The current trends in stimulated Brillouin scattering and optical phase conjugation are overviewed. This report is formed by the selected papers presented in the “Fifth International Workshop on stimulated Brillouin scattering and phase conjugation 2010” in Japan. The nonlinear properties of phase conjugation based on stimulated Brillouin scattering and photo-refraction can compensate phase distortions in the high power laser systems, and they will also open up potentially novel laser technologies, e.g., phase stabilization, beam combination, pulse compression, ultrafast pulse shaping, and arbitrary waveform generation.

Tungsten (W) fiber reinforced Zr47Ti13Cu11Ni10Be16Nb3 bulk metallic glass composite has been prepared by melt infiltration casting. Interfacial characteristics of the composite were analyzed by sessile drop technique, x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe x-ray microanalysis (EPMA), and nanoindenter. Results indicate that Zr47Ti13Cu11Ni10Be16Nb3 melt wets the W substrate, and the interfacial bond composed of a diffusion–dissolution layer between Zr47Ti13Cu11Ni10Be16Nb3 matrix and W fiber is in good condition. Due to these excellent interfacial characteristics, the mechanical properties of the composite are considerably enhanced with increasing volume fraction of W fiber. It was found that the compressive strength of 70% volume fraction of W fiber composite is 2.6 GPa, which is 58% higher than the value exhibited by the unreinforced matrix. At the same time, the reinforced matrix exhibits 13% plastic deformation when tested under quasi-static compression conditions. Instead of shear mode seen for the unreinforced matrix, the failure mode of the 70% volume fraction W fiber composite is mainly caused by fiber splitting and buckling. Also, the W fiber hinders localized shear bands from propagating and gives rise to multiple shear bands, which results in the enhancement of the compressive strength and plastic deformation.

A major challenge for the molecular characterization and evaluation of minor grass species germplasm is the lack of sufficient DNA markers. A set of 210 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed from major cereal crops (self-pollinated wheat and rice, mainly self-pollinated sorghum and out-crossing maize) were evaluated for their transferability to minor grass species (finger millet, Eleusine coracana; seashore paspalum, Paspalum vaginatum; and bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon). In total, 412 cross-species polymorphic amplicons were identified. Over half of the primers generated reproducible cross-species or cross-genus amplicons. The transfer rate of SSR markers was correlated with the phylogenetic relationship (or genetic relatedness) of these species. The average transfer rate of genomic SSR markers was different from the average transfer rate of expressed sequence tag (EST)-SSR markers. The level of polymorphism was significantly higher among species (67%) than within species (34%), and was related to the degree of out-crossing for each species. The level of polymorphism detected within species was 57% from self-incompatible species, 39% from out-crossing species and 20% from self-pollinated species. Genomic SSRs detected a higher level of polymorphism than EST-SSRs. The use of transferred polymorphic SSR markers for the characterization and evaluation of germplasm is discussed.

Organofluorosilicate glass (OFSG) films with the composition Si:O:C:H:F were deposited via plasma-enhanced CVD from mixtures of trimethylsilane (3MS), silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4), and oxygen (O2). OFSG films have significantly enhanced mechanical strength, thermo-oxidative stability, and adhesion compared with OSG films deposited from 3MS and O2 alone. We propose that the increased density of OFSG, which helps improve mechanical strength, is balanced by the presence on non-polarizable Si-F functionalities, which serve to lower the dielectric constant.

The fragile X mutation is the result of an abnormal expansion of a CGG repeat sequence in the FMR-1 gene.

Molecular techniques enable the detection of the mutation and also of the exact length of this DNA sequence, allowing the classification of the tested subjects as normal, carrier or affected.

We propose a protocol of analysis that combines a method of non-radioactive PCR, Southern blotting and cytogenetic testing.

This protocol can be used for screening programme of selected groups of mentally retarded individuals and for prevention studies in families at risk.