X-ray microbeam measurements of individual dislocation cell elastic strains in deformed single-crystal copper

The distribution of elastic strains (and thus stresses) at the submicrometre length scale within deformed metal single crystals has remarkably broad implications for our understanding of important physical phenomena. These include the evolution of the complex dislocation structures that govern mechanical behaviour within individual grains, the transport of dislocations through such structures, changes in mechanical properties that occur during reverse loading (for example, sheet-metal forming and fatigue), and the analyses of diffraction line profiles for microstructural studies of these phenomena. We present the first direct, spatially resolved measurements of the elastic strains within individual dislocation cells in copper single crystals deformed in tension and compression along <001> axes. Broad distributions of elastic strains are found, with important implications for theories of dislocation structure evolution, dislocation transport, and the extraction of dislocation parameters from X-ray line profiles.     

Radiation-induced gamma-H2AX in mammalian cells irradiated with a synchrotron X-ray microbeam

In order to study the radiobiological effects from low dose radiation, a cell irradiation system using synchrotron X-ray microbeam has been developed, by which cells can be recognised individually and irradiated one by one with the desired dose of monochromatic X rays. The minimum beam sizes obtained are 2 microm with the focusing optics and 5 microm square with the non-focused beam, and the beam size can be changed easily with a high-precision slit in the case of a non-focused beam. Human fibroblast cells were individually irradiated with this system, and immunostained by gamma-H2AX antibody to visualise the DNA damage. Most of the fluorescent foci were observed in a localised area in cell nuclei, the size of which was almost the same as the beam size.     

Spatially periodic deformation of a nematic liquid crystal caused by flows near a microcontact in an asymmetric cell

It has been experimentally established for the first time that a steady-state spatially periodic deformation of the director field with an electrically controlled period is formed near a microcontact in a homeotropically oriented 5CB nematic liquid crystal. The periodic distribution of the director is due to its orientation by counterpropagating flows of the nematic material and the wave-shaped profile of the boundary layer.     

Detection of cytochrome C in a single cell using an optical nanobiosensor

In this work, the intracellular measurement of cytochrome c using an optical nanobiosensor is demonstrated. The nanobiosensor is a unique fiberoptics-based tool which allows the minimally invasive analysis of intracellular components. Cytochrome c is a very important protein to the process which produces cellular energy. In addition, cytochrome c is well-known as the protein involved in apoptosis, or programmed cell death. delta-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) was used to induce apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. 5-ALA, a photodynamic therapy (PDT) drug in cells was activated by a HeNe laser beam. After the PDT photoactivation, the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm in a MCF-7 cell was monitored by the optical nanobiosensor inserted inside the single cell and followed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) outside the cell. The combination of the nanobiosensor with the ELISA immunoassay improved the detection sensitivity of the nanobiosensor due to enzymatic amplification. Our results lead to the investigation of an apoptotic pathway at the single cell level.     

Thermal- and stress-induced lattice distortions in a single Kevlar49 fibre studied by microfocus X-ray diffraction

Understanding the macroscopic physical and mechanical properties of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PpTA) fibres as a function of temperature requires an understanding of how temperature influences its microscopic structure. This study investigates lattice distortions in single PpTA fibres using the high brilliance of a synchrotron radiation microbeam. Lattice distortions are studied over a temperature range of 110–350 K and the influence of tensile deformation is also considered. The results reveal linear thermal expansion behaviour for all unit cell axes, in general agreement with literature. Expansion/contraction is greatest along the [100] direction whilst being reduced along [010] by inter-chain hydrogen bonding. During macroscopic deformation, longitudinal crystal strain dominates with respect to axial lattice distortions induced by temperature changes. There is only a small change in the [100] coefficient of thermal expansion, with the [010] and [001] directions being largely unaffected.     

Flow sensing of single cell by graphene transistor in a microfluidic channel

The electronic properties of graphene are strongly influenced by electrostatic forces arising from long-range charge scatterers and by changes in the local dielectric environment. This makes graphene extremely sensitive to the surface charge density of cells interfacing with it. Here, we developed a graphene transistor array integrated with microfluidic flow cytometry for the "flow-catch-release" sensing of malaria-infected red blood cells at the single-cell level. Malaria-infected red blood cells induce highly sensitive capacitively coupled changes in the conductivity of graphene. Together with the characteristic conductance dwell times, specific microscopic information about the disease state can be obtained.     

A new method to evaluate the quality of single crystal Cu by an X-ray diffraction butterfly pattern method

A new method for the evaluation of the quality of an Ohno continuous cast (OCC) Cu single crystal by X-ray diffraction (XRD) butterfly pattern was brought forward. Experimental results show that the growth direction of single crystal Cu is inclined from both sides of the single crystal Cu rod to the axis and is axially symmetric. The degree of deviation from the [100] orientation from the crystal axis is less than 5° with a casting speed 10–40 mm/min. The orientation of single crystal Cu does not have a fixed direction but is in a regular range. Moreover, the orientation of stray grains in the single crystal Cu is random from continuous casting.     

Dopamine transport into a single cell in a picoliter vial

The analysis of chemical events in small volumes requires careful manipulation of samples and sensitive detection methods. Here, we describe the measurement of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a picoliter vial with electrochemical techniques. The vials were fabricated from fused-silica capillaries that provided a transparent container suitable for the observation and manipulation of a biological cell, sample solutions, and electrodes. Evaporation of the sample was prevented with a mineral oil layer, allowing for experiments lasting for several minutes. The small volume of these vials (100-200 pL) allows rapid mixing of all of the solution reagents. Similarly, the small volume allows exhaustive electrolysis of the vial contents with a 3-microm radius, disk-shaped carbon fiber microelectrode within 60 s. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon fiber microelectrodes was used to monitor the concentration of analyte in the vial without depleting its contents. The concentration of dopamine introduced by pneumatic injection remained stable when sampled by cyclic voltammetry, and no evidence for adsorption to the walls was observed. However, when the vial contained a single HEK-293 cell transfected to express the dopamine transporter, the dopamine concentration decreased with time at a rate consistent with the uptake kinetics mediated by the transporter located on the cell membrane.     

Optical nanobiosensor for monitoring an apoptotic signaling process in a single living cell following photodynamic therapy

Optical nanobiosensors have enabled bioanalytical measurements to be undertaken within volumes as small as that of single biological cells. In this work, we use nanobiosensors to monitor a molecular signaling process, i.e., caspase-7 activation, following photodynamic therapy (PDT) induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells (MCF-7). PDT induces the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis which triggers cytochrome c release, activation of caspases-9, -8 and -7 and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (Parp) protein. Caspase-7 is an important apoptosis-related cysteine protease involved in the activation cascade of caspases and in the proteolytic cleavage of Parp protein. Caspase-7 was detected and identified intracellularly using optical nanobiosensors. Our results show the detection of caspase-7 in single living MCF-cells which in essence typifies the apoptotic event induced by a PDT drug. This work, in principle, demonstrates the minimally invasive capability of optical nanobiosensors to measure important signaling molecules and events in pathways at the single cell level.     

X-ray topographic study of lattice defects in a gadolinium gallium garnet single crystal

Lattice defects in gadolinium gallium garnet single crystals grown by the Czochralski technique were investigated by means of X-ray topography, under the condition where μ₀·t = 0.35, being different from the normal case. Dislocations, striations, and inclusions were observed and their characteristics were determined. These dislocations originated from seeding process. Some of their Burgers vectors were laid parallel to the (111) growth direction and the others parallel to a (100) direction. This information was useful for the growth of a dislocation free single crystal. It was also found that the inclusions had homogeneous strain fields arround the nuclei.     

Initiation and arrest of an interfacial crack in a four-point bend test

This paper describes a framework to study the initiation and arrest of an interfacial crack, using a combination of experiment and computation. We consider a test configuration widely used in the microelectronic industry: a sample of two substrates bonded by a stack of thin films, with a pre-crack in one of the substrates, perpendicularly impinging upon the films. When the sample is loaded to a critical level, the pre-crack initiates a new crack on one of the interfaces in the sample. The new crack often runs rapidly on the interface for a considerable length, and then arrests. We introduce a quantity, the initiation energy, to characterize the condition under which the pre-crack initiates the interfacial crack. The initiation energy is independent of the test configuration on the scale of the substrates, but changes greatly with the materials and stacking sequence of the films. We measure the initiation energy experimentally, interpret the data using mechanistic models, and use the initiation energy to predict the arrest crack length.     

同步辐射白光形貌术观察SiC单晶中的微小多型结构

采用同步辐射白光形貌术观察了6H和4H-SiC单晶片中的微小多型结构.基于透射同步辐射形貌术的衍射几何和晶片的取向,计算了SiC晶体中3种主要多型在Lane像中对应不同反射的成像位置,并与实际结果进行了比较.鉴别出6H和4H-SiC单晶中分别存在着少量的4H-SiC和15R-SiC多型的寄生生长.     

Structural changes of carotenoid astaxanthin in a single algal cell monitored in situ by Raman spectroscopy

The changes of structure of astaxanthin (AXT), a superpotent antioxidant, upon thermal stress were investigated in unicellular microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis by measuring Raman spectra in situ and analyzing obtained results with DFT calculations. Although no visual changes are observed in the Haematococcus cells upon heating, discernible changes in Raman spectra occur from -100 °C systematically up to 150 °C. The exponential increase of the Raman shift of the ν C═C band at ca. 1520 cm(-1) along with the change of the intensity ratio of bands at 1190 and 1160 cm(-1) is observed, that correlates with the changes predicted by calculations for astaxanthin conformers ordered by decreasing energy. It is assumed that AXT molecules, initially in the form of H-aggregates with the trans conformations of the end-rings, interconvert toward more stable gauche forms upon thermal stress of the algae. The applied approach enables one to follow structural changes of the carotenoid upon temperature stress both in a single algal cell and in a multicellular sample in situ. Obtained information might be of use to improve the industrial process of extraction of AXT in its most bioavailable form.     

Caustics caused by refraction in the interface between an isotropic medium and a uniaxial crystal

In general, a caustic by refraction at an arbitrary surface is commonly known as a diacaustic. We study the formation of the diacaustic in a plane interface between an isotropic medium and a uniaxial crystal, for both ordinary and extraordinary rays, when the crystal axis is perpendicular to the plane of incidence and when it lies in the plane of incidence. For the latter case two special positions of the crystal axis with respect to the normal to the refracting surface for the extraordinary rays are treated.     

Strain and stress build-up in He-implanted UO2 single crystals: an X-ray diffraction study

The strain and stress build-up in 20-keV He-implanted UO₂ single crystals have been determined by means of X-ray diffraction through reciprocal space mapping, with the use of a model dedicated to the analysis of the strain/stress state of ion-irradiated materials. Results indicate that the undamaged part of the crystals exhibits no strain or stress; on the other hand, the implanted layer undergoes a tensile strain directed along the normal to the surface of the crystals and a compressive in-plane stress. The build-up of both strain and stress with He fluence exhibits a two-step process: (i) a progressive increase up to a maximum level of ~1% for the strain and ~−2.8 GPa for the stress, followed by (ii) a dramatic decrease. The origin of the strain and stress build-up is the formation of both self-interstitial defects and small He-vacancy clusters. The strain, and stress relief is tentatively attributed to the formation of extended defects (such as dislocations) that induce a plastic relaxation.     

Suspended and localized single nanostructure growth across a nanogap by an electric field

Direct growth of a suspended single nanostructure (SSN) at a specific location is presented. The SSN is grown across a metallic nanoscale gap by migration in air at room temperature. The nanogap is fabricated by industrial standard optical lithography and anisotropic wet chemical silicon etching. A DC current bias, 1 nA, is applied across the metallic gap to induce nanoscale migration of Zn or ZnO. The history of the voltage drop across the gap as a function of time clearly indicates the moment when migration begins. The shape of SSNs grown across the nanogap by the migration is asymmetric at each electrode due to the asymmetric electric field distribution within the nanogap. An SSN can be used as the platform for two-terminal active or passive nanoscale electronics in optoelectronics, radio frequency (RF) resonators, and chemical/biological sensors.     

一起下塔超压事故的分析及处理

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The additional dose to radiosensitive organs caused by using under-collimated X-ray beams in neonatal intensive care radiography

Radiographic technique and exposure parameters were recorded in five Israeli Neonatal Intensive Care Units for chest, abdomen and both chest and abdomen X-ray examinations. Equivalent dose and effective dose values were calculated according to actual examination field size borders and proper technique field size recommendations using PCXMC, a PC-based Monte Carlo program. Exposure of larger than required body areas resulted in an increase of the organ doses by factors of up to 162 (testes), 162 (thyroid) and 8 (thyroid) for chest, abdomen and both chest and abdomen examinations, respectively. These exposures increased the average effective dose by factors of 2.0, 1.9 and 1.3 for the chest, abdomen and both chest and abdomen examinations, respectively. Differences in exposure parameters were found between the different neonatal intensive care units-tube voltage, current-time product and focal to skin distance differences up to 13, 44 and 22%, respectively. Reduction of at least 50% of neonate exposure is feasible and can be implemented using existing methodology without any additional costs.