• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.184-193
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• 2007

In mammalian ovary, steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein mediates the true rate-limiting step of transport of cholesterol from outer to inner mitochondrial membrane. Appropriate expression of StAR gene represents an indispensable component of steroidogenesis and its regulation has been found to be species specific. However, limited information is available regarding StAR gene expression during estrous cycle in buffalo ovary. In the present study, expression, localization and hormonal regulation of StAR mRNA were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in buffalo ovary and partial cDNA was cloned. Total RNA was isolated from whole follicles of different sizes, granulosa cells from different size follicles and postovulatory structures like corpus luteum and Corpus albicans. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses showed StAR mRNA expression in the postovulatory structure, corpus luteum. No StAR mRNA was detected in total RNA isolated from whole follicles of different size including the preovulatory follicle (>9 mm in diameter). However, granulosa cells isolated from preovulatory follicles showed the moderate expression of StAR mRNA. To assess the hormonal regulation of StAR mRNA, primary culture of buffalo granulosa cells were treated with FSH (100 ng/ml) alone or along with IGF-I (100 ng/ml) for 12 to 18 h. The abundance of StAR mRNA increased in cells treated with FSH alone or FSH with IGF-I. However, effect of FSH with IGF-I on mRNA expression was found highly significant (p<0.01). In conclusion, differential expression of StAR messages was observed during estrous cycle in buffalo ovary. Also, there was a synergistic action of IGF-I on FSH stimulation of StAR gene.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.281-289
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• 2004

The temperature hump is found to be most efficient in suppressing parasitic nucleation. With the temperature humps, there are found to be observed in undersaturations along the transport path for convective-diffusive processes ranging from $D_{AB}$ = 0.0584 $\textrm{cm}^2$/s to 0.584 $\textrm{cm}^2$/s, axial positions from 0 to 7.5 cm. With decreasing Ar = 5 to 3.5, the temperature difference is increased because of the imposed nonlinear temperature profile but the rate is decreased. For 2 $\leq$ Ar $\leq$ 3.5, the rate is increased with the aspect ratio as well as the temperature difference. Such an occurrence of a critical aspect ratio is likely to be due to the effect of sidewall and much small temperature difference. The rate is decreased exponentially with the aspect ratio for 2 $\leq$ Ar $\leq$ 10. Also, the rate is exponentially decreased with partial pressure of component B, P for 1 $\leq$ P $\leq$ 100 Torr.$ B/ $\leq$ 100 Torr.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.12-15
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• 2013

In this study, we carried out an investigation of the etching characteristics (etch rate, and selectivity to $SiO_2$) of $ZrO_2$ thin films in a $CF_4$/Ar inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system. The maximum etch rate of 60.8 nm/min for $ZrO_2$ thin films was obtained at a 20 % $CF_4/(CF_4+Ar)$ gas mixing ratio. At the same time, the etch rate was measured as a function of the etching parameter, namely ICP chamber pressure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed efficient destruction of the oxide bonds by the ion bombardment, as well as an accumulation of low volatile reaction products on the etched surface. Based on these data, the ion-assisted chemical reaction was proposed as the main etch characteristics for the $CF_4$-containing plasmas.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.996-1002
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• 2000

Ferroelectric (Ba, Sr) TiO$_3$(BST) thin films have attracted much attention for use in new capacitor materials of dynamic random access memories (DRAMs). In order to apply BST to the DRAMs, the etching process for BST thin film with high etch rate and vertical profile must be developed. However, the former studies have the problem of low etch rate. In this study, in order to increase the etch rate, BST thin films were etched with a magnetically enhanced inductively coupled plasma(MEICP) that have much higher plasma density than RIE (reactive ion etching) and ICP (inductively coupled plasma). Experiment was done by varying the etching parameters such as CF$_4$/(CF$_4$+Ar) gas mixing ratio, rf power, dc bias voltage and chamber pressure. The maximum etch rate of the BST films was 170nm/min under CF$_4$/CF$_4$+Ar) of 0.1, 600 W/-350 V and 5 mTorr. The selectivities of BST to Pt and PR were 0.6 and 0.7, respectively. Chemical reaction and residue of the etched surface were investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.143-144
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• 2015

Here we report the Ar-ion milling rates of ultrathin Si and GaAs single crystals. The thickness change is measured using convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) technique with the help of Bloch wave simulation method. This study suggests the experimental procedures to determine the references for an etching rate to reduce a sample thickness or to remove the damaged sample surface using Ar-ion source.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11b
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• pp.213-216
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• 2001

Etching behaviors of ferroelectric $YMnO_3$ thin films were studied by an inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Etch characteristic on ferroelectric $YMnO_3$ thin film have been investigated in terms of etch rate, selectivity and etch profile. The maximum etch rate of $YMnO_3$ thin film is $300{\AA}/min$ at $Ar/Cl_2$ of 2/8, RF power of 800W, dc bias voltage of 200V, chamber pressure of 15mTorr and substrate temperature of $30^{\circ}C$. Addition of $CF_4$ gas decrease the etch rate of $YMnO_3$ thin film. From the results of XPS analysis, YFx compounds were found on the surface of $YMnO_3$ thin film which is etched in $Ar/Cl/CF_{4}$ plasma. The etch profile of $YMnO_3$ film is improved by addition of $CF_4$ gas into the $Ar/Cl_2$ plasma. These results suggest that fluoride yttrium acts as a sidewall passivants which reduce the sticking coefficient of chlorine on $YMnO_3$.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.07c
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• pp.1438-1439
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• 2006

$Ge_{2}Sb_{2}Te_5$(GST) thin film at present is a promising candidate for a phase change random access memory (PCRAM) based on the difference in resistivity between the crystalline and amorphous phase. PCRAM is an easy to manufacture, low cost storage technology with a high storage density. Therefore today several major chip in manufacturers are investigating this data storage technique. Recently, A. Pirovano et al. showed that PCRAM can be safely scaled down to the 65 nm technology node. G. T Jeonget al. suggested that physical limit of PRAM scaling will be around 10 nm node. Etching process of GST thin ra films below 100 nm range becomes more challenging. However, not much information is available in this area. In this work, we report on a parametric study of ICP etching of GST thin films in $Cl_2$/Ar chemistry. The etching characteristics of $Ge_{2}Sb_{2}Te_5$ thin films were investigated using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) of $Cl_2$/Ar gas mixture. The etch rate of the GST films increased with increasing $Cl_2$ flow rate, source and bias powers, and pressure. The selectivity of GST over the $SiO_2$ films was higher than 10:1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) was performed to examine the chemical species present in the etched surface of GST thin films. XPS results showed that the etch rate-determining element among the Ge, Sb, and Te was Te in the $Cl_2$/Ar plasma.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.775-778
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• 2003

We studied InP etching in high density planar inductively coupled $BCl_3$and $BCl_3$/Ar plasmas(PICP). The investigated process parameters were PICP source power, RIE chuck power, chamber pressure and $BCl_3$/Ar gas composition. It was found that increase of PICP source power and RIE chuck power increased etch rate of InP, while that of chamber pressure decreased etch rate. Etched InP surface was clean and smooth (RMS roughness <2 nm) with a moderate etch rate (300-500 $\AA$/min) after the planar $BCl_3$/Ar ICP etching. It may make it possible to open a new regime of InP etching with $CH_4$$H_2$-free plasma chemistry. Some amount of Ar addition (<50%) also improved etch rates of InP, while too much Ar addition reduced etch rates of InP.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.230-234
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• 2011

High density plasma etching of ZnO film was performed in $CF_4$/Ar and $SF_6$/Ar inductively coupled plasmas. Maximum etch rates of ~1950 ${\AA}$/min and ~1400 ${\AA}$/min were obtained for $10CF_4$/5Ar and $10SF_6$/5Ar ICP discharges, respectively. The etched ZnO surfaces showed better RMS roughness values than the unetched control sample under most of the conditions examined. In the $10CF_4$/5Ar ICP discharges, very high etch selectivities were obtained for ZnO over Ni (max. 11) while Al showed etch selectivities in the range of 1.6~4.7 to ZnO.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.265-269
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• 2000

$(Ba, Sr)TiO_3$thin films were etched with a magnetically enhanced inductively coupled plasma (MEICP) at different CF4/Ar gas mixing ratios. Experimental was done by varying the etching parameters such as rf power, dc bias and chamber pressure. The maximum etch rate of the BST films was $1800{AA}/min$ under $CF_4/(CF_4+Ar)$ of 0.1, 600 W/350 V and 5 mTorr. The selectivity of BST to Pt and PR was 0.6, 0.7, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that surface reaction between Ba, Sr, Ti and C, F radicals occurs during the (Ba, Sr)TiO3 etching. To analyze the composition of surface residue after the etching, films etched with different CF_4/Ar$ gas mixing ratio were investigated using XPS and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS).