Soliton–like pulse dynamics in add–drop optical filters based on nonlinear fiber grating couplers

The dynamics characteristics of picosecond soliton-like pulses propagating through add–drop optical filters, based on lossless uniform and Gaussian nonlinear fiber grating couplers, are numerically investigated under different power levels. To obtain the temporal profiles, the nonlinear coupled-mode equations, that model these devices, are solved numerically. These devices can perform the extraction (drop) of an optical signal, since there is the reflection of a pulse previously switched between adjacent waveguides. The extraction efficiency, recurrently better at low power levels, is subordinated to the matching between the associated spectra of the input pulses and the hybrid devices analyzed. The switching effects, as well the gratings responsiveness, impact on the outputs profiles, since diverse temporal shapes can be obtained. The results reinforce the importance and the potential of properly engineered structures for all-optical processing requirements.     

Antiparticle Contribution in the Cross Ladder Diagram for Bethe-Salpeter Equation in the Light-Front

We construct the homogeneous integral equation for the vertex of the bound state in the light front with the kernel approximated to order g ⁴. We will truncate the hierarchical equations from Green functions to construct dynamical equations for the two boson bound state exchanging interacting intermediate σ bosons and including pair creation process contributing to the crossed ladder diagram.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Materials from Vegetable Oils

Although the petrochemical polymers have revolutionized the technological development, the intensive use of these materials have contributed to the global pollution. In this context, researches involving ecofriendliness materials are growing up, as well as, a current interest in developing materials from inexpensive and renewable resources, such as vegetable oils. In this work, is described the synthesis of polymeric materials by thermal polymerization from linseed oil (Linum usitatissimum L.) and passion fruit oil (Passiflora edulis) and their characterization by gas chromatographic (GC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, solubility in organic solvents, thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Raman spectroscopy. The TG curve shows that those polymeric materials present two stages of decomposition. DSC plots of the vegetable oils showed some endothermic and exothermic transitions which are not present in the DSC curves corresponding to oil-based polymers. The Raman spectra of the polymers indicate declining of absorbance in the region of CC stretching (∼1600 cm⁻¹). This absorption was used to estimate the degree of polymerization (79% and 67.5% for linseed and passion fruit oils, respectively).     

可视交叉传感阵列对蛋白质及其热变性过程的快速识别

以卟啉及其衍生物和特异性染料为敏感化学元件, 基于交叉响应原理构建了识别蛋白质的可视6×6阵列. 该阵列以颜色差谱图显示其与蛋白质作用呈现的特异性光谱反应, 采用聚类分析、 主成分分析和欧氏距离对图谱进行了分析. 结果表明, 该阵列可以鉴别模式蛋白牛血清白蛋白(BSA)、 牛血红蛋白(BHb)和卵清白蛋白(Ova)及其混合物, 且有望实现定量分析. 此外, 阵列的高敏感性使其不仅能识别天然蛋白质和不同变性程度的蛋白质, 还能对其热变性过程进行可视化实时监控. 该阵列产生的特殊颜色变化与蛋白质的空间构型、 微环境pH值的差异及溶解度有关. 因此, 该方法不仅能实现对蛋白质的快速识别, 为蛋白质热变性机理的研究提供新途径, 而且在临床医学和食品安全等的实时快速检测方面有潜在的应用价值.     

Determination of microcystin-LR in waters in the subnanomolar range by sol-gel imprinted polymers on solid contact electrodes

The present work reports new sensors for the direct determination of Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in environmental waters. Both selective membrane and solid contact were optimized to ensure suitable analytical features in potentiometric transduction. The sensing layer consisted of Imprinted Sol-Gel (ISG) materials capable of establishing surface interactions with MC-LR. Non-Imprinted Sol-Gel (NISG) membranes were used as negative control. The effects of an ionic lipophilic additive, time of sol-gel polymerization, time of extraction of MC-LR from the sensitive layer, and pH were also studied. The solid contact was made of carbon, aluminium, titanium, copper or nickel/chromium alloys (80 : 20 or 90 : 10). The best ISG sensor had a carbon solid contact and displayed average slopes of 211.3 mV per decade, with detection limits of 7.3 × 10(-10) M, corresponding to 0.75 μg L(-1). It showed linear responses in the range of 7.7 × 10(-10) to 1.9 × 10(-9) M of MC-LR (corresponding to 0.77-2.00 μg L(-1)), thus including the limiting value for MC-LR in waters (1.0 μg L(-1)). The potentiometric-selectivity coefficients were assessed by the matched potential method for ionic species regularly found in waters up to their limiting levels. Chloride (Cl(-)) showed limited interference while aluminium (Al(3+)), ammonium (NH(4)(+)), magnesium (Mg(2+)), manganese (Mn(2+)), sodium (Na(+)), and sulfate (SO(4)(2-)) were unable to cause the required potential change. Spiked solutions were tested with the proposed sensor. The relative errors and standard deviation obtained confirmed the accuracy and precision of the method. It also offered the advantages of low cost, portability, easy operation and suitability for adaptation to flow methods.     

Characterization of Polyurethanes from Vegetable Oils by TG/DTG,DMA and FT-IR

Summary: Given the demand for renewable resources by industries and the promising potential of vegetable oils for this purpose, the current study aims to evaluate the properties of polyurethanes (PUs) obtained from linseed (Linum usitatissimun L.) oil (PULO) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Degener) oil (PUPFO), by thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The results showed that PULO is more thermally stable than PUPFO, suggesting that the first presents more urethane linkages. The DMA analysis showed that both prepared PUs have uneven porosity, causing the loss of the elastic plateau. It was found as well that PUPFO exhibits a higher value of glass transition temperature (T_g), signifying that it seems to be more crosslinked than PULO. The analysis by FT-IR showed that the curing reaction of PUs was successful.     

Crystallographic and Magnetic Phase Transitions in the Layered Ruthenium Oxyarsenides TbRuAsO and DyRuAsO

The crystallographic and physical properties of TbRuAsO and DyRuAsO at and below room temperature are reported, including full structure refinements from powder X-ray diffraction data and measured electrical and thermal transport properties, magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity. Both compounds are isostructural to LaFeAsO (ZrCuSiAs-type, P4/nmm) at room temperature. However, DyRuAsO undergoes a symmetry-lowering crystallographic phase transition near 25 K, and adopts an orthorhombic structure (Pmmn) below this temperature. This structural distortion is unlike those observed in the analogous Fe compounds. Magnetic phase transitions are observed in both compounds which suggest antiferromagnetic ordering of lanthanide moments occurs near 7.0 K in TbRuAsO and 10.5 K in DyRuAsO. The nature of the structural distortion as well as thermal conductivity and heat capacity behaviors indicate strong coupling between the magnetism and the lattice. The behaviors of both materials show magnetic ordering of small moments on Ru may occur at low temperatures.     

On the convergence of successive Galerkin approximation for nonlinear output feedback <Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis><Subscript>∞</Subscript> control

Although the formulation of the nonlinear theory of H _∞ control has been well developed, solving the Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaacs equation remains a challenge and is the major bottleneck for practical application of the theory. Several numerical methods have been proposed for its solution. In this paper, results on convergence and stability for a successive Galerkin approximation approach for nonlinear H _∞ control via output feedback are presented. An example is presented illustrating the application of the algorithm.     

Intervertebral disc modeling using a MRI method: migration of the nucleus zone within scoliotic intervertebral discs.

MRI is increasingly being used for etiologic examination of scoliosis and for intervertebral disc disorder analysis, but until now has not been applied to geometric modeling. The aim of this study was to develop a new geometric model of intervertebral discs using MRI and to quantify the migration of the nucleus zone within scoliotic intervertebral discs. Fourteen lumbar scoliotic children (Cobb angles 22 ± 7°) were examined using MRI. The protocol consisted of sagittal and coronal plane acquisitions of the entire spine. An image processing software allowed the outline detection of the nucleus zone (intervertebral high intensity portion). The vertebral bodies were also reconstructed. Using a pre-post processor, the nucleus zone migration and a wedging angle were quantified. Statistical tests showed the repeatability of the method (p > 0.4). Nucleus zone migration was correlated to the wedging angle (r² = 0.488, p < 0.0001) in the coronal plane. Our results were in agreement with the literature: when two vertebrae move deforming the disc, the nucleus moves into the convexity of the curvature. But should we talk about the nucleus? Despite image processing software allowing the highlighting of image features (automatic color lookup tables applied to grayscale images using pixel intensity measurements), it is impossible to differentiate the nucleus from the annulus on T2 weighting images of adolescent spine. This new geometric model of the intervertebral disc, used for the quantification of the nucleus zone migration, should be of interest for further investigation of stiffness parameters of spine.     

一类单完备李代数

确定了代数Va,b.c的导子代数,其中Va.b.c是由非交换代数Ca,b,c[X±1,Y±1,Z±1]的所有内导子所张成的李代数,证明了导子代数数Va.b,c是由所有内导子和3个外导子D1,0,0,DO,1,0,D0,0,1张成的,同时还给出了一类无限维的单完备李代数.