Time-domain interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction of mid-infrared femtosecond pulses

Mid-infrared ultrashort pulses of 9.2-microm center wavelength are characterized in both amplitude and phase. This is achieved by use of a variant of spectral phase interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction in which spectral interferometry has been replaced with time-domain interferometry, a technique that is well suited for infrared pulses. The setup permits simultaneous recording of the second-order interferometric autocorrelation, thus providing an independent check on the retrieved spectral phase.     

Dynamic speckle illumination microscopy with wavelet prefiltering

Dynamic speckle illumination (DSI) provides a simple and robust technique to obtain fluorescence depth sectioning with a widefield microscope. We report a significant improvement to DSI microscopy based on a statistical image-processing algorithm that incorporates spatial wavelet prefiltering. The resultant gain in sectioning strength leads to a fundamentally improved scaling law for the out-of-focus background rejection.     

On the implementation of elasto-plastic boundary element analysis

This paper discusses efficient methods for implementing elasto-plastic boundary element programs. A solution strategy based on minimizing the number of computer operations for each iteration of the elasto-plastic algorithm is described for both the direct and indirect formulations. Interior strains may be computed from the integral equations but this is shown to be an order of magnitude greater in terms of operations (excluding evaluation of the kernel functions) than obtaining strains using a finite difference procedure. Cells existing for the volume integrations associated with the initial stress terms may be used for the differencing process. The assumption of constant stress across cells has been used and found adequate for many problems but a linear variation, with stresses being computed at cell nodes, may prove better in certain cases. All integrations must be performed numerically. A simplified flow chart of the algorithm is presented and typical solutions for two test problems are given. Finally a comparison between finite element and boundary element solution times for several problems is attempted, it seems that solution times are similar.     

Crystal structures, Raman spectroscopy, and magnetic properties of Ba7.5Al13Si29 and Eu0.27Ba7.22Al13Si29

The framework-deficient clathrate phases Ba7.5Al13Si29 and Eu0.27Ba7.22Al13Si29 were prepared using a molten Al flux. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction confirmed the two phases to be clathrate type I (space group Pmn). For Eu0.27Ba7.22Al13Si29, single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed the Eu to partially occupy the 2a position. Microprobe analysis of single crystals provided the stoichiometry, and Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the guest framework interactions. The Raman spectra are consistent with both Ba7.5Al13Si29 and Eu0.27Ba7.22Al13Si29 having minimal guest-host interactions. Magnetic susceptibility data for Eu0.27Ba7.22Al13Si29 imply weak magnetic ordering and indicate a 2+ oxidation state for the Eu ion.     

Thermoelectric properties and microstructure of Mg3Sb2

Mg₃Sb₂ has been prepared by direct reaction of the elements. Powder X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric, differential scanning calorimetery, and microprobe data were obtained on hot pressed samples. Single phase samples of Mg₃Sb₂ were prepared and found to contain oxygen at the grain boundaries and to lose Mg and oxidize at temperatures above 900 K. Thermoelectric properties were characterized by Seebeck, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity measurements from 300 to 1023 K, and the maximum zT was found to be 0.21 at ∼875 K.     

Synthesis, structure, and properties of BaAl2Si2

Single crystals of BaAl2Si2 were grown from an Al molten flux and characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 10 and 90 K and neutron diffraction at room temperature. BaAl2Si2 crystallizes with the alpha-BaCu2S2 structure type (Pnma), is isostructural with alpha-BaAl2Ge2, and is an open 3D framework compound, where Al and Si form a covalent cagelike network with Ba2+ cations residing in the cages. BaAl2Si2 has a unit cell of a=10.070(3) A, b=4.234(1) A, and c=10.866(3) A, as determined by room-temperature single-crystal neutron diffraction (R1=0.0533, wR2=0.1034). The structure as determined by single-crystal neutron and X-ray diffraction (10 and 90 K) indicates that BaAl2Si2 (Pnma) is strictly isostructural to other (alpha)-BaCu2S2-type structures, requiring site specificity for Al and Si. Unlike BaAl2Ge2, no evidence for an alpha to beta (BaZn2P2-type, I4/mmm) phase transition was observed. This compound shows metallic electronic resistivity and Pauli paramagnetic behavior.     

Quasi-confocal fluorescence sectioning with dynamic speckle illumination

We present a simple modification to a conventional wide-field fluorescence microscope that provides depth discrimination in thick tissues. The technique consists of illuminating a sample with a sequence of independent speckle patterns and displaying the rms of the resultant sequence of fluorescence images. The advantage of speckle illumination is that it provides diffraction-limited illumination granularity that is highly contrasted even in scattering media. We demonstrate quasi-confocal imaging in a mouse olfactory bulb labeled with green fluorescent protein.     

Determination of marine toxins by liquid chromatography

Summary Domoic acid, the shellfish toxin discovered in 1987 off the eastern coast of Canada and northern US is determined by isocratic reversed-phase LC with UV detection at 242 nm. Extraction from shellfish tissue is achieved with 0.1 mol/l HCl or water, with minimal cleanup before LC analysis. Detection limits are around 0.5 g/g. Results can be confirmed by pre-chromatographic derivatization at either the — NH or — COOH moiety. An LC screening method using pre-chromatographic oxidation has been developed for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP, comprised mainly of 12 related compounds). The individual toxins in the PSP family produced single products with periodate oxidation. However, they could not all be separated using a variety of chromatography systems including reversed-phase and ion-pair chromatography with heptane sulfonate or tetrabythyl-ammonium ion. Detection limits were about 0.05 g/g total PSP toxin in shellfish. Saxitoxin could be detected at 5–10 pg per injection. Comparisons of this method with the mouse bioassay and the post-column technique showed reasonable agreement between results.     

Quantitative determination of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in shellfish using prechromatographic oxidation and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection: interlaboratory study

An interlaboratory study was conducted for the determination of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in shellfish. The method used liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection after prechromatographic oxidation of the toxins with hydrogen peroxide and periodate. The PSP toxins studied were saxitoxin (STX), neosaxitoxin (NEO), gonyautoxins 2 and 3 (GTX2,3 together), gonyautoxins 1 and 4 (GTX1,4 together), decarbamoyl saxitoxin (dcSTX), B-1 (GTX5), C-1 and C-2 (C1,2 together), and C-3 and C-4 (C3,4 together). B-2 (GTX6) toxin was also included, but for qualitative identification only. Samples of mussels, both blank and naturally contaminated, were mixed and homogenized to provide a variety of PSP toxin mixtures and concentration levels. The same procedure was followed with samples of clams, oysters, and scallops. Twenty-one samples in total were sent to 21 collaborators who agreed to participate in the study. Results were obtained from 18 laboratories representing 14 different countries.