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Situ Monitoring (situ + monitoring)
Selected AbstractsIn Situ Monitoring of Silicon Plasma Etching Using a Quantum Cascade Laser Arrangement,CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION, Issue 6-7 2007D. Stancu Abstract In etch plasmas used for semiconductor processing, concentrations of the precursor gas NF3 and of the etch product SiF4 are measured online and in situ using a new diagnostic arrangement, the Q-MACS Etch system, which is based on quantum cascade laser absorption spectroscopy (QCLAS). In addition, the etch rates of SiO2 layers and of the silicon wafer are monitored including plasma-etching endpoint detection. For this purpose the Q-MACS Etch system is working as an interferometer arrangement. The experiments are performed in an industrial, dual-frequency, capacitively coupled, magnetically enhanced, reactive ion etcher (MERIE), which is a plasma reactor developed for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) technologies. In the spectral range 1028 ± 0.3 cm,1, the absorption cross-sections of SiF4 and NF3 are determined to be ,,=,(7.7 ± 0.7) × 10,18 cm2 molecule,1 and ,,=,(8.7 ± 0.8) × 10,20 cm2 molecule,1, respectively. [source] The Fate of Lead in MSWI-Fly Ash During Heat Treatment: An X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Study,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 6 2009Rudolf Paul Wilhelm Jozef Struis The study focuses on the potential of removing toxifying Pb from a certified, multi-element fly ash (BCR176) by thermal treatment between 300 and 950,°C under different carrier gas compositions (Ar or Ar,+,O2). The treatment was studied by in situ monitoring the evaporation rate of Pb, C, S, Na, and K during heating and by synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy of selected samples collected during vaporization at the Pb L3 -edge. [source] Contact Angle Analysis During the Electro-oxidation of Self-Assembled Monolayers Formed by n -OctadecyltrichlorosilaneADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2010Nicole Herzer Abstract The electrochemical oxidation process of self-assembled monolayers formed by n -octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) molecules on silicon wafers has been studied in a droplet of water by means of in situ water contact angle measurements. The application of different bias voltages between the substrate and a counter electrode placed into the droplet resulted in changes of the chemical nature of the monolayer, which yielded a significant alteration of the surfaces properties. Due to the changes of the wetting properties of the monolayer during the electro-oxidation process a change in the contact angles of the water droplet is concomitantly observed. This allows the in situ monitoring of the electro-oxidation process for large modified areas of several millimeters in diameter. The chosen approach represents an easy way to screen the major parameters that influence the oxidation process. Afterwards, the oxidized regions are characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations to obtain more information about the electro-oxidation process. The observations are correlated to experimental results obtained for oxidations performed on a smaller dimension range in the water meniscus of a conductive, biased AFM tip. A good correlation of the results in the different dimension ranges could be found. [source] A Multifunctional Nanodevice Capable of Imaging, Magnetically Controlling, and In Situ Monitoring Drug ReleaseADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009Shang-Hsiu Hu Abstract The multifunctional nanodevice described here integrates nanoscaled imaging, targeting, and controlled drug delivery, as well as the capability to monitor, in situ, the amount of drug released from the nanodevice with single-cell resolution. The nanodevice is composed of a polymer core/single-crystal iron oxide shell nanostructure bonded to a quantum dot. It shows outstanding release and retention characteristics via an external on/off manipulation of a high-frequency magnetic field. Upon magnetic stimulation, the single-crystal iron oxide shell demonstrates formation of nanometer-sized polycrystal domains of varying orientation. This allows a variation between retention and slow release of the drug. Further stimulation causes permanent rupturing of the shell, causing release of the drug in a burst-like manner. The quantum dot bonded to the nanodevice provides optical information for in situ monitoring of the drug release through use of a magnetic field. Remote control drug release from the nanodevice in a cancerous cell line (HeLa) was successfully accomplished using the same induction scenario. When nanodevices equipped with quantum dots are taken into cancerous cells, they are able to provide real-time drug dose information through a corresponding variation in emission spectrum. The nanodevice designed in this study has achieved its potential as a cell-based drug-delivery system for therapeutic applications. [source] Parameter identification for lined tunnels in a viscoplastic mediumINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 12 2002B. Lecampion Abstract This paper is dedicated to the identification of constitutive parameters of elasto-viscoplastic constitutive law from measurements performed on deep underground cavities (typically tunnels). This inverse problem is solved by the minimization of a cost functional of least-squares type. The exact gradient is computed by the direct differentiation method and the descent is done using the Levenberg,Marquardt algorithm. The method is presented for lined or unlined structures and is applied for an elastoviscoplastic constitutive law of the Perzyna class. Several identification problems are presented in one and two dimensions for different tunnel geometries. The used measurements have been obtained by a preliminary numerical simulation and perturbed with a white noise. The identified responses match the measurements. We also discuss the usage of the sensitivity analysis of the system, provided by the direct differentiation method, for the optimization of in situ monitoring. The sensitivity distribution in space and time assess the location of the measurements points as well as the time of observation needed for reliable identification. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Applicability of laser-induced Raman microscopy for in situ monitoring of imine formation in a glass microfluidic chipJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 10 2003Moonkwon Lee Abstract Laser-induced Raman microscopy has been used to illustrate its applicability for the in situ monitoring of imine formation reaction in a glass microfluidic chip. In order to monitor the diffusion process in a micro channel, the Raman spectra were measured at various points along the channel with a constant flow rate of 2.7 µl min,1. Time-dependent Raman spectra were also measured without flow in order to monitor the variation of Raman peaks to a complete conversion. The disappearance of the CO stretching peak at 1700 cm,1 of the reactant, benzaldehyde, and the appearance of the Raman peak for the product, an imine, at 1628 cm,1 were successfully monitored. In addition, the intensity increases of three phenyl stretching modes in the 1550,1630 cm,1 region were also observed. The increase in Raman intensity for this vibrational mode is caused by an effective ,-electron conjugation between two phenyl rings through the ,CN,bridging group of the product. Laser-induced Raman microscopy enables us to monitor in situ product formation and to obtain detailed structural information in a glass microfluidic chip. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] New agitated and thermostatized cell for in situ monitoring of fast reactions by synchrotron SAXSJOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION, Issue 6 2009Maria Paulis A thermostatized and agitated sample cell for synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of liquid samples (homogeneous or heterogeneous) has been developed. The cell is composed of a compact main body with inlet and outlet windows for the beams of light. The volume of the cell is approximately 0.8,ml and the distance between the windows is 5,mm to allow accurate SAXS measurements. The cell is thermostatized by means of a jacket that surrounds the sample holder and it is connected to a thermostatic bath. In addition, the cell has a top and a bottom lid that allow easy cleaning and maintenance without demounting the optical windows. The cell has been used to run SAXS measurements of liquid samples and, for the first time, a mini-emulsion polymerization reaction has been monitored by SAXS. [source] In situ monitoring of reaction-induced phase separation with modulated temperature DSCMACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, Issue 1 2003Steven Swier Abstract A linearly polymerizing and network forming epoxy-amine system, DGEBA-aniline and DGEBA-MDA, respectively, will be modified with 20 wt% and 50 wt% of a high- Tg thermoplastic poly(ether sulphone) (Tg=223°C), respectively, both showing LCST-type demixing behavior. Reaction-induced phase separation (RIPS) in these modified systems is studied using Modulated Temperature DSC (MTDSC) as an in situ tool. Phase separation in the linear system can be probed by vitrification of the PES-rich phase, occurring at a higher conversion than the actual cloud point from light scattering measurements. The negative slope of the cloud point curve in a temperature-conversion-transformation diagram unambiguously shows the LCST-type demixing behavior of this system, while the relation between the composition/glass transition of the PES-rich phase and the cure temperature is responsible for the positive slope of its vitrification line. Phase separation in the network forming system appears as reactivity increases at the cloud point due to the concentration of reactive groups. Different mixture compositions alter the ratio between the rate of phase separation and the rate of reaction, greatly affecting the morphology. Information about this in situ developed structure can be obtained from the heat capacity evolutions in non-isothermal post-cures. [source] In situ monitoring of residual strain development during composite curePOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 3 2002Allan S. Crasto Internal (residual) stresses build up in a thermosetting composite as the matrix shrinks during cure, and again as the composite is cooled to ambient from its elevated processing temperature. These stresses can be significant enough to distort the dimensions and shape of a cured part as well as initiate damage in off-axis plies, either during fabrication or under the application of relatively low mechanical loads. The magnitude of these stresses depends on a number of factors including constituent anisotropy, volume fraction and thermal expansion, ply orientation, process cycle, and matrix cure chemistry. In this study, embedded strain gauges were employed to follow, in situ, the buildup of residual strains in carbon fiber-reinforced laminates during cure. The data were compared to those from volumetric dilatometer studies to ascertain the fraction of resin shrinkage that contributed to residual stress buildup during cure. Based on earlier studies with single-fiber model composites, the process cycle in each case was then varied to determine if the cycles optimized to minimize residual stresses for isolated fibers in an infinite matrix were applicable to the reduction of residual stresses in conventional multifiber composites. The results of these studies are reported here. [source] Planar aqueous electrode technique for polymer impedance spectroscopyPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009T. Bai In this article, we develop an aqueous electrode technique that can adapt to complex sample geometries while maintaining perfect contact between the electrodes and the measured sample. In contrast to surface deposited electrodes, the aqueous electrode technique measures the ionic conduction of the polymer sample instead of the inherent dielectric properties of the polymer. Polymer ionic conduction is often related to the polymer thermodynamic state, which itself is closely linked to many other polymer properties. As such, the aqueous electrode method provides an approach to conduct in situ monitoring of polymer samples subjected to degradation; changes in the impedance provide an indication of polymer sample degradation. This article presents the aqueous electrode setup and discusses experimental results obtained using it. Changes in the impedance response of PVC and polyimide films due to moisture absorption, ionic conduction, pinholes, chemical degradation, and temperature are presented. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Biology of the prolactin family in bovine placenta.ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2006ABSTRACT The placenta produces various peptides and steroid hormones that regulate placental function and fetal growth. Prolactin-related proteins are peptides that are produced by the placenta and belong to the growth hormone/prolactin family, and have structural similarity to prolactin and placental lactogen. Although several prolactin-related protein genes have been detected in bovine placenta, their expression profiles and functions are not clear. The main difficulties in examining their biological function is the similarity between their genes and the lack of information about their proteins. Recently, molecular biology methods have been used to detect some new bovine prolactin-related proteins, and elucidate their biological functions. This review focuses on the structures, expression profiles and conceivable functions of prolactin-related proteins in bovine placenta. With respect to their expression profiles, bovine prolactin-related proteins fall into four groups: (i) those expressed around the implantation period; (ii) those that reach peak expression in the middle of gestation; (iii) those that increase with the progress of gestation, reaching a peak in late gestation; and (iv) those that reach a plateau in early gestation and are maintained at that level throughout gestation. Data indicate that bovine prolactin-related proteins have different biological roles in different periods of gestation. ,In situ monitoring suggests that bovine prolactin-related protein-I has a role in the attachment of trophoblast cells to endometrium during the early implantation period. [source] Monitoring the fractionation of a whey protein isolate during dead-end membrane filtration using fluorescence and chemometric methodsBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 1 2010Rand Elshereef Abstract During membrane-based separation of proteins, changes in protein concentration of the permeate and retentate streams occurs over time. The current work proposes a new approach for monitoring the changes in concentrations of proteins in both permeate and retentate by making use of data collected using fluorescence spectroscopy and intrinsic protein fluorescence analyzed by multivariate statistical techniques. Whey protein isolate consists mainly of ,-lactalbumin (,-LA), ,-lactoglobulin (,-LG), and small proportion of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and was used as a model system in this study. A fiber optic probe (FOP) was used to acquire multiwavelength fluorescence spectra for permeate and retentate streams at different times during UF-based separation of the components from a multicomponent solution. Multivariate regression models were developed for predicting the concentrations of ,-LA, ,-LG, and BSA by establishing a calibration model between data acquired using the FOP and the corresponding protein concentration levels measured by size-exclusion chromatography. The model was validated using FOP data that were not previously used for calibration of the regression models. This comparison showed that concentrations of ,-LA, ,-LG, and BSA could be predicted directly from FOP data within reasonable accuracy by making use of multivariate calibration tools. This approach has several attractive features including that it is nondestructive, fast, and relatively simple to perform. This technique has potential practical applications as it could offer the opportunity for in situ monitoring of membrane filtration processes by tracking individual protein transmission and selectivity of fractionation. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010 [source] Ordering and Phase Transitions in Ionic Liquid-Crystalline FilmsCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 8 2010Marek Sobota Watching phase transitions: Ordering processes and phase transitions in thin films of the liquid-crystalline ionic liquid 1,3-didodecylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C12C12IM][BF4] on Pt(111) (see picture) are studied by means of temperature-dependent IR reflection absorption spectroscopy. The method allows in situ monitoring of the structural properties of liquid-crystalline supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) catalysts under reaction conditions. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||