Crystal violet dye sorption and transport in/through biobased PVA cryogel membranes

Cryogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol) [PVA] and three types of bioinsertions such as scleroglucan, cellulose microfibers, and zein, respectively, have been prepared using capacity of PVA to crosslink by repeated freezing–thawing cycles. The effect of the incorporation of biopolymers on the properties of PVA cryogel has been studied by using several techniques such as: scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared studies. The obtained biobased cryogel membranes were subjected to sorption and to diffusion experiments using Crystal Violet (CV), a dye commonly used in the textile industry and in medicine. Image analysis with CIELAB system was used both to monitor the cryogels loading with CV and to gain insight in the dye state into the gel, in correlation with the bioinsertion type and gels morphology. Dye diffusion but also sorption capacity of the cryogels was found to be closely related to the type of biopolymer. In this article the equilibrium (sorption isotherms) and transport properties (diffusion and permeability coefficients) of CV, in/through physical cross‐linked PVA hydrogel membranes with bioinsertions has been reported. The highest efficiency for the CV removal from aqueous solutions was obtained for the PVA/Scl cryogels. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41838.     

Dual detection biosensor based on porous silicon substrate

Due to the high surface-to-volume ratio (hundreds of m²/cm³) porous silicon became during the last years a good candidate material as substrate for biosensor application. Moreover, the versatility of surface chemistry allows different functionalization approaches and large number of molecules to be captured on well-defined areas. This paper reports a dual detection method for protein recognition processes developed on different nanostructured porous silicon (PS) substrates, based on using two complementary spectroscopic techniques: fluorescence and electrochemical impedance. The structures were tested for biomolecular recognition – biotin–strepavidin couples – in order to achieve an optimum surface for protein's immobilizations. Comparative analyses of the attachment degree and preservation of the biomolecules activity on the porous silicon surfaces and silicon slides are also described.     

SI-ATRP Decoration of Magnetic Nanoparticles with PHEMA and Post-Polymerization Modification with Folic Acid for Tumor Cells’ Specific Targeting

Targeted nanocarriers could reach new levels of drug delivery, bringing new tools for personalized medicine. It is known that cancer cells overexpress folate receptors on the cell surface compared to healthy cells, which could be used to create new nanocarriers with specific targeting moiety. In addition, magnetic nanoparticles can be guided under the influence of an external magnetic field in different areas of the body, allowing their precise localization. The main purpose of this paper was to decorate the surface of magnetic nanoparticles with poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) by surface-initiated atomic transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) followed by covalent bonding of folic acid to side groups of the polymer to create a high specificity magnetic nanocarrier with increased internalization capacity in tumor cells. The biocompatibility of the nanocarriers was demonstrated by testing them on the NHDF cell line and folate-dependent internalization capacity was tested on three tumor cell lines: MCF-7, HeLa and HepG2. It has also been shown that a higher concentration of folic acid covalently bound to the polymer leads to a higher internalization in tumor cells compared to healthy cells. Last but not least, magnetic resonance imaging was used to highlight the magnetic properties of the functionalized nanoparticles obtained.     

Heavy Metal Removal and Neutralization of Acid Mine Waste Water ‐ Kinetic Study

The influence of the apatite on the efficiency of neutralization and on heavy metal removal of acid mine waste water has been studied. The analysis of the treated waste water samples with apatite has shown an advanced purification, the concentration of the heavy metals after the treatment of the waste water with apatite being 25 to 1000 times less than the Maximum Concentration Limits admitted by European Norms (NTPA 001/2005). In order to establish the macro‐kinetic mechanism in the neutralization process, the activation energy, Ea, and the kinetic parameters, rate coefficient of reaction, k_r, and k_t were determined from the experimental results obtained in “ceramic ball‐mill” reactor. The obtained values of the activation energy Ea >> 42 kJ mol^?1 (e.g. Ea = 115.50 ± 7.50 kJ mol^?1 for a conversion of sulphuric acid η_H2SO4 = 0.05, Ea = 60.90 ± 9.50 kJ mol^?1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.10 and Ea = 55.75 ± 10.45 kJ mol^‐1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.15) suggest that up to a conversion of H2SO4 equal 0.15 the global process is controlled by the transformation process, adsorption followed by reaction, which means surface‐controlled reactions. At a conversion of sulphuric acid η ^H2SO4 > 0.15, the obtained values of activation energy Ea < 42 kJ mol^‐1 (e.g. Ea = 37.55 ± 4.05 kJ mol^‐1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.2, Ea = 37.54 ± 2.54 kJ mol^‐1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.3 and Ea = 37.44 ± 2.90 kJ mol^‐1 for η ^H2SO4 = 0.4) indicate diffusion‐controlled processes. This means a combined process model, which involves the transfer in the liquid phase followed by the chemical reaction at the surface of the solid. Kinetic parameters as rate coefficient of reaction, kr with values ranging from (5.02 ± 1.62) 10‐4 to (8.00 ± 1.55) 10‐4 (s^‐1) and transfer coefficient, kt, ranging from (8.40 ± 0.50) 10‐5 to (10.42 ± 0.65) 10‐5 (m s^‐1) were determined.     

Automated maintenance of service compositions with SLA violation detection and dynamic binding

Web service compositions need to adapt to changes in their constituent web services, in order to maintain functionality and performance. Therefore, service compositions must be able to detect web service failure and performance degradation resulting in the violation of service-level agreements. Automated diagnosis and repair are equally important. However, existing standards and languages for service compositions, such as BPEL, lack constructs for web service monitoring and runtime adaptability, which are pre-requisites for diagnosis and repair. We present a solution for transparent runtime monitoring, as well as automated performance degradation detection, diagnosis, and repair for service compositions expressed as BPEL processes. Our solution uses lightweight monitoring techniques, supports customizable diagnosis and repair strategies, and is compatible with any standards-compliant BPEL engine.     

Thermal dependence of low-frequency noise in polysilicon thin film transistors

Thermal dependence of low frequency noise in low temperature (≤ 600 °C) polysilicon thin film transistors is studied in devices biased from weak to moderate inversion and operating in the linear mode. Drain current noise spectral density, measured in the temperature range from 260 K to 310 K, is thermally activated following the Meyer Neldel rule. Analysis of the thermal activation of noise, supported by the theory of trapping/detrapping processes of carriers into oxide traps located close to the interface, leads to the calculation of the deep state interface distribution in function of the Meyer Neldel characteristic energy.     

Low-Frequency Noise Assessment of Silicon Passivated Ge pMOSFETs With TiN/TaN/ HfO2 Gate Stack

The low-frequency noise of pMOSFETs fabricated in epitaxial germanium-on-silicon substrates is studied. The gate stack consists of a TiN/TaN metal gate on top of a 1.3-nm equivalent oxide thickness HfO₂/SiO₂ gate dielectric bilayer. The latter is grown by chemical oxidation of a thin epitaxial silicon film deposited to passivate the germanium surface. It is shown that the spectrum is of the 1/f^gamma type, which obeys number fluctuations for intermediate gate voltage overdrives. A correlation between the low-field mobility and the oxide trap density derived from the 1/f noise magnitude and the interface trap density obtained from charge pumping is reported and explained by considering remote Coulomb scattering     

Electrodeposition of bismuth, tellurium, and bismuth telluride thin films from choline chloride–oxalic acid ionic liquid

This article presents a series of preliminary results regarding the electrodeposition of bismuth, tellurium, and bismuth telluride films at 60 °C from ionic liquids, containing a mixture of choline chloride and oxalic acid (ChCl–OxA). Ten millimolar concentration solutions of BiCl₃ and TeO₂ were used as precursors in this supporting electrolyte. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques were used to demonstrate the deposition processes on Pt and Cu electrodes. Long-time electrolyses (30–120 min) performed at 60 °C with potential control (between ?0.22 and ?0.37 V vs. Ag reference electrode) have resulted in films deposited on copper substrate. Film surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy and analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results of this study show that ChCl–OxA ionic liquid may be considered as a promising substitute of aqueous baths for Bi, Te or Bi₂Te₃ film plating.