The objective of this research is to develop automated and integrated microsystems for high-resolution imaging and high-throughput phenotyping / laser ablation of C. elegans. These microsystems take advantage of microfluidic technology for precisely handling animals and computer-aid automation for high-throughput processing. We demonstrated automated and high-throughput imaging / sorting and laser ablation of C. elegans. This thesis work is divided into four parts: development of a microsystem for imaging and sorting, development of a microsystem for laser cell ablation, development of a novel temperature measurement method, and development of pressure measurement method in microchannels. First, a microsystem was developed for high-throughput microscopy at high resolution and sorting. The microfluidic chip integrates novel microfluidic components to trap, position, immobilize, and sort/release animals. To characterize device operation and aid design of the device numerical models were developed. The experimental results demonstrate that the device operates robustly in a completely automatable manner. Additionally, a sophisticated control algorithm developed by Matthew Crane (Dr. Hang Lu¡¯s lab) automates the entire process of image acquisition, analysis, and sorting, which allows the system to operate without human intervention. This microsystem sorted worms based on their fluorescent expression pattern with over 95% accuracy per round at a rate of several hundred worms per hour. Secondly, the technologies developed for the imaging/sorting system were adapted and further improved to develop a microsystem for high-throughput cell laser ablation of C. elegans. The multiplex ablation module combined with the embryo trap module enables robust manipulation of embryos/L1-stage C. elegans. In addition, software for image processing and automation was developed to allow high-throughput cell ablations. This system performed ablation of a large number of animals and demonstrated accurate ablation by showing behavioral defects of the ablated worms in a chemotaxis avoidance assay. Thirdly, to aid future development of the microdevices, a novel in situ method for three-dimensionally resolved temperature measurement in microchannels was developed. This method uses video-microscopy in combination with image analysis software (developed by Jaekyu Cho in Dr. Victor Breedveld¡¯s group) to measure Brownian diffusion of nanoparticles that is correlated to temperature. This method offers superior reproducibility and reduced systematic errors. In addition, we demonstrated that this method can be used to measure spatial temperature variations in three dimensions in situ. Lastly, a method for pressure measurement in microdevices was also developed through collaboration with Hyewon Lee (Dr. Hang Lu¡¯s lab) to aid further device optimization. These micro pressure-sensors are composed of two flow layers with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane in between. The membrane deforms as a function of pressure and its deformation is quantified by a simple image-based method. These sensors offer high-precision pressure measurement in broad sensing ranges. In addition, a pressure transduction scheme combined with imaging-based method enables multiplex pressure measurement for simultaneously detecting pressures in multiple locations in a microsystem. Overall, the technologies developed in this thesis will establish a solid basis for continuous improvement of the microsystems for multi-cellular model organisms. This high-throughput technology will facilitate a broad range of biological and medical research.

This thesis is devoted to the deposition of intermetallic thin films by laser ablation deposition (LAD) and their characterization. Pulsed laser ablation and subsequent deposition of the ablated vapours produces films under conditions very far away from equilibrium. Besides the film, which forms directly by quenching the vapour or plasma on substrate, one also obtains under certain conditions micron and sub-micron sized spherical droplets of alloy melt on to the film. The latter travel at very high velocities and impinge on the substrate resulting in a very high rate of heat transfer during solidification from liquid state. Therefore, in this work it was possible to study the microstructure evolution depending on quenching rates of different sized droplets and compare with the extreme case of vapour/plasma quenching. The compositions selected correspond to the intermetallic compounds in Al-Fe, Al-Ni and Ti-Si binary systems. Pre-alloyed targets of the appropriate intermetallic compositions were used for ablation by laser. The deposition system has been designed and built in-house. The characterization is mainly done by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The study focuses on microstructure and phase evolution within these intermetallic films at room temperature, at elevated temperature and during heating the room temperature deposited films in heating stage inside the TEM.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2001. / Bibliography: leaves 109-115. Also available online.

Sarahsaurus aurifontanalis is the most recent sauropodomorph dinosaur to be discovered and named from the Early Jurassic of North America. The dinosaur is represented by a mostly complete and articulated holotype specimen that preserves a unique manual phalangeal count of 2-3-4-2-2 and accessory pubic foramen adjacent to the obturator foramen. The holotype of Sarahsaurus comprises a braincase and isolated cranial elements, but the skull previously referred to this taxon, MCZ 8893, can only be provisionally referred to Sarahsaurus until additional crania are found associated with postcranial material. Sarahsaurus comes from the middle third of the Kayenta Formation, which is considered to be Early Jurassic in age despite the absence of a radiometric date from that unit. A new technique used to obtain a U-Pb radiometric date from the type quarry of Sarahsaurus in the Kayenta Formation was influenced by secondary uranium enrichment in the open system of the fossil bone. That suggests that uranium within the Kayenta Formation may be the result of the movement of groundwater during the Laramide orogeny in the Late Cretaceous and Early Eocene, and lends support to the hypothesis that the uplift of the Colorado Plateau began relatively early in Late Cretaceous to the Eocene. / text

In the past decade, there has been an increased interest in magnetostrictive materials for micro actuators and sensors. Of particular importance are the Fe₂R intermetallics, where R = Tb, Dy. In this study, films of Tb[subscript 0.3]Dy[subscript 0.7]Fe[subscript 1.92] were prepared by three laser processing techniques (pulsed laser deposition, flat plate ablation and laser ablation of microparticles) to explore the effect of processing parameters on particle size, crystallinity and magnetic properties. The laser used in the experiments was a KrF laser with a 12 ns pulse width. Pulsed laser deposition of an alloyed target in vacuum produces dense amorphous films with the similar composition to the target, low coercivity (46 Oe) and good magnetostriction ([lambda][subcript two horizontal lines] = 305 ppm at 2300 Oe). Flat plate ablation and laser ablation of microparticles produced amorphous nanoparticles at 1 atm. The particles were subsequently jet deposited onto substrates to form thick films. Nanoparticle films produced by flat plate ablation resulted in oxidized and segregated particles due to extended, non-uniform plume expansion, laser target modification, and open porosity. Laser ablation of microparticles produced thick films with M[subscript s] = 13.8 emu/g. Two types of annealing treatments were performed to close porosity and increase Youngs modulus. Annealing of LAM films at temperatures up to 700°C in-situ and 950°C in a reducing atmosphere did not result in coarsening of the particles or crystallization of the Laves phase due to the core-shell structure of nanoparticles (rare earth oxide shell, Fe rich core) brought about by oxidation-induced segregation.

No description available.

Laser nano-patterning with near-field optical microscope (NSOM) and the associated energy transport analysis are achieved in this study. Based on combined experimental/theoretical analyses, it is found that laser nano-patterning with a NSOM probes strongly depend on the laser conditions and material properties of the target: the energy transport from the NSOM probes to the targets changes from pure optical to a combination of thermal and optical transport when the pulse duration of laser is increased from femtosecond to nanosecond. As a result, the mechanisms of nano-pattern formation on targets changes from nano-ablation to nano-oxidation/ recrystallization when the laser pulse duration is increased from femtosecond to nanosecond. Also, with the laser nano-patterning experiments, thermal damage of NSOM probes is observed which can be attributed to the low transport efficiency (10-4 – 10-6) and associated heating of the metal cladding of NSOM probes. The heating of NSOM probes are studied with developed time harmonic and transient thermoreflectance (TR) imaging. From time harmonic TR when the NSOM probes are driven with continuous laser, it is found that the location of heating of NSOM probes is ~20-30µm away from the NSOM tip. The strength of the heating is determined by the laser power (linear dependence), wavelength of the laser (stronger with short A), and aperture size of NSOM probes (stronger when aperture size < A/2). From the transient TR imaging when the NSOM probes are driven with pulsed laser, it is found that the peak temperature of the NSOM probe shifts much closer to the tip. The possible reason for the change in the location of peak temperature when continuous laser is changed to pulsed laser can be attributed to the competition between the heat generation and dissipation rates at different location of the probe: the tip experiences highest temperature with pulsed heating as the entire heating processes is adiabatic. The tip also experiences highest heat dissipation rate due to its large surface-to-volume ratio which overcomes the heat generation at the tip under quasi-steady state resulting in shift of the hot spot. The knowledge obtained in this study can be important in the future design of more efficient NSOM probes and other nano-optic devices.

No description available.

In this thesis, new approaches to direct trace metals analysis of solid samples by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy were investigated using laser ablation and thermal vaporization systems for solid sample introduction of biological, environmental, and pharmaceutical samples. / Laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to pharmaceutical tablets. Precision of analysis depended on laser parameters and could be improved using signal ratios. The feasibility of using laser ablation-ICP-MS for detecting natural levels of mercury along a single human hair strand was also demonstrated. / As well, the use of an induction-heating electrothermal vaporizer (IH-ETV) coupled to an ICP-MS was successful in determining mercury concentrations in a single human hair strand. Methodologies for multielement analysis of powdered hair were also explored using IH-ETV-ICP-MS. While calibration by reference hair materials showed promise, calibration methods by liquid standards were not suitable for any element. Detection limits achieved for most elements were below natural levels found in human hair. / IH-ETV-ICP-AES was also applied to the analysis of analyze-laden chromatographic powder. This study showed potential problems that may arise due to the methodology taken to analyze such materials. Finally, recommendations for future investigations and methodologies for laser ablation and thermal vaporization are discussed.

Disertacijos tikslas yra ištirti didelio impulsų pasikartojimo dažnio pikosekundinių lazerių pritaikomumą medžiagų mikroapdirbimui, bei išaiškinti tokių lazerių spinduliuotės sąveikos su metalais ir siliciu ypatybes. Eksperimentiškai buvo ištirta abliacijos slenksčio ir akumuliacijos koeficiento priklausomybė nuo lazerio impulso trukmės siliciui ir metalams. Sukurtas ir eksperimentiškai patvirtintas modelis optimalioms fokusavimo sąlygoms surasti, siekiant maksimalios abliacijos spartos. Didelei impulso energijai, medžiagos nugarinimo efektyvumas mažėja dėl ekranuojančio plazmos poveikio. Įvairių impulso trukmių lazeriai buvo panaudoti silicio gręžimui bei pjovimui. Paviršiaus spektroskopijos metodais, nustatyta, kad pjovimo metu silicis yra legiruojamas anglimi iki 5 µm gylio iš atmosferoje esančio anglies dvideginio, o susidariusi silicio karbido fazė įtakoja lazerinio pjovimo kokybę silicio bandinio gylyje. Taikant didelio impulsų pasikartojimo dažnio pikosekundinius lazerius sudėtingos formos detalių gamybai, rasti sąryšiai tarp paviršiaus šiurkštumo bei proceso parametrų. Pjaunant lazeriu stentus iš Nitinolio, šilumos nukreipimas nuo ruošinio riboja galimą panaudoti lazerio vidutinę galią ir tuo pačiu pasiekiamą efektyvųjį pjovimo greitį; Vykdant sidabro ir aukso abliaciją pikosekundiniu lazeriu skystyje, generuojamos siauro dydžių skirstinio nanodalelės, kurios sudaro stabilius koloidinius tirpalus. / The objective of the thesis is to investigate applicability of high pulse repetition rate picosecond lasers for microfabrication and to clarify high repetition rate pulse interaction with metals and silicon. The ablation threshold and accumulation rate dependence on the laser pulse duration for silicon and metals has been experimentally studied. The model of optimal focus conditions for the maximum ablation rate was developed and experimentally confirmed. The material evaporation rate decreases duo to plasma screening for high pulse energies. Various pulse length lasers have been used for cutting and drilling of silicon. In this work key properties of laser radiation, radiation absorption, ablation and plasma formation are discussed. Surface spectroscopy methods have shown that laser cutting of silicon in the air leads to the cut surface doping with carbon atoms up to 5 µm depth from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the resulting silicon carbide influences the laser cut quality. Testing of applicability of high pulse repetition rate picosecond lasers for the production of complex shapes, relationships between surface roughness and process parameters were determined. Heat abstraction from the workpiece, during laser cutting of stents from nitinol, limits the potential use of the average laser power and the effective cutting speed The silver and gold picosecond laser ablation in the liquid medium generates a narrow size distribution of nanoparticles, which form a stable... [to full text]