Study of plasma processes in afterglow by means of electron spin resonance

Contriburion is intended to summarize in a practically useful form the basic information about the detection of the gas phase atoms and free radicals by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) in gas discharge afterglow and in remote plasma reactors. This paper shows how ESR could be effectively used for the monitoring of relative and absolute concentrations of gas phase H.O,N atoms during the volume and awll recombination processes.Pomocí elektronové papraagnetické rezonance jsou studovány procesy objemové a stěnové rekombinace atomů N, O, a H. Je poukázáno na zajímavý efekt generace a rekombinace dvou různých izotopů N

Electron density measurements in afterglow of high power pulsed microwave discharge

In the paper we study, be means of microwave interferometry, the evolution of electron density in afterglow of pulsed driven nitrogen discharge. Recombination coeffients are derived, too.Urceni elektronove hustoty v dohasinani pulsniho mikrovlnneho vyboje o velkem vykonuElectron density measurements in afterglow of high power pulsed microwave discharg

Hard carbon films: Deposition and diagnostics

We studied the growth of microcrystalline diamond films on pre-treated Si and WC-Co substrates by microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition (MPCVD). The pre-treatment was varied and its effect on diamond film was studied

Atmospheric pressure microwave torch for synthesis of carbon nanotubes

The microwave (mw) plasma torch at atmospheric pressure has been studied for carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis. The depositions were carried out on silicon substrates with 515 nm thin iron catalytic overlayers from the mixture of argon, hydrogen and methane. The optical emission spectroscopy of the torch showed the presence of C2 and CH radicals as well as carbon and hydrogen excited atoms. The vicinity of the substrate influenced the relative intensities and increased the emission of C2. For fixed mw power, the temperature of the substrate strongly depended on its position with respect to the nozzle electrode and on the gas mixture, particularly the amount of H2. The speed of the substrate heating during an early deposition phase had a significant effect on the CNT synthesis. An abrupt increase of the temperature at the beginning increased the efficiency of theCNTsynthesis. Areas of dense straight standing CNTs, 30 nm in average diameter, with approximately the same sized iron nanoparticles on their tops were found in accordance with the model of growth by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition. However, the deposit was not uniform and a place with only several nanometres thick CNTs grown on much larger iron particles was also found. Here, taking into account the gas temperature in the torch, 31003900 K, we can see similarities with the dissolutionprecipitation model of the CNT growth by high temperature methods, arc or laser ablation.Možnosti syntézy uhlíkových nanotrubek(CNTs) byly zkoumány v mikrovlnném výboji buzeném za atmosférického tlaku. Vrstvy byly deponovány na křemíkový substrát s vrstvou železa 5-15 nm sloužící jako katalyzátor ve směsi argonu,vodíku a metanu. Optická emisní spektroskopie výboje prokázala přítomnost radikálů C2 a CH a excitovaných stavů atomů uhlíku a vodíku. Přítomnost substrátu ovlivňovala intenzitu spekter a vedla k vzrůstu intenzity C2 pásu. Při konstantní hodnotě mikrovlnného výkonu byla teplota substrátu silně závislá na vzdálenosti substrátu vůči trysce a průtoku plynů, zejména vodíku. Rychlost zahřívání substrátu v počátení fázi depozice měla významný vliv na depozici CNTs. Prudké zvýšení teploty substrátu na začátku depozice mělo za důsledek zlepšení efektivity depozice CNTs. Na substrátech bylo možno nalézt oblasti hustě uspořádaných CNTs s průměrem okolo 30 nm, které byly na vrcholu ukončeny částicemi katalyzátoru o stejném průměru. Tento výsledek je v souladu s obecně příjmaným růstovým modelem CNTs při použití metody plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Deponována vrstva však není uniformní na celé ploše substrátu a byly nalezeny i místa s nanotrubkami, o průměru pouze několika nanometrů, rostoucími na částicích katalyzátoru s mnohem většími rozměry. Vezmeme-li v úvahu teplotu plynu ve výboji, 3100-3900 K, je možno v tomto výsledku spatřovat podobnost s modelem růstu CNTs "dissolution-precipitation" při vysokoteplotních metodách jako jsou obloukový výboj nebo laserová ablace

Raman bands in microwave plasma assisted chemical vapour deposited films

Raman spectroscopy is employed to characterize thin diamond films deposited by microwave plasma assisted chemical vapour deposition technique using a gas mixture of methane and hydrogen. The surface morfology of the films was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. We have identified submicron crystals on (100) facets of diamond crystals which gave rise to bands in the Raman spectrum centred at 1170 and 1456 cm-1

Efficacy and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic evaluation of the Aurora kinase A inhibitor MLN8237 against preclinical models of pediatric cancer

To gain a greater understanding of the potential of the Aurora kinase A inhibitor MLN8237 in the treatment of pediatric malignancies. The activity of MLN8237 was evaluated against 28 neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma cell lines, and its in vivo efficacy was studied over a range of doses against 12 pediatric tumor xenograft models. Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and genomic studies were undertaken. In vitro neuroblastoma cell lines were generally more sensitive to MLN8237 than Ewing sarcoma lines. MLN8237 demonstrated significant activity in vivo against solid tumor models at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD); however, only 2 of 6 neuroblastoma models had objective responses at 0.25MTD. In contrast, MLN8237 induced objective responses at its MTD and at 0.5MTD in three ALL models and in two out of three at 0.25MTD. Pharmacokinetic studies at 0.5MTD demonstrated a T (max) of 0.5 h, C (max) of 24.8 mu M, AUC((0-24)) of 60.3 mu M h, and 12 h trough level of 1.2 mu M. Mitotic indices increased 6-12 h after MLN8237 administration. AURKA copy number variation was frequent in xenografts, and expression was highly correlated with copy number. Objective responses were more frequent in tumors with decreased AURKA copy number (5/8) compared to those with increased gene copy number (2/14). This report confirms the significant activity against both solid tumor and ALL xenografts at the MTD, with a steep dose response. These data support clinical development of MLN8237 in childhood cancer. Because of the steep dose-response relationship, such studies should target achieving trough levels of 1 mu M or higher for sustained periods of treatment

Prediction of ovarian cancer prognosis and response to chemotherapy by a serum-based multiparametric biomarker panel

Currently, there are no effective biomarkers for ovarian cancer prognosis or prediction of therapeutic response. The objective of this study was to examine a panel of 10 serum biochemical parameters for their ability to predict response to chemotherapy, progression and survival of ovarian cancer patients. Sera from ovarian cancer patients were collected prior and during chemotherapy and were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for CA125, kallikreins 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11, B7-H4, regenerating protein IV and Spondin-2. The odds ratio and hazard ratio and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated. Time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilised to evaluate the prognostic performance of the biomarkers. The levels of several markers at baseline (c0), or after the first chemotherapy cycle (rc1), predicted chemotherapy response and overall or progression-free survival in univariate analysis. A multiparametric model (c0 of CA125, KLK5, KLK7 and rc1 of CA125) provided predictive accuracy with area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.82 (0.62 after correction for overfitting). Another marker combination (c0 of KLK7, KLK10, B7-H4, Spondin-2) was useful in predicting short-term (1-year) survival with an AUC of 0.89 (0.74 after correction for overfitting). All markers examined, except KLK7 and regenerating protein IV, were powerful predictors of time to progression (TTP) among chemotherapy responders. Individual and panels of biomarkers from the kallikrein family (and other families) can predict response to chemotherapy, overall survival, short-term (1-year) survival, progression-free survival and TTP of ovarian cancer patients treated with chemotherapy