Precise frequency transfer through a fiber network by use of 1.5-microm mode-locked sources

We report the precise transfer of radio-frequency signals by use of the pulse repetition frequency of mode-locked laser sources at 1.5 microm transmitting through a fiber network. The passive transfer instability through a 6.9-km fiber is below 3 x 10(-14) at 1 s, which is comparable with the optical carrier-frequency transfer of a narrow-linewidth cw laser. The instability of the measurement system is below 7 x 10(-15) at 1 s. It is noted that the pulsed mode of operation offers almost an order-of-magnitude improvement in stability at 1 s over that with a sinusoidal amplitude modulation on an optical carrier.     

Absolute-frequency measurement of the iodine-based length standard at 514.67 nm

The absolute frequency of the length standard at 514.67 nm based on the molecular iodine (¹²⁷ I ₂) transition of the P(13) 43-0 component a₃ is measured using a self-referenced femtosecond optical comb. This frequency-based technique improves measurement precision more than 100 times compared with previous wavelength-based results. Power- and pressure-related frequency shifts have been carefully studied. The measured absolute frequency is 71.8±1.5 kHz higher than the internationally accepted value of 582490603.37±0.15 MHz, adopted by the Comité International des Poids et Mesures (CIPM) in 1997. Received: 7 March 2002 / Published online: 24 April 2002     

On the service system MX/G/∞

In the present paper we consider the service system M^X/G/∞ characterized by an infinite number of servers anda general service time distribution. The customers arrive at the system in groups of size X, which is a random variable, the time between group arrivals being exponentially distributed. Using simple probability arguments, we obtain probability generating functions (p.g.f.'s) of the number of busy servers at time t and the number that depart by time t. Several other properties of these random variables are also discussed.     

Redox inactivation of human 15-lipoxygenase by marine-derived meroditerpenes and synthetic chromanes: archetypes for a unique class of selective and recyclable inhibitors

The selective inhibition of human 15-lipoxygenase (15-hLO) could serve as a promising therapeutic target for the prevention of atherosclerosis. A screening of marine sponges revealed that crude extracts of Psammocinia sp. exhibited potent 15-hLO inhibitory activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of chromarols A-E (8-12) as potent and selective inhibitors of 15-hLO. An additional 22 structurally related compounds, including meroditerpenes from the same Psammocinia sp. (3, 4, 13-16) and our pure compound repository (17, 18), commercially available tocopherols (19-24), and synthetic chromanes (25-32), were evaluated for their ability to inhibit human lipoxygenases. The 6-hydroxychromane moiety found in chromarols A-D was identified as essential for the selective redox inhibition of 15-hLO. Furthermore, the oxidized form of the 6-hydroxychromane could be reduced by ascorbate, suggesting a potential regeneration pathway for these inhibitors in the body. This pharmacophore represents a promising paradigm for the development of a unique class of recyclable 15-hLO redox inhibitors for the treatment of atherosclerosis.     

Microporosity of a Guanidinium Organodisulfonate Hydrogen-Bonded Framework

Guanidinium organosulfonates (GSs) are a large and well-explored archetypal family of hydrogen-bonded organic host frameworks that have, over the past 25 years, been regarded as nonporous. Reported here is the only example to date of a conventionally microporous GS host phase, namely guanidinium 1,4-benzenedisulfonate ( p -G₂BDS ). p -G₂BDS is obtained from its acetone solvate, AcMe@ G₂BDS , by single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SC-SC) desolvation, and exhibits a Type I low-temperature/pressure N₂ sorption isotherm (SA_BET=408.7(2) m² g⁻¹, 77 K). SC-SC sorption of N₂, CO₂, Xe, and AcMe by p -G₂BDS is explored under various conditions and X-ray diffraction provides a measurement of the high-pressure, room temperature Xe and CO₂ sorption isotherms. Though p -G₂BDS is formally metastable relative to the “collapsed”, nonporous polymorph, np -G₂BDS , a sample of p -G₂BDS survived for almost two decades under ambient conditions. np -G₂BDS reverts to zCO₂@ p -G₂BDS or yXe@ p -G₂BDS (y,z=variable) when pressure of CO₂ or Xe, respectively, is applied.     

Quantum confinement in germanium nanocrystal thin films

Thin films of semiconductor nanocrystals with tunable optical properties are promising materials for new device applications, but progress has been slow for group IV materials. We report absorption measurements near the absorption edge of thin films of germanium nanocrystals synthesized in a plasma and impacted onto substrates. Band gaps extracted from the absorption data vary from the near‐bulk value of 0.73 eV for 9.0 nm nanocrystals to over 1.0 eV for 4.7 nm nanocrystals. These values are comparable to those reported for isolated, non‐interacting germanium nanocrystals, indicating minimal loss of quantum confinement upon dense film formation. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)