10 Gbit/s optical wavelength converter with a Brillouin scattering-based spectral filter

For the first time, to our knowledge, a highly robust, high-bit-rate (10 Gbit/s) wavelength converter that is based on a narrow Brillouin filter is reported. The conversion takes place in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) in a cross-gain-phase process. The SOA operates in a weak-modulation mode, and the exiting signal undergoes a dc reduction with a narrow spectral filter. In our system we perform spectrally narrow filtering by using a long Brillouin grating.     

The relative growth of internal organs in light and heavy breeds

The relative weights of the gastro-intestinal segments and of some other internal organs from light and heavy breed chicks from hatching to 21 days of age were compared. 2. The relative weight of the duodenum and jejunum was higher in the light breed than in the heavy one, the reverse relationship was found for the ileum and caecum. 3. The relative growth of the pancreas, heart, cerebrum and cerebellum was greater in the light breed.     

Characterization of pyrolytic carbon deposited on graphite substrates in inductive R.F. plasmas of propylene and argon

Coatings of pyrolytic carbon (PyC) on graphite substrates were obtained in an inductive r.f. plasma in mixtures of propylene and argon at pressures up to 10 Torr. The temperature of the graphite substrate in the inductive r.f. system was kept at 350 ± 50°C. The PyC coatings were analysed for anisotropy, for composition by small angle X-ray scattering and for density. The results obtained (varying the gas pressure and the propylene concentration in the r.f. plasma system) were partly compared with PyC coatings obtained in a chemical vapour deposition fluidized bed system.     

Birth order and hospitalization for schizophrenia.

Among female schizophrenics admitted to Spring Grove State Hospital, Catonsville, Maryland, between 1942 and 1949 there were significantly more last-born than 1st-born individuals. Compared to 1st-born, last-born females also showed a lower degree of social competence and a higher incidence of bizarre and self-destructive behavior, raising the question of whether the differences found between the birth ranks are the result of differences in incidence of the disease process or in the prevalence of forms of symptomatology likely to lead to hospitalization. Male patients showed no overall differences in birth rank. However, when the effects of social class of origin were examined, significantly more of the 1st-born and 1st-half male patients came from working-class and last-born and last-half patients from middle-class families. The study was seen as providing firm support for the previously reported relationship between birth order and schizophrenia, especially among women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the departure of a sphere from contact with a permeable membrane

Summary A sphere in contact with a porous membrane can depart with non-zero velocity under the influence of a finite force. The flow field and the viscous force resisting the motion are evaluated by reducing the Stokes equations to a fourth-order ordinary differential equation through the use of conformal mapping. Explicit results are given for high and low membrane permeabilities by using regular and singular perturbation techniques respectively.     

Morphological and cytochemical investigation of human mesothelial cells from pleural and peritoneal effusions: a light and electron microscopy study

We investigated the morphological and cytochemical properties of mesothelial cells obtained from pleural and peritoneal effusions of patients with various diseases. The morphological features were studied by light and electron microscopy and by cytochemical methods. The different kinds of contact between mesothelial cells and their interaction with lymphocytes were observed and the transition of mesothelial cells to macrophages and/or fibroblasts was demonstrated.     

Efficient mode transformations of degenerate Laguerre-Gaussian beams

We present an approach for efficient conversion of a single-high-order-mode distribution from a laser to a nearly Gaussian distribution and vice versa. It is based on dividing the high-order mode distribution into equal parts that are then combined together coherently. We implement our approach with several optical arrangements that include a combination of discrete elements and some with single interferometric elements. These arrangements are analyzed and experimentally evaluated for converting the TEM01 mode distribution with Mx(2) = 3 to a nearly Gaussian beam with Mx(2) = 1.045 or Mx(2) = 1.15. The basic principle, design, and experimental results obtained with several conversion arrangements are presented. The results reveal that conversion efficiency is typically greater than 90%, compared with theoretical ones. In addition, some arrangement is exploited for converting the fundamental Gaussian-beam distribution into the TEM01 mode distribution.     

斯坦哈特自然历史博物馆

正新的博物馆将成为特拉维大学自然历史类收藏品的新家,该建筑设计包含展览和研究两种功能。通常未展出的收藏品都会放置在一个大木箱里——珍贵的植物和动物标本储存箱。设计师正是借鉴了标本箱这一形象,将建筑体打造成一个神秘的宝箱,邀请人们进入参观。盒子式建筑体象征着永恒,兼具历史与未来两种象征意义。