Experimental and numerical optimization of beam shapes for short-pulse ultraviolet laser cutting processing

AbstractIn this work the effect of elliptical beam shapes on cutting performance of silicon is studied experimentally using a Diode Pumped Solid State Q-switched UV laser operating at the wavelength of 355 nm. Elliptical beams are investigated by varying scanning speed, repetition rate and average output power. It is shown that a short elliptical beam with 6×230 μm dimension forms a deeper groove at higher cutting speed and lower average output power compared to a longer elliptical beam. A numerical model of the laser cutting process is also described. Some validation results for single and multi-pulse cutting are shown

Selectivity of nanocavities and dislocations for gettering of Cu and Fe in silicon

The selectivity of interstitial-based extended defects (loops) and nanocavities for the gettering of Cu and Fe in Si has been studied. Controlled amounts of Cu and Fe were introduced by ion implantation into wafers containing pre-existing nanocavities and/or dislocations. Results show that Cu has a strong preference for gettering to open volume defects, even when high concentrations of interstitial-based loops are present in close proximity. However, the gettering of Fe in samples containing both vacancy- and interstitial-type defects is more complex, with Fe accumulation at all regions in the sample which contain defects, whether they are vacancy- or interstitial-like in character

Universal relationship between the penetration depth and the normal-state conductivity in YBaCuO

The absolute values of the conductivity in the normal state sigma_n and of the low temperature penetration depths lambda(0) were measured for a number of different samples of the YBaCuO family. We found a striking correlation between sigma_n and 1/lambda^2, regardless of doping, oxygen reduction or defects, thus providing a simple method to predict the superconducting penetration depth and to have an estimate of the sample quality by measuring the normal-state conductivity.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, Europhys. Lett., accepte

Pulsed Excimer (KrF) Laser Melting of Amorphous and Crystalline Silicon Layers

We have investigated depth of melting as a function of pulse energy density in amorphous and crystalline silicon layers. The melting threshold for KrF laser pulses (lambda=0.249 µm, tau=24×10−9 s) in amorphous (7660-Å-thick) and crystalline silicon layers were determined to be 0.16±0.02 and 0.75±0.05 J cm−2, respectively. The formation of fine- and large-polycrystalline regions was clearly identified in the amorphous silicon layers for energy densities below that needed for complete annealing. The role of explosive recrystallization in the formation of the fine polycrystalline region is discussed.Engineering and Applied Science

Specific antibody-receptor interactions trigger InlAB-independent uptake of listeria monocytogenes into tumor cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Specific cell targeting is an important, yet unsolved problem in bacteria-based therapeutic applications, like tumor or gene therapy. Here, we describe the construction of a novel, internalin A and B (InlAB)-deficient <it>Listeria monocytogenes </it>strain (Lm-spa⁺), which expresses protein A of <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(SPA) and anchors SPA in the correct orientation on the bacterial cell surface.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This listerial strain efficiently binds antibodies allowing specific interaction of the bacterium with the target recognized by the antibody. Binding of Trastuzumab (Herceptin^®) or Cetuximab (Erbitux^®) to Lm-spa⁺, two clinically approved monoclonal antibodies directed against HER2/neu and EGFR/HER1, respectively, triggers InlAB-independent internalization into non-phagocytic cancer cell lines overexpressing the respective receptors. Internalization, subsequent escape into the host cell cytosol and intracellular replication of these bacteria are as efficient as of the corresponding InlAB-positive, SPA-negative parental strain. This specific antibody/receptor-mediated internalization of Lm-spa⁺is shown in the murine 4T1 tumor cell line, the isogenic 4T1-HER2 cell line as well as the human cancer cell lines SK-BR-3 and SK-OV-3. Importantly, this targeting approach is applicable in a xenograft mouse tumor model after crosslinking the antibody to SPA on the listerial cell surface.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Binding of receptor-specific antibodies to SPA-expressing <it>L. monocytogenes </it>may represent a promising approach to target <it>L. monocytogenes </it>to host cells expressing specific receptors triggering internalization.</p

Regression of Human Prostate Tumors and Metastases in Nude Mice following Treatment with the Recombinant Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus GLV-1h68

Virotherapy using oncolytic vaccinia virus strains is one of the most promising new strategies for cancer therapy. In the current study, we analyzed the therapeutic efficacy of the oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 against two human prostate cancer cell lines DU-145 and PC-3 in cell culture and in tumor xenograft models. By viral proliferation assays and cell survival tests, we demonstrated that GLV-1h68 was able to infect, replicate in, and lyse these prostate cancer cells in culture. In DU-145 and PC-3 tumor xenograft models, a single intravenous injection with GLV-1h68 resulted in a significant reduction of primary tumor size. In addition, the GLV-1h68-infection led to strong inflammatory and oncolytic effects resulting in drastic reduction of regional lymph nodes with PC-3 metastases. Our data documented that the GLV-1h68 virus has a great potential for treatment of human prostate carcinoma

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Tumors Colonized with Bacterial Ferritin-Expressing Escherichia coli

Background: Recent studies have shown that human ferritin can be used as a reporter of gene expression for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Bacteria also encode three classes of ferritin-type molecules with iron accumulation properties. Methods and Findings: Here, we investigated whether these bacterial ferritins can also be used as MRI reporter genes and which of the bacterial ferritins is the most suitable reporter. Bacterial ferritins were overexpressed in probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917. Cultures of these bacteria were analyzed and those generating highest MRI contrast were further investigated in tumor bearing mice. Among members of three classes of bacterial ferritin tested, bacterioferritin showed the most promise as a reporter gene. Although all three proteins accumulated similar amounts of iron when overexpressed individually, bacterioferritin showed the highest contrast change. By site-directed mutagenesis we also show that the heme iron, a unique part of the bacterioferritin molecule, is not critical for MRI contrast change. Tumor-specific induction of bacterioferritin-expression in colonized tumors resulted in contrast changes within the bacteria-colonized tumors. Conclusions: Our data suggest that colonization and gene expression by live vectors expressing bacterioferritin can be monitored by MRI due to contrast change