Synchronization of Fourier-Synthesized Optical Pulses to a Mode-Locked Optical Clock

A Fourier-synthesized 40-GHz optical pulse train was successfully synchronized to an 8-GHz optical clock generated from a mode-locked fiber ring laser. The measured timing jitter of the synchronization was 0.43 ps.     

The initiation of cyclisation with 4-substituted cyclohexenyl cations

The diols (7) and (8) are cyclised to the dienes (10) and (11) with loss of the secondary hydroxyl group.     

Novel synthetic protocol toward pyrazolo[3,4‐h]‐[1,6]naphthyridines via Friedlander condensation of new 4‐aminopyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5‐carbaldehyde with reactive α‐methylene ketones

Novel pyrazolo[3,4‐h][1,6]naphthyridine derivatives 6 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 13 , and 15 have been synthesized by Friedlander condensation of new 4‐amino‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5‐carbaldehyde (o‐aminoaldehyde) 4 with active methylene ketones, such as symmetric acetone 5a , monoalkylketones 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j , 5k , unsymmetrical dialkyl ketones 7a , 7b , p‐bromophenylacetonitrile 10 , β‐ketoester 12a , β‐ketoamide 12b , or diethyl malonate 14 , respectively. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Raman fiber distributed feedback lasers

We demonstrate fiber distributed feedback (DFB) lasers using Raman gain in two germanosilicate fibers. Our DFB cavities were 124 mm uniform fiber Bragg gratings with a π phase shift offset from the grating center. Our pump was at 1480 nm and the DFB lasers operated on a single longitudinal mode near 1584 nm. In a commercial Raman gain fiber, the maximum output power, linewidth, and threshold were 150 mW, 7.5 MHz, and 39 W, respectively. In a commercial highly nonlinear fiber, these figures improved to 350 mW, 4 MHz, and 4.3 W, respectively. In both lasers, more than 75% of pump power was transmitted, allowing for the possibility of substantial amplification in subsequent Raman gain fiber.     

An efficient polymer-supported copper(II) catalyst for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylation reaction of N(H)-heterocycles with aryl halides as well as arylboronic acids

Immobilization of copper onto polystyrene provided a polymer-supported copper(II) catalyst, which was effective in cross-coupling reactions between N-containing substrates and arylboronic acids using methanol as a solvent in air under base-free conditions. This catalyst was also effective in N-arylation of imidazole with aryl halides in DMSO using K₂CO₃ as a base under nitrogen atmosphere. The catalyst was characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic techniques. The product N-arylimidazoles and N-arylbenzimidazoles were isolated in good to excellent yields. This copper catalyst was air stable and could be recycled with minimal loss of activity.     

Investigation of viscosity and thermal conductivity of alumina nanofluids with addition of SDBS

The present study focused on thermal conductivity and viscosity of alumina nanoparticles, at low volume concentrations of 0.01–1.0 % dispersed in the mixture of ethylene glycol and water (mass ratio, 60:40). Sodium dodeobcylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) was applied for better dispersion and stability of alumina nanoparticles and study of its influence on both thermal conductivity and viscosity. The thermal conductivity established polynomial enhancement pattern with increase of volume concentration up to 0.1 % while linear enhancement was obtained at higher concentrations. In addition, thermal conductivity was enhanced with the rise of temperature. However, the augmentation was negligible compared to that obtained with increase of volume concentration. In contrast, viscosity data showed remarkable reduction with increase of temperature. Meanwhile, viscosity of nanofluids enhanced with loading of alumina nanoparticles. Thermal conductivity and viscosity measurements showed higher values over theoretical predictions. Results showed SDBS at different concentrations has distinct influence on thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluid.     

Synthesis of benzohetero[3, 2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyrimidines using cyclic β-keto lactone as a building block

Abstract  A novel method for the synthesis of 3-(2-substituted ethyl)-2-methylbenzohetero[3,2-a]pyrimidines in high yield (80–85%) was achieved, which involves a dihydrofuranone intermediate, readily obtained from β-ketolactone to 2-aminobenzoheterocycles. The major advantage of the methodology is the high yield and product purity. Graphical Abstract        

Widely tunable femtosecond soliton pulse generation at a 10-GHz repetition rate by use of the soliton self-frequency shift in photonic crystal fiber

We demonstrate a soliton self-frequency shift of approximately 120 nm in a fiber with 1.56-microm pulses generated at a 10-GHz repetition rate by an actively mode-locked laser. A highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber with a length of only 12.6 m and a nonlinear coefficient of 62 W(-1) km(-1) is used to achieve such broadband operation. The wavelengths of the resulting sub-300-fs solitons can be tuned effectively by adjusting the input power. The maximum output power of the solitons exceeds 200 mW.     

Design and numerical analysis of a gold-coated photonic crystal fiber based refractive index sensor

Optical and Quantum Electronics - Optical sensors are very attractive in chemical and bio-chemical applications due to some unique characteristics, such as immunity to electromagnetic interference...     

Green Synthesis of BPL-NiONPs Using Leaf Extract of Berberis pachyacantha: Characterization and Multiple In Vitro Biological Applications

An eco-friendly biogenic method for the synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) using phytochemically rich Berberis pachyacantha leaf extract (BPL) was established. To achieve this purpose, 80 mL of BPL extract was used as a suitable reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of NiONPs. The synthesis of BPL-based nickel oxide nanoparticles (BPL@NiONPs) was confirmed using different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques: UV Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Spectroscopically, BPL-NiONPs was found with a pure elemental composition (oxygen and nickel), average size (22.53 nm) and rhombohedral structure with multiple functional groups (-OH group and Ni-O formation) on their surface. In the next step, the BPL extract and BPL@NiONPs were further investigated for various biological activities. As compared to BPL extract, BPL@NiONPs exhibited strong biological activities. BPL@NiONPs showed remarkable antioxidant activities in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (76.08%) and total antioxidant capacity (68.74%). Antibacterial action was found against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (27 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (20 mm) and Escherichia coli (19.67 mm) at 500 µg/mL. While antifungal potentials were shown against Alternaria alternata (81.25%), Fusarium oxysporum (42.86%) and Aspergillus niger (42%) at 1000 µg/mL. Similarly, dose-dependent cytotoxicity response was confirmed against brine shrimp with IC50 value (45.08 µg/mL). Additionally, BPL@NiONPs exhibited stimulatory efficacy by enhancing seed germination rate at low concentrations (31.25 and 62.5 µg/mL). In conclusion, this study depicted that BPL extract has important phytochemicals with remarkable antioxidant activities, which successfully reduced and stabilized the BPL@NiONPs. The overall result of this study suggested that BPL@NiONPs could be used as nanomedicines and nanofertilizers in biomedical and agrarian fields.