Properties of nitrogen doped silicon films deposited by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition from silane and ammonia

Nitrogen doped silicon (NIDOS) films have been deposited by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition from silane SiH4 and ammonia NH3 at high temperature (750°C) and the influences of the NH3/SiH4 gas ratio on the films deposition rate, refractive index, stoichiometry, microstructure, electrical conductivity, and thermomechanical stress are studied. The chemical species derived from silylene SiH2 into the gaseous phase are shown to be responsible for the deposition of NIDOS and/or (silicon rich) silicon nitride. The competition between these two deposition phenomena leads finally to very high deposition rates (100 nm/min) for low NH3/SiH4 gas ratio (R¿0.1). Moreover, complex variations of NIDOS film properties are evidenced and related to the dual behavior of the nitrogen atom into silicon, either n-type substitutional impurity or insulative intersticial impurity, according to the Si¿N atomic bound. Finally, the use of NIDOS deposition for the realization of microelectromechanical systems is investigated.

Microstructure of highly oriented, hexagonal, boron nitride thin films grown on crystalline silicon by radio frequency plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition

We present a high‐resolution electron microscopy study of the microstructure of boron nitride thin films grown on silicon (100) by radio‐frequency plasma‐assisted chemical vapor deposition using B2H6 (1% in H2) and NH3 gases. Well‐adhered boron nitride films grown on the grounded electrode show a highly oriented hexagonal structure with the c‐axis parallel to the substrate surface throughout the film, without any interfacial amorphous layer. We ascribed this textured growth to an etching effect of atomic hydrogen present in the gas discharge. In contrast, films grown on the powered electrode, with compressive stress induced by ion bombardment, show a multilayered structure as observed by other authors, composed of an amorphous layer, a hexagonal layer with the c‐axis parallel to the substrate surface and another layer oriented at random

Gas collisions and pressure quenching of the photoluminescence of silicon nanopowder grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

The quenching of the photoluminescence of Si nanopowder grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition due to pressure was measured for various gases ( H2, O2, N2, He, Ne, Ar, and Kr) and at different temperatures. The characteristic pressure, P0, of the general dependence I(P) = I0¿exp(¿P/P0) is gas and temperature dependent. However, when the number of gas collisions is taken as the variable instead of pressure, then the quenching is the same within a gas family (mono- or diatomic) and it is temperature independent. So it is concluded that the effect depends on the number of gas collisions irrespective of the nature of the gas or its temperature.

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of boron nitride thin films from B2H6-H2-NH3 and B2H6-N2 gas mixtures

Highly transparent and stoichiometric boron nitride (BN) films were deposited on both electrodes (anode and cathode) of a radio-frequency parallel-plate plasma reactor by the glow discharge decomposition of two gas mixtures: B2H6-H2-NH3 and B2H6-N2. The chemical, optical, and structural properties of the films, as well as their stability under long exposition to humid atmosphere, were analyzed by x-ray photoelectron, infrared, and Raman spectroscopies; scanning and transmission electron microscopies; and optical transmittance spectrophotometry. It was found that the BN films grown on the anode using the B2H6-H2-NH3 mixture were smooth, dense, adhered well to substrates, and had a textured hexagonal structure with the basal planes perpendicular to the film surface. These films were chemically stable to moisture, even after an exposition period of two years. In contrast, the films grown on the anode from the B2H6-N2 mixture showed tensile stress failure and were very unstable in the presence of moisture. However, the films grown on the cathode from B2H6-H2-NH3 gases suffered from compressive stress failure on exposure to air; whereas with B2H6-N2 gases, adherent and stable cathodic BN films were obtained with the same crystallographic texture as anodic films prepared from the B2H6-H2-NH3 mixture. These results are discussed in terms of the origin of film stress, the effects of ion bombardment on the growing films, and the surface chemical effects of hydrogen atoms present in the gas discharge.

Computer-aided procedure for optimization of layer thickness uniformity in thermal evaporation physical vapor deposition chambers for lens coating

A computer-aided method to improve the thickness uniformity attainable when coating multiple substrates inside a thermal evaporation physical vapor deposition unit is presented. The study is developed for the classical spherical (dome-shaped) calotte and also for a plane sector reversible holder setup. This second arrangement is very useful for coating both sides of the substrate, such as antireflection multilayers on lenses. The design of static correcting shutters for both kinds of configurations is also discussed. Some results of using the method are presented as an illustration.

MERCURY QUANTIFICATION IN SOILS USING THERMAL DESORPTION AND ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY: PROPOSAL FOR AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ANALYSIS

Despite the considerable environmental importance of mercury (Hg), given its high toxicity and ability to contaminate large areas via atmospheric deposition, little is known about its activity in soils, especially tropical soils, in comparison with other heavy metals. This lack of information about Hg arises because analytical methods for determination of Hg are more laborious and expensive compared to methods for other heavy metals. The situation is even more precarious regarding speciation of Hg in soils since sequential extraction methods are also inefficient for this metal. The aim of this paper is to present a technique of thermal desorption associated with atomic absorption spectrometry, TDAAS, as an efficient tool for quantitative determination of Hg in soils. The method consists of the release of Hg by heating, followed by its quantification by atomic absorption spectrometry. It was developed by constructing calibration curves in different soil samples based on increasing volumes of standard Hg2+ solutions. Performance, accuracy, precision, and quantification and detection limit parameters were evaluated. No matrix interference was detected. Certified reference samples and comparison with a Direct Mercury Analyzer, DMA (another highly recognized technique), were used in validation of the method, which proved to be accurate and precise.

A novel in vitro metabolomics approach for neurotoxicity testing, proof of principle for methyl mercury chloride and caffeine

There is a need for more efficient methods giving insight into the complex mechanisms of neurotoxicity. Testing strategies including in vitro methods have been proposed to comply with this requirement. With the present study we aimed to develop a novel in vitro approach which mimics in vivo complexity, detects neurotoxicity comprehensively, and provides mechanistic insight. For this purpose we combined rat primary re-aggregating brain cell cultures with a mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics approach. For the proof of principle we treated developing re-aggregating brain cell cultures for 48h with the neurotoxicant methyl mercury chloride (0.1-100muM) and the brain stimulant caffeine (1-100muM) and acquired cellular metabolic profiles. To detect toxicant-induced metabolic alterations the profiles were analysed using commercial software which revealed patterns in the multi-parametric dataset by principal component analyses (PCA), and recognised the most significantly altered metabolites. PCA revealed concentration-dependent cluster formations for methyl mercury chloride (0.1-1muM), and treatment-dependent cluster formations for caffeine (1-100muM) at sub-cytotoxic concentrations. Four relevant metabolites responsible for the concentration-dependent alterations following methyl mercury chloride treatment could be identified using MS-MS fragmentation analysis. These were gamma-aminobutyric acid, choline, glutamine, creatine and spermine. Their respective mass ion intensities demonstrated metabolic alterations in line with the literature and suggest that the metabolites could be biomarkers for mechanisms of neurotoxicity or neuroprotection. In addition, we evaluated whether the approach could identify neurotoxic potential by testing eight compounds which have target organ toxicity in the liver, kidney or brain at sub-cytotoxic concentrations. PCA revealed cluster formations largely dependent on target organ toxicity indicating possible potential for the development of a neurotoxicity prediction model. With such results it could be useful to perform a validation study to determine the reliability, relevance and applicability of this approach to neurotoxicity screening. Thus, for the first time we show the benefits and utility of in vitro metabolomics to comprehensively detect neurotoxicity and to discover new biomarkers.

Queijo gorgonzola fabricado com leite pasteurizado por ejetor de vapor e HTST: parâmetros físico-químicos e sensoriais

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência de dois sistemas de pasteurização (High Temperature Short Time ¾ HTST¾ e ejetor de vapor) nas características físico-químicas e sensoriais do queijo tipo Gorgonzola. As coletas de amostras de queijo e análises foram realizadas aos 5, 25, 45, 65 e 85 dias de maturação. Durante o período de maturação ocorreu aumento gradual de pH, sal/umidade e índice de acidez nos dois tratamentos. Os queijos fabricados com leite pasteurizado pelo sistema HTST obtiveram valores médios de pH superiores aos dos queijos fabricados com leite pasteurizado pelo sistema ejetor de vapor; os queijos fabricados com leite pasteurizado pelo sistema ejetor de vapor, obtiveram teores de índice de acidez e metilcetonas superiores aos dos queijos fabricados com leite pasteurizado pelo sistema HTST, indicando maior atividade lipolítica nesses queijos. Pela análise sensorial realizada aos 65 dias de maturação, pode se observar que não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos em relação à aparência, cor, consistência, textura e sabor. Porém foi observada diferença significativa com relação ao desenvolvimento do mofo e aroma. Os queijos fabricados com leite pasteurizado pelo sistema ejetor de vapor apresentaram maior atividade lipolítica e massa mais macia e fechada.

Induction of apoptosis by mercury compounds depends on maturation and is not associated with microglial activation

The earliest sign of neurotoxicity observed after exposure of three-dimensional brain cell cultures to low concentrations of mercury compounds is a microglial reaction. We hypothesized that an induction of apoptosis by mercury compounds could be an activating signal of the microglial reaction. Aggregating brain cell cultures of fetal rat telencephalon were treated for 10 days with either mercury chloride or monomethylmercury chloride at noncytotoxic concentrations during two developmental periods: from day 5 to 15, corresponding to an immature stage, and from day 25 to 35 corresponding to a mature stage. Apoptosis was evaluated by the TUNEL technique. It was found that both mercury compounds caused a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells, but exclusively in immature cultures exhibiting also spontaneous apoptosis. Double staining by the TUNEL technique combined with either neuronal or astroglial markers revealed that the proportion of cells undergoing apoptosis was highest for astrocytes. Furthermore neither an association nor a colocalization was found between apoptotic cells and microglial cells. In conclusion, it appears that the induction of apoptosis by mercury compounds in immature cells is only an acceleration of a spontaneously occurring process, and that it is not a directly related to the early microglial reaction.

Liberación de mercurio por parte de las obturaciones de amalgama dental: tipo, cantidad, método de determinación y posibles efectos adversos

Las obturaciones dentales de amalgama constituyen la fuente principal de exposición permanente de bajo nivel al vapor de mercurio (Hg°) y al mercurio inorgánico (Hg(II)) para la población general. La dosis de mercurio absorbido procedente de la amalgama es de 2.7 ¿g/día/persona para una cantidad promedio de 7.4 obturaciones. Si esta cantidad consistiera enteramente en mercurio inorgánico (Hg(II)), estaría muy por debajo de la cifra de 15 ¿g/día para una persona de 65 kg que la OMS considera como ingesta tolerable de mercurio inorgánico. En el caso de una exposición permanente a la misma cantidad, pero de vapor de mercurio (Hg0), se obtendría una concentración de 0.18 mg/m3 que puede compararse con la concentración de referencia de la EPA de 0.3 mg/m3 o con el nivel de riesgo mínimo de la ATSDR de 0.2 mg/m3. Varios estudios clínicos longitudinales y aleatorizados han evaluado la relación entre la concentración urinaria de mercurio y la exposición al mercurio procedente de las obturaciones dentales de amalgama en niños, particularmente vulnerables al Hg0, así como los posibles efectos neurológicos de tal exposición. La concentración promedio de mercurio en orina en los niños tratados con amalgama, con un promedio de 18,7 superficies obturadas, aumentó hasta un pico de 3.2 ¿g/L a los 2 años de iniciado el tratamiento y a los 7 años de seguimiento había descendido hasta los niveles basales y no se detectó ninguna alteración en las distintas exploraciones de monitorización neuropsicológica. De la misma manera, diversas investigaciones epidemiológicas no han aportado ninguna evidencia del papel de la amalgama en la posible causa o exacerbación de trastornos degenerativos como la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica, la enfermedad de Alzheimer, la esclerosis múltiple o el Parkinson. La extracción de las obturaciones de amalgama produce un aumento transitorio de los niveles de mercurio en sangre inmediatamente después de extraer las obturaciones de amalgama, pero de pequeña magnitud y que se normaliza a los 100 días, por lo que el efecto del dique de goma tiene una relevancia toxicológica menor. La conclusión de esta revisión es que la amalgama dental continúa siendo un excelente material de obturación.

Comparison of the developmental effects of two mercury compounds on glial cells and neurons in aggregate cultures of rat telencephalon.

A three-dimensional cell culture system was used as a model to study the influence of low levels of mercury in the developing brain. Aggregating cell cultures of fetal rat telencephalon were treated for 10 days either during an early developmental period (i.e., between days 5 and 15 in vitro) or during a phase of advanced maturation (i.e., between days 25 and 35) with mercury. An inorganic (HgCl2) and an organic mercury compound (monomethylmercury chloride, MeHgCl) were examined. By monitoring changes in cell type-specific enzymes activities, the concentration-dependent toxicity of the compounds was determined. In immature cultures, a general cytotoxicity was observed at 10(-6) M for both mercury compounds. In these cultures, HgCl2 appeared somewhat more toxic than MeHgCl. However, no appreciable demethylation of MeHgCl could be detected, indicating similar toxic potencies for both mercury compounds. In highly differentiated cultures, by contrast, MeHgCl exhibited a higher toxic potency than HgCl2. In addition, at 10(-6) M, MeHgCl showed pronounced neuron-specific toxicity. Below the cytotoxic concentrations, distinct glia-specific reactions could be observed with both mercury compounds. An increase in the immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein, typical for gliosis, could be observed at concentrations between 10(-9) M and 10(-7) M in immature cultures, and between 10(-8) M and 3 x 10(-5) M in highly differentiated cultures. A conspicuous increase in the number and clustering of GSI-B4 lectin-binding cells, indicating a microglial response, was found at concentrations between 10(-10) M and 10(-7) M. These development-dependent and cell type-specific effects may reflect the pathogenic potential of long-term exposure to subclinical doses of mercury.

De la industrialització de les comarques de Girona al vapor Burés

Aquest article vol mostrar que la industrialització de Catalunya també va ser important a les comarques properes a la ciutat de Girona, especialment a la vall d’Anglès, ja que en aquesta població es conserva el vapor Burés, una màquina de vapor del principi del segle XX en molt bon estat. L'article es presenta en un to divulgador amb ànim de provocar anàlisis mes rigoroses dels temes tractats. En aquest sentit, l'apartat de la descripció tècnica del vapor Burés pretén estimular el seu estudi amb mes profunditat. Finalment, es fan un seguit de propostes, des de ben simples fins a mes agosarades, que caldria tenir en compte per avançar en una bona proposta d'ús públic dels elements patrimonials relacionats amb el vapor Burés

Lessons Learned: Acute Mercury Poisoning From A Residential Work/Hobby Exposure In Iowa, 2014

This document is about the different ways Mercury can poison a person and the exposure in Iowa.