Short TE in vivo (1)H MR spectroscopic imaging at 1.5 T: acquisition and automated spectral analysis

Spectral analysis of short TE in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) data are complicated by the presence of spectral overlap, low signal to noise and uncharacterized signal contributions. In this study, it is shown that an automated data analysis method can be used to generate metabolite images from MRSI data obtained from human brain at TE = 25 ms and 1.5 T when optimized pulse sequences and a priori metabolite knowledge are used. The analysis approach made use of computer simulation methods to obtain a priori spectral information of the metabolites of interest and utilized a combination of parametric spectral modeling and non-parametric signal characterization for baseline fitting. This approach was applied to data from optimized PRESS-SI and multi-slice spin-echo SI acquisitions, for which sample spectra and metabolite images are shown.     

Multichannel Differential Group Delay Emulation and Compensation via a Phase Pulse Shaper

We developed a differential group delay (DGD) emulator which is based on a high spectral resolution phase pulse shaper. DGD generation has been demonstrated for up to four wavelength channels independently and simultaneously, with DGD accuracy of approximately 1 ps for up to 400-ps DGD range. For each channel, DGD versus frequency profiles can be arbitrarily programmed to user specifications. Multichannel DGD compensation has also been demonstrated using the same setup.     

Performance of Nonlinear Receivers in Asynchronous Spectral-Phase-Encoding Optical CDMA Systems

Because of limits on the speed of the photodetector, a nonlinear thresholder is needed at the receiver of a spectral-phase-encoding optical code-division multiple-access system to discriminate between the correctly decoded short pulse and the low-intensity interference. The two most common nonlinear receivers based on second harmonic generation and self-phase modulation effects are analyzed in this paper. Mathematical models are provided, and analytical results are obtained to estimate the receivers' performances. Numerical simulations are carried out for both receivers with different system parameters. Both m-sequences and random binary codes are examined for spreading. The results provide a profile of how these nonlinear receivers perform with various system settings. It is found that, when an m-sequence is used as the spreading code, the encoded signal does not obey Gaussian statistics, and the system performs better than an equivalent system using a random code.     

Generation of high-repetition-rate WDM pulse trains from anarrayed-waveguide grating

We present what we believe to be the first demonstration of femtosecond pulse train generation from an arrayed-waveguide grating. Terahertz-rate bursts of femtosecond pulses are produced with the rate determined by the arrayed-waveguide delay spacing     

Use of the Longley-Rice and Johnson-Gierhart Tropospheric Radio Propagation Programs:0.02-20 GHz

The Longley-Rice and Johnson-Gierhart tropospheric propagation programs are particularly useful in predicting propagation losses for paths over irregular terrain commonly encountered in ground-to-ground, air-to-ground, and air-to-air military tactical scenarios. These programs use an empirical database to statistically weigh knife-edge diffraction losses with losses from multipath interference, smooth-spherical Earth diffraction, and troposcatter modes of propagation. The purpose of this paper is to provide perspective concerning the use of the two programs. Emphasis is placed upon the regions of applicability for the programs and on factors that must be considered in selecting and specifying the input parameters. Numerical results are given for various scenarios and ranges of input parameters.     

Peer methods for the one-dimensional shallow-water equations with CWENO space discretization

For many practical problems an efficient solution of the one-dimensional shallow-water equations (Saint–Venant equations) is important, especially when large networks of rivers, channels or pipes are considered. In order to test and develop numerical methods four test problems are formulated. These tests include the well-known dam break and hydraulic jump problems and two steady state problems with varying channel bottom, channel width and friction.The space discretization of the partial differential equations is based on a finite volume approach with central WENO interpolation and local Lax–Friedrich fluxes (Kurganov and Levy, 2000) [7]. For time-integration new linearly-implicit two-step peer methods of orders three and four are developed. These methods are especially adapted to the usage within the method of lines framework. They show a good performance compared to the well-established methods like ode15s, radau5 or rodasp.     

Femtosecond direct space-to-time pulse shaping

The direct space-to-time (DST) pulse shaping apparatus is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The discussion shows how the operation of the DST pulse shaper may be understood in terms of the femtosecond response of a generalized spectrometer. A complete discussion of the advantages and tradeoffs of utilizing this pulse-shaping configuration is given, including the direct scaling between the masking function and the output temporal intensity profile, system efficiency, spectral resolution, and temporal window, compensation/cancellation of chirp, and generation of multiple output waveforms     

B-convergence results for linearly implicit one step methods

B-consistency andB-convergence of linearly implicit one step methods with respect to a class of arbitrarily stiff semi-linear problems are considered. Order conditions are derived. An algorithm for constructing methods of order>1 is shown and examples are given. By suitable modifications of the methods the occurring order reduction is decreased.     

Photochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Catalyzed by a Ruthenium‐Substituted Polyoxometalate

A polyoxometalate of the Keggin structure substituted with Ru^III, ⁶Q₅[Ru^III(H₂O)SiW₁₁O₃₉] in which ⁶Q=(C₆H₁₃)₄N⁺, catalyzed the photoreduction of CO₂ to CO with tertiary amines, preferentially Et₃N, as reducing agents. A study of the coordination of CO₂ to ⁶Q₅[Ru^III(H₂O)SiW₁₁O₃₉] showed that 1) upon addition of CO₂ the UV/Vis spectrum changed, 2) a rhombic signal was obtained in the EPR spectrum (g_x=2.146, g_y=2.100, and g_z=1.935), and 3) the ¹³C NMR spectrum had a broadened peak of bound CO₂ at 105.78 ppm (Δ_1/2=122 Hz). It was concluded that CO₂ coordinates to the Ru^III active site in both the presence and absence of Et₃N to yield ⁶Q₅[Ru^III(CO₂)SiW₁₁O₃₉]. Electrochemical measurements showed the reduction of Ru^III to Ru^II in ⁶Q₅[Ru^III(CO₂)SiW₁₁O₃₉] at ?0.31 V versus SCE, but no such reduction was observed for ⁶Q₅[Ru^III(H₂O)SiW₁₁O₃₉]. DFT‐calculated geometries optimized at the M06/PC1//PBE/AUG‐PC1//PBE/PC1‐DF level of theory showed that CO₂ is preferably coordinated in a side‐on manner to Ru^III in the polyoxometalate through formation of a Ru? O bond, further stabilized by the interaction of the electrophilic carbon atom of CO₂ to an oxygen atom of the polyoxometalate. The end‐on CO₂ bonding to Ru^III is energetically less favorable but CO₂ is considerably bent, thus favoring nucleophilic attack at the carbon atom and thereby stabilizing the carbon sp² hybridization state. Formation of a O₂C–NMe₃ zwitterion, in turn, causes bending of CO₂ and enhances the carbon sp² hybridization. The synergetic effect of these two interactions stabilizes both Ru–O and C–N interactions and probably determines the promotional effect of an amine on the activation of CO₂ by [Ru^III(H₂O)SiW₁₁O₃₉]^5?. Electronic structure analysis showed that the polyoxometalate takes part in the activation of both CO₂ and Et₃N. A mechanistic pathway for photoreduction of CO₂ is suggested based on the experimental and computed results.