Angular Spectrum of Phase-conjugate Field Generated in Four-wave Mixing

Abstract

The phase-conjugate mirror realized by means of degenerate four-wave mixing in a Kerr-like medium is investigated using the angular spectrum representation of interacting fields. The analysed model is based on the nonlinear mixing of two infinite plane pump waves with the spatially limited probe and signal waves. Relations among harmonic components of the probe and signal fields are derived assuming non-depleted pumping and neglecting the evanescent waves. The influence of the injected signal field on the frequency spectrum of the generated phase-conjugate field is also examined.     

Calculated Relative Stabilities of C84

C₈₄ is treated as a system composed of 24 local minima whose energies, geometries, and vibrational frequencies are obtained from MNDO calculations. The predicted global minimum of D_2d symmetry remains the most abundant species in the equilibrium isomeric mixture only till 276 K, being replaced by a D₂ species beyond that point. However, a C ₁ structure is prevalent in the high temperature limit. The calculated composition around a temperature of 1000 K is consistent with very recent NMR observations.     

Propagation-invariant electromagnetic fields: Theory and experiment

Abstract

The vector concept of the propagation invariance is formulated to be applied to the stationary electromagnetic fields. The analysed exact solutions of the Maxwell equations are obtained on the basis of general propagation-invariant solutions of the scalar Helmholtz equation. A possible classification of the propagation-invariant fields based on quantities which appear in the complex Poynting theorem is proposed. The longitudinal periodicity of the electromagnetic field obtained due to the superposition of two Bessel beams is verified by a simple experiment.     

On the role of Nb-related sites of an oxidized β-TiNb alloy surface in its interaction with osteoblast-like MG-63 cells

β-Stabilized titanium (Ti) alloys containing non-toxic elements, particularly niobium (Nb), are promising materials for the construction of bone implants. Their biocompatibility can be further increased by oxidation of their surface. Therefore, in this study, the adhesion, growth and viability of human osteoblast-like MG 63 cells in cultures on oxidized surfaces of a β-TiNb alloy were investigated and compared with the cell behavior on thermally oxidized Ti, i.e. a metal commonly used for constructing bone implants. Four experimental groups of samples were prepared: Ti or TiNb samples annealed to 600 °C for 60 min in a stream of dry air, and Ti and TiNb samples treated in Piranha solution prior to annealing. We found that on all TiNb-based samples, the cell population densities on days 1, 3 and 7 after seeding were higher than on the corresponding Ti-based samples. As revealed by XPS and Raman spectroscopy, and also by isoelectric point measurements, these results can be attributed to the presence of T-Nb₂O₅ oxide phase in the surface of the alloy sample, which decreased its negative zeta (ζ)-potential in comparison with zeta (ζ)-potential of the Ti sample at physiological pH. This effect was tentatively explained by the presence of positively charged defects acting as Lewis sites of the surface Nb₂O₅ phase. Piranha treatment slightly decreases the biocompatibility of the samples, which for the alloy samples may be explained by a decrease in the number of defective sites with this treatment. Thus, the presence of Nb and thermal oxidation of β-stabilized Ti alloys play a significant role in the increased biocompatibility of TiNb alloys.     

Horizontal forces in steel structures tested in fire

Fire tests carried out on the eight-storey steel framed building at the Building Research Establishment’s Cardington laboratory have shown that the connections are subject to large axial force. These forces are the result of thermal movements of the structure during heating and cooling and in some cases can result in failure of the structure. This paper describes a fire test carried out on the steel frame at Cardington on 16th January 2003 and a fire test carried out on a structure in Ostrava on 16th June 2006. In both cases the tests were designed to measure the forces generated in the connections.     

Possibilities for the use of membrane processes for the pre-treatment of wastewater from the production of dried potato purée

Our research focused on the membrane separation of wastewater resulting from the production of dried potato purée. Our aim was to investigate possibilities for recycling obtained retentate back to the actual production process, and, consequently, for reducing wastewater pollution. This paper describes trials of MF and RO membrane filtration of starch wastewater. The treated water contained starch, in either granulated or gelatinized form, and solids (fine pieces of potato skins). The trials were conducted in either one or two stages. We used a pilot plant equipped with a ceramic membrane with a filtration area of 0.35 m² and pore sizes of 500 and 100 nm. We also tested an organic RO membrane (7410) in the laboratory.High permeate flux above 100 l/(m² h) was measured for the 100 nm membrane, but with considerable fouling. Filtration through this membrane resulted in high COD and BOD₅ rejection (approximately 60%), an effect which was increased by the subsequent RO filtration. The content of soluble carbohydrate, 0.011% in permeate (with 0.44% dry substance), was analyzed using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection.     

Lasioglossins: Three Novel Antimicrobial Peptides from the Venom of the Eusocial Bee Lasioglossum laticeps (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Three novel structurally related pentadecapeptides, named lasioglossins, were isolated from the venom of the eusocial bee Lasioglossum laticeps. Their primary sequences were established as H‐Val‐Asn‐Trp‐Lys‐Lys‐Val‐Leu‐Gly‐Lys‐Ile‐Ile‐Lys‐Val‐Ala‐Lys‐NH₂ (LL‐I), H‐Val‐Asn‐Trp‐Lys‐Lys‐Ile‐Leu‐Gly‐Lys‐Ile‐Ile‐Lys‐Val‐Ala‐Lys‐NH₂ (LL‐II) and H‐Val‐Asn‐Trp‐Lys‐Lys‐Ile‐Leu‐Gly‐Lys‐Ile‐Ile‐Lys‐Val‐Val‐Lys‐NH₂ (LL‐III). These lasioglossins exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, low haemolytic and mast cell degranulation activity, and a potency to kill various cancer cells in vitro. The lasioglossin CD spectra were measured in the presence of trifluoroethanol and sodium dodecyl sulfate solution and indicated a high degree of α‐helical conformation. NMR spectroscopy, which was carried out in trifluoroethanol/water confirmed a curved α‐helical conformation with a concave hydrophobic and convex hydrophilic side. To understand the role of this bend on biological activity, we studied lasioglossin analogues in which the Gly in the centre of the molecule was replaced by other amino acid residues (Ala, Lys, Pro). The importance of the N‐terminal part of the molecule to the antimicrobial activity was revealed through truncation of five residues from both the N and C termini of the LL‐III peptide. C‐terminal deamidation of LL‐III resulted in a drop in antimicrobial activity, but esterification of the C terminus had no effect. Molecular modelling of LL‐III and the observed NOE contacts indicated the possible formation of a bifurcated H‐bond between hydrogen from the Lys15 CONH peptide bond and one H of the C‐terminal CONH₂ to the Ile11 oxygen atom. Such interactions cannot form with C‐terminal esterification.     

Size-Effect Testing of Cohesive Fracture Parameters and Nonuniqueness of Work-of-Fracture Method

The cohesive crack model has been widely accepted as the best compromise for the analysis of fracture of concrete and other quasibrittle materials. The softening stress-separation law of this model is now believed to be best described as a bilinear curve characterized by four parameters: the initial and total fracture energies Gf and GF, the tensile strength ft′, and the knee-point ordinate σ1. The classical work-of-fracture test of a notched beam of one size can deliver a clear result only for GF. Here it is shown computationally that the same complete load-deflection curve can be closely approximated with stress-separation curves in which the ft′ values differ by 77% and Gf values by 68%. It follows that the work-of-fracture test alone cannot provide an unambiguous basis for quasibrittle fracture analysis. It is found, however, that if this test is supplemented by size-effect testing, all four cohesive crack model parameters can be precisely identified and the fracture analysis of structures becomes unambiguous. It is shown computationally that size-effect tests do not suffice for determining GF and ft′, which indicates that they provide a sufficient basis for computing neither the postpeak softening of fracturing structures nor the peak loads of a very large structure. However, if the size-effect tests are supplemented by one complete softening load-deflection curve of a notched specimen, an unambiguous calculation of peak loads and postpeak response of structures becomes possible. To this end, the notched specimen tests must be conducted in a certain size range, whose optimum is here established by extending a previous analysis. Combination of the work-of-fracture and size-effect testing could be avoided only if the ratios GF/Gf and σ1/ft′ were known a priori, but unfortunately their estimates are far too uncertain.     

Is the cause of size effect on structural strength fractal or energetic-statistical?

The size effect on structural strength is an important phenomenon with a very old history. Unfortunately, despite abundant experimental evidence, this phenomenon is still not taken into account in most specifications of the design codes for concrete structures, as well as the design practices for polymer composites, rock masses and timber. The main reason appears to be a controversy between two different theories of size effect, namely the theory based on energetic-statistical scaling and the theory based on ideas from fractal geometry. This paper aims to critically analyze these two theories, examine their hypotheses and point out the limitations, in order to help code-writing committees choose a rational basis for their work. The paper begins by reviewing the theory of energetic size effect and the efforts to explain the size effect by fractal geometry. The advantages and disadvantages in modeling the structural size effect by fractals are pointed out. Certain flaws in the fractal theory of size effect are illuminated and it is shown that various aspects of this theory lack a sound physical or mathematical basis, or both. The paper ends by recommending how engineering designers and code writers should take the size effect into account.