Integrated optical temporal Fourier transformer based on a chirped Bragg grating waveguide

We experimentally demonstrate the first integrated temporal Fourier transformer based on a linearly chirped Bragg grating waveguide written in silica glass with a femtosecond laser. The operation is based on mapping the energy spectrum of the input optical signal to the output temporal waveform by making use of first-order chromatic dispersion. The device operates in reflection, has a bandwidth of 10 nm, and can be used for incident temporal waveforms as long as 20 ps. Experimental results, obtained through both temporal oscilloscope traces and Fourier transform spectral interferometry, display a successful Fourier transformation of in-phase and out-of-phase pairs of input optical pulses, and demonstrate the correct functionality of the device for both amplitude and phase of the temporal output.     

Application of Robust Optimization to the Sawmill Planning Problem

Optimization models have been used to support decision making in the forest industry for a long time. However, several of those models are deterministic and do not address the variability that is present in some of the data. Robust Optimization is a methodology which can deal with the uncertainty or variability in optimization problems by computing a solution which is feasible for all possible scenarios of the data within a given uncertainty set. This paper presents the application of the Robust Optimization Methodology to a Sawmill Planning Problem. In the particular case of this problem, variability is assumed in the yield coefficients associated to the cutting patterns used. The main results show that the loss in the function objective value (the “Price of Robustness”), due to computing robust solutions, is not excessive. Moreover, the computed solutions remain feasible for a large proportion of randomly generated scenarios, and tend to preserve the structure of the nominal solution. We believe that these results provide an application area for Robust Optimization in which several source of uncertainty are present.     

Synthesis of 5,10-dideazaminopterin

The synthesis of 5,10-dideazaaminopterin by two independent routes is described. Condensation of the piperidine enamine of 4-p-carbomethoxyphenylbutyraldehyde ( 4 ) with ethoxymethylenemalononitrile followed by treatment of the resultant arylethylenaminomalononitrile ( 5 ) with methanolic ammonia produced 2-amino-3-cyano-5-p-carbomethoxyphenethylpyridine ( 6 ). Cyclization of the aminocyanopyridine with guanidine afforded 4-amino-4-deoxy-5,10-dideazapteroic acid ( 8 ). Coupling of the pteroate intermediate with glutamate yielded the target 5,10-dideazaaminopterin ( 10 ). Alternatively, reduction of 2,4-diamino-6-formyl-5-deazapteridine ( 11 ) with sodium borohydride gave the 6-hydroxymethyl compound 12 . Conversion to the bromide was followed by alkylation of dimethyl homoterephthalate to afford methyl 4-amino-4-deoxy-10-carbomethoxy-5,10-dideazapteroate ( 14 ). Decarboxylation with ester cleavage (sodium cyanide in dimethyl sulfoxide at 180°) also gave the diaminopteroic acid ( 8 ). 5,10-dideazaaminopterin ( 10 ) was an effective growth inhibitorof folate dependent bacteria, S. faecium and L. casei.     

The young adult patient

The purpose of this paper is to 1) describe the unique issues of voice patients, ages 21–55; 2) outline the knowledge and clinical skills that speech language pathologists should possess to deal with those issues; and 3) provide suggestions for promoting vocal longevity.