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A laser diode (LD) end-pumped continuous-wave (CW) tunable Nd[sup.3+]:LiYF[sub.4] (Nd:YLF) laser operating on the [sup.4]F[sub.3/2]→[sup.4]I[sub.13/2] transition was performed. Four single-wavelength (SW) lasing at 1321, 1314, 1371, and 1364 nm in the π-polarized direction and three SW lasing at 1314, 1326, and 1371 nm in the σ-polarized direction were achieved using a tuning prism. At 20 W pump power, the σ-polarized 1314 nm emission generated 7.3 W power output with 39.4% slope efficiency. Further, the three-pair of switchable π-polarized dual-wavelengths (DWs) at 1321/1314 nm, 1371/1364 nm, and 1321/1364 nm and the two-pair of switchable σ-polarized DWs at 1314/1326 nm and 1314/1371 nm were also realized by rotating an intracavity birefringence filter (BF). In addition, by employing dual intracavity BFs, the balanced DW output power was attained, achieving 6.4 W total maximum output at 1314/1321 nm in the π-polarized direction.

Highly transparent Ho:Y[sub.2]O[sub.3] ceramics for laser diode lighting were prepared using the vacuum sintering method with 0.3 at.% Nb[sub.2]O[sub.5] as a sintering additive. The microstructures, transmittance, and luminescence properties of the Ho:Y[sub.2]O[sub.3] ceramic samples were investigated in detail. The transmittance levels of all samples with various Ho[sup.3+] concentrations reached ~81.5% (2 mm thick) at 1100 nm. Under the excitation of 363 nm (ultraviolet) or 448 nm (blue) light, Ho:Y[sub.2]O[sub.3] transparent ceramic samples showed that green emission peaked at 550 nm. The emission intensity was strongly affected by the concentration of Ho[sup.3+] ions, reaching its highest level in the sample doped with 1 at.% Ho[sup.3+]. The CIE coordinates of the luminescence were in the green region (i.e., the CIE coordinates of the sample doped with 1 at.% Ho[sup.3+] were [0.27, 0.53] and [0.30, 0.69], under the excitation of 363 nm and 448 nm light, respectively). The possibility of its application as laser diode lighting was reported. Under the excitation of 450 nm blue laser, the sample doped with 0.5 at.% Ho[sup.3+] had the best performance: the saturated luminous flux, lumen efficiency, and the luminescence saturation power densities were 800 lm, 57.7 lm/W, and 17.6 W/mm[sup.2], respectively. Furthermore, the materials have high thermal conductivity and mechanical strength due to their host of rare-earth sesquioxide. Thus, Ho:Y[sub.2]O[sub.3] transparent ceramics are expected to be a promising candidate for green-light-emitting devices for solid-state lighting, such as laser diode lighting.

This paper proposes a VCO-based ADC with first-order noise shaping for EEG signal recording front ends. Addressing the challenge of applying analog integrators in advanced processes due to low voltage issues, a multi-phase quantizer structure is introduced based on V-F conversion within the VCO structure, resulting in lower analog power consumption at the same output bit-width. By introducing a form of Gray code encoding, errors caused by circuit metastability are limited to within 1 bit. Considering the effects of motion artifacts and the electrode DC offset, the circuit achieves a wide input range of 500 mV[sub.pp] by adjusting the feedback coefficients. A prototype ADC is fabricated using 180 nm CMOS technology, operating at a 1.8 V/1 V power supply voltage, with power consumption of 17.1 μW, while achieving a 62.1 dB signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) and 55.2 dB dynamic range (DR). The proposed ADC exhibits input noise of 8.64 μV[sub.rms] within a bandwidth of 0.5 Hz–5 kHz.

The growing demand for wearable and attachable displays has sparked significant interest in flexible quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). However, the challenges of fabricating and operating QLEDs on flexible substrates persist due to the lack of stable and low-temperature processable charge-injection/-transporting layers with aligned energy levels. In this study, we utilized NiO[sub.x] nanoparticles that are compatible with flexible substrates as a hole-injection layer (HIL). To enhance the work function of the NiO[sub.x] HIL, we introduced a self-assembled dipole modifier called 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (4–CF[sub.3]–BA) onto the surface of the NiO[sub.x] nanoparticles. The incorporation of the dipole molecules through adsorption treatment has significantly changed the wettability and electronic characteristics of NiO[sub.x] nanoparticles, resulting in the formation of NiO(OH) at the interface and a shift in vacuum level. The alteration of surface electronic states of the NiO[sub.x] nanoparticles not only improves the carrier balance by reducing the hole injection barrier but also prevents exciton quenching by passivating defects in the film. Consequently, the NiO[sub.x]-based red QLEDs with interfacial modification demonstrate a maximum current efficiency of 16.1 cd/A and a peak external quantum efficiency of 10.3%. This represents a nearly twofold efficiency enhancement compared to control devices. The mild fabrication requirements and low annealing temperatures suggest potential applications of dipole molecule-modified NiO[sub.x] nanoparticles in flexible optoelectronic devices.

Harmonic-assisted phase amplification was investigated in a 300-µm-thick Nd:GdVO[sub.4] laser with coated end mirrors in the self-mixing interference scheme. The key event is the self-induced hybrid skew cosh Gaussian (abbreviated as skew ch-G)-type transverse mode oscillation in a thin-slice solid-state laser with wide-aperture laser-diode pumping. The present hybrid skew-chG mode was proved to be formed by the locking of nearly frequency-degenerate TEM[sub.00] and annular fields. The resultant modal-interference-induced gain modulation at the beat frequency between the two modal fields, which is far above the relaxation oscillation frequency, increased the experimental self-mixing modulation bandwidth accordingly. Fifty-fold phase amplification was achieved in a strong optical feedback regime.

Brain-wide neural circuits enable bi- and quadrupeds to express adaptive locomotor behaviors in a context- and state-dependent manner, e.g., in response to threats or rewards. These behaviors include dynamic transitions between initiation, maintenance and termination of locomotion. Advances within the last decade have revealed an intricate coordination of these individual locomotion phases by complex interaction of multiple brain circuits. This review provides an overview of the neural basis of state-dependent modulation of locomotion initiation, maintenance and termination, with a focus on insights from circuit-centered studies in rodents. The reviewed evidence indicates that a brain-wide network involving excitatory circuit elements connecting cortex, midbrain and medullary areas appears to be the common substrate for the initiation of locomotion across different higher-order states. Specific network elements within motor cortex and the mesencephalic locomotor region drive the initial postural adjustment and the initiation of locomotion. Microcircuits of the basal ganglia, by implementing action-selection computations, trigger goal-directed locomotion. The initiation of locomotion is regulated by neuromodulatory circuits residing in the basal forebrain, the hypothalamus, and medullary regions such as locus coeruleus. The maintenance of locomotion requires the interaction of an even larger neuronal network involving motor, sensory and associative cortical elements, as well as defined circuits within the superior colliculus, the cerebellum, the periaqueductal gray, the mesencephalic locomotor region and the medullary reticular formation. Finally, locomotor arrest as an important component of defensive emotional states, such as acute anxiety, is mediated via a network of survival circuits involving hypothalamus, amygdala, periaqueductal gray and medullary premotor centers. By moving beyond the organizational principle of functional brain regions, this review promotes a circuit-centered perspective of locomotor regulation by higher-order states, and emphasizes the importance of individual network elements such as cell types and projection pathways. The realization that dysfunction within smaller, identifiable circuit elements can affect the larger network function supports more mechanistic and targeted therapeutic intervention in the treatment of motor network disorders.

Direct pulp capping (DPC) is reliable in pulp exposure management. Objective: This study aimed to assess the success rate of DPC materials and different laser protocols. The included procedures were CO[sub.2] laser (n = 1147), Er: YAG laser (n = 69), and 980 nm diode laser (n = 124), on the one hand, and Ca (OH)[sub.2] (n = 376) and bioactive tricalcium silicate paste, on the other (n = 279). Materials and methods: Data from 1995 DPC cases were included. For laser groups, irradiation was used to coagulate the pulp exposure followed by Ca (OH)[sub.2] placement. Data with follow-up at 12, 24, and 36 months post-treatment were included. The irradiation parameters for the CO[sub.2] laser were as follows: energy density per pulse of 141 J/cm², 1 W power, 0.3 mm beam diameter, 100 ms pulse duration, and 1 Hz, and a series of five pulses maximum were delivered during 5 s. For the 980 diode lasers: 1.5 W power, continuous wave (CW), 400 μm fiber diameter, contact mode, 190.98 W/cm[sup.2] power density, and total delivered energy density of 2387 J/cm[sup.2]. For the Er: YAG laser: 0.5 W output power, 9.95 J/cm[sup.2] energy density, a beam diameter of 0.8 mm, 300 µsec pulse duration, 10 Hz, non-contact mode, irradiation with air without water spray, and an average irradiation time of 8–10 s. Results: At the 3-year follow-up, the success percentages were as follows: CO[sub.2] (88.01%) > Ca (OH)[sub.2] (75.72%) > diode (70.01%) > Er: YAG (54.55%) > bioactive tricalcium silicate paste (51.1%). The timing of permanent filling (immediate or delayed), patient age, size of pulp exposure, tooth type, and exposure etiology significantly affected the success rate. Patients aged ≤ 35 years presented higher success (70.91%) compared to those ≥ 36 years (61.2%). Immediate permanent fillings increase the success rate (71.41%) compared to delayed permanent fillings (65.93%). Exposure in molars and premolars significantly lowers the success rate (60.3%) compared to canines and incisors (72.1%). Idiopathic pulp exposure presented higher success (72.58%) compared to caries-related causes (63.7%). Conclusion: The highest success rate was in the CO[sub.2] laser group followed by the diode and Ca (OH)[sub.2], Er: YAG, and bioactive tricalcium silicate material (biodentine) groups. The age factor, filling timing, size of exposure, tooth type, and exposure etiology can significantly affect the success rate of DPC.

Background: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a high-grade spindle cell tumor that accounts for 5% to 10% of soft tissue sarcomas. The majority originate from the deep intramuscular soft tissues of extremities with common sites including knee, ankle and feet. Immunohistochemical (IHC) stain TLE1 (transducer-like enhancer of split 1) is a potent diagnostic marker for distinguishing SS from mimicking tumors. Methodology: The study was performed on 177 tumor cases, including 89 SS and 88 nonsynovial sarcoma (N-SS) cases which were diagnosed at Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, from July 2019 to June 2020. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and IHC stained glass slides of these cases were reviewed. TLE1 expression was assessed based on the Remmele scoring system. Results: Eighty-nine cases of SS and 88 cases of N-SS were included in the study. SS cases included 42 (47.2%) monophasic subtype, 6 (6.7%) biphasic subtype and 41 (46.1%) poorly differentiated subtype. Major tumor types in N-SS cases were 27 (30.7%) Ewing sarcoma (ES), 13 (14.8%) leiomyosarcoma, 10 (11.4%) undifferentiated sarcoma (US), 8 (9.1%) fibrosarcomatous dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and 7 (8%) malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cases. Mean patients' age for SS cases was 26.14 years and for N-SS cases was 32.64 years. All 89 SS cases showed positive TLE1 expression. Out of 88 N-SS cases, 71 (80.7%) were TLE1 negative and 17 (19.3%) showed positive expression. Conclusion: This study shows that TLE1 is a very sensitive and relatively specific IHC marker for SS. TLE1 expression can be observed in other soft tissue sarcomas but diffuse strong TLE1 expression is highly specific for SS. The diagnosis should not solely rely on TLE1 expression and morphologic features but should include soft tissue specific lineage markers to avoid misdiagnosis. Keywords: synovial sarcoma, monophasic synovial sarcoma, TLE1

The lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica is the major pest of stored paddy rice globally, including in Taiwan. It has strong phototaxis and is good at fying, suitable for developing a light-trapping method to monitor and control it. In the present study, a wavelength of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), i.e., 373 nm, was determined to be the most efficient to trap R. dominica using a dodecagon maze. Accordingly, an LED trap, named the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute-LED (TARI-LED) trap, was invented, which comprised LEDs of two distinct wavelengths (373 and 408 nm), a wavelength switch, a suction fan, and an insect collector. The trapping efficiency was assessed in a 4-[m.sup.3] laboratory arena and two paddy rice storehouses. An initial assessment was performed in the laboratory arena and showed that the TARI-LED trap with 373-nm wavelength for R. dominica rapidly increased in the first 30 min, reaching the highest trapping rate (68.5%) after 3 h. In addition, no significant difference was observed between the suction fan turned on or off. The field tests showed that the 373-nm wavelength had the highest effectiveness for trapping R. dominica in the two paddy rice storehouses, and no significant difference was observed in the number of R. dominica trapped by the 373-nm TARI-LED trap or the CDC-UV light trap. In conclusion, our TARI-LED trap 373 nm exhibited high efficiency in trapping R. dominica in paddy rice storehouses. Moreover, a suction fan-free design should benefit long-term and safe use in paddy rice storehouses trapping R. dominica. Key words: stored-product insect, Rhyzopertha dominica, light-emitting diode, wavelength, light trap