Timing jitter and pump-induced amplitude modulation in thecolliding-pulse mode-locked (CPM) laser

The timing jitter and spurious amplitude modulation of colliding-pulse mode-locked (CPM) lasers were measured. The absolute jitter (the jitter of the laser alone) varied between 5 and 10 ps RMS in a 50-500-Hz bandwidth. The smallest measured relative jitter (timing fluctuations between the CPM and a radio-frequency (RF) synthesizer synchronized to the CPM) was 1.8 ps RMS in a 2-Hz to 1-kHz bandwidth. Separate from the jitter, spurious modulation in the CW pump laser mixes with the CPM pulse train to produce a set of discrete amplitude-modulated sidebands in the power spectrum of the CPM output. The frequencies of these sidebands change with cavity length, and the sidebands can be eliminated by operating the pump laser in a single longitudinal mode     

A Meta-Implementation for Systems Network Architecture

IBM's Systems Network Architecture (SNA) is formally defined by a meta-implementation program written in the Format and Protocol Language (FAPL). This paper describes the structure of the SNA meta-implementation and the development of FAPL. The most interesting aspect of the meta-implementation is that the architecture specification of SNA is itself machine executable. This property leads to a number of applications in software technology, such as automated protocol validation and direct Implementation from the formal specification.     

OTDR in single-mode fibre at 1.55 ?m using a semiconductor laser and PINFET receiver

Optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) at a wavelength of 1.55 ?m using a semiconductor laser source is reported for the first time. The apparatus uses a PINFET optical receiver and can detect the Rayleigh scatter signal over 30 km of single-mode fibre installed in duct.     

Direct measurement of FM noise in 80 GHz solid-state oscillators

A technique for the measurement of FM noise in W-band oscillators is described. The method is `direct?, since it makes use of a tuned frequency discriminator operating at the fundamental oscillator frequency. The equipment is compared with other types of noise measurement systems, and the important factors affecting sensitivity are noted. Measurements of the FM noise performance of oscillators utilising GaAs TEOs and Si impatts are presented.     

Structural Studies of Anomalous Behavior in the Silica-Alumina Gel System

This paper compares the structure ofAl₂O₃-SiO₂ xerogels prepared with Al₂O₃ contents ranging from 21 to 75 wt% (13 to 64 mol%). The 47 wt% Al₂O₃ xerogel (Al/Si ≅ 1) exhibits anomalously low surface area (≅1 m²/g) and skeletal density compared with other Al₂O₃-Si₂ compositions. Based on the results of nitrogen adsorption/condensation, helium displacement, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), we attribute the low surface area and skeletal density (density of the solid phase which is inaccessable to helium) to the formation of closed micropores, whereas the higher surface area materials exhibit a slightly coarser texture comprising open pores with radii of ≅1 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ²⁹SI and ²⁷Al magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MASNMR) indicate no anomalous behavior in the 47% sample on molecular length scales. HRTEM indicates the presence of a small fraction of crystallites which is supported by the SAXS results, but it is unknown if this crystallinity is related to low surface area. Low-field ¹H NMR spin-lattice relaxation measurements show that the physical structure of all of the 'wet' gels is similar implying that pore closure occurs during drying. Consistent with this idea, gel surface area and density increased significantly when the pore fluid (water) was replaced with a lower surface tension fluid (formamide, dioxane, ethanol. water/surfactant).     

ODAM: An optimized distributed association rule mining algorithm

Association rule mining is an active data mining research area. However, most ARM algorithms cater to a centralized environment. In contrast to previous ARM algorithms, we have developed a distributed algorithm, called optimized distributed association mining, for geographically distributed data sets. ODAM generates support counts of candidate itemsets quicker than the other DARM algorithms and reduces the size of average transactions, data sets, and message exchanges.     

A 1-THz superconducting hot-electron-bolometer receiver for astronomical observations

In this paper, we describe a superconducting hot-electron-bolometer mixer receiver developed to operate in atmospheric windows between 800-1300 GHz. The receiver uses a waveguide mixer element made of 3-4-nm-thick NbN film deposited over crystalline quartz. This mixer yields double-sideband receiver noise temperatures of 1000 K at around 1.0 THz, and 1600 K at 1.26 THz, at an IF of 3.0 GHz. The receiver was successfully tested in the laboratory using a gas cell as a spectral line test source. It is now in use on the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory terahertz test telescope in northern Chile.     

SOME BARLEY GRAIN AND GREEN MALT PROPERTIES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON MALT HOT-WATER EXTRACT: II. PROTEIN,PROTEINASE AND MOISTURE

This paper continues the study of variation between varieties in some properties of barley and malt and examines protein-related characters and moisture uptake. Initial rate of moisture uptake was more closely related to enzyme activities than maximum moisture content. Significant varietal variation was found in all characters and this variation was greater than environmental variation with the exception of grain nitrogen concentration. In the endosperm endopeptidase activity was the character most highly correlated with malt hot water extract (HWE). The combined influence of protein- and β-glucan-related characters was investigated and the relative influence of each group of characters on HWE varied in different sections of the grain. In the endosperm the protein- and β-glucan-related characters accounted for 30% and 60% of the variation in HWE respectively.     

Polyphenoloxidase from DeChaunac grapes

Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) from red grape cultivar, DeChaunac, grown in New York State was isolated and purified 17-fold by using Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B column. Disc gel electrophoresis revealed near homogeneity of three isoenzyme bands. The molecular weight of this enzyme ranged from 73 000 to 85 000. The temperature and pH optima of the purified enzyme were 20 °C and 6.0, respectively. Kinetic studies showed that the thermal inactivation of the PPO followed first-order kinetics, with the activation energy, Ea = 52.39 Kcal mol^?1. The substrate specificity showed a high degree of PPO activity toward o-diphenolic compounds with the highest affinity toward caffeic acid among substrates studied. The apparent K_m values for caffeic acid and 4-methylcatechol as substrates for the Dechaunac PPO were 16 mmol and 25 mmol, respectively. The most potent inhibitors of the PPO were D.L-dithiothreitol and sodium metasulphite at the concentration level of 0.5 mmol.     

Field survey of clinical mastitis in low somatic cell count herds

Nine commercial dairy herds, each with low herd milk somatic cell counts, were monitored for 1 yr to determine prevalence of intramammary infections and rates of clinical mastitis. Staphylococcus species was the bacterial group most frequently isolated from quarters at calving and at drying off. Environmental streptococci and coliform intramammary infections totaled less than 6% of quarters at both calving and at drying off. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from less than 1% of quarters and Streptococcus agalactiae from 0% of quarters at both calving and drying off. A total of 646 clinical cases of mastitis were diagnosed in 548 quarters of 406 cows. Mean rate of clinical mastitis among herds was .457 clinical cases/305 cow-days. Rates of clinical mastitis ranged among herds from .273 to .748 clinical cases/305 cow-days. Coliforms and bacteriologically negative and environmental streptococci accounted for 82.3% of clinical cases. Rates of clinical mastitis and severity of clinical signs differed among herds, seasons of the year, parity groups, and stages of lactation. Rates of clinical mastitis were highest during summer, in first lactation cows, and during the first 7 d of lactation.