@article{YazdanbakhshSolbachBitz2012, author = {Yazdanbakhsh, Pedram and Solbach, Klaus and Bitz, Andreas}, title = {Variable power combiner for RF mode shimming in 7-T MR imaging}, series = {IEEE Transaction on Biomedical Engineering}, volume = {59}, journal = {IEEE Transaction on Biomedical Engineering}, number = {9}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York}, issn = {1558-2531}, doi = {10.1109/TBME.2012.2205926}, pages = {2549 -- 2557}, year = {2012}, abstract = {This contribution discusses the utilization of RF power in an MRI system with RF mode shimming which enables the superposition of circularly polarized modes of a transmit RF coil array driven by a Butler matrix. Since the required power for the individual modes can vary widely, mode-shimming can result in a significant underutilization of the total available RF power. A variable power combiner (VPC) is proposed to improve the power utilization: it can be realized as a reconfiguration of the MRI transmit system by the inclusion of one additional matrix network which receives the power from all transmit amplifiers at its input ports and provides any desired (combined) power distribution at its output ports by controlling the phase and amplitude of the amplifiers' input signals. The power distribution at the output ports of the VPC is then fed into the "mode" ports of the coil array Butler matrix in order to superimpose the spatial modes at the highest achievable power utilization. The VPC configuration is compared to the standard configuration of the transmit chain of our MRI system with 8 transmit channels and 16 coils. In realistic scenarios, improved power utilization was achieved from 17\% to 60\% and from 14\% to 55\% for an elliptical phantom and a region of interest in the abdomen, respectively, and an increase of the power utilization of 1 dB for a region of interest in the upper leg. In general, it is found that the VPC allows significant improvement in power utilization when the shimming solution demands only a few modes to be energized, while the technique can yield loss in power utilization in cases with many modes required at high power level.}, language = {en} } @article{KrollLudwigs2012, author = {Kroll-Ludwigs, Kathrin}, title = {Ein optionales Vertragsrecht f{\"u}r Europa: Motor oder Hemmnis f{\"u}r den Binnenmarkt?}, series = {GPR : Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Gemeinschaftsprivatrecht}, volume = {9}, journal = {GPR : Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Gemeinschaftsprivatrecht}, number = {4}, publisher = {Verlag Dr. Otto Schmidt}, address = {K{\"o}ln}, issn = {2193-9519}, doi = {10.1515/gpr.2012.9.4.181}, pages = {181 -- 188}, year = {2012}, language = {de} } @article{ChludekTran2012, author = {Chludek, Astrid and Tran, Duc Hung}, title = {Der Reformvorschlag des IAS 12 gem. ED/2009/2 - Ein Pl{\"a}doyer f{\"u}r die Einf{\"u}hrung der valuation allowance}, series = {KoR Zeitschrift f{\"u}r kapitalmarktorientierte Rechnungslegung}, journal = {KoR Zeitschrift f{\"u}r kapitalmarktorientierte Rechnungslegung}, number = {1}, publisher = {Fachmedien Otto Schmidt}, address = {D{\"u}sseldorf}, issn = {1617-8084}, pages = {4 -- 8}, year = {2012}, language = {de} } @article{HerzwurmKramsPietschetal.2012, author = {Herzwurm, Georg and Krams, Benedikt and Pietsch, Wolfram and Schockert, Sixten}, title = {Report from the 3rd international workshop on requirements prioritization for customer oriented software development (RePriCo'12)}, series = {ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes}, volume = {37}, journal = {ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes}, number = {4}, publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery}, address = {New York}, issn = {0163-5948}, doi = {10.1145/2237796.2237817}, pages = {32 -- 34}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Prioritization is an essential task within requirements engineering to cope with complexity and to establish focus properly. The 3rd Workshop on Requirements Prioritization for customer oriented Software Development (RePriCo'12) focused on requirements prioritization and adjacent themes in the context of customer oriented development of bespoke and standard software. Five submissions have been accepted for the proceedings and for presentation. The report summarizes and points out key findings.}, language = {en} } @article{Alexopoulos2012, author = {Alexopoulos, Spiros}, title = {Biogas systems: basics, biogas multifunction, principle of fermentation and hybrid application with a solar tower for the treatment of waste animal manure}, series = {Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review}, volume = {5}, journal = {Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review}, number = {4}, issn = {1791-2377}, pages = {48 -- 55}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Two of the main environmental problems of today's society are the continuously increasing production of organic wastes as well as the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the related green house effect. A way to solve these problems is the production of biogas. Biogas is a combustible gas consisting of methane, carbon dioxide and small amounts of other gases and trace elements. Production of biogas through anaerobic digestion of animal manure and slurries as well as of a wide range of digestible organic wastes and agricultural residues, converts these substrates into electricity and heat and offers a natural fertiliser for agriculture. The microbiological process of decomposition of organic matter, in the absence of oxygen takes place in reactors, called digesters. Biogas can be used as a fuel in a gas turbine or burner and can be used in a hybrid solar tower system offering a solution for waste treatment of agricultural and animal residues. A solar tower system consists of a heliostat field, which concentrates direct solar irradiation on an open volumetric central receiver. The receiver heats up ambient air to temperatures of around 700°C. The hot air's heat energy is transferred to a steam Rankine cycle in a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). The steam drives a steam turbine, which in turn drives a generator for producing electricity. In order to increase the operational hours of a solar tower power plant, a heat storage system and/ or hybridization may be considered. The advantage of solar-fossil hybrid power plants, compared to solar-only systems, lies in low additional investment costs due to an adaptable solar share and reduced technical and economical risks. On sunny days the hybrid system operates in a solar-only mode with the central receiver and on cloudy days and at night with the gas turbine only. As an alternative to methane gas, environmentally neutral biogas can be used for operating the gas turbine. Hence, the hybrid system is operated to 100\% from renewable energy sources}, language = {en} } @article{StadlerGarveyBocahutetal.2012, author = {Stadler, Andreas M. and Garvey, G. J. and Bocahut, A. and Sacquin-Mora, S. and Digel, Ilya and Schneider, G. J. and Natali, F. and Artmann, Gerhard and Zaccai, G.}, title = {Thermal fluctuations of haemoglobin from different species : adaptation to temperature via conformational dynamics}, series = {Journal of the Royal Society Interface}, volume = {9}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Society Interface}, number = {76}, publisher = {The Royal Society}, address = {London}, issn = {1742-5689}, doi = {10.1098/rsif.2012.0364}, pages = {2845 -- 2855}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Thermodynamic stability, configurational motions and internal forces of haemoglobin (Hb) of three endotherms (platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus; domestic chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus and human, Homo sapiens) and an ectotherm (salt water crocodile, Crocodylus porosus) were investigated using circular dichroism, incoherent elastic neutron scattering and coarse-grained Brownian dynamics simulations. The experimental results from Hb solutions revealed a direct correlation between protein resilience, melting temperature and average body temperature of the different species on the 0.1 ns time scale. Molecular forces appeared to be adapted to permit conformational fluctuations with a root mean square displacement close to 1.2 {\AA} at the corresponding average body temperature of the endotherms. Strong forces within crocodile Hb maintain the amplitudes of motion within a narrow limit over the entire temperature range in which the animal lives. In fully hydrated powder samples of human and chicken, Hb mean square displacements and effective force constants on the 1 ns time scale showed no differences over the whole temperature range from 10 to 300 K, in contrast to the solution case. A complementary result of the study, therefore, is that one hydration layer is not sufficient to activate all conformational fluctuations of Hb in the pico- to nanosecond time scale which might be relevant for biological function. Coarse-grained Brownian dynamics simulations permitted to explore residue-specific effects. They indicated that temperature sensing of human and chicken Hb occurs mainly at residues lining internal cavities in the β-subunits.}, language = {en} } @article{ButenwegFehling2012, author = {Butenweg, Christoph and Fehling, Ekkehard}, title = {Hintergrund f{\"u}r die vereinfachten Regeln bei Mauerwerksgeb{\"a}uden im Erdbebenfall}, series = {Mauerwerk : European journal of masonry}, volume = {Volume 16}, journal = {Mauerwerk : European journal of masonry}, number = {Issue 3}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1437-1022 (E-Journal); 1432-3427 (Print)}, doi = {10.1002/dama.201200537}, pages = {127 -- 137}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Bei der Ausarbeitung des nationalen Anwendungsdokumentes zur DIN EN 1998-1 waren die in der ENV-Fassung enthaltenen vereinfachten Regeln im Lichte aktueller Forschungsergebnisse zu {\"u}berpr{\"u}fen und zu {\"u}berarbeiten. Die gleiche Aufgabe stellte sich auch f{\"u}r die Neufassung der DIN 4149. In beiden F{\"a}llen sind neben konstruktiven Regeln f{\"u}r die Art und Anordnung der zur Geb{\"a}udeaussteifung heranzuziehenden W{\"a}nde im Grundriss Tabellen enthalten, die unter bestimmten Bedingungen den Entfall eines rechnerischen Nachweises der Tragw{\"a}nde im Erdbebenfall erm{\"o}glichen. Dies ist f{\"u}r Schwachbebengebiete, wie sie in Deutschland und anderen L{\"a}ndern Mitteleuropas anzutreffen sind, sinnvoll, um unn{\"o}tigen Rechenaufwand sowie Probleme mit der F{\"u}hrbarkeit von Nachweisen so weit wie m{\"o}glich auszuschalten. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die Hintergr{\"u}nde der vereinfachten Regeln diskutiert und die Ergebnisse der Anwendung mit verschiedenen Rechenverfahren verglichen und bewertet.}, language = {de} } @article{ButenwegGellert2012, author = {Butenweg, Christoph and Gellert, Christoph}, title = {Integrale Geb{\"a}udeplanung am Beispiel eines Geschossbaus in Ziegelmauerwerk}, series = {Mauerwerk : European journal of masonry}, volume = {Volume 16}, journal = {Mauerwerk : European journal of masonry}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1437-1022 (E-Journal); 1432-3427 (Print)}, doi = {10.1002/dama.201200550}, pages = {247 -- 254}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Moderne Mauerwerksbauten m{\"u}ssen nach heutigen Anforderungen architektonisch, statisch, energetisch sowie schall- und brandschutztechnisch optimal ausgelegt sein. Aufgrund der Komplexit{\"a}t und engen Verzahnung der einzelnen Anforderungen ist eine integrale Geb{\"a}udeplanung zur Erzielung einer qualitativ hochwertigen Bauwerksl{\"o}sung unbedingt notwendig. Diese erfordert von den Fachplanern vertieftes Spezialwissen in den verschiedenen Bereichen, um insbesondere die Schnittstellen und Bauwerksdetails korrekt zu planen und auszuf{\"u}hren. Der Beitrag stellt die integrale Geb{\"a}udeplanung am Beispiel eines Geschossbaus in Ziegelbauweise mit L{\"o}sungen f{\"u}r wesentliche Detailpunkte vor}, language = {de} } @article{ButenwegHoltschoppen2012, author = {Butenweg, Christoph and Holtschoppen, Britta}, title = {Neuer VCI-Leitfaden f{\"u}r die erdbebensichere Auslegung von Industrieanlagen}, series = {Bauingenieur : die richtungsweisende Zeitschrift im Bauingenieurswesen ; offizielle Zeitschrift der VDI-Gesellschaft Bautechnik}, volume = {Band 87}, journal = {Bauingenieur : die richtungsweisende Zeitschrift im Bauingenieurswesen ; offizielle Zeitschrift der VDI-Gesellschaft Bautechnik}, publisher = {VDI Fachmedien}, address = {D{\"u}sseldorf}, issn = {1436-4867 (E-Journal); 0005-6650 (Print)}, pages = {S18}, year = {2012}, language = {de} } @article{LoebSchartnerDachwaldetal.2012, author = {Loeb, Horst Wolfgang and Schartner, Karl-Heinz and Dachwald, Bernd and Ohndorf, Andreas and Seboldt, Wolfgang}, title = {Interstellar heliopause probe}, series = {Труды МАИ}, journal = {Труды МАИ}, number = {60}, publisher = {Moskauer Staatliches Luftfahrtinstitut (МАИ)}, address = {Moskau}, pages = {2 -- 2}, year = {2012}, abstract = {There is common agreement within the scientific community that in order to understand our local galactic environment it will be necessary to send a spacecraft into the region beyond the solar wind termination shock. Considering distances of 200 AU for a new mission, one needs a spacecraft traveling at a speed of close to 10 AU/yr in order to keep the mission duration in the range of less than 25 yrs, a transfer time postulated by European Space Agency (ESA). Two propulsion options for the mission have been proposed and discussed so far: the solar sail propulsion and the ballistic/radioisotope-electric propulsion (REP). As a further alternative, we here investigate a combination of solar-electric propulsion (SEP) and REP. The SEP stage consists of six 22-cms diameter RIT-22 ion thrusters working with a high specific impulse of 7377 s corresponding to a positive grid voltage of 5 kV. Solar power of 53 kW at begin of mission (BOM) is provided by a lightweight solar array.}, language = {en} } @article{BorgmeierBongaertsMeinhardt2012, author = {Borgmeier, Claudia and Bongaerts, Johannes and Meinhardt, Friedhelm}, title = {Genetic analysis of the Bacillus licheniformis degSU operon and the impact of regulatory mutations on protease production}, series = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {159}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1873-4863 (E-Journal); 0168-1656 (Print)}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.02.011}, pages = {12 -- 20}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Disruption experiments targeted at the Bacillus licheniformis degSU operon and GFP-reporter analysis provided evidence for promoter activity immediately upstream of degU. pMutin mediated concomitant introduction of the degU32 allele - known to cause hypersecretion in Bacillus subtilis - resulted in a marked increase in protease activity. Application of 5-fluorouracil based counterselection through establishment of a phosphoribosyltransferase deficient Δupp strain eventually facilitated the marker-free introduction of degU32 leading to further protease enhancement achieving levels as for hypersecreting wild strains in which degU was overexpressed. Surprisingly, deletion of rapG - known to interfere with DegU DNA-binding in B. subtilis - did not enhance protease production neither in the wild type nor in the degU32 strain. The combination of degU32 and Δupp counterselection in the type strain is not only equally effective as in hypersecreting wild strains with respect to protease production but furthermore facilitates genetic strain improvement aiming at biological containment and effectiveness of biotechnological processes.}, language = {en} } @article{HasanKeilStaatetal.2012, author = {Hasan, Istabrak and Keil, Ludger and Staat, Manfred and Wahl, Gerhard and Bourauel, Christoph}, title = {Determination of the frictional coefficient of the implant-antler interface : experimental approach}, series = {Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik}, volume = {57}, journal = {Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik}, number = {5}, publisher = {De Gruyter}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {1862-278X}, pages = {359 -- 363}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The similar bone structure of reindeer antler to human bone permits studying the osseointegration of dental implants in the jawbone. As the friction is one of the major factors that have a significant influence on the initial stability of immediately loaded dental implants, it is essential to define the frictional coefficient of the implant-antler interface. In this study, the kinetic frictional forces at the implant-antler interface were measured experimentally using an optomechanical setup and a stepping motor controller under different axial loads and sliding velocities. The corresponding mean values of the static and kinetic frictional coefficients were within the range of 0.5-0.7 and 0.3-0.5, respectively. An increase in the frictional forces with increasing applied axial loads was registered. The measurements showed an evidence of a decrease in the magnitude of the frictional coefficient with increasing sliding velocity. The results of this study provide a considerable assessment to clarify the suitable frictional coefficient to be used in the finite element contact analysis of antler specimens.}, language = {en} } @article{AbouzarPoghossianCherstvyetal.2012, author = {Abouzar, Maryam H. and Poghossian, Arshak and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Pedraza, Angela M. and Ingebrandt, Sven and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Label-free electrical detection of DNA by means of field-effect nanoplate capacitors: Experiments and modeling}, series = {Physica Status Solidi (a)}, volume = {209}, journal = {Physica Status Solidi (a)}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1862-6319}, doi = {10.1002/pssa.201100710}, pages = {925 -- 934}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Label-free electrical detection of consecutive deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hybridization/denaturation by means of an array of individually addressable field-effect-based nanoplate silicon-on-insulator (SOI) capacitors modified with gold nanoparticles (Au-NP) is investigated. The proposed device detects charge changes on Au-NP/DNA hybrids induced by the hybridization or denaturation event. DNA hybridization was performed in a high ionic-strength solution to provide a high hybridization efficiency. On the other hand, to reduce the screening of the DNA charge by counter ions and to achieve a high sensitivity, the sensor signal induced by the hybridization and denaturation events was measured in a low ionic-strength solution. High sensor signals of about 120, 90, and 80 mV were registered after the DNA hybridization, denaturation, and re-hybridization events, respectively. Fluorescence microscopy has been applied as reference method to verify the DNA immobilization, hybridization, and denaturation processes. An electrostatic charge-plane model for potential changes at the gate surface of a nanoplate field-effect sensor induced by the DNA hybridization has been developed taking into account both the Debye length and the distance of the DNA charge from the gate surface.}, language = {en} } @article{Staat2012, author = {Staat, Manfred}, title = {Limit and shakedown analysis under uncertainty}, series = {Tap chi Khoa hoc \& ung dung - Dai hoc Ton Duc Thang}, volume = {19}, journal = {Tap chi Khoa hoc \& ung dung - Dai hoc Ton Duc Thang}, pages = {45 -- 47}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @article{HuckPoghossianWagneretal.2012, author = {Huck, Christina and Poghossian, Arshak and Wagner, Patrick and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Combined amperometric/field-effect sensor for the detection of dissolved hydrogen}, series = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, volume = {187}, journal = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0925-4005}, doi = {10.1016/j.snb.2012.10.050}, pages = {168 -- 173}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Real-time and reliable monitoring of the biogas process is crucial for a stable and efficient operation of biogas production in order to avoid digester breakdowns. The concentration of dissolved hydrogen (H₂) represents one of the key parameters for biogas process control. In this work, a one-chip integrated combined amperometric/field-effect sensor for monitoring the dissolved H₂ concentration has been developed for biogas applications. The combination of two different transducer principles might allow a more accurate and reliable measurement of dissolved H₂ as an early warning indicator of digester failures. The feasibility of the approach has been demonstrated by simultaneous amperometric/field-effect measurements of dissolved H₂ concentrations in electrolyte solutions. Both, the amperometric and the field-effect transducer show a linear response behaviour in the H₂ concentration range from 0.1 to 3\% (v/v) with a slope of 198.4 ± 13.7 nA/\% (v/v) and 14.9 ± 0.5 mV/\% (v/v), respectively.}, language = {en} } @article{PoghossianWeilBaeckeretal.2012, author = {Poghossian, Arshak and Weil, M. H. and B{\"a}cker, Matthias and Mayer, D. and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Field-effect Devices Functionalised with Gold-Nanoparticle/Macromolecule Hybrids: New Opportunities for a Label-Free Biosensing}, series = {Procedia Engineering}, journal = {Procedia Engineering}, number = {47}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1877-7058}, doi = {10.1016/j.proeng.2012.09.136}, pages = {273 -- 276}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Field-effect capacitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensors functionalised with citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have been used for the electrostatic detection of macromolecules by their intrinsic molecular charge. The EIS sensor detects the charge changes in the AuNP/macromolecule hybrids induced by the adsorption or binding events. A feasibility of the proposed detection scheme has been exemplary demonstrated by realising EIS sensors for the detection of poly-D-lysine molecules.}, language = {en} } @article{Weigand2012, author = {Weigand, Christoph}, title = {Statistical Tests Based on Reliability and Precision}, series = {Economic Quality Control : EQC ; international journal for quality and reliability}, volume = {27}, journal = {Economic Quality Control : EQC ; international journal for quality and reliability}, number = {1}, publisher = {De Gruyter}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {1869-6147}, doi = {10.1515/eqc-2012-0002}, pages = {43 -- 64}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The construction of a statistical test is investigated which is based only on "reliability" and "precision" as quality criteria. The reliability of a statistical test is quantifiedin a straightforward way by the probability that the decision of the test is correct. However, the quantification of the precision of a statistical test is not at all evident. Thereforethe paper presents and discusses several approaches. Moreover the distinction of "nullhypothesis" and "alternative hypothesis" is not necessary any longer.}, language = {en} } @article{SchoeningBiselliSelmeretal.2012, author = {Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef and Biselli, Manfred and Selmer, Thorsten and {\"O}hlschl{\"a}ger, Peter and Baumann, Marcus and F{\"o}rster, Arnold and Poghossian, Arshak}, title = {Forschung „zwischen" den Disziplinen: das Institut f{\"u}r Nano- und Biotechnologien}, series = {Analytik news : das Online-Labormagazin f{\"u}r Labor und Analytik}, volume = {Publ. online}, journal = {Analytik news : das Online-Labormagazin f{\"u}r Labor und Analytik}, publisher = {Dr. Beyer Internet-Beratung}, address = {Ober-Ramstadt}, pages = {11 Seiten}, year = {2012}, abstract = {"Biologie trifft Mikroelektronik", das Motto des Instituts f{\"u}r Nano- und Biotechnologien (INB) an der FH Aachen, unterstreicht die zunehmende Bedeutung interdisziplin{\"a}r gepr{\"a}gter Forschungsaktivit{\"a}ten. Der thematische Zusammenschluss grundst{\"a}ndiger Disziplinen, wie die Physik, Elektrotechnik, Chemie, Biologie sowie die Materialwissenschaften, l{\"a}sst neue Forschungsgebiete entstehen, ein herausragendes Beispiel hierf{\"u}r ist die Nanotechnologie: Hier werden neue Werkstoffe und Materialien entwickelt, einzelne Nanopartikel oder Molek{\"u}le und deren Wechselwirkung untersucht oder Schichtstrukturen im Nanometerbereich aufgebaut, die neue und vorher nicht bekannte Eigenschaften hervorbringen. Vor diesem Hintergrund b{\"u}ndelt das im Jahre 2006 gegr{\"u}ndete INB die an der FH Aachen vorhandenen Kompetenzen von derzeit insgesamt sieben Laboratorien auf den Gebieten der Halbleitertechnik und Nanoelektronik, Nanostrukturen und DNA-Sensorik, der Chemo- und Biosensorik, der Enzymtechnologie, der Mikrobiologie und Pflanzenbiotechnologie, der Zellkulturtechnik, sowie der Roten Biotechnologie synergetisch. In der Nano- und Biotechnologie steckt außergew{\"o}hnliches Potenzial! Nicht zuletzt deshalb stellen sich die Forscher der Herausforderung, in diesem Bereich gemeinsam zu forschen und Schnittstellen zu nutzen, um so bei der Gestaltung neuartiger Ideen und Produkte mitzuwirken, die zuk{\"u}nftig unser allt{\"a}gliches Leben ver{\"a}ndern werden. Im Folgenden werden die verschiedenen Forschungsbereiche kurz zusammenfassend vorgestellt und vorhandene Interaktionen anhand von exemplarisch ausgew{\"a}hlten, aktuellen Forschungsprojekten skizziert.}, language = {de} } @article{SchusserPoghossianBaeckeretal.2012, author = {Schusser, Sebastian and Poghossian, Arshak and B{\"a}cker, Matthias and Leinhos, Marcel and Wagner, Patrick and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Characterization of biodegradable polymers with capacitive field-effect sensors}, series = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, volume = {187}, journal = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0925-4005}, doi = {10.1016/j.snb.2012.07.099}, pages = {2 -- 7}, year = {2012}, abstract = {In vitro studies of the degradation kinetic of biopolymers are essential for the design and optimization of implantable biomedical devices. In the presented work, a field-effect capacitive sensor has been applied for the real-time and in situ monitoring of degradation processes of biopolymers for the first time. The polymer-covered field-effect sensor is, in principle, capable to detect any changes in bulk, surface and interface properties of the polymer induced by degradation processes. The feasibility of this approach has been experimentally proven by using the commercially available biomedical polymer poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) as a model system. PDLLA films of different thicknesses were deposited on the Ta₂O₅-gate surface of the field-effect structure from a polymer solution by means of spin-coating method. The polymer-modified field-effect sensors have been characterized by means of capacitance-voltage and impedance-spectroscopy method. The degradation of the PDLLA was accelerated by changing the degradation medium from neutral (pH 7.2) to alkaline (pH 9) condition, resulting in drastic changes in the capacitance and impedance spectra of the polymer-modified field-effect sensor.}, language = {en} } @article{BaeckerRaueSchusseretal.2012, author = {B{\"a}cker, Matthias and Raue, Markus and Schusser, Sebastian and Jeitner, C. and Breuer, L. and Wagner, P. and Poghossian, Arshak and F{\"o}rster, Arnold and Mang, Thomas and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Microfluidic chip with integrated microvalves based on temperature- and pH-responsive hydrogel thin films}, series = {Physica Status Solidi (a)}, volume = {209}, journal = {Physica Status Solidi (a)}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1862-6319}, doi = {10.1002/pssa.201100763}, pages = {839 -- 845}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Two types of microvalves based on temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and pH-responsive poly(sodium acrylate) (PSA) hydrogel films have been developed and tested. The PNIPAAm and PSA hydrogel films were prepared by means of in situ photopolymerization directly inside the fluidic channel of a microfluidic chip fabricated by combining Si and SU-8 technologies. The swelling/shrinking properties and height changes of the PNIPAAm and PSA films inside the fluidic channel were studied at temperatures of deionized water from 14 to 36 °C and different pH values (pH 3-12) of Titrisol buffer, respectively. Additionally, in separate experiments, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the PNIPAAm hydrogel was investigated by means of a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method. Mass-flow measurements have shown the feasibility of the prepared hydrogel films to work as an on-chip integrated temperature- or pH-responsive microvalve capable to switch the flow channel on/off.}, language = {en} }