Three simple and low-cost configurations of handheld scanning probes for optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been developed. Their design and testing for dentistry applications are presented. The first two configurations were built exclusively from available off-the-shelf optomechanical components, which, to the best of our knowledge are the first designs of this type. The third configuration includes these components in an optimized and ergonomic

Scolytids constitute an insect group of forest ecosystems that is very important both ecologically and economically, and which has been well studied in most European countries. However, new species are found quite often, especially in regions searched less intensively to date. In this paper three species of scolytid fauna not previously known in Romania are reported for the first time: Trypodendron laeve, Xylosandrus germanus and Hylastes linearis.

1 Field trapping experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of Ips duplicatus (Sahlberg) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) beetles to different combinations of synthetic pheromone with the monoterpenes (−)-α-pinene and (+)-limonene. 2 The addition of (−)-α-pinene to the pheromone led to a significant increase (by 36.3-47.8%) of I. duplicatus captures when the pheromone : terpene ratio was 1 : 40. When the ratio increased beyond

Optical choppers with rotating wheels are some of the most used macroscopic optomechatronic devices for the controlled modulation, attenuation or obscuration of light in a wide area of applications. We discuss and compare the modulation functions produced by two types of chopper wheels: the classical device, with windows with linear edges, and the eclipse chopper (with windows with circular edges) that, to the best of our knowledge, we have introduced.