Fibers from a low dielectric constant fluorinated polyimide: Solution spinning and morphology control

Control of the internal morphology of wet-spun fibers from a fluorinated polyimide has been achieved by varying the rate of polymer coagulation through adjustments in nonsolvent/solvent miscibility and precipitation strength of the coagulation bath. Filament internal morphologies ranged from very porous or sponge-like to fully solid. Intermediate structures included fibers containing a spongy core with a nonporous skin, sponge-like fibers containing large voids, and a relatively solid material containing randomly spaced small voids. The cross-sectional shape of the fiber is dependent upon the coagulation process as well as the volume contraction of the initial extrudate. Drawn fibers (3×) retained the original asspun cross-sectional shape and also lost porosity. Mechanical properties of poly(6FDA-4BDAF) fibers have an inverse relationship to filament porosity. Maximum modulus and break strength for drawn fibers is approximately 6 CPa and 200 MPa, respectively. Asspun mechanical properties were dependent upon the processing conditions and have moduli between 0.4–3.0 Gpa and break strengths of 10–160 MPa. A dielectric constant of 2.50 for nonporous films was measured over a frequency range between 1.0 MHz to 1.8 GHz, showing little dispersion. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Flash photolysis electron spin resonance and CIDEP studies of radicals derived from nitrogen heterocyclics. II. The photophysics and photochemistry of the methylpyrazines

Application of the CIDEP phenomenon is extended to the identification of the specific triplet energy levels which react to produce radicals in pyrazine and its methyl derivatives. Advantage is taken of the proximity of ³nπ and ³ππ states in which the opposite signs of the zero-field coupling constants cause triplet mechanism polarization of opposite phase in the derived radicals. The electronic natures of the radicals observed parallel those of the triplet states from which they are formed.     

Practical all-fiber source of high-power, 120-fs pulses at 1 micrometre

Amplification of femtosecond pulses at 1.03 micrometre in a standard Yb-doped single-mode fiber is reported. A pulse energy of 8 nJ and an average power of 400 mW are obtained, limited by available pump power. To our knowledge these are the highest pulse energy and average power obtained from an integrated, single-mode fiber amplifier. After dechirping, 120-fs, 6-nJ pulses are obtained. A practical fiber-based source with performance comparable with that of a bulk solid-state laser is thus demonstrated, and scaling to substantially higher powers will be possible.     

Propagation in air by field superposition of scattered light within a Fresnel fiber

Propagation of light at 1.5 microm with peak intensity in an air hole is achieved within an air-silica-structured Fresnel waveguide. Thus a simpler fiber design alternative to photonic crystal fibers is possible for high-peak-power propagation with reduced nonlinear interactions. Multiple foci are observed in the far field.     

Magnetic resonance imaging screening in women at genetic risk of breast cancer: imaging and analysis protocol for the UK multicentre study. UK MRI Breast Screening Study Advisory Group

The imaging and analysis protocol of the UK multicentre study of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a method of screening for breast cancer in women at genetic risk is described. The study will compare the sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced MRI with two-view x-ray mammography. Approximately 500 women below the age of 50 at high genetic risk of breast cancer will be recruited per year for three years, with annual MRI and x-ray mammography continuing for up to 5 years. A symptomatic cohort will be measured in the first year to ensure consistent reporting between centres. The MRI examination comprises a high-sensitivity three-dimensional contrast-enhanced assessment, followed by a high-specificity contrast-enhanced study in equivocal cases. Multiparametric analysis will encompass morphological assessment, the kinetics of contrast agent uptake and determination of quantitative pharmacokinetic parameters. Retrospective analysis will identify the most specific indicators of malignancy. Sensitivity and specificity, together with diagnostic performance, diagnostic impact and therapeutic impact will be assessed with reference to pathology, follow-up and changes in diagnostic certainty and therapeutic decisions. Mammography, lesion localisation, pathology and cytology will be performed in accordance with the UK NHS Breast Screening Programme quality assurance standards. Similar standards of quality assurance will be applied for MR measurements and evaluation.     

Effect of ortho‐methylation on a bis(4‐cyanatocumyl)benezene low‐dielectric resin

A synthesis procedure for and characterization of a tetra‐ortho‐methyl substituted three‐ringed cyanate ester monomer, 4,4′‐[1,3‐phenylenebis(1‐methylethylidene)]bis[2,6‐dimethyl]phenylcyanato, and the corresponding cured resin are described with comparative characterization of the resin analogue without the ortho‐methyl substitutents. The othro‐methylation lowered the dielectric from 2.64 to 2.59 at 1 GHz and from 2.64 to 2.48 GHz at 15 GHz, whereas the tan δ was not significantly affected. Other physical properties also affected included a 40 °C decrease in the glass‐transition temperature, an increase in the thermal‐expansion coefficients, and a reduction in thermogravimetric stability. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 60–67, 2003     

Atoll decompositions of graphs

An island decomposition of a graph G consists of a set of vertex-disjoint paths which cover the vertex set of G. If the endpoints of the paths are mutually nonadjacent, then we have an atoll decomposition. We characterize graphs requiring two paths in an island decomposition yet having no atoll decomposition. Results are given relating atoll decompositions to cutpoints and Hamiltonian blocks.