External Synchronization of 160-GHz Optical Beat Signal by Optical Phase-Locked Loop Technique

We have synchronized a 160-GHz optical beat signal with a 40-GHz reference optical pulse train by using an optical phase-locked loop (OPLL). The OPLL consists of an optical beat signal source, comprising a pair of three-electrode distributed feedback laser diodes that works as a voltage controlled oscillator, and an all-optical phase detector based on the two-photon absorption in a silicon avalanche photodiode. Phase-locking operation is confirmed through phase-error measurement and cross-correlation trace measurement. The residual timing jitter of the 160-GHz optical beat signal relative to the reference pulse train, in the bandwidth of 80 MHz, is measured to be as small as 126 fs     

Automated camerawork for capturing desktop presentations

A novel automated camera control method for capturing desktop presentations is introduced. Typical features and the camerawork of shots that appear frequently in TV programs are discussed. To realise those features in this automated video capturing system, the purpose of camerawork is classified from two points of view: target and aspect-of-target. Then, the correspondence between the classification and typical shots and camerawork is considered. A virtual-frame control algorithm based on this idea is proposed, and its implementation in a video production system. Results are shown that verify this method through two kinds of experiments, virtual video capturing using CG animations and real video capturing of real presentations.     

20 Gbit/s soliton transmission using alternating dispersionarrangement in standard fibre systems

An alternating dispersion arrangement is proposed for soliton systems with dispersion compensation to improve soliton stabilisation. A transmission experiment at 20 Gbit/s over 2600 km long singlemode fibre was successfully demonstrated by employing this novel dispersion arrangement     

Osteoclastic features of multinucleated giant cells responding to synthetic hydroxyapatite implanted in rat jaw bone.

Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) that responded to synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAP) implanted in rat mandibles were studied with electron microscopy. HAP used in this study sintered at 200 degrees C (HAP200) and at 125 degrees C (HAP1250) after the synthesis by a wet method. One to three weeks after the intraosseous implantation of HAP, MGCs responding to HAP200 had not only well-developed ruffled border and the clear zone but well-developed perinuclear Golgi complex, many mitochondria and vesicles in their cytoplasms. MGCs responding to HAP1250 had the clear zone, but not the ruffled border although they showed similar cytoplasmic features to those of MGCs responding to HAP200. They merely extended short slender cytoplasmic processes to HAP1250. These results suggest that although osteoclast-like MGCs respond to HAP implanted in the bone, the development of the ruffled border-clear zone system depends on physicochemical properties of HAP.     

Dynamics of learning near singularities in layered networks

We explicitly analyze the trajectories of learning near singularities in hierarchical networks, such as multilayer perceptrons and radial basis function networks, which include permutation symmetry of hidden nodes, and show their general properties. Such symmetry induces singularities in their parameter space, where the Fisher information matrix degenerates and odd learning behaviors, especially the existence of plateaus in gradient descent learning, arise due to the geometric structure of singularity. We plot dynamic vector fields to demonstrate the universal trajectories of learning near singularities. The singularity induces two types of plateaus, the on-singularity plateau and the near-singularity plateau, depending on the stability of the singularity and the initial parameters of learning. The results presented in this letter are universally applicable to a wide class of hierarchical models. Detailed stability analysis of the dynamics of learning in radial basis function networks and multilayer perceptrons will be presented in separate work.     

Intercalation of n-alkylamines into α-tin(IV) bis(hydrogenphosphate)

The intercalation reaction of n-alkylamines from methyl- to hexadecylamine into -tin(IV) bis(hydrogenphosphate) has been investigated. The reaction was conducted by mixing the phosphate and solutions of the amines dissolved in water or benzene. The amine/ phosphate molar ratios in the reaction mixtures were 0.43, 0.85, 1.71 and 3.41. The nitrogen/phosphorus atomic ratio in the intercalation compound was not changed by the amine/phosphate molar ratio. The interlayer distances of the intercalates obtained in the reaction mixtures with molar ratios of 3.41 and 1.71 increased with an increase in the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain of the amine. The slope of the straight line obtained in plot of interlayer distance versus number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain of the amine indicates that the amine molecules form a double layer in the interlayer space of the phosphate and are inclined at an approximate angle of 67.7° to the phosphate layer. The interlayer distances of the intercalates of butyl- to nonylamines obtained at the molar ratio of 0.85 are smaller than those of the corresponding compounds from the molar ratios of 3.41 and 1.71, while those of decyl- to hexadecylamine intercalates lie on the previously discussed line. This behaviour is interpreted by assuming kink formation in the short alkyl chains between the phosphate layers.     

Functional binders for reversible lithium intercalation into graphite in propylene carbonate and ionic liquid media

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA), and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), which have oxygen species as functional groups, were utilized as a binder for graphite electrodes, and the electrochemical reversibility of lithium intercalation was examined in PC medium and ionic liquid electrolyte, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide dissolved in 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (BMP-TFSA). Columbic efficiency of 75–80% with more than 300 mAh g^?1 was achieved upon first reduction/oxidation cycle in both electrolytes using these binding polymers, which were significantly improved in comparison to a conventional PVdF binder (less than 45% of columbic efficiency for the first cycle). For the graphite-PVdF electrode, co-intercalation and/or decomposition of PC molecules solvating to Li ions were observed by the electrochemical reduction, resulting in the cracking of graphite particles. In contrast, the co-intercalation and decomposition of PC molecules and BMP cations for the first reduction process were completely suppressed for the graphite electrodes prepared with the polymers containing oxygen atoms. It was proposed that the selective permeability of lithium ions was attained by the uniform coating of the graphite particles with PAA, PMA, and PVA polymers, because the electrostatic interaction between the positively charged lithium ions and negatively charged oxygen atom in the polymer should modulate the desolvation process of lithium ions during the lithium intercalation into graphite, showing the similar functions like artificial solid-electrolyte interphase.     

Efficient power coupling using taper-ended multimode optical fibres

Highly efficient power coupling of up to 97% between a d.h. laser and a multimode step-index fibre is demonstrated by employing a tapered fibre launcher. Also, it is shown theoretically that a tapered end increases the effective numerical aperture of a fibre. For a Lambertian emitter, the use of a taper launcher permits the maximum coupling efficiency allowed by the Liouville theorem.     

Nondestructive inspection of thermal barrier coating of gas turbine high temperature components

A thermal barrier coating (TBC) is applied to high‐temperature components in gas turbines, and consists of a ceramic topcoat and a metallic bondcoat. Various kinds of TBC degradation and damage occur in high‐temperature components during service, such as topcoat thinning, topcoat delamination, and formation of a thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer below the topcoat, each of which can be examined using a suitable nondestructive inspection technique. Topcoat thinning can be detected by topcoat thickness measurement using terahertz waves, which are electromagnetic waves in the frequency region between optical and radio waves. The measurement resolution is about 10 μm, which is comparable to microscopic observation of the cross section in destructive inspection. Topcoat delamination can be detected by active thermography, in which the topcoat surface is scanned by a heating laser and the surface temperature distribution is measured by a thermal infrared camera. The combination of temperature peak and residual thermal image detection is effective in eliminating false detection. The TGO layer can be detected using photoluminescence, in which the Cr³⁺ ions included as an impurity in Al₂O₃ are detected. Since delamination tends to occur at locations at which the TGO layer has grown, TGO layer detection provides an effective method to select regions where delamination has occurred or is likely to occur. An inspection flow based on these techniques is proposed, which is expected to aid the establishment of condition‐based maintenance strategies of high‐temperature components. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.