Ultrabroadband Nonlinear Optics in Nanophotonic Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Waveguides

Quasi-phasematched interactions in waveguides with quadratic nonlinearities enable highly efficient nonlinear frequency conversion. In this article, we demonstrate the first generation of devices that combine the dispersion-engineering available in nanophotonic waveguides with quasi-phasematched nonlinear interactions available in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). This combination enables quasi-static interactions of femtosecond pulses, reducing the pulse energy requirements by several orders of magnitude, from picojoules to femtojoules. We experimentally demonstrate two effects associated with second harmonic generation. First, we observe efficient quasi-phasematched second harmonic generation with <100 fJ of pulse energy. Second, in the limit of strong phase-mismatch, we observe spectral broadening of both harmonics with as little as 2-pJ of pulse energy. These results lay a foundation for a new class of nonlinear devices, in which co-engineering of dispersion with quasi-phasematching enables efficient nonlinear optics at the femtojoule level

Improvement of environmental aspects of thermal power plant operation by advanced control concepts

The necessity of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as formulated in the Kyoto Protocol, imposes the need for improving environmental aspects of existing thermal power plants operation. Improvements can be reached either by efficiency increment or by implementation of emission reduction measures. Investments in refurbishment of existing plant components or in plant upgrading by flue gas desulphurization, by primary and secondary measures of nitrogen oxides reduction, or by biomass co-firing, are usually accompanied by modernisation of thermal power plant instrumentation and control system including sensors, equipment diagnostics and advanced controls. Impact of advanced control solutions implementation depends on technical characteristics and status of existing instrumentation and control systems as well as on design characteristics and actual conditions of installed plant components. Evaluation of adequacy of implementation of advanced control concepts is especially important in Western Balkan region where thermal power plants portfolio is rather diversified in terms of size, type and commissioning year and where generally poor maintenance and lack of investments in power generation sector resulted in high greenhouse gases emissions and low efficiency of plants in operation. This paper is intended to present possibilities of implementation of advanced control concepts, and particularly those based on artificial intelligence, in selected thermal power plants in order to increase plant efficiency and to lower pollutants emissions and to comply with environmental quality standards prescribed in large combustion plant directive. [Acknowledgements. This paper has been created within WBalkICT - Supporting Common RTD actions in WBCs for developing Low Cost and Low Risk ICT based solutions for TPPs Energy Efficiency increasing, SEE-ERA.NET plus project in cooperation among partners from IPA SA - Romania, University of Zagreb - Croatia and Vinca Institute from Serbia and. The project has initiated a strong scientific cooperation, with innovative approaches, high scientific level, in order to correlate in an optimal form, using ICT last generation solutions, the procedures and techniques from fossil fuels burning processes thermodynamics, mathematical modelling, modern methods of flue gases analysis, combustion control, Artificial Intelligence Systems with focus on Expert Systems category.

Reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography behavior of aldopentose derivatives

Quantitative structure-retention relationships (QSRR) have been used to study the chromatographic behavior of some aldopentose. The behavior of aldopentose derivatives was investigated by means of the reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography (RP TLC) on the silica gel impregnated with paraffin oil stationary phases. Binary mixtures of methanol-water, acetone-water and dioxane-water were used as mobile phases. Retention factors, RM0, corresponding to zero percent organic modifier in the aqueous mobile phase was determined. Lipophilicity C0 was calculated as the ratio of the intercept and slope values. There was satisfactory correlation between them and log P values calculated using different theoretical procedures. Some of these correlations offer very good predicting models, which are important for a better understanding of the relationships between chemical structure and retention. The study showed that the hydrophobic parameters RM0 and C0 can be used as a measures of lipophilicity of investigated compounds

Urinary cotinine as marker of passive tobacco smoking

Radi objektivizacije opasnosti pušenja roditelja po zdravlje njihove djece u 205 učenika oba spola, dobi 10-12 godina određena je, kolorimetrijskom metodom sa barbiturnom kiselinom (OBA), koncentracija kotinina u urinu. Dobiveni rezultati su korelirani sa podacima dobivenim iz ankete. Utvrđena je signifikantna razlika između srednje vrijednosti koncentracije kotinina za djecu roditelja nepušača (3,2 µmol/L) i djece u kojih puši jedan roditelj (5,8 µmol/L). Koncentracija kotinina je još veća ako puše oba roditelja (7,8 µmol/L) i najveća u djece, pasivnih pušača, koji nemaju posebnu sobu za učenje i spavanje, a oba su im roditelja pušači (9,2 µmol/L). Nije dobivena statistički značajna razlika u koncentracijama kotinina u djevojčica i dječaka.To provide an objective measure of the hazard smoking parents represent to their children\u27s health, cotinine concentration in urine was measured by the colorimetric method using barbituric acid (DBA). A total of 205 children, aged 10-12, were examined. The results of laboratory tests were correlated with the data collected by interview. A significant difference in the average value of cotinine concentration was demonstrated between the children whose parents did not smoke (3.2 µmol/L) and chose whose one parent smoked (5.8 µmol/L). An even larger concentration was recorded when both parents smoked (7.8 µmol/L). The largest cotinine concentration was determined in the urine of children - passive smokers whose both parents smoked and who did not have a room of their own (9.2 µmol/L). The difference in cotinine concentration between girls and boys was not statistically significant

Re-use of osmotic solution

In this paper the re-use of osmotic solution after osmotic treatment has been studied. A large amount of used osmotic solution remaining after the process is one of the major unsolved problems of osmotic treatment process. This problem has both ecological and economic aspects that should be concerned. Pork meat cubes were treated in three different osmotic solutions diluted with distilled water (R1 -sugar beet molasses, R2 – solution of salt and sucrose and R3 - combination of R1 and R2 solutions in a 1:1 mass ratio). Osmotic process has been observed during 5 hours, at temperature of 35oC and atmospheric pressure. Osmotic treatment has been performed simultaneously in concentrated solutions and diluted solutions (dilutions were obtained by mixing the solution and water in the mass ratio of 7:1 and 3:1). Parameters monitored during osmotic treatment were: dry mater content (DMC), water loss (WL), solid gain (SG) and osmotic dehydration efficiency index (DEI). Maximum values of these parameters were obtained in the dehydration with concentrated solutions, while recorded values in diluted solutions were much lower. The results show that the least effect on the osmotic process efficiency, when the osmotic concentration is lowered, has been observed for solution R3. This conclusion indicates that molasses is good osmotic solution with the possibility of re-using in successive processes of osmotic dehydration, with minimal treatment of reconstitution to original values of concentration

Alcoholism and Depression

Alcoholism and depression are entangled in many ways and appear in many combinations. In spite of this fact, to this problem is rarely given sufficient attention which results in poor diagnostic and inadequate therapeutic approach with all the consequences this engenders. The frequency of depression in alcoholics is investigated here with the object of finding out to what extent it can be successfully diagnosed and medically treated. The research was carried out in the Psychiatric Clinic of the Clinical Hospital »Split« and the sample of examinees included the patients treated in the stationary part of the Clinic and in the daily hospital

Optically-Heralded Entanglement of Superconducting Systems in Quantum Networks

Networking superconducting quantum computers is a longstanding challenge in quantum science. The typical approach has been to cascade transducers: converting to optical frequencies at the transmitter and to microwave frequencies at the receiver. However, the small microwave-optical coupling and added noise have proven formidable obstacles. Instead, we propose optical networking via heralding end-to-end entanglement with one detected photon and teleportation. In contrast to cascaded direct transduction, our scheme absorbs the low optical-microwave coupling efficiency into the heralding step, thus breaking the rate-fidelity trade-off. Moreover, this technique unifies and simplifies entanglement generation between superconducting devices and other physical modalities in quantum networks

Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Ocular Surface Reconstruction

The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical experience and the effect of human amniotic membrane transplantation on pterygium excision and bullous keratopathy. From January 1999 to January 2001 at University Hospital »Sestre milosrdnice« amniotic membrane transplantation was performed consecutively in 21 eyes: 11 eyes with bullous keratopathy and 10 with recurrent pterygia. In the group with bullous keratopathy epithelization took place in 19.6 days in 72.7% and the reduction of pain was satisfactory. Recurrence rate in group with recurrent pterygia was 20%. Based on the presented results it could be concluded that amniotic membrane transplantation can be considered as an effective alternative for treating severe ocular surface diseases and as an alternative for penetrating keratoplasty if there is a lack of graft