Continuous-wave lasing of single-mode metamorphic quantum dot lasers for the 1.5-μm spectral region

Lasers based on InAs/InGaAs quantum dots grown on metamorphic (In,Ga,Al)As layers deposited by MBE on GaAs substrates exhibited emission near 1.5 μm with a differential quantum efficiency of about 50%. The narrow-stripe lasers operate in a single transverse mode and withstand continuous current density above 20 kA cm^?2 without significant degradation. A maximum continuous-wave output power of 220 mW is obtained. Neither current nor beam filamentation was observed up to the highest pumping levels.     

Adrenaline enhances LPS-induced IL-10 synthesis: evidence for protein kinase A-mediated pathway

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of cAMP in enhanced IL-10 synthesis in human mononuclear cells. Adrenaline is known to act via the alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors which are coupled to adenylyl cyclase. The effects of cAMP elevation on IL-10 synthesis were studied at the protein level by ELISA and at the level of mRNA by RT/PCR. In this in vitro model adrenaline enhanced the LPS-induced synthesis of IL-10 with parallel suppression of TNF synthesis. These effects were demonstrated both at the protein level and the level of mRNA. To analyze the role of cAMP we antagonized this effect by application of (Rp)-cAMPS, a diastereomer of adenosine-3',5'-cyclic phosphorothioate, known to inhibit competitively the cAMP-induced activation of protein kinase A. Simultaneous addition of adrenaline and (Rp)-cAMPS led to a reversal of IL-10 synthesis to values induced by LPS stimulation alone. The kinetic analysis in LPS-stimulated mononuclear cells revealed a significant delay of IL-10 synthesis starting after 7 h compared with TNF synthesis which showed the first significant increase at 90 min. Finally, the combination of adrenaline and exogenous IL-10 led to a more pronounced suppression of TNF synthesis after LPS stimulation compared to suppression by IL-10 or adrenaline alone. The present results suggest the role of protein kinase A activation for adrenaline-induced IL-10 synthesis in human mononuclear cells. Additionally, based on the kinetic analysis and further experiments described in the literature, endogenous IL-10 could contribute to the adrenaline-induced suppression of TNF synthesis after prolonged incubation. These in vitro results could explain the suppression of TNF plasma concentration after parallel infusion of LPS and epinephrine compared to LPS infusion alone as has been demonstrated in a first human study.     

X-ray focusing with lobster-eye optics: a comparison of theory with experiment

We report an experimental investigation and comparison with simulation of the x-ray focusing of a flat, square profile microchannel plate. We use x rays with an energy of ~1.5 keV from a laser-produced plasma. The images were recorded with x-ray film. We find the focal structure to be consistent with theoretical expectations. The angular resolution of the focus is 0.96 mrad, which is a major improvement over previous results. The measured peak intensity gain is 27 ± 4, which is ~33% of that for a perfect optic.     

Optical properties and quantum efficiency of thin-film alkali halides in the far ultraviolet

The optical constants of thin films of CsI, KI, and KBr and the quantum efficiency (QE) of planar photocathodes made with these alkali halides in the 53.6-174.4-nm spectral range are presented. The optical constants were obtained from measurements of the reflectance as a function of incidence angle. The effect of film heating and exposure to UV irradiation on the optical properties and on the QE of the three alkali halides was investigated. KBr was found to be the most stable material for both heating and UV irradiation. KI appeared to be close to temperature stable, whereas UV exposure affected its optical constants. CsI optical constants changed after 420 K heating and after UV exposure. The changes in the optical constants were related to the QE changes, and a certain correlation between both variations was determined. However, it was also demonstrated that the QE changes cannot be explained solely by the changes in optical constants.     

Diffractive optical isolator made of high-efficiency dielectric gratings only

The working principle of an optical isolator made of two corrugated dielectric gratings is introduced. One grating acts as a polarizer, and the other acts as a quarter-wave plate used in conical incidence converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light. Global maxima of diffraction efficiency for surface-corrugated gratings with binary, sinusoidal, and pyramidal ridge shapes with dependence on the material index are identified. Regarding technological feasibility for use in the visible wavelength range, high-frequency gratings with a binary shape were realized. With these gratings, an extinction ratio of more than 40 dB for the polarizer is theoretically possible, and more than 20 dB was experimentally achieved. A good correlation between theoretically calculated efficiencies and birefringences based on rigorous methods and the experimental results is demonstrated.     

The charged region of Hsp90 modulates the function of the N-terminal domain

Hsp90, an abundant heat shock protein that is highly expressed even under physiological conditions, is involved in the folding of key molecules of the cellular signal transduction system such as kinases and steroid receptors. It seems to contain two chaperone sites differing in substrate specificity. Binding of ATP or the antitumor drug geldanamycin alters the substrate affinity of the N-terminal chaperone site, whereas both substances show no influence on the C-terminal one. In wild-type Hsp90 the fragments containing the chaperone sites are connected by a highly charged linker of various lengths in different organisms. As this linker region represents the most striking difference between bacterial and eukaryotic Hsp90s, it may be involved in a gain of function of eukaryotic Hsp90s. Here, we have analyzed a fragment of yeast Hsp90 consisting of the N-terminal domain and the charged region (N272) in comparison with the isolated N-terminal domain (N210). We show that the charged region causes an increase in the affinity of the N-terminal domain for nonnative protein and establishes a crosstalk between peptide and ATP binding. Thus, the binding of peptide to N272 decreases its affinity for ATP and geldanamycin, whereas the ATP-binding properties of the monomeric N-terminal domain N210 are not influenced by peptide binding. We propose that the charged region connecting the two chaperone domains plays an important role in regulating chaperone function of Hsp90.     

Statistical methods for mapping quantitative trait loci from a dense set of markers

Lander and Botstein introduced statistical methods for searching an entire genome for quantitative trait loci (QTL) in experimental organisms, with emphasis on a backcross design and QTL having only additive effects. We extend their results to intercross and other designs, and we compare the power of the resulting test as a function of the magnitude of the additive and dominance effects, the sample size and intermarker distances. We also compare three methods for constructing confidence regions for a QTL: likelihood regions, Bayesian credible sets, and support regions. We show that with an appropriate evaluation of the coverage probability a support region is approximately a confidence region, and we provide a theroretical explanation of the empirical observation that the size of the support region is proportional to the sample size, not the square root of the sample size, as one might expect from standard statistical theory.     

Grid alloys for automobile batteries in the new millennium

By 2000, most lead-acid, starting/lightening/ignition (SLI) batteries produced in the Western world had made the transition from traditional lead-antimony alloy grids to lead-calcium-based alloys. The automobile requirements for high cranking performance and maintenance-free batteries have accelerated the trend. Cost reductions as well as high numbers of grids-per-battery have led to automated, continuous grid-manufacturing processes which require lead-calcium-based alloys. Higher under-hood temperatures have lead to the introduction of higher tin content and silver additions to lead-calcium alloys to improve battery life. Lead-antimony alloys are still used as grid alloys in SLI batteries around the world. With higher performance requirements in vehicles and newer batteries in the next decade, however, the use of lead-antimony alloys for automobile batteries may decline significantly. This paper describes the operating conditions of automobile batteries in the new millennium and how the grid-production processes and grid alloys have changed to meet the requirements of these batteries. For more information, contact Andreas Siegmund, RSR Technologies, 2777 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 1800, Dallas, Texas 75207; (214) 583-0359; fax (214) 631-6092; e-mail asiegmund@rsrtechnologies.com.