Intracavity testing of KTiOPO4 crystals for second-harmonic generation at 532 nm

We have developed a diode-pumped Nd:YVO(4) cw laser for testing KTiOPO(4) crystals designed for intracavity second-harmonic generation at 532 nm. We demonstrate that this source is extremely sensitive to defects inside the crystal, inducing losses at 1064 nm and an index mismatch between fundamental and harmonic waves.     

In-Flight Calibration of the Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) on Board the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite

The Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) was launched on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite to measure the Earth's upper-atmospheric wind and temperature. It is a remote-sensing instrument that employs a field-compensated Michelson interferometer to measure the Doppler shift, line width, and emission rate of naturally occurring airglow emission lines. The data analysis uses calibration data that were obtained in the laboratory prior to launch. A calibration package to monitor instrument parameters was built and placed in the instrument. This package consists of a He-Ne laser, spectral lamps, and a tungsten lamp. These sources and their performance during six years of operation in orbit are described. It is shown that the WINDII principle of wind measurement can be assessed fully by the use of in-flight calibration data and that the preflight and in-flight phase calibrations can be related to each other with a precision of the order of 1 ms(-1).     

Nondeterministic polynomial time factoring in the tile assembly model

Formalized study of self-assembly has led to the definition of the tile assembly model, Previously I presented ways to compute arithmetic functions, such as addition and multiplication, in the tile assembly model: a highly distributed parallel model of computation that may be implemented using molecules or a large computer network such as the Internet. Here, I present tile assembly model systems that factor numbers nondeterministically using Θ(1)$\Theta \left(1\right)$ distinct components. The computation takes advantage of nondeterminism, but theoretically, each of the nondeterministic paths is executed in parallel, yielding the solution in time linear in the size of the input, with high probability. I describe mechanisms for finding the successful solutions among the many parallel executions and explore bounds on the probability of such a nondeterministic system succeeding and prove that the probability can be made arbitrarily close to 1.     

Higher order sliding mode control based on optimal approach of an electropneumatic actuator

This paper presents the synthesis and the experimental implementation of robust higher order sliding mode controllers for an electropneumatic actuator. These controllers are based on a recent approach and are designed in monovariable (position control) and multivariable (position and pressure control) contexts. The controllers' robustness is analysed with respect to parameters uncertainties and load disturbances.     

Acute Cycling Exercise Induces Changes in Red Blood Cell Deformability and Membrane Lipid Remodeling

Here we describe the effects of a controlled, 30 min, high-intensity cycling test on blood rheology and the metabolic profiles of red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma from well-trained males. RBCs demonstrated decreased deformability and trended toward increased generation of microparticles after the test. Meanwhile, metabolomics and lipidomics highlighted oxidative stress and activation of membrane lipid remodeling mechanisms in order to cope with altered properties of circulation resulting from physical exertion during the cycling test. Of note, intermediates from coenzyme A (CoA) synthesis for conjugation to fatty acyl chains, in parallel with reversible conversion of carnitine and acylcarnitines, emerged as metabolites that significantly correlate with RBC deformability and the generation of microparticles during exercise. Taken together, we propose that RBC membrane remodeling and repair plays an active role in the physiologic response to exercise by altering RBC properties.     

Rigorous analysis of the electronic properties of InP interfaces for gas sensing

A theoretical analysis of the surface Fermi level position (E_FS) at n-InP interfaces with different surface state density (N_SS(E)) and surface fixed charge (Q_FC) representing adsorbed ions or surface δ-doping has been performed in order to understand the InP-based gas sensor behaviour. Furthermore, the in-depth profiles of the potential barrier in equilibrium and under illumination (surface photovoltage) have been rigorously calculated. A U-shaped interface state continuum has been assumed in accordance with the Disorder Induced Gap State model. From the simulated dependencies of E_FS vs. the minimum surface state density N_SS0, the movement of E_FS in the energy band gap as well as its pinning position have been investigated. In addition, the analysis of the E_FS sensitivity to the negative and positive Q_FC has revealed the remarkable charge detection sensitivity of InP interfaces within different dynamic ranges.     

Perinatal Campylobacter jejuni infection after Cesarean section

A 23 year old woman was admitted for delivery after having experienced a few episodes of loose stools. Following an unsuccessful vacuum-extraction, a Caesarean section was performed 12 hours after the membranes had ruptured. Thirty-six hours after the operation, the woman developed fever, and Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from her blood. Subsequently, Campylobacter was also recovered from the faeces of both mother and child. Though it is likely, that the Campylobacter was introduced to the uterus after rupture of the membranes, a transplacental infection can not be ruled out.     

Analytic approximation of the jitter incurred by CBR traffics in IP networks

In this paper, an analytic approximation is derived for the end-to-end delay-jitter incurred by a periodic traffic with constant packet size. The single node case is considered first. It is assumed that the periodic traffic is multiplexed with a background packet stream under the FCFS service discipline. The processes governing the packet arrivals and the packet sizes of the background traffic are assumed to be general renewal processes. A very simple analytical approximation is derived and its accuracy is assessed by means of event-driven simulations. This approximation is then extended to the multiple node case yielding a simple analytical approximation of the end-to-end jitter. This approximation is shown to be fairly accurate in the light to moderate traffic conditions typically encountered in IP core networks.