The deficiency of Y3Al5O12:Ce (YAG:Ce) luminescence in red component can be compensated by doping Gd3+, thus lead to it being widely used for packaging warm white light-emitting diode devices. This article presents a systematic study on the photoluminescence properties, crystal structures and electronic band structures of (Y1−xGdx)3Al5O12: Ce3+ using powerful experimental techniques of thermally stimulated luminescence, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectra (UPS) of the valence band, assisted with theoretical calculations on the band structure, density of states (DOS), and charge deformation density (CDD). A new interpretation from the viewpoint of compression deformation of electron cloud in a rigid structure by combining orbital hybridization with solid-state energy band theory together is put forward to illustrate the intrinsic mechanisms that cause the emission spectral shift, thermal quenching, and luminescence intensity decrease of YAG: Ce upon substitution of Y3+ by Gd3+, which are out of the explanation of the classic configuration coordinate model. The results indicate that in a rigid structure, the charge deformation provides an efficient way to tune chromaticity, but the band gaps and crystal defects must be controlled by comprehensively accounting for luminescence thermal stability and efficiency.

The Random Telegraph Noise (RTN) in an advanced Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) is considered to be triggered by just one electron or one hole, and its importance is recognised upon the aggressive scaling. However, the detailed nature of the charge trap remains to be investigated due to the difficulty to find out the exact device, which shows the RTN feature over statistical variations. Here, we show the RTN can be observed from virtually all devices at low temperatures, and provide a methodology to enable a systematic way to identify the bias conditions to observe the RTN. We found that the RTN was observed at the verge of the Coulomb blockade in the stability diagram of a parasitic Single-Hole-Transistor (SHT), and we have successfully identified the locations of the charge traps by measuring the bias dependence of the RTN.

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Objective Pleural effusion is rarely observed in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Myeloma cell infiltration or invasion to the pleura is very rare. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of pleural effusion in patients with MM. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with pleural effusion, MM, and pleural effusion with MM between 2004 and 2014 at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. The present study included patients with pleural effusion who underwent cytological, bacteriological, biochemical and other testing. The cytopathology of abnormal pleural effusion cells was not diagnostic, thus flow cytometry was performed. MM was defined using the diagnosis standard of NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) 2014 for MM. Results This study included 3,480 pleural effusion patients and 319 MM patients. There were 34 patients with both MM and pleural effusion (17 men and 17 women). The average age was 63 years (range, 48-84 years). Pleural effusion with MM was caused by congestive heart disease, chronic renal failure, hypoalbuminemia, pulmonary infarctions, cirrhosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, parapneumonic effusion, tuberculous pleural effusion, and myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE). The diagnosis of MPE was confirmed by the detection of myeloma cells in the pleural fluid using flow cytometric analyses. There were only 2 MPE cases in our study. The first MPE case was a woman. The first clinical manifestation was pleural effusion, and the diagnosis was non-secretory MM, DSS stage IIIA (Durie-Salmon staging system); ISS stage I (the International Staging System). The second MPE case was a man who was diagnosed with MM IgA-κ, DSS stage IIIA; ISS stage II. Conclusion The detection rate of MPE was very low. MPE tended to present with yellow exudates and the lack of physical and chemical characteristics. Furthermore, patients with MPE exhibited many yellow nodules on the pleura. These nodules were lobulated and had abundant blood supply. The routine pleural effusion pathological examination had low sensitivity. Flow cytometry may be more useful for improving the detection rate of MPE.

The best performance of the phosphor Li(2)SrSiO(4): Eu(2+), Ce(3+) in terms of luminescence efficiency (LE), color rendering index (CRI) and color temperature (Tc) for light-emitting diode application was optimized with combinatorial approach. The combinatorial libraries were synthesized with solution-based method and the scale-up samples were synthesized with conventional solid-reaction method. Crystal structure was investigated by using the X-ray diffraction spectrometer. The emission spectra of each sample in combinatorial libraries were measured in situ by using a fiber optic spectrometer. Fluorescence spectrometers were used to record excitation and emission spectra of bulk samples. White light generation was tuned up by tailoring Eu(2+) and Ce(3+) concentrations in the single-phased host of Li(2)SrSiO(4) under near-ultraviolet excitation, but it exhibited low efficiency of luminescence and poor color rendering index. The effects of each level of the Eu(2+) and Ce(3+) concentrations on LE, CRI, and Tc were evaluated with the Taguchi method. The optimum levels of the interaction pairs between Eu(2+) and Ce(3+) concentration on LE, CRI, and Tc were [2, 1] (0.006 M, 0.003 M), [1, 2] (0.003 M, 0.006 M), and [3, 1] (0.009 M, 0.00 3M), respectively. The thermal stability of luminescence, the external quantum efficiency (QE), luminance, chromaticity coordinates, correlated color temperature, color purity including the composition ratio of RGB in white light, and color rendering index of the white light emission of phosphor were evaluated comprehensively from a bulk sample.