Broadly tunable continuous-wave Tm,Ho:SrF and Tm,Ho:BaF lasers.

We report on the first, to our knowledge, room-temperature continuous-wave laser operation of Tm,Ho-codoped barium and strontium fluoride crystals at ∼2.1 µm. The 3 at.

The effect of abdominal bracing on respiration during a lifting task: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Abdominal bracing is a maneuver widely used by rehabilitation specialists and sports trainers to improve spinal stability. This study aimed to investigate how lifting tasks with and without abdominal bracing affect the respiratory function of the diaphragm.

Methods: M-mode ultrasonographic assessment of diaphragmatic motion combined with spirometry was performed on 31 healthy adults.

Postural-respiratory function of the diaphragm assessed by M-mode ultrasonography.

Objectives: The diaphragm changes position and respiratory excursions during postural loading. However, it is unclear how it reacts to lifting a load while breath-holding or breathing with simultaneous voluntary contraction of the abdominal muscles (VCAM). This study analyzed diaphragm motion in healthy individuals during various postural-respiratory situations.

Symptomatic preterm infants suffer from lung function deficits, regardless of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Background: The long-term respiratory consequences for children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are well known. However, there is little emphasis on monitoring preterm infants without BPD. Few studies have explored the lung function status of infants with the symptoms of chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD).

Effect of Waterjet Machining Parameters on the Cut Quality of PP and PVC-U Materials Coated with Polyurethane and Acrylate Coatings.

The article focuses on the machining of polymeric materials polypropylene (PP) and un-plasticized poly vinyl chloride (PVC-U) after surface treatment with polyurethane and acrylate coatings using waterjet technology. Two types of waterjet technologies, abrasive waterjet (AWJ) and waterjet without abrasive (WJ), were used. The kerf width and its taper angle, at the inlet and outlet of the waterjet from the workpiece, were evaluated.

Long-pulse 4.4-4.6 μm laser oscillations of Fe ions in a ZnMnSe (x = 0.3) crystal pumped by a 1940 nm Tm fiber laser through Cr → Fe energy transfer.

Millisecond-pulse laser operation of Fe ions at 78 K is demonstrated in the ZnMnSe:Fe,Cr (x=0.3) crystal under a Tm fiber 1940 nm laser pumping through a Cr→Fe energy transfer process for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The laser slope efficiency was 1% with respect to absorbed pumping energy at 1940 nm.

Influence of the pumping wavelength on laser properties of Fe ions in ZnSe crystal.

ZnSe:Fe active laser crystal properties at different excitation wavelengths (2.94 and 4.1 μm) were investigated, and noticeable variations of the fluorescence spectra shape and their maxima positions, as well as changes in decay times, were observed.

Line-tunable Er:GGAG laser.

In this Letter, for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a pulse and CW laser based on an Er-doped GdGaAlO (Er:GGAG) active medium emitting laser radiation at 2.8 μm are presented. With the longitudinal diode pumping, the maximal output energy of 4.

Thulium fiber pumped tunable Ho:CaF laser.

The paper reports the first room-temperature operation of the in-band pumped Ho:CaF laser. A set of Ho:CaF crystals varying in holmium concentrations (from 0.1 up to 2.

Pulmonary dysfunction in patients after cervical spinal cord injury: serial follow-up measurement within the first year post-injury.

Objectives: Respiratory complications are most common cause of morbidity/mortality in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) due to respiratory muscle weakness and lower diaphragm position resulting in limited availability of inspiration, reduced thorax mobility and limited forced expiration. Differences in respiratory dysfunctions (RDs) in patients with motor complete versus incomplete cSCI were assessed.

Design: Prospective longitudinal study, serial measurement.

The Use of the Er:YAG Laser for Bracket Debonding and Its Effect on Enamel Damage.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of Er:YAG laser irradiation on the debonding of metal and ceramic brackets and enamel damage ex vivo.

Background Data: The principle of safe bracket debonding is to degrade the adhesive resin strength connecting the tooth and bracket. Removal of adhesive resin from tooth surfaces without iatrogenic damage (enamel loss) is generally the main problem of the otherwise very successful method of aesthetic straightening of teeth.

Abnormalities in pulmonary function in infants with high-risk congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Aims: The aim of the study was to analyze lung growth and abnormality of infant pulmonary function tests (IPFT) in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) survivors younger than three years of age with respect to unfavorable prognostic factors.

Methods: Thirty high-risk CDH survivors at the age of 1.32±0.

Pr:YAlO₃ laser generation in the green spectral range.

A continuous-wave 37 mW Pr:YAlO View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dysprosium-doped PbGa2S4 laser generating at 4.3 μm directly pumped by 1.7 μm laser diode.

In this Letter, we demonstrate the pulsed and CW operation of the Dy:PbGa(2)S(4) laser directly pumped by the 1.7 μm laser diode. In the pulsed regime (pulse duration 5 ms; repetition rate 20 Hz), the maximum mean output power of 9.

Diode-pumped Er:CaF2 ceramic 2.7 μm tunable laser.

Spectroscopic and laser properties of a newly developed high optical quality Er:CaF2 hot-formed ceramic were investigated. Under pulsed 968 nm laser diode pumping, the mid-infrared (2.7 μm) radiation was obtained with a slope efficiency of 3%.

Slower postnatal motor development in infants of mothers with latent toxoplasmosis during the first 18 months of life.

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonosis caused by a protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, is probably the most widespread human parasitosis in developed countries. Pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis have seemingly younger fetuses especially in the 16th week of gestation, which suggests that fetuses of Toxoplasma-infected mothers have slower rates of development in the first trimester of pregnancy. In the present retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data on postnatal motor development of infants from 331 questionnaire respondents including 53 Toxoplasma-infected mothers to search for signs of early postnatal development disorders.

Postural function of the diaphragm in persons with and without chronic low back pain.

Study Design: A case-control study.

Objectives: To examine the function of the diaphragm during postural limb activities in patients with chronic low back pain and healthy controls.

Background: Abnormal stabilizing function of the diaphragm may be an etiological factor in spinal disorders.

Ceramic bracket debonding by Tm:YAP laser irradiation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to prepare a simple and reliable method for ceramic bracket debonding, ensuring minimal changes in the enamel structure and an acceptable temperature rise in the pulp.

Background Data: Ceramic bracket debonding is based on the principle of degrading the strength of adhesive resin between the tooth and ceramic bracket. The search for a safe and efficient method of adhesive resin removal following debonding has resulted in the introduction of a wide range of instruments and procedures, among which proper use of laser irradiation can be promising.

Dysprosium-doped PbGa2S4 laser excited by diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser.

We realized a compact mid-IR room temperature operating Dy(3+):PbGa(2)S(4) laser, excited by a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser at a wavelength of 1318 nm. The pumping laser was operating in pulsed mode with a pulse length of 4 ms and repetition rate of 20 Hz. Maximum pumping energy at a wavelength of 1318 nm was 15 mJ.

Continuous-wave blue generation of intracavity frequency-doubled Pr:YAP laser.

We report the cw blue generation of Pr:YAP laser emission at room temperature, which has been achieved by intracavity frequency doubling of the near-IR-emitting Pr:YAP laser operating at a fundamental wavelength of 747 nm. For active medium pumping, a GaN laser diode providing up to 1 W of output power at approximately 448 nm was used. With beta barium borate crystal employed as a nonlinear medium, 12.