Control of unidirectional oscillation in semiconductor orbiterlasers

Unidirectional oscillation in a ring-resonator-type semiconductor laser was demonstrated in a square-shaped orbiter laser using an optical feedback mechanism. The bistable switching phenomenon between the unidirectional and bidirectional oscillation was observed synchronized with the switching of the longitudinal lasing mode. A longitudinal-mode bistability results from the compound cavity system formed by the orbiter laser and output waveguide. The feedback light from the output waveguide end interferes with the orbiter lasing light. Switching between the unidirectional and bidirectional oscillation was controlled by injecting a current into the output waveguide, which varies the phase condition of the feedback light     

1 ms Auto Pan-Tilt – video shooting technology for objects in motion based on Saccade Mirror with background subtraction

In this paper, the authors propose a state-of-the-art video shooting system for some randomly and quickly moving objects, which is based on our precise centering technology ‘1 ms Auto Pan-Tilt.’ It can capture the certain moving target as if it stopped and were fixed at the center of the image. In a previous study, we proposed and developed a handmade special device to control a camera gaze promptly, yet, it was not applicable for a real situation. This time, we remodeled the device as a unit with plural camera ports, which realized obtaining high-resolution movies. Moreover, with quantifying the system mathematically, we proposed a robust algorithm for a real use. Videos obtained by the new system help us grasp the detail movement of the target object more clearly, which is highly demanded in the realms of the measurement, astronomy, broadcasting service, and so on.     

Imaging experimental brain tumors with 1-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid: comparison to fluorodeoxyglucose and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid in morphologically defined tumor regions

The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences and define the advantages of imaging experimental brain tumors in rats with two nonmetabolized amino acids, 1-aminocyclopentane carboxylic (ACPC) acid and alpha-aminoisobutyric (AIB) acid compared with imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) or the gallium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid chelate (Ga-DTPA). 1-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid, AIB, and FDG autoradiograms were obtained 60 minutes after intravenous injection to simulate positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, whereas the Ga-DTPA autoradiograms were obtained 5 or 10 minutes after injection to simulate gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images. Three experimental tumors were studied (C6, RG2, and Walker 256) to provide a range of tumor types. Triple-label quantitative autoradiography was performed, and parametric images of the apparent distribution volume (Va, mL/g) for ACPC or AIB, relative glucose metabolism (R, micromol/100 g/min), vascular permeability to Ga-DTPA (K1, microL/min/g), and histology were obtained from the same tissue section. The four images were registered in an image array processor, and regions of interest in tumor and contralateral brain were defined on morphologic criteria (histology) and were transferred to the autoradiographic images. A comparative analysis of all measured values was performed. The location and morphologic characteristics of the tumor had an effect on the images and measurements of Va, R, and K1. Meningeal extensions of all three tumors consistently had the highest amino acid uptake (Va) and vascular permeability (K1) values, and subcortical portions of the tumors usually had the lowest values. Va and R (FDG) values generally were higher in tumor regions with high-cell density and lower in regions with low-cell density. Tumor areas identified as "impending" necrosis on morphologic criteria consistently had high R values, but little or no change in Va or K1. Tumor necrosis was seen consistently only in the larger Walker 256 tumors; low values of R and Va for AIB (less for ACPC) were measured in the necrotic-appearing regions, whereas K1 was not different from the mean tumor value. The highest correlations were observed between vascular permeability (K1 for Ga-DTPA) and Va for AIB in all three tumors; little or no correlation between vascular permeability and R was observed. The advantages of ACPC and AIB imaging were most convincingly demonstrated in C6 gliomas and in Walker 256 tumors. 1-aminocyclopentane was substantially better than FDG or Ga-DTPA for identifying tumor infiltration of adjacent brain tissue beyond the macroscopic border of the tumor; ACPC also may be useful for identifying low-grade tumors with an intact blood-brain barrier. Contrast-enhancing regions of the tumors were visualized more clearly with AIB than with FDG or Ga-DTPA; viable and necrotic-appearing tumor regions could be distinguished more readily with AIB than with FDG. [11C]-labeled ACPC and AIB are likely to have similar advantages for imaging human brain tumors with PET.     

Correlation between microhardness and electronic charge density of hafnium hydrides

Quantitative Vickers microhardnesses for α + δ′-, δ′-, δ-, δ + ?- and ?-phase hafnium hydrides (HfH_x; 1.46 ≤ x ≤ 2.02) and deuterides (HfD_x; 1.55 ≤ x ≤ 1.94) at room temperature have been measured using a Vickers hardness tester. The Vickers microhardnesses of the HfH_x and HfD_x gradually decreased with an increase of the hydrogen concentration, and those for 1.46 ≤ x ≤ 1.70 were higher than that of α-phase metallic Hf. It was revealed by a first-principles calculation as well as an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement that the hydrogen concentration dependence of the microhardnesses for HfH_x and HfD_x was ascribed mainly in terms of its influence on charge transfer from Hf 5d to H 1s and reduction of cohesive energy.     

Fabrication and characterization of tetracyanoquinodimethane/phthalocyanine solar cells

Fabrication and characterization of heterojunction solar cells of tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ)/copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) were carried out. The light-induced charge separation with charge transfer was investigated by light-induced current density and optical absorption. In both cases of the TCNQ/CuPc and TCNQ/ZnPc solar cells, the TCNQ thin film worked for strong electron-accepting layer as n-type semiconductor. These behaviors would be originated in charge transfer of excited electron from CuPc and ZnPc to TCNQ. The photovoltaic mechanism was discussed on the basis of the experimental results.     

200-GHz FSR periodic multi/demultiplexer with flattenedtransmission and rejection band by using a Mach-Zehnder interferometerwith a ring resonator

A periodic multi/demultiplexer that has a square spectrum response with a 200-GHz free spectrum range was fabricated using a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer with MMI couplers, a delay line, and a ring resonator. A large enhancement of the FSR is obtained by using a deep ridge waveguide. The transmission bandwidths of 1 dB down and -15-dB rejection are about 75 GHz and over 50 GHz, respectively     

Intra-individual differences between technetium-99m-HMPAO and technetium-99m-ECD in the normal medial temporal lobe

Regional distributions of 99mTc-hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) and 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) were compared in the normal brain. METHODS: Six paid, healthy volunteers (mean age 26 yr) had high-resolution neuroperfusion SPECT using both 99mTc-HMPAO and 99mTc-ECD on separate days. RESULTS: Regional distribution of the two tracers differed. Technetium-99m-HMPAO accumulated more in the thalamus, frontal lobe, temporal lobe and cerebellum than 99mTc-ECD, which accumulated more in the occipital and parietal lobes. There was a considerable difference in the accumulation of the two tracers in the medial temporal lobe. The percent accumulations of 99mTc-HMPAO and 99mTc-ECD in the medial temporal lobe compared with the mean global cerebral cortical accumulation were 93.9% +/- 2.4% and 83.1% +/- 4.1% (mean +/- s.d.), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that 99mTc-HMPAO and 99mTc-ECD require specific and separate criteria for diagnosing temporal lobe pathologies, such as dementia and temporal lobe epilepsy.     

Modeling and design of bending waveguide based semiconductor polarization rotators

A theoretical model for bending waveguide based semiconductor polarization rotators has been established, which is based on the full-vectorial wave equations for bending waveguides and coupled-mode theory. Calculation results obtained using this model and measurement data are found to be in good agreement.     

A novel class of orally active non-peptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonists. 3. Discovering bioisosteres of the imidazo[1,2-a] pyridine moiety

Recently we reported on overcoming the species difference of our first orally active non-peptide bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor antagonists, incorporating an 8-[[3-(N-acylglycyl-N-methylamino)-2, 6-dichlorobenzyl]oxy]-3-halo-2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine skeleton, leading to identification of the first clinical candidate 4a (FR167344). With this potent new lead compound in hand, we then investigated further refinement of the basic framework by replacement of the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine moiety and discovered several bioisosteric heterocycles. Extensive optimization of these new heteroaromatic derivatives revealed the detailed structure-activity relationships (SAR) around the imidazo[1, 2-a]pyridine ring and the 2,6-dichlorobenzyl moiety, leading to the discovery of our second clinical candidate 87b (FR173657) which inhibited the specific binding of [3H]BK to recombinant human B2 receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and guinea pig ileum membrane preparations expressing B2 receptors with IC50's of 1.4 and 0.46 nM, respectively. This compound also displayed excellent in vivo functional antagonistic activity against BK-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs with an ED50 value of 0.075 mg/kg by oral administration. Further modifications of the terminal substituents on the pyridine moiety led to a novel pharmacophore and resulted in the identification of 99 (FR184280), whose IC50 value for human B2 receptors (0.51 nM) was comparable to that of the second-generation peptide B2 antagonist Icatibant.     

Hydrogen production by co-cultures of Lactobacillus and a photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides RV

Hydrogen production with glucose by using co-immobilized cultures of a lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus delbrueckii NBRC13953, and a photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides RV, in agar gels was studied. Glucose was converted to hydrogen gas in a yield of 7.1 mol of hydrogen per mole of glucose at a maximum under illuminated conditions.