Microfabrication techniques using focused ion beams and emergent applications.

The application of focused ion beam (FIB) machining in several technologies aimed at microstructure fabrication is presented. These emergent applications include the production of micromilling tools for machining of metals and the production of microsurgical tools. An example of the use of microsurgical manipulators in a circulatory system measurement is presented. The steps needed to transform the laboratory fabrication of these tools and manipulators into a routine FIB production process are discussed. The ion milling of three-dimensional cavities by the exact solution of a mathematical model of the FIB deflection is demonstrated. A good agreement between the model calculation and the ion beam control has been obtained for parabolic and cosine cross-section features with planes of symmetry.     

Intercalation of halogen fluorides into graphite

IF₇ intercalates into graphite accompanied by the partial fluorination of the graphite host. The intercalated species was identified as IF₅ by IR and ¹⁹F nmr spectroscopies. Mass spectrometric analyses of the gases evolved from the intercalate showed only IF₅ and fluorocarbons. Iodine pentafluoride intercalates only in the presence of HF, yielding a compound with the stoichiometry C₈IF₅ and no fluorination of the graphite host. Careful elimination of even traces of HF resulted in no intercalation. Evolved gas analysis showed that the only species recovered from the intercalation was IF₅. The remaining interhalogens, ClF₅, ClF₃, BrF₅ and BrF₃ all intercalate into graphite with extensive fluorination of the lattice. In the case of these four compounds, the intercalate proved to be more difficult to characterize, e.g. stoichiometry was often variable, and ¹⁹F nmr yielded resonances that did not agree with any known halogen fluorides. Thermal decomposition of these intercalates showed little or no gas evolution until relatively high temperatures were reached, whereupon Cl₂ or Br₂ was evolved, followed by fluorocarbons.     

Sur la compatibilité des copolymères statistiques binaires et ternaires d'acrylonitrile,d'acétate de vinyle et d'α-méthylstyrène

A comparison has been made between (a) mixtures of the binary copolymers of acrylonitrile with vinyl acetate and with α-methyl styrene and (b) the ternary copolymer. The two products have been characterized for thermal and mechanical behaviour. For each pair of copolymers, a study has been made of compatibility in establishing the type of mixture and the variation of properties with composition.     

Complexation of phenolic guests by endo- and exo-hydrogen-bonded receptors

This article describes the complexation of phenol derivatives by hydrogen-bonded receptors. These phenol receptors are formed by self-assembly of calix[4]arene dimelamine or tetramelamine derivatives with 5,5-diethylbarbiturate (DEB) or cyanurate derivatives (CYA). The double rosette assemblies 3(3).(DEB)6/(CYA)6 have their phenol-binding functionalities (ureido groups) at the top and at the bottom of the double rosette (exo-receptors). The tetrarosette assemblies 4(3).(DEB)12/(CYA)12 form a cavity with binding sites between the two double rosettes for guest encapsulation (endo-receptors). An intrinsic binding constant Ka of 202 M-1 and 286 M-1 for the binding of 4-nitrophenol to the ureido functionalized exo- and endo-receptors, respectively, was observed. For the exo-receptor a 1:6 stoichiometry was observed while for the endo-receptor 1:4 binding stoichiometry was determined by Job plot and MALDI-TOF MS. The important role that the hydroxy group's acidity plays in the complexation of 4-nitrophenol is clarified by binding studies with different phenol derivatives. The hydrogen-bonded receptors showed a much smaller response towards less acidic phenol derivatives.     

Development and Application of Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Method to the Quantification of the Biotransformation of Methyl Paraben in Eisenia foetida

A simple and quick ultra performance liquid chromatography method (UPLC) has been developed for determination of methyl paraben (MP) and its major metabolites p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA) and phenol (Phe), following its biotransformations in Eisenia foetida. After different exposure time to paper contact test, the presence of methyl paraben and his biotransformation products in adult earthworms was monitored. Determination of its metabolites was achieved with a BEH (bridged ethane‐silicon hybrid) C₁₈ column (2.1×50 mm i.d., 1.7 µm particle size), using methanol/water/phosphoric acid as mobile phase, under a gradient elution program, and a PDA (photo‐diode array) detection (quantification with MaxPlot in the range 210–400 nm). The absorption of MP did not exceed 30% and in the first 4–6 h after exposure only minute amounts of pHBA and Phe were detected in the worm homogenates. After 48 h of exposures, almost 70% of absorbed MP was already metabolized to Phe and around 20% could be found as pHBA.     

Fuzzy delay differential equations

In this paper, we prove a local existence and uniqueness result for fuzzy delay differential equations driven by Liu process. We also establish continuous dependence of solution with respect to initial data.     

Mode transitions in distributed-feedback tapered master-oscillator power-amplifier: theory and experiments

Theoretical and experimental investigations have been carried out to study the spectral and spatial behavior of monolithically integrated distributed-feedback tapered master-oscillators power-amplifiers emitting around 973 nm. Introduction of self and cross heating effects and the analysis of longitudinal optical modes allows us to explain experimental results. The results show a good qualitative agreement between measured and calculated characteristics.     

Decomposition of Methylene Blue in Water by Corona Discharges

The decomposition of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution was investigated using a pulsed corona discharge. The discharge was ignited in the gas bubbled in the solution through several needle electrodes. The influence of treatment time, volume of the treated solution and initial concentration of the dye in solution on MB degradation was studied. The effect of the nature of the gas introduced was also investigated. For the same energy input, MB conversion increased in the order air < argon < oxygen. When using oxygen, the decomposition of MB exceeded 95% after ~20 min plasma treatment. Higher efficiency was obtained for higher treated volume and higher initial concentration. At 90% conversion the yield obtained with oxygen was ~5 g/kWh for an initial concentration of 150 mg/l and a treated volume of solution of 100 ml.