Probe Measurements Research Articles

Synthesis and piezoelectric properties of freestanding ferroelectric films based on barium strontium titanate

In this work, the membrane structures based on lead-free ferroelectric barium strontium titanate with composition Ba0.8Sr0.2TO3 (BSTO) were fabricated by a magnetron sputtering method. The formation of a single-phase Ba0.8Sr0.2TO3 with thickness of 300 nm sintered on Si substrate is confirmed by XRD analysis. It is shown that films without a silicon substrate exhibit ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. The piezoelectric and ferroelectric behaviors of BSTO thin film without a silicon substrate were confirmed through a piezoelectric force microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy and measurements of the effective piezoelectric coefficients (d33 and d15). Images of the residual potential of polarized areas have been obtained on the membranes, which are stable over time despite the absence of a lower electrode. Additionally, a local of ferroelectric hysteresis loop has been observed. A combination of the structural and piezoelectric measurements reveals that it possible to create freestanding ferroelectric films based on Ba0.8Sr0.2TO3 system, establishing it as a promising candidate for high-performance electromechanical applications.

Magnetic field dependent thermal conductivity investigation of water based Fe3O4/CNT and Fe3O4/graphene magnetic hybrid nanofluids using a Helmholtz coil system setup

Magnetic hybrid nanofluids are making a name of themselves in mainstream application areas such as heat transfer, solar systems, acoustic applications, etc. These nanofluids are highly favorable as their ability to advance the properties of their constituent particles such as their thermophysical properties. This study aims to investigate the magnetic field dependent thermal conductivity of Fe3O4/CNT – water and Fe3O4/Graphene – water magnetic hybrid nanofluids. The thermal conductivity investigations are carried out with the 3ω method under a uniform magnetic field generated by a 3D Helmholtz coil system. Fe3O4/CNT – water and Fe3O4/Graphene – water magnetic hybrid nanofluids were purchased commercially as 20 wt% colloids. Then, the samples with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 wt% were prepared by diluting them with DI water. Thermal conductivity measurements were carried out for the samples under the external uniform magnetic field in the range of 0–250 G in both parallel and perpendicular directions to the temperature gradient generated by the thermal conductivity measurement probe. The results pointed out that the thermal conductivity of the samples increases as the magnetic field and particle concentration increase for both magnetic hybrid nanofluids. Additionally, it is obtained that the thermal conductivity enhancement of Fe3O4/Graphene – water is up to 3 times higher than Fe3O4/CNT – water samples. Moreover, the maximum thermal conductivity enhancement was observed as ∼12 % and ∼9 % for Fe3O4/CNT – water, and ∼51 % and ∼21 % Fe3O4/Graphene – water under external magnetic field application with parallel and perpendicular direction, respectively.

High-sensitivity optical fiber probe for simultaneous measurement of chloride ions and temperature

A fiber optic probe for the simultaneous measurement of chloride ions and temperature is presented. The Ag/alginate composite film is used as the reflective surface of the Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI) and is a sensitive film for the adsorption of chloride ions. The experimental results show that the Fabry–Perot (FP) response sensitivity is approximately 1.4689 nm/µM as the chloride ion concentration changes from 1 to 9 µM, but the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is insensitive to chloride ions. When the temperature is changed from 35°C to 80°C, the response sensitivities of the FP and the FBG are about 0.7 and 0.01115 nm/°C, respectively.

Adrenal ablation as a treatment for hypertension: analyzing the dielectric properties of adrenal glands for microwave ablation technologies

Abstract Adrenal gland-induced hypertension, also known as secondary hypertension, is a medical condition caused by an underlying adrenal pathology, most typically adrenocortical adenomas. Current clinical practices involve pharmacotherapy or surgical resection to treat adrenal gland diseases that cause hypertension. However, due to the limitations of these treatment options, microwave ablation (MWA) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive alternative. An accurate understanding of the dielectric properties of adrenal glands would support the further development and optimization of MWA technology for treating adrenal tumors. Only a few studies have examined the dielectric properties of both human and animal adrenal glands, and the sample sizes of these studies have been relatively small. Therefore, further dielectric data of human and animal adrenal glands are warranted. This paper presents the ex vivo dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal glands (medulla and cortex) and summarizes the published literature on dielectric data of adrenal glands from porcine, bovine, ovine, and human samples in the microwave frequency range to analyze the consistency and reliability of the reported data. The dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal glands (N = 8) were measured using an open-ended coaxial probe measurement technique at frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 8.5 GHz. This study also investigated the temperature-dependent dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal medulla ranging from 37 to 64°C at frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 8.5 GHz. The dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal medulla measured in this study were found to be consistent with the literature. Moreover, the review suggests that variations exist in the dielectric properties of the adrenal medulla and cortex among species. The study also found that the dielectric properties of the adrenal medulla decrease with increasing temperature, similar to other tissues for which temperature-dependent dielectric data have been reported. This summary of dielectric data of adrenal glands and the temperature-dependent dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal medulla will accelerate the development of MWA technologies for hypertension treatment.

Towards time-resolved multi-property measurements by filtered Rayleigh scattering: diagnostic approach and verification

The use of multiple perspective views is a possible pathway towards the combined measurement of multiple time-resolved flow properties by filtered Rayleigh scattering (FRS). In this study, a six view observation concept is experimentally verified on a aspirated pipe flow. The concept was introduced in our previous work, and it has the ability to simultaneously measure high-accuracy time-averaged and time-resolved three-component velocity, pressure and temperature fields. To simulate time-resolution, multi-view FRS data at a single optimised excitation frequency are selected and processed for multiple flow properties. Time-averaged and quasi-time-resolved FRS results show very good agreement with differential pressure probe measurements and analytical temperature calculations and lie within ±2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\pm 2$$\\end{document} m/s of complementary laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) velocity measurements for all operating points. The introduction of a multistage fitting procedure for the time-resolved analysis leads to a significant improvement of the precision by factors of 4 and 3 for temperature and axial velocity and 18 for pressure. Moreover, both processing methods show their capacity to resolve flow structures in a swirling flow configuration. It is demonstrated that the developed multi-view concept can be used to determine multiple flow variables from a single-frequency measurement, opening the path towards time-resolved multi-parameter measurements by FRS.

High-precision positioning of Hall probes for SCU magnetic field measurement

A planar superconducting undulator (SCU) prototype with the magnetic length of 4 m and the magnetic gap of 5 mm is being developed for Shanghai High Repetition rate XFEL and Extreme Light facility (SHINE) to generate vertical linear polarization FELs. The magnetic field measurement device based on Hall probes has been built for the SCU. Three Hall probes mounted on a sledge are used to measure the magnetic field in the undulator gap. The three-dimensional positioning system based on the Gaussian laser beam for the sledge and the Hall probes is presented in detail in this paper.

Vibrational Probe at the Electrochemical Interface: Dependence on Plasmon Coupling and Potential of the Lineshape in Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopy.

Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy of vibrational probes at an electrode surface shows promise for studying the structural dynamics at an active electrochemical interface. This interface is a complex environment where the solution structures in response to the applied potential. A strategy for achieving the necessary monolayer sensitivity is to use a plasmonically active electrode, which enhances the electromagnetic fields that produce the spectroscopic response. Here, we show how the coupling between the plasmon and the vibrations of the molecular monolayer impacts the FTIR and 2D IR spectroscopy, with an emphasis on the electrochemical potential difference spectra. We show how mixing between the vibrational and plasmonic states gives rise to the distortions that are observed in these measurements. This provides an important step toward 2D IR measurements of vibrational probes at the electrochemical interface as a tool for probing the structural dynamics in the double layer.

Impact of Intermittent Deposition on Spontaneous Orientation Polarization of Organic Amorphous Films Revealed by Rotary Kelvin Probe.

The control of the molecular orientation and resultant polarization is essential for improving the performance of organic optoelectronic devices. Conventionally, the substrate temperature and deposition rate are tuned to control the molecular orientation of vapor-deposited films. In this study, we proposed a novel method, referred to as "intermittent deposition", in which the polarization direction and magnitude are controlled by introducing intervals during physical vapor deposition. The rotary Kelvin probe measurement of the Alq3 and TPBi films clearly showed a time-dependent decrease in the surface potential owing to the surface relaxation of the molecular orientation immediately after deposition. Through a series of intermittent depositions, in which the deposition shutter is repeatedly opened and closed at certain intervals, a relaxed surface layer was built up, and we could control the polarization magnitude. For the Alq3 film, even the polarization direction was switched. The proposed new deposition method is applicable to general organic molecules, not limited to polar molecules, thereby potentially tuning the conduction properties of organic devices and fabricating novel devices.

Anesthesia choice and its potential impact on endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe measurements in esophageal motility disorders

The widespread use of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has revolutionized the management of esophageal motility disorders (EMDs). The introduction of an endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP, Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) can serve as a complementary diagnostic tool to assess the mechanical properties (ie, pressure, diameter, distensibility, topography) of the esophagus. During EndoFLIP measurements, different anesthesia techniques may induce variable degrees of neuromuscular blockade, potentially affecting esophageal motility and altering the results of EndoFLIP metrics. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of using total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) versus general anesthesia with inhalational anesthetics (GAIA) on diagnostic EndoFLIP measurements. This retrospective study included all adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing EndoFlip during the POEM procedure at our institution between February 2017 and February 2022. Differences in pressure, diameter, and distensibility index were obtained by using propofol-based TIVA versus sevoflurane-based GAIA with a 30 mL and a 60 mL balloon. The differences were divided into terciles and compared between diagnoses by using univariate comparisons and logistic regression models. A total of 49 patients were included (39% type I achalasia, 43% type II or III achalasia, and 18% jackhammer esophagus [JE]). Compared with spastic disorders (types II and III achalasia and JE), type I had lower values of pressure differences at 60 mL in univariate (3.75 vs 15.20, P= .001) and multivariate (adjusted odds ratio, .89; 95% confidence interval, .82-.978) analyses. Compared with type I, types II and III achalasia had higher rates of pressure differences at 60 mL in the univariate (9.85 vs 3.75, P= .04) analysis and nearly reached significance in the multivariate analysis (1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1-1.20). Compared with type I achalasia, JE exhibited higher values in pressure differences at 60 mL (27.7 vs 3.75, P< .001). Esophageal pressure, as measured by EndoFLIP, was significantly reduced when patients were sedated with sevoflurane-based GAIA. The use of sevoflurane-based GAIA for diagnostic EndoFLIP may potentially lead to the misclassification of spastic disorders as type I achalasia. Propofol-based TIVA should therefore be considered over sevoflurane-based GAIA for sedation during the diagnostic test.

Double-sided electron energy analyzer for measurement of non-Maxwellian electron energy distributions.

A double-sided electron energy analyzer is developed for studies of magnetic reconnection. It can measure electron energy distribution functions along two directions opposite to each other at the same time. Each side is composed of a floating reference grid, an energy selector grid, and a collector plate. The voltage of the selector grid is swept from -40 to 0V with respect to the reference grid with a frequency of 1MHz. This fast sweeping is required to resolve sub-Alfvénic changes in plasma quantities of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment, where the typical Alfvénic time is a few microseconds. The reliability of the energy analyzer is checked in Maxwellian plasmas away from the reconnection region. In this case, the electron temperature computed from the electron energy distribution function agrees with measurements of a reference triple Langmuir probe. When it is located near the reconnection region, the temperatures of the tail electron population from both sides, facing into the electron flow and facing away from it, exceed the bulk electron temperature measured by the Langmuir probe by a factor of about 2.

Comparative Analysis of Several Near-Field Probes for Magnetic Field Measurements

Comparative Analysis of Several Near-Field Probes for Magnetic Field Measurements

Role of Divalent Co-Dopant as Structure Stabilizer in Scandia-Stabilized Zirconia Electrolyte for SOFC

The present investigation reports the role of divalent binary co-dopant (Ca2+) in 11 mol% scandia stabilized zirconia (11SSZ) electrolytes to resolve its severe long-term aging issue for application in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Dense electrolytes were formulated via the solid-state reaction method and their crystal structure was identified by X-ray diffractometer (XRD). To examine total electrical conductivity and its stability in oxidizing and reducing atmosphere DC four-point probe measurement was used. Among all the compositions, 0.2Ca11SSZ demonstrates the highest conductivity of 0.075 S cm−1 at 800 °C, with excellent stability of 6.7%/100 h in a reducing (97 vol% H2/3 vol% H2O) atmosphere. However, the presence of 0.5 mol% calcium in 11SSZ results in more than threefold suppression of aging rate compared to undoped11SSZ i.e. 2.19%/200 h in air atmosphere at 800 °C. Additionally, the doping of divalent Ca2+ widens the electrolytic domain up to pO2 ∼ 10−26 atm at 1000 °C compared to state-of-art 8YSZ (pO2 ∼ 10−22 atm), with 0.024% linear expansion on phase transition and 172 MPa flexural strength. Convincingly, the excellent structure stability and ionic conductivity of calcium co-doped 11SSZ compared to state-of-the-art electrolytes make them potential candidates to be used as an electrolyte for SOFC application.

Influence of the Electrical Characteristics of Pulsed Microwave Magnetron Power Supply on the Conditions for Plasma Formation in the Vacuum Chamber of Resonator-Type Plasmatron

The paper presents the research results of the influence of the electrical characteristics of a pulsed microwave magnetron power supply on the microwave discharge generation conditions, determined by the operating mode of the generating system as a whole. Plasma was formed in a vacuumized reaction-discharge volume located inside a rectangular resonator chamber. Depending on the operating modes of the microwave magnetron power supply, studies have been conducted for three modes of microwave discharge plasma generation: pulsed mode with a duty factor S ≈ 2; pulsed mode with a duty factor S ≈ 1.15; continuous mode. Probe measurements of the microwave power in the microwave discharge plasma volume and its local conductivity have been carried out. The paper presents the dependence of the power of microwave energy in the central area of the reaction-discharge quartz chamber of a microwave plasmotron on the amount of power consumed by the microwave magnetron, as well as the distribution of the electrical component of the microwave discharge plasma along the length and cross-sectional plane of the working volume. It has been established that for all studied modes of operation of the power source, with an increase in the power consumption of the microwave generator system, an increase in the microwave power recorded in the central region of the plasma discharge is characteristic. The continuous generation mode is characterized by a decrease in the uneven distribution of electromagnetic energy along the axis of the discharge chamber. It is shown that the transition from a pulsed to a continuous mode of microwave plasma discharge generation at the same level of power consumption by the generating system is characterized by a decrease in the value of the registered microwave power in the microwave discharge plasma volume and an increase in its local conductivity in particular areas of the reaction-discharge volume.

Ultrafast photoinduced carrier transfer dynamics in monolayer MoS2/graphene heterostructure

Two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been proved to be a good candidate in photodetectors, and MoS2/graphene (MoS2/G) heterostructure has been widely used to expand the optical response wavelength of MoS2. To clarify the carrier transfer dynamics in the MoS2/G heterostructure, time-resolved transient absorption and two-color pump–probe measurements are performed. By comparing the carrier dynamics in MoS2 and MoS2/G under different pump wavelengths, we find that interfacial excitons are formed in the heterostructure, and fast hot carriers transfer (&amp;lt;200 fs) from graphene to MoS2 are observed. The results indicate that the formed heterostructure with graphene can not only expand the optical response wavelength of MoS2 but also improve the response time of the device in the near-infrared region.

Use and Future Development of Optical Measurement Technology in the Study of Wood Surface Roughness CiteSpace-Based Scientometric Analysis (2003 through 2022)

Abstract Although the contact probe measurement technique is excellent for wood surface roughness measurement, it is necessary to reevaluate the advantages and future development direction of optical measurement techniques in this field, given the emergence of optical measurement techniques such as laser technology and the increasing academic interest in wood surface roughness. The traditional review method, due to its rather limited research directions, only provides a macroscopic and qualitative description of certain laws and conclusions. The purpose of this review is to use the bibliometrics theory and method to comprehensively sort out the research hot spots in this field and explore them in depth.

Dynamic Contrast-enhanced CT Lymphangiography to Quantify Thoracic Duct Lymphatic Flow.

Background CT lymphangiography has been used to image the lymphatic anatomy and assess lymphatic abnormalities. There is, however, a need to develop a method for quantification of lymphatic flow rate in the thoracic duct (TD). Purpose To develop and validate a TD lymphatic flow measurement technique using dynamic contrast-enhanced CT lymphangiography. Materials and Methods Lymphatic flow rate was measured with two techniques: a first-pass analysis technique based on a single compartment model and a thresholding technique distinguishing between opacified and nonopacified voxels within the TD. The measurements were validated in a swine animal model between November 2021 and September 2022. CT images were acquired at 100 kV and 200 mA using a fast-pitched helical scan mode covering the entire TD following contrast material injection into the bilateral inguinal lymph nodes. Two helical CT scans, acquired at the base and peak contrast enhancement of the TD, were used to measure lymphatic flow rate. A US flow probe surgically placed around the TD provided the reference standard measurement. CT lymphatic flow measurements were compared with the reference US flow probe measurements using regression and Bland-Altman analysis. Repeatability was determined using repeated flow measurements within approximately 10 minutes of each other. Results Eleven swine (10 male; mean weight, 43.6 kg ± 2.6 [SD]) were evaluated with 71 dynamic CT acquisitions. The lymphatic flow rates measured using the first-pass analysis and thresholding techniques were highly correlated with the reference US flow probe measurements (r = 0.99 and 0.91, respectively) and showed good agreement with the reference standard, with Bland-Altman analysis showing small mean differences of 0.04 and 0.05 mL/min, respectively. The first-pass analysis and thresholding techniques also showed good agreement for repeated flow measurements (r = 0.94 and 0.90, respectively), with small mean differences of 0.09 and 0.03 mL/min, respectively. Conclusion The first-pass analysis and thresholding techniques could be used to accurately and noninvasively quantify TD lymphatic flow using dynamic contrast-enhanced CT lymphangiography. © RSNA, 2023 See also the editorial by Choyke in this issue.

Surface Volatile Composition as Evidence for Hydrothermal Processes Lasting Longer in Triton’s Interior than Pluto’s

Ocean worlds, or icy bodies in the outer solar system that have or once had subsurface liquid water oceans, are among the most compelling topics of astrobiology. Typically, confirming the existence of a subsurface ocean requires close spacecraft observations. However, combining our understanding of the chemistry that takes place in a subsurface ocean with our knowledge of the building blocks that formed potential ocean worlds provides an opportunity to identify tracers of endogenic activity in the surface volatiles of Pluto and Triton. We show here that the current composition of the volatiles on the surfaces and in the atmospheres of Pluto and Triton are deficient in carbon, which can only be explained by the loss of CH4 through a combination of aqueous chemistry and atmospheric processes. Furthermore, we find that the relative nitrogen and water abundances are within the range observed in building block analogs, comets, and chondrites. A lower limit for N/Ar in Pluto’s atmosphere also suggests source building blocks that have a cometary or chondritic composition, all pointing to an origin for their nitrogen as NH3 or organics. Triton’s lower abundance of CH4 compared to Pluto, and the detection of CO2 at Triton but not at Pluto points to aqueous chemistry in a subsurface ocean that was more efficient at Triton than Pluto. These results have applications to other large Kuiper Belt objects as well as the assessment of formation locations and times for the four giant planets given future probe measurements of noble gas abundances and isotope ratios.

Reactive remote plasma sputtering of TiOx thin films and controlled growth of textured single-phase rutile using rf substrate biasing

Titanium oxide (TiOx) thin films were deposited by remote plasma sputtering (RPS) with the use of rf substrate bias onto unheated and water-cooled glass, Si, and Kapton substrates. The rf remote plasma power was kept constant (2.0 kW) and the properties of the films were studied as a function of deposition rate and substrate bias voltage. Four different reactive processes at four different deposition rates were developed under zero bias conditions by altering the target bias voltage and the flow of oxygen to give highly transparent TiOx films. These processes were studied with varying substrate bias voltage and the film structural, optical, and surface properties were investigated by GI-XRD, SEM, transmission, and sessile drop measurements. The changes in film structure and properties observed were related to the plasma conditions of the RPS system, investigated by dc electrical probe and OES measurements, and compared with other observations for films deposited under energetic conditions in the literature. All films deposited under zero bias conditions exhibited amorphous structures in GI-XRD and SEM images. Sufficient application of substrate bias was seen to promote columnar growth in cross-sectional SEM images and to crystallise phase pure rutile with no detection of the anatase phase in GI-XRD. Rutile bearing films were noted for their change in optical properties. Further increase of the substrate bias voltage caused a change in the texture of the rutile films from a low-energy [110] preferred orientation to a high-energy [101] and [002] preferred orientation. Contact angles of water with deposited films were found to increase with increasing substrate bias voltage and decreasing deposition rate. Film stress was also found to be influenced mainly by the substrate bias voltage process parameter.

Photon Doppler velocimetry for resolving vertical penetration into sand targets

This paper presents details for using a photon Doppler velocimeter (PDV) to produce high fidelity velocity penetration data from vertical penetration into granular soil targets. The PDV theory used for collecting data is presented, along with details relevant to soil penetration testing. Experimental aspects related to specific equipment used, measurement configurations implemented, power losses, and probe alignment are presented in order to facilitate replication. The PDV equipment were mounted on a vertical gas gun and used to measure conical and blunt nose rod projectile velocities in penetration into loosely packed and densely packed soil targets. An in-depth discussion of data smoothing and filtering, data sampling and repeatability is presented. Penetration tests in several soil targets are used to reveal important phenomenology of penetration in granular media. The roles of soil target bulk density and pore saturation are investigated in terms of Poncelet drag and bearing resistance parameters. It is shown that bulk density plays a major role in penetration resistance while saturation has a secondary effect. The Poncelet drag coefficient was found to be projectile nose shape dependent. The drag coefficient was as high as 2.0 in penetration of blunt nose projectiles in densely packed sand, while a conical nose reduced the drag coefficient to 1.4. Saturation reduced the drag coefficient by 32 % and 28 % in densely packed and loosely packed soil targets, respectively.

Unsuitability of the Oxidation-Reduction Potential Measurement for the Quantification of Fecal Redox Status in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Oxidative stress is a key pathophysiological process associated with the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Biomarkers for oxidative stress, however, are scarce, as are diagnostic tools that can interrogate an individual's gut redox status. This proof-of-concept study aimed to evaluate the potential utility of an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) measurement probe, to quantify redox status in the feces of both patients with IBD and healthy controls. Previous studies using this ORP measurement probe demonstrated promising data when comparing ORP from severely malnourished individuals with that of healthy controls. To date, ORP analyses have not been performed in the context of IBD. We hypothesized that measuring the ORP of fecal water in patients with IBD might have diagnostic value. The current study, however, did not show significant differences in ORP measurement values between patients with IBD (median [IQR] 46.5 [33.0-61.2] mV) and healthy controls (25 [8.0-52.0] mV; p = 0.221). Additionally, ORP measurements were highly unstable and rapidly fluctuated throughout time, with ORP values varying from +24 to +303 mV. Due to potential biological processes and limitations of the measuring equipment, this study was unable to reliably measure ORP. As a result, our findings indicate that ORP quantification may not be a suitable method for assessing fecal redox status and, therefore, does not currently support further exploration as a diagnostic or monitoring tool.