Technologies for Single-Cell Isolation

The handling of single cells is of great importance in applications such as cell line development or single-cell analysis, e.g., for cancer research or for emerging diagnostic methods. This review provides an overview of technologies that are currently used or in development to isolate single cells for subsequent single-cell analysis. Data from a dedicated online market survey conducted to identify the most relevant technologies, presented here for the first time, shows that FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorting) respectively Flow cytometry (33% usage), laser microdissection (17%), manual cell picking (17%), random seeding/dilution (15%), and microfluidics/lab-on-a-chip devices (12%) are currently the most frequently used technologies. These most prominent technologies are described in detail and key performance factors are discussed. The survey data indicates a further increasing interest in single-cell isolation tools for the coming years. Additionally, a worldwide patent search was performed to screen for emerging technologies that might become relevant in the future. In total 179 patents were found, out of which 25 were evaluated by screening the title and abstract to be relevant to the field.     

空气中激光烧蚀铝靶冲量耦合系数实验(Ⅱ)

为了研究大气条件下,正焦移距离对冲量耦合系数的影响,采用能量为15.7(16%)J 的激光脉冲聚焦于铝靶前端,通过改变激光焦点距离靶面的位置,获得了冲量耦合系数与正焦移距离的对应关系。结果表明脉冲激光在与大气环境中的铝靶相互作用时,靶面通过能量转移获得的冲量耦合系数与激光焦点距离靶面的位置呈非单调性变化。焦移距离在从0~20 mm 之间变化时,获得的冲量耦合系数从4.4810-5 Ns/J 连续下降到1.6810-5Ns/J,随着焦移距离的进一步增大,冲量耦合系数在20~35 mm 间呈缓慢上升趋势,在35 mm 处升至2.2110-5 Ns/J 后转而下降,在45 mm 处降至1.9110-5Ns/J。文中采用大气中激光支持爆轰波与固体靶面相互作用的二维模型对上述物理过程进行理论计算,获得了与实验结果较为一致的结论。     

激光熔注中增强相颗粒对晶粒生长影响的CA模拟

基于元胞自动机法,结合Moore型邻居定义和晶粒生长理论,建立了增强相颗粒SiC对镁合金激光熔注中表层316L不锈钢晶粒生长的影响模型,模型考虑了晶界迁移率和晶界能等因素,实现了不同增强相颗粒体积分数和颗粒尺寸对晶粒生长影响的计算机模拟。结果表明,所建立的模型能较好的模拟晶粒生长过程,所得晶粒生长指数为0.42;增强相颗粒体积分数含量越高,晶粒生长越慢,晶粒尺寸越小;增强相颗粒尺寸越小,晶粒生长的越慢,晶粒尺寸越小,组织越均匀。     

Effect of annealing on the structural and optical properties of laser ablated nanostructured barium tungstate thin films

High quality BaWO₄ thin films are successfully deposited on quartz substrate for a duration of 30 min using pulsed laser ablation technique and using a laser radiation of wavelength 355 nm and the effect of thermal annealing on the structural and optical properties is studied by using techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy, micro-Raman, FTIR and UV–visible spectroscopy. All the films show monoclinic crystalline structure with (2 0 2) plane as the preferred orientation of crystal growth. From the XRD analysis it is found that the optimum annealing temperature for better crystallization of the BaWO₄ film is 700 °C and there is no phase change observed with annealing temperature. The presence of the characteristic bands for the BaWO₄ in the Raman spectra of the films suggests the formation of BaWO₄ crystalline phase in all the films. SEM and AFM analyses show that as the annealing temperature increases the connectivity between individual grains increases and shows an ordered packing. The geometrical optimization and energy calculation of the title compound were done using the Gaussian 09 software package and the calculations were carried out using the CAM-B3LYP functional combined with standard Lanl2Dz basis set. The thickness of the films was calculated using lateral SEM images and also from optical transmission spectral data using PUMA software.     

Numerical Simulation of Dopant Diffusion for Laser-Doped Crystalline Silicon

In this paper, the nonlinear numerical simulation of pulsed laser melting of crystalline silicon and phosphorus dopant liquid-phase diffusion has been established by the finite element method implemented in ANSYS. The melt front behavior as a function of time is described. The experimental SIMS work is intended to be used to validate the numerical model. The numerical simulation result is in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data.     

Microstructure and oxidation behavior of NiCr-chromium carbides coating prepared by powder-fed laser cladding on titanium aluminide substrate

In the present study, a NiCr–Cr₃C₂ powder mixture was prepared by mechanical alloying and then coated on titanium aluminide substrates by the powder-fed laser cladding process using a set of optimum parameters. The high temperature oxidation behavior of the substrate and coating was studied by isothermal annealing at 900 °C for 5 h. It was found that the microstructure of the coating is composed of γ solid solution with different chromium carbide phases (Cr₃C₂, Cr₇C₃ and Cr₂₃C₆). The presence of different chromium carbides in the microstructure of coating can be attributed to the partial melting of primary Cr₃C₂ and the formation of non-equilibrium carbide phases during rapid cooling of laser cladding. The NiCr-chromium carbide laser cladded coating samples showed superior oxidation resistance compared to the substrate. The oxidation mechanism of both coating and substrate follow the parabolic law, where the parabolic rate constant of the coating was 20% of that of the substrate at 900 °C. Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) and Grazing Angle X-Ray Diffraction (GAXRD) analysis revealed that the surface of the oxide layer formed on the NiCr-chromium carbides coating and the substrate is mostly composed of Cr₂O₃ and TiO₂, respectively.     

Fabrication and laser performances of Yb:Sc2O3 transparent ceramics from different combination of vacuum sintering and hot isostatic pressing conditions

In this paper we report on the preparation and laser performance of transparent 3at.% Yb:Sc₂O₃ ceramics by reactive sintering of commercially available powders under vacuum followed by hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Combinations of different vacuum sintering temperatures (1650 °C and 1750 °C) and different HIP treatments (1700 °C and 1800 °C at 200 MPa) were tested in order to understand how these steps influence the microstructure and thus the optical and lasing properties of the ceramic samples. All the samples showed a good optical quality. The microstructure analysis and the laser tests showed that the vacuum pre-sintering temperature is the key factor determining the quality of the samples and the laser performances. The best values of slope efficiency i.e. η_L = 50 % and output power i.e. P_out = 6.62 W were obtained for the sample pre-sintered under vacuum at 1650 °C and hot isostatically pressed at 1800 °C.     

Deformation Behaviors of an Additive-Manufactured Ni32Co30Cr10Fe10Al18 Eutectic High Entropy Alloy at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures

Eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) that have superior formability are attractive for direct laser deposition technology. In this study, a regular-shaped bulk Ni₃₂Co₃₀Cr₁₀Fe₁₀Al₁₈ EHEA without apparent pores and micro-cracks was successfully fabricated by direct laser deposition. The as-deposited alloy showed a high tensile strength of 1.3 GPa with a ductility of 35% at ambient temperature and a tensile strength of 320 MPa at 760 °C. The deformation mechanisms of the as-deposited alloy at ambient and elevated temperatures were investigated by coupling the in-situ tensile test with a scanning electron microscope. It is revealed that the excellent combination of strength and ductility originated from the synergic effects of the FCC and B2 phases in eutectic lamellae. And the generation of cracks along phase boundaries restricted its high-temperature strength above 760 °C.     

激光淬火对高速动车组EA4T车轴钢组织和性能的影响

为提高EA4T车轴钢的表面硬度和耐磨性能,采用激光淬火对调质态车轴进行表面改性。利用扫描电镜、显微硬度计、纳米压痕仪等对激光淬火层的微观组织、相变层深度和硬度进行了详细的表征。结果表明:EA4T车轴钢表面经过不同工艺激光淬火后,相变层内的淬火组织主要由细小的板条马氏体和粒状贝氏体组成,其深度根据工艺不同从100 μm到800 μm不等,并呈现随淬火功率的增加和扫描速度减小,相变层深度逐渐增加的趋势。淬火相变层区域内,车轴钢的显微硬度基本保持在450 HV0.2左右,约为基体硬度的2倍,耐磨性显著提高。由于淬火道次之间搭接的原因,淬火层呈现波形分布,其中波谷马氏体含量高于波峰位置,因此其硬度明显高于波峰处。