Cylindrical KTiOPO(4) crystal for enhanced angular tunability of phase-matched optical parametric oscillators

We demonstrate what is to our knowledge the first optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on a cylindrical phase-matched nonlinear crystal. Experiments are performed with an uncoated KTiOPO(4) crystal cut as a cylinder with a diameter of 21.2 mm and a thickness of 5 mm. We achieve 20.5-internal-degree angular tuning in a 1064-nm-pumped type III OPO, which would correspond to ~36 degrees external angular rotation for a parallelepipedal crystal. The goals of using such a device are to narrow the spectral width of the output and to enhance the spatial quality of the generated beams in widely tunable OPO's.     

Structure and absolute stereochemistry of phormidolide,a new toxic metabolite from the marine cyanobacterium Phormidium sp

The extract from a laboratory culture of an Indonesian isolate of the cyanobacterium Phormidium sp. displayed inhibitory activity in a Ras-Raf protein interaction assay. Assay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of both active and inactive materials of novel structure. The major inactive metabolite, phormidolide, was nevertheless highly toxic to brine shrimp (LC(50) = 1.5 microM), and hence, its structure was elucidated using various spectroscopic methods, primarily NMR. A series of partial structures were developed from standard experiments and then assembled using GHMBC, 2D INADEQUATE, and ACCORD-ADEQUATE data obtained on a (13)C-enriched sample. The relative stereochemistry at phormidolide's 11 chiral centers was established using the J-based configuration analysis method in concert with the G-BIRD(R)-HSQMBC NMR experiment. Absolute stereochemistry was determined on a bis-acetonide derivative using the variable temperature Mosher ester method. The robust number of NMR restraints provided from determination of most homonuclear and heteronuclear coupling constants in phormidolide, along with an abundance of NOE information, allowed construction of a refined lowest energy three-dimensional structure in Macromodel. Phormidolide is one of only a few macrolide-type natural products to be reported from marine cyanobacteria.     

Widely and continuously tunable optical parametric oscillator based on a cylindrical periodically poled KTiOPO(4) crystal

We report on what is to our knowledge the first realization of a quasi-phase-matched optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on a crystal with a cylindrical shape. The main reason for interest in this device is its broad, continuous tuning. In experiments with a 1064-nm pump, the signal tuning range was equal to 525 nm (1515-2040 nm), and the corresponding idler was continuously tuned over 1340 nm (2220-3560 nm). The angular tuning was 26 degrees , with only a minor variation of the OPO threshold over the entire tuning range.     

Gradient nanoscale polycrystalline elasticity: Intergrain interactions and triple-junction conditions

Using the principle of virtual power, we develop general balance equations, interface conditions, triple-junction conditions, and boundary conditions for second-grade nanocrystalline elastic materials undergoing infinitesimal deformations. We further develop thermodynamically consistent constitutive equations and provide a weak formulation of resulting boundary-value problems that automatically yields internal conditions such those that hold across interfaces and at triple junctions.     

Identities in Finite Strain

First of all the deformation is considered of two infinitesimal material line elements lying along vectors M,N emanating from a particle at X in a body. For all M,N lying in a given plane, an identity is derived relating the stretches along M,N and the angles of the pair of infinitesimal material line elements before and after deformation. Then, the deformation is considered of three non-coplanar infinitesimal material line elements lying along vectors M,N,P emanating from a particle at X in a body. An identity is derived relating the stretches along M,N,P and the angles between the three pairs of infinitesimal material line elements before and after deformation. The identity is factored leading to easy interpretation. The special case of infinitesimal strain is considered.      

Usefulness of capability indices in the framework of analytical methods validation

Analytical methods capability evaluation can be a useful methodology to assess the fitness of purpose of these methods for their future routine application. However, care on how to compute the capability indices have to be made. Indeed, the commonly used formulas to compute capability indices such as Cpk, will highly overestimate the true capability of the methods. Especially during methods validation or transfer, there are only few experiments performed and, using in these situations the commonly applied capability indices to declare a method as valid or as transferable to a receiving laboratory will conduct to inadequate decisions.