Copper and iron interactions with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. A study by fast-atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment, combined with high-energy collision-induced tandem mass spectrometry, has been used to investigate gas-phase metal-ion interactions with captopril, enalaprilat and lisinopril, all angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.Suggestions for the location of metal-binding sites are presented. For captopril, metal binding occurs most likely at both the sulphur and the nitrogen atom. For enalaprilat and lisinopril, binding preferably occurs at the amine nitrogen. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tailoring the behavior of optical microcavities with high refractive index sol-gel coatings

Silica optical resonators with high quality factors, small mode volumes, and high refractive index contrast are desirable in many applications throughout the fundamental and applied sciences. However, these parameters are not easily modified in plain silica devices. In the present work, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate the use of high refractive index sol-gel coatings to achieve a significant reduction in mode volume of silica toroids while maintaining high quality factors. In addition to tuning the mode volume, the presence of the coating changes both the location and shape of the optical field.     

SESAM‐free mode‐locked semiconductor disk laser

Experimental demonstration of semiconductor saturable absorber‐free mode‐locked optically pumped semiconductor disk laser is presented. The origin of pulsed operation is attributed to the intensity dependent Kerr lens effect arising in the semiconductor gain medium. Achieved results represent a novel method to mode‐lock this type of laser opening new application opportunities. The laser worked stably in both hard and soft aperture configurations. No semiconductor saturable absorber was used in the laser cavity and the operation was self‐starting. The laser was mode‐locked at 210 MHz repetition rate with 1.5 W average output power and 930 fs pulse width at 985 nm. A record high 6.8 kW peak power was achieved. Measured data is presented along with a discussion of the Kerr lens effect in the cavity.     

Demonstration of a high-speed nonscanning imaging spectrometer

We report results from a field demonstration of a nonscanning high-speed imaging spectrometer [computed-tomography imaging spectrometer (CTIS)] capable of simultaneously recording spatial and spectral information about a rapidly changing scene. High-speed spectral imaging was demonstrated by collection of spectral and spatial snapshots of a missile in flight. This instrument is based on computed-tomography concepts and operates in the visible spectrum (430-710nm). Raw image data were recorded at video frame rate (30frames / s) and an integration time of 2ms. An iterative reconstruction of the spatial and spectral scene information from each raw image took 10s. We present representative missile spectral signatures from the missile firing. The accuracy of the high-speed spectrometer is demonstrated by comparison of extended-source static-scene spectra acquired by a nonimaging reference spectrometer with spectra acquired by use of CTIS imaging of the same static scenes.