System performance evaluation in terrestrial systems with highpolarization mode dispersion and the effect of chirping

We evaluate the system power penalty for different modulation formats-nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ), return-to-zero (RZ), dispersion-managed solitons, and prechirped RZ-in the presence of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) for 10-Gb/s terrestrial systems. All orders of PMD are considered by simulating the fiber using the coarse-step method, and a statistical approach is used to estimate the occasional fading of the signals. We show that pulses with lower duty-cycles perform better in general, and the system performance is improved if appropriate prechirping interacts with the residual chromatic dispersion of the fiber     

How to Choose the Proper Sample Size

Two simple proof-load testing procedures are suggested to estimate the correlation between two variables that can individually only be determined destructively. The first procedure assumes that the means and variances of the variables are known. The second testing procedure is more flexible and requires no prior information. By assuming that the variables have a bivariate normal distribution and considering only the number of units that fail at each proof-load, we determine the maximum likelihood estimate for the correlation coefficient. Theoretical and simulation results compare favorably with previously suggested more complicated procedures and guide the practitioner in appropriate choices for the proof-load levels.     

Bis-Aniline-Crosslinked Enzyme–Metal Nanoparticle Composites on Electrodes for Bioelectronic Applications

The electrical contacting of redox enzymes with electrodes is the most fundamental requirement for the development of amperometric biosensors and biofuel cell elements. We describe a novel method to prepare electrically contacted metallic nanoparticles (NPs) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/enzyme hybrid composites on electrodes that act as amperometric biosensors or as the constituents of biofuel cells. Au NPs or Pt NPs were modified with thioaniline electropolymerizable groups, and so were the enzymes glucose oxidase (GOx) or bilirubin oxidase (BOD). Electrochemical polymerization of the thioaniline-functionalized Pt NPs and GOx on a thioaniline monolayer-modified Au surface led to the formation of a bis-aniline-bridged Pt NPs/GOx composite electrode that enabled the analysis of glucose through the electrocatalyzed reduction of H₂O₂. Similarly, a Pt NPs/BOD composite-functionalized electrode showed electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of O₂ to H₂O. Also, a Au NPs/GOx composite-functionalized electrode revealed direct electrical contacting between the enzyme and the electrode through the electrocatalytic reduction of the bis-aniline bridges, and this enabled the bioelectrocatalytic oxidation and the amperometric sensing of glucose. Finally, a biofuel cell consisting of an anode modified with Nile blue/NAD⁺/alcohol dehydrogenase on carbon nanotubes, and a cathode composed of the bis-aniline-crosslinked Pt NPs/BOD composite was constructed. The biofuel cell operates with a power output corresponding to 200 μW cm^-2.     

Fluorescence detection of DNA, adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP), and telomerase activity by zinc(II)-protoporphyrin IX/G-quadruplex labels

The zinc(II)-protoporphyrin IX (ZnPPIX) fluorophore binds to G-quadruplexes, and this results in the enhanced fluorescence of the fluorophore. This property enabled the development of DNA sensors, aptasensors, and a sensor following telomerase activity. The DNA sensor is based on the design of a hairpin structure that includes a "caged" inactive G-quadruplex sequence. Upon opening the hairpin by the analyte DNA, the resulting fluorescence of the ZnPPIX/G-quadruplex provides the readout signal for the sensing event (detection limit 5 nM). Addition of Exonuclease III to the system allows the recycling of the analyte and its amplified analysis (detection limit, 200 pM). The association of the ZnPPIX to G-quadruplex aptamer-substrate complexes allowed the detection of adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP, detection limit 10 μM). Finally, the association of ZnPPIX to the G-quadruplex repeat units of telomers allowed the detection of telomerase activity originating from 380 ± 20 cancer 293T cell extract.     

Equalization of nonuniform EDFA gain using a fiber-loop mirror

We have experimentally demonstrated cascaded EDFA gain equalization using a fiber-loop mirror (FLM) acting as a linear wavelength filter. By changing the intra-loop polarization, the FLM passband center wavelength can be tuned. Additionally, there is some ability to change the bandwidth and filter slope of the FLM. The FLM is used to equalize the nonuniform gain of a cascade of EDFAs. After 1500 km, the power differential is reduced from 30 to 2 dB for three WDM channels covering a 9-nm wavelength range.     

Multiple variable interval schedule behaviour in humans: effects of ethanol, mood, and reinforcer size on responding maintained by monetary reinforcement

Ethanol is an effective reinforcer but, in common with other drugs of abuse, it may derive some of its reinforcing properties from the effects it has on behaviour maintained by other reinforcers. However, any assessment of ethanol's hypothesized effect on behaviour maintained by other reinforcers must take into account the fact that ethanol may have multiple mechanisms of action. In order to address this problem the experiments reported herein used a procedure based upon Herrnstein's Matching Law which allowed joint assessment of subjects' motor capacity and reinforcer sensitivity. The effect of ethanol (0, 0.3, and 0.6 g/kg) on motor capacity and reinforcer sensitivity was assessed by studying behaviour maintained by monetary reinforcement. In the first experiment the procedure was validated by showing that the behaviour of subjects was sensitive to changes in reinforcer value and in the second experiment 0.6 g/kg ethanol reduced motor capacity but did not affect reinforcer sensitivity. As a secondary hypothesis we also studied the effect of mood on reinforcer sensitivity and motor capacity. It was found that lower mood scores (lower hedonic tone) were associated with reduced reinforcer sensitivity and that male subjects showed higher motor capacity than females. However, there was also a mood by sex interaction, which indicated that higher motor capacity in males was only found in the presence of lower mood scores. The results are discussed in relation to the mechanisms of ethanol's dopaminergic effects, interactions between ethanol and other drugs of abuse, and the changes in reinforcer sensitivity which are thought to occur in depression.     

Enhancing the dynamic range and DGD monitoring windows in DOP-based DGD monitors using symmetric and asymmetric partial optical filtering

We propose and demonstrate a new type of degree-of-polarization (DOP)-based differential-group-delay (DGD) monitor using an optical filter such that the DGD monitoring range and DOP dynamic range are dramatically increased. We apply this technique to varying pulsewidth return-to-zero (RZ), carrier-suppressed RZ (CSRZ), and alternate-chirped RZ (ACRZ) signals and show that by optimally setting the position, bandwidth, and shape of a filter, we can double the DGD monitoring range compared to traditional DOP-based DGD monitors. Using our technique, the DGD monitoring ranges for 10, 20, and 40 Gb/s /spl sim/12.5-ps pulsewidth RZ signals are increased by 32, 33, and 12 ps, respectively. We also show that a narrow-band optical filter, offset from the center of the optical spectrum by the bit-rate frequency, can double the dynamic range of DOP-based DGD monitors for non-RZ (NRZ) signals.