Visualization of Magnetization Transfer Effect in Polyethylene Glycol Impregnated Waterlogged Wood

To visualize the condition of impregnation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in waterlogged wood, we demonstrated magnetic transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through a series of process of PEG impregnation. Three different samples were examined; reference wood, 10 cm cut wood, and 5 cm cut wood. During this study, the upper section sample was kept immersed in water, for the middle and lower sections the concentration of PEG solution was changed at 20 wt% intervals from 20 to 100 wt%. The impregnated periods of each PEG solution concentration were 14 days. Then, MR imaging were performed with/without MT pulse. The MTR value for both 10 cm- and 5 cm-samples were shown to decrease at 20 wt% PEG at peak concentration. When the sample volume was large, e.g., 10 cm-sample, the MTR value decreased to 100 wt% PEG concentration. In contrast, when a sample volume was small, e.g., 5 cm-sample, MTR value decreased to 60 wt% PEG concentration. In conclusion, MTR analysis makes it possible to nondestructively visualize and evaluate the inner condition concerning the PEG impregnation method for waterlogged wood.     

30-mJ, diode-pumped, chirped-pulse Yb:YLF regenerative amplifier

A diode-pumped chirped-pulse regenerative amplifier with a cooled Yb:YLF crystal has been developed. The output pulse energy is 30 mJ at 20-Hz repetition rate. A high effective extraction efficiency of 68% is obtained, which is attributed to reduced saturation fluence at low temperature and to a high effective pulse energy fluence during regenerative amplification. After pulse compression by use of a parallel grating pair, 18-mJ pulse energy and 795-fs pulse duration are obtained.     

Structure and bioactivity of a trisnorditerpenoid and a diterpenoid from an Okinawan soft coral, Cespitularia sp.

An Okinawan soft coral Cespitularia sp. has proven to be a good source of cytotoxic metabolites having a carbon skeleton of the seco-type variety of xenicin. This soft coral yielded alcyonolide, the major constituent, and other related compounds, all of which have proven to be cytotoxic. Reinvestigation of the cytotoxic ethyl acetate extracts of the coral yielded two new alcyonolide congeners, trisnorditerpenoid 1 and diterpenoid 2, possessing the same carbon skeleton. Their structures were elucidated by a detailed analysis of spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR, and MS). Metabolites 1 and 2 showed cytotoxicity against HCT116 cells (IC₅₀ 6.04 and 47.0 μM, respectively) and a dose dependent, anti-inflammatory effect in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated inflammatory RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.     

Experimental separation of virtual photon exchange and electron transfer in interatomic coulombic decay of neon dimers

We investigate the interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) of neon dimers following photoionization with simultaneous excitation of the ionized atom (shakeup) in a multiparticle coincidence experiment. We find that, depending on the parity of the excited state, which determines whether ICD takes place via virtual dipole photon emission or overlap of the wave functions, the decay happens at different internuclear distances, illustrating that nuclear dynamics heavily influence the electronic decay in the neon dimer.     

Laser-diode pumped heavy-doped Yb:YAG ceramic lasers

Laser performance of heavy-doped Yb:YAG ceramics was investigated using a two-pass pumping miniature laser configuration. Slope efficiency of 52% and optical-to-optical efficiency of 48% have been achieved for 1-mm-thick YAG ceramic doped with 20 at.% ytterbium ions. Laser spectra of Yb:YAG ceramic and single-crystal lasers were addressed under different intracavity laser intensities. Heavy-doped Yb:YAG ceramic is more suitable for a thin disk laser than a single-crystal with the same Yb(3+)-ion lasants.     

Converging-axicon-based radially polarized ytterbium fiber laser and evidence on the mode profile inside the gain fiber

The radially polarized mode is achieved from an active Yb fiber by utilizing of an intracavity converging axicon, where the axicon acts as a TM(01) mode selector based on not only its Brewster convex surface but also the distance between its vertex and plane output coupler. The polarization state of the annular laser beam is checked by using a home-made eight-hole aperture. Furthermore, an uncoated plane glass plate is inserted into the cavity, and the reflected beam points to the existence of an annular lasing mode inside the gain fiber. The issues for developing high-power radially polarized fiber lasers also are considered.