4,369 research outputs found
Airborne particle deposition in cleanrooms: deposition mechanisms
This article discusses the mechanisms
of particle deposition onto cleanroom
surfaces. The main mechanism
for particles above about 0.5μm is
gravitational settling. Turbulent
deposition and electrostatic attraction
can also occur at all particle sizes, and
for particles below 0.5μm Brownian
diffusion is important. Measurements
of particle deposition rates (PDRs) were
made of particles ≥ 0μm on witness
plates orientated in different directions
and exposed in different ventilation
conditions, and it was concluded that
over 80% of particles were deposited
by gravitational sedimentation, and
probably more than half of the
remainder by turbulent deposition
Airborne particle deposition in cleanrooms: relationship between deposition rate and airborne concentration
This article is the second of a series that discusses the deposition of airborne particles onto cleanroom surfaces. It investigates the relationship between the airborne concentration of a range of cumulative sizes of particles and the particle deposition rate (PDR) onto cleanroom surfaces, through knowledge of the deposition velocity of particles in air. The deposition velocity of a range of cumulative particle sizes was obtained by means of experiments, theoretical calculations, and literature search and the influence of a number of variables found in cleanrooms on the deposition velocity was investigated. The use of the deposition velocity to calculate the amount of deposition on cleanroom surfaces, such as manufactured products, is discussed, along with its use in deciding the required ISO 14644-1 class of cleanroom; these subjects will be discussed in more depth in the final article of this series
Airborne particle deposition in cleanrooms: calculation of product contamination and required cleanroom class
This is the third and final article in a series that discusses the deposition of airborne particles onto critical surfaces in cleanrooms. This article explains a method for calculating the amount of particle or microbe-carrying particle deposition onto critical cleanroom surfaces, such as product, and a method for calculating the airborne particle cleanliness class, or airborne microbial concentration that is required to obtain a specified and acceptable amount of product contamination
The identification of markers of macrophage differentiation in PMA-stimulated THP-1 Cells and monocyte-derived macrophages
Differentiated macrophages are the resident tissue phagocytes and sentinel cells of the innate immune response. The phenotype of mature tissue macrophages represents the composite of environmental and differentiation-dependent imprinting. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) are stimuli commonly used to induce macrophage differentiation in monocytic cell lines but the extent of differentiation in comparison to primary tissue macrophages is unclear. We have compared the phenotype of the promonocytic THP-1 cell line after various protocols of differentiation utilising VD3 and PMA in comparison to primary human monocytes or monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). Both stimuli induced changes in cell morphology indicative of differentiation but neither showed differentiation comparable to MDM. In contrast, PMA treatment followed by 5 days resting in culture without PMA (PMAr) increased cytoplasmic to nuclear ratio, increased mitochondrial and lysosomal numbers and altered differentiation-dependent cell surface markers in a pattern similar to MDM. Moreover, PMAr cells showed relative resistance to apoptotic stimuli and maintained levels of the differentiation-dependent anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 similar to MDM. PMAr cells retained a high phagocytic capacity for latex beads, and expressed a cytokine profile that resembled MDM in response to TLR ligands, in particular with marked TLR2 responses. Moreover, both MDM and PMAr retained marked plasticity to stimulus-directed polarization. These findings suggest a modified PMA differentiation protocol can enhance macrophage differentiation of THP-1 cells and identify increased numbers of mitochondria and lysosomes, resistance to apoptosis and the potency of TLR2 responses as important discriminators of the level of macrophage differentiation for transformed cells
Optically controlled grippers for manipulating micron-sized particles
We report the development of a joystick controlled gripper for the real-time manipulation of micron-sized objects, driven using holographic optical tweezers (HOTs). The gripper consists of an arrangement of four silica beads, located in optical traps, which can be positioned and scaled in order to trap an object indirectly. The joystick can be used to grasp, move (lateral or axial), and change the orientation of the target object. The ability to trap objects indirectly allows us to demonstrate the manipulation of a strongly scattering micron-sized metallic particle
A canonical ensemble approach to graded-response perceptrons
Perceptrons with graded input-output relations and a limited output precision
are studied within the Gardner-Derrida canonical ensemble approach. Soft non-
negative error measures are introduced allowing for extended retrieval
properties. In particular, the performance of these systems for a linear and
quadratic error measure, corresponding to the perceptron respectively the
adaline learning algorithm, is compared with the performance for a rigid error
measure, simply counting the number of errors. Replica-symmetry-breaking
effects are evaluated.Comment: 26 pages, 10 ps figure
Broad ion energy distributions in helicon wave-coupled helium plasma
Helium ion energy distributions were measured in helicon wave-coupled plasmas of the dynamics of ion implantation and sputtering of surface experiment using a retarding field energy analyzer. The shape of the energy distribution is a double-peak, characteristic of radiofrequency plasma potential modulation. The broad distribution is located within a radius of 0.8 cm, while the quartz tube of the plasma source has an inner radius of 2.2 cm. The ion energy distribution rapidly changes from a double-peak to a single peak in the radius range of 0.7-0.9 cm. The average ion energy is approximately uniform across the plasma column including the double-peak and single peak regions. The widths of the broad distribution, ΔE, in the wave-coupled mode are large compared to the time-averaged ion energy, 〈E〉. On the axis (r = 0), ΔE/ 〈E〉 ≲ 3.4, and at a radius near the edge of the plasma column (r = 2.2 cm), ΔE/ 〈E〉 ∼ 1.2. The discharge parameter space is scanned to investigate the effects of the magnetic field, input power, and chamber fill pressure on the wave-coupled mode that exhibits the sharp radial variation in the ion energy distribution.United States. Department of Energy (Award DESC00-02060)United States. Department of Energy (Award DE-FC02-99ER54512
Splittings of generalized Baumslag-Solitar groups
We study the structure of generalized Baumslag-Solitar groups from the point
of view of their (usually non-unique) splittings as fundamental groups of
graphs of infinite cyclic groups. We find and characterize certain
decompositions of smallest complexity (`fully reduced' decompositions) and give
a simplified proof of the existence of deformations. We also prove a finiteness
theorem and solve the isomorphism problem for generalized Baumslag-Solitar
groups with no non-trivial integral moduli.Comment: 20 pages; hyperlinked latex. Version 2: minor change
The Madison plasma dynamo experiment: a facility for studying laboratory plasma astrophysics
The Madison plasma dynamo experiment (MPDX) is a novel, versatile, basic
plasma research device designed to investigate flow driven magnetohydrodynamic
(MHD) instabilities and other high- phenomena with astrophysically
relevant parameters. A 3 m diameter vacuum vessel is lined with 36 rings of
alternately oriented 4000 G samarium cobalt magnets which create an
axisymmetric multicusp that contains 14 m of nearly magnetic field
free plasma that is well confined and highly ionized . At present, 8
lanthanum hexaboride (LaB) cathodes and 10 molybdenum anodes are inserted
into the vessel and biased up to 500 V, drawing 40 A each cathode, ionizing a
low pressure Ar or He fill gas and heating it. Up to 100 kW of electron
cyclotron heating (ECH) power is planned for additional electron heating. The
LaB cathodes are positioned in the magnetized edge to drive toroidal
rotation through torques that propagate into the
unmagnetized core plasma. Dynamo studies on MPDX require a high magnetic
Reynolds number , and an adjustable fluid Reynolds number , in the regime where the kinetic energy of the flow exceeds the magnetic
energy (vv). Initial results from MPDX are presented
along with a 0-dimensional power and particle balance model to predict the
viscosity and resistivity to achieve dynamo action.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figure
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