than oxide or semiconductor-doped oxide glasses with similar refractive indices.     

Structural and conformational studies on citreoviridinol and isocitreoviridinol: syntheses of some 2,6-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

Isocitreoviridinol has been newly isolated from the mycelium of $\text{Penicillium citreo-viride}$ B. (IFO 6050) together with citreoviridinol, and their stereostructures have also been elucidated by means of chemical method: the 2,6-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes have been made, one of which is regarded as a promising synthetic intermediate of citreoviridinol. In addition, isocitreoviridinol diacetate has been derived from citreoviridin in 3 steps.     

Neutron scattering study of anisotropic spin correlations in quasi two-dimensional antiferromagnet MnTiO3

An anisotropic three-dimensional neutron critical scattering has been observed from a “quasi” two-dimensional antiferromagnet MnTiO₃ in the vicinity of the Néel temperature. When temperature increases, the scattering profile transforms gradually to a ridge-like form, indicating that “cross-over” from three-dimensional to two-dimensional character appears at about 16 degrees above T_N.