A stable dual-wavelength fiber laser with tunable wavelength spacing using a polarization-maintaining linear cavity

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a stable dual-wavelength erbium-doped polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber laser with tunable wavelength spacing using an all-PM linear cavity that makes use of two reflection peaks from the PM fiber Bragg grating (PM-FBG). Experimental results show stable dual lasing lines with a wavelength separation of ∼0.22 nm and a large optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of over 40 dB under room temperature. By applying axial strain to the PM-FBG, the center wavelengths of the two lasing lines can be tuned over several nanometers and the wavelength separation between the lasing lines can also be tuned to as small as 0.05 nm, which, to our knowledge, is the smallest wavelength spacing ever obtained from a stable room-temperature dual-wavelength fiber laser. The proposed laser configuration has the advantages of simple structure, low loss, stable dual-wavelength operation and a very small lasing linewidth of ∼5 kHz . PACS 42.55.Wd; 42.81.-i; 42.81.Gs     

Determination of uranium and thorium isotopes in soil samples by coprecipitation

Summary The paper presents a procedure to prepare soil samples for U and Th isotope measurement by alpha-spectrometry after coprecipitation with LaF₃. In this procedure the reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) was performed by Zn metal in 4M HCl solution. The recoveries of chemical separation equal to e_U-chemistry = 78±4% for uranium and e_Th-chemistry = 82±4% for thorium. Canberra alpha-spectrometer was used with PIPS detectors of A-1200-37-AM Model of 1200 mm² active area. The counting efficiency of the measuring system equals to e_counting = 18% and the total efficiencies were e_U = e_counting ^.e_U-chemistry = 14.0±0.7% for uranium and e_Th = e_counting ^.e_Th-chemistry = 14.7±0.7% for thorium. The recoveries of chemical separation were rather high (about 80%), that leads to the use of a small weight of soil sample (about 0.5 g). The efficiencies were also stable, that allows analyzing the soil sample without using radiotracers. They are advantages of the sample preparation procedure of this work.     

Co-doped In2O3 thin films: Room temperature ferromagnets

Laser-ablated Co-doped In₂O₃ thin films were fabricated under various growth conditions on R-cut Al₂O₃ and MgO substrates. All Co:In₂O₃ films are well-crystallized, single phase, and room temperature ferromagnetic. Co atoms were well substituted for In atoms, and their distribution is greatly uniform over the whole thickness of the films. Films grown at 550 °C showed the largest magnetic moment of about 0.5 μ_B/Co, while films grown at higher temperatures have magnetic moments of one order smaller. The observed ferromagnetism above room temperature in Co:In₂O₃ thin films has confirmed that doping few percent of magnetic elements such as Co into In₂O₃ could result in a promising magnetic material.     

Immunochromatographic flow-injection method for detection of human serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to Helicobacter pylori

This study reports on the development of an immunochromatographic flow-injection (FI) method for the quantitation of human serum IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori. Patients’ sera were injected into the carrier stream of a FI manifold incorporating an H. pylori immuno-adsorbent reactor. The immuno-adsorbent was prepared by covalently linking H. pylori antigens to periodate oxidized Sepharose CL-4B. Any H. pylori antibody present in the serum is bound to the immuno-sorbent. The bound antibody was quantified by injecting into the carrier stream anti-human IgG peroxidase conjugate followed by TMB/H₂O₂ as the enzyme substrate. The FI system was optimized with respect to antigen loading (1.0 mg/ml gel), bioreactor length (3.0 cm), enzyme conjugate (0.2 mg/ml) and sample loop size (250 μl). One hundred clinical samples were analyzed for their H. pylori antibody concentrations and the results evaluated with respect to their receiver-operator characteristics (ROC). When a cut-off absorbance of between 0.7 and 0.75 was used for positive and negative samples a specificity (>95%), a sensitivity (>90%)and an overall accuracy (>94%) were obtained.     

Catalytic phenomena in the electrochemical reduction of triphenylphosphine and triphenylphosphine oxide in non-aqueous solvents with tetraalkylammonium supporting electrolytes

Polarography, cyclic voltammetry and coulometry reveal that a catalytic reduction of the tetraalkylammonium cation, R₄N⁺, of the supporting electrolyte is involved in the electrochemical reduction of triphenylphosphine (TPP) and its oxide (TPPO) in aprotic solvents such as acetonitrile, dimethylformamide and hexamethylphosphoramide. There is however progressive consumption of TPP and TPPO resulting in the final formation of phenyl substitution products (RPØ₂ and ROPØ₂). Comparison with the reduction of the BuPØ₃⁺ cation allows to propose the following mechanism which involves a chemical type catalytic process:

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Redox type catalytic mechanisms are discussed and shown to be unlikely. Values of the alkylation rate constant are derived from the polarographic or the coulometric data or from cyclic voltammetry according to its magnitude which varies with the solvent. TPP anion radical appears as more readily alkylable than TPPO anion radical.     

Carrier-mediated transport of yttrium(III) through a supported liquid membrane containing TOPO in n-dodecane

Transport of yttrium(III) from nitrate medium through liquid membrane containing tri-n-octyl-phosphine oxide (TOPO) in n-dodecane, supported on a nucleoporous filter, into a strip solution with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been studied. The kinetic dependences of transport were obtained and compared with a model, resulting in calculation of permeability coeffients and initial fluxes of yttrium. The influence of salting-out agent, initial metal and nitric acid concentrations in the feed, and of concentration of carrier in membrane are discussed.     

Order from Chaos: Self‐Assembly of Nanoprism from a Mixture of Tetratopic Terpyridine‐Porphyrin Conformers

Porphyrins have been widely used in the self‐assembly of metallo‐supramolecules. In this study, we introduced 2,2':6,2"‐terpyridine (tpy) into a porphyrin core to synthesize a tetratopic building block with multiple conformers. During the self‐assembly with Zn(II), such a mixture of conformers was able to form a discrete nanoprism with all building blocks in one conformation. Detailed characterizations, including NMR, ESI‐MS and traveling‐wave ion mobility‐mass spectrometry (TWIM‐MS), all supported the formation of the desired assemblies. AFM and TEM further confirmed the dimensions of assembled nanoprisms. Moreover, the photophysical properties of the ligands and complexes were noticeably different depending upon size and metal ion center.     

Synthese de diterpenes tetracycliques du type hibane

Hibaone has been synthesized from manool through a photochemical cycloaddition of Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾ podocarpene-13-one to ethylene or 1,2 dichloroethylene.     

Low-dimensional Compounds Containing Cyano Groups. XIII. Structural–spectral Correlation of Copper Dicyanoargentates

The new mixed-valence mixed-metal complex Cu(py)₆Cu₂Ag₂(CN)₆ (py = pyridine) possesses a three dimensional polymeric crystal structure. The Cu(I) atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by two nitrogen atoms of pyridine molecules, by one nitrogen atom of the dicyanoargentate anion and by one carbon atom of the cyano group. Both the dicyanoargentate anion and the cyano group bridge the Cu(I) atom with neighboring Cu(II) atoms. These are hexacoordinated in the form of an elongated tetragonal bipyramid. The equatorial plane is formed by two nitrogen atoms from two pyridine molecules and two nitrogen atoms from bridging cyano groups. Axial positions are occupied by nitrogen atoms of the bridging [Ag(CN₂]⁻ anions. Correlation between structures of the title compound and seven other dicyanoargentates with their i.r. spectra has been studied. The coordination mode of [Ag(CN₂]⁻ anions in compounds Cu_8-xAg_x(tn)₃(CN)₁₀ x = 0.25, Cu(3-Mepy)₂Ag₂(CN)₄, Cu(py)₂Ag₂(CN)₄ and Cu(py)₄Ag₂(CN)₄ (tn is 1,3-diaminopropane, 3-Mepy is 3-methylpyridine) is predicted based on this correlation.     

Synthesis of novel tryptamine and β-carboline derivatives via palladium-catalyzed reaction of bromotryptamine with organic boronic acids

New tryptamine 5, 7 and β-carboline derivatives 3 were preparated by palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of 5-bromotryptamine 1 with aryl boronic acids. Dedicated to Professor András Lipták on his 70^th birthday.