Alignment and efficiency-monitoring method of high-power fiber-to-fiber coupling

High-power fiber-to-fiber coupling is extensively used in fiber laser applications,and its performance is determined by coupling efficiency.We demonstrate a novel method for alignment and monitoring efficiency by detecting backscattering power at the fiber end cap.The relationship between alignment error and backscattering power is determined by simulations and experiments.Through this method,a state-of-the-art kW-level fiberto-fiber optic switch is developed(transmission efficiency>97%).It performs well for longer than 60 min.To the best of our knowledge,it is the first time to establish the mathematical model based on this method.Our results can provide guidance in high-power fiber-to-fiber coupling.     

Bioactivity-Guided Isolation of Phytochemicals from Vaccinium dunalianum Wight and Their Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities

Vaccinium dunalianum Wight, usually processed as a traditional folk tea beverage, is widely distributed in the southwest of China. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities of V. dunalianum extract and isolate the bioactive components. In this study, the crude extract (CE) from the buds of V. dunalianum was prepared by the ultrasound-assisted extraction method in 70% methanol and then purified with macroporous resin D101 to obtain the purified extract (PM). Five fractions (Fr. A–E) were further obtained by MPLC column (RP-C18). Bioactivity assays revealed that Fr. B with 40% methanol and Fr. D with 80% methanol had better antioxidant with 0.48 ± 0.03 and 0.62 ± 0.01 nM Trolox equivalent (TE)/mg extract for DPPH, 0.87 ± 0.02 and 1.58 ± 0.02 nM TE/mg extract for FRAP, 14.42 ± 0.41 and 19.25 ± 0.23 nM TE/mg extract for ABTS, and enzyme inhibitory effects with IC₅₀ values of 95.21 ± 2.21 and 74.55 ± 3.85 for α-glucosidase, and 142.53 ± 11.45 and 128.76 ± 13.85 µg/mL for pancreatic lipase. Multivariate analysis indicated that the TPC and TFC were positively related to the antioxidant activities. Further phytochemical purification led to the isolation of ten compounds (1–10). 6-O-Caffeoylarbutin (7) showed significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase enzymes with values of 38.38 ± 1.84 and 97.56 ± 7.53 µg/mL, and had the highest antioxidant capacity compared to the other compounds.     

Two New Chromeno[3,2-c]Pyridine Derivatives from the Whole Plants of Thalictrum finetii and Their Antirotavirus Activity

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - Two new chromeno[3,2-c]pyridin derivatives, 8-acetyl-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-10H-chromeno[3,2-c]pyridin-10-one (1) and...     

Type II hybrid structures of TiO2 nanorods conjugated with CdS quantum dots: assembly and optical properties

We developed a novel method to assemble TiO₂ nanorods conjugated with CdS quantum dots by L-cysteine molecular linker for type II semiconducting hybrid structure. The XRD patterns indicate that the CdS quantum dots perform the cubic phase structure, and TEM images show that CdS quantum dots are well dispersed on the surfaces of anatase TiO₂ nanorods with little agglomeration. The UV-vis absorption spectra reveal the bandgap alignment in type II configuration between CdS QDs and TiO₂ nanorods.     

3D photon counting imaging at 1550 nm with 1.5-GHz sine-wave-gated InGaAs/InP GAPD

We demonstrated a 3D laser imaging system at 1550 nm with a 1.5-GHz sine-wave gated Geiger-mode InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode (APD). An optical fiber bundle with 100 individual fiber outputs was implemented at the focal plane of the telescope, providing a 2.5-mrad imaging view. The system used single-pixel near-infrared single-photon detector to measure photons at fiber outputs instead of a photon counting array. The 1.5-GHz gated Geiger-mode InGaAs/InP APD with a timing jitter of 290 ps was operated in quasi-continuous mode with detection efficiency of ∼4.3%. We achieved higher than 6-cm surface-to-surface resolution at single-photon level, showing a potential of low-energy and eye-safe laser imaging system for long-distance measurements.     

Solventless Formation of G‐Quartet Complexes Based on Alkali and Alkaline Earth Salts on Au(111)

Template cations have been extensively employed in the formation, stabilization and regulation of structural polymorphism of G‐quadruplex structures in vitro. However, the direct addition of salts onto solid surfaces, especially under ultra‐high‐vacuum (UHV) conditions, to explore the feasibility and universality of the formation of G‐quartet complexes in a solventless environment has not been reported. By combining UHV‐STM imaging and DFT calculations, we have shown that three different G‐quartet‐M (M: Na/K/Ca) complexes can be obtained on Au(111) using alkali and alkaline earth salts as reactants. We have also identified the driving forces (intra‐quartet hydrogen bonding and electrostatic ionic bonding) for the formation of these complexes and quantified the interactions involved. Our results demonstrate a novel route to fabricate G‐quartet‐related complexes on solid surfaces, providing an alternative feasible way to bring metal elements to surfaces for constructing metal–organic systems.     

On some mean values for the divisor function and the Riemann zeta-function

Let Δ(x) and E(x) denote respectively the error terms in the summatory formula for the divisor function and in the mean square formula for ζ(s) on the critical line. We consider some general mean values for Δ(x) and E(x) and discover interesting differences between these two functions. In particular, this yields evidence that E(x) is more negative than Δ(x).     

Oscillation criteria for higher‐order nonlinear dynamic equations with Laplacians and a deviating argument on time scales

In this paper, we study the n th‐order nonlinear dynamic equation with Laplacians and a deviating argument on an above‐unbounded time scale, where n ?2, New oscillation criteria are established for the cases when n is even and odd and when α  > γ ,α  = γ , and α  < γ , respectively, with α  = α ₁?α _{n  ? 1}. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bogdanov‐Takens bifurcations of codimensions 2 and 3 in a Leslie‐Gower predator‐prey model with Michaelis‐Menten–type prey harvesting

The Bogdanov‐Takens bifurcations of a Leslie‐Gower predator‐prey model with Michaelis‐Menten–type prey harvesting were studied. In the paper “Diff. Equ. Dyn. Syst. 20(2012), 339‐366,” Gupta et al proved that the Leslie‐Gower predator‐prey model with Michaelis‐Menten–type prey harvesting has rich dynamics. Some equilibria of codimension 1 and their bifurcations were discussed. In this paper, we find that the model has an equilibrium of codimensions 2 and 3. We also prove analytically that the model undergoes Bogdanov‐Takens bifurcations (cusp cases) of codimensions 2 and 3. Hence, the model can have 2 limit cycles, coexistence of a stable homoclinic loop and an unstable limit cycle, supercritical and subcritical Hopf bifurcations, and homoclinic bifurcation of codimension 1 as the values of parameters vary. Moreover, several numerical simulations are conducted to illustrate the validity of our results.     

Hyperbolic Yamabe problem

In this paper, we investigate the solutions of the hyperbolic Yamabe problem for the(1 + n)-dimensional Minkowski space-time. More precisely speaking, for the case of n = 1, we derive a general solution of the hyperbolic Yamabe problem; for the case of n = 2, 3, we study the global existence and blowup phenomena of smooth solutions of the hyperbolic Yamabe problem;while for general multi-dimensional case n ≥ 2, we discuss the global existence and non-existence for a kind of exact solutions of the hyperbolic Yamabe problem.