TY - JOUR A1 - Borgmeier, Claudia A1 - Bongaerts, Johannes A1 - Meinhardt, Friedhelm T1 - Genetic analysis of the Bacillus licheniformis degSU operon and the impact of regulatory mutations on protease production JF - Journal of biotechnology N2 - 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. KW - Marker-free mutagenesis KW - Extracellular enzymes KW - Uracil-phosphoribosyltransferase KW - Hypersecretion Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.02.011 SN - 1873-4863 (E-Journal); 0168-1656 (Print) VL - 159 IS - 1-2 SP - 12 EP - 20 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hasan, Istabrak A1 - Keil, Ludger A1 - Staat, Manfred A1 - Wahl, Gerhard A1 - Bourauel, Christoph T1 - Determination of the frictional coefficient of the implant-antler interface : experimental approach JF - Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik N2 - 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. Y1 - 2012 SN - 1862-278X VL - 57 IS - 5 SP - 359 EP - 363 PB - De Gruyter CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Abouzar, Maryam H. A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Cherstvy, Andrey G. A1 - Pedraza, Angela M. A1 - Ingebrandt, Sven A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Label-free electrical detection of DNA by means of field-effect nanoplate capacitors: Experiments and modeling JF - Physica Status Solidi (a) N2 - 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. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201100710 SN - 1862-6319 VL - 209 SP - 925 EP - 934 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Staat, Manfred T1 - Limit and shakedown analysis under uncertainty JF - Tap chi Khoa hoc & ung dung - Dai hoc Ton Duc Thang Y1 - 2012 N1 - = Journal of Applied Sciences - Ton Duc Thang University VL - 19 SP - 45 EP - 47 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Huck, Christina A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Wagner, Patrick A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Combined amperometric/field-effect sensor for the detection of dissolved hydrogen JF - Sensors and actuators B: Chemical N2 - 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. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2012.10.050 SN - 0925-4005 N1 - Part of special issue "Selected Papers from the 14th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors" VL - 187 SP - 168 EP - 173 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Weil, M. H. A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Mayer, D. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Field-effect Devices Functionalised with Gold-Nanoparticle/Macromolecule Hybrids: New Opportunities for a Label-Free Biosensing JF - Procedia Engineering N2 - 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. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2012.09.136 SN - 1877-7058 N1 - Part of special issue "26th European Conference on Solid-State Transducers, EUROSENSOR 2012" IS - 47 SP - 273 EP - 276 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weigand, Christoph T1 - Statistical Tests Based on Reliability and Precision JF - Economic Quality Control : EQC ; international journal for quality and reliability N2 - 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. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1515/eqc-2012-0002 SN - 1869-6147 VL - 27 IS - 1 SP - 43 EP - 64 PB - De Gruyter CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schusser, Sebastian A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Leinhos, Marcel A1 - Wagner, Patrick A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Characterization of biodegradable polymers with capacitive field-effect sensors JF - Sensors and actuators B: Chemical N2 - 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. KW - Impedance spectroscopy KW - C–V method KW - Real-time monitoring KW - Poly(d,l-lacticacid) KW - (Bio)degradation KW - Field-effect sensor Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2012.07.099 SN - 0925-4005 N1 - Part of special issue "Selected Papers from the 14th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors" VL - 187 SP - 2 EP - 7 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Raue, Markus A1 - Schusser, Sebastian A1 - Jeitner, C. A1 - Breuer, L. A1 - Wagner, P. A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Förster, Arnold A1 - Mang, Thomas A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Microfluidic chip with integrated microvalves based on temperature- and pH-responsive hydrogel thin films JF - Physica Status Solidi (a) N2 - 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. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201100763 SN - 1862-6319 VL - 209 IS - 5 SP - 839 EP - 845 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schiffer, Stefan A1 - Ferrein, Alexander A1 - Lakemeyer, Gerhard T1 - Caesar: an intelligent domestic service robot JF - Intelligent service robotics N2 - In this paper we present CAESAR, an intelligent domestic service robot. In domestic settings for service robots complex tasks have to be accomplished. Those tasks benefit from deliberation, from robust action execution and from flexible methods for human–robot interaction that account for qualitative notions used in natural language as well as human fallibility. Our robot CAESAR deploys AI techniques on several levels of its system architecture. On the low-level side, system modules for localization or navigation make, for instance, use of path-planning methods, heuristic search, and Bayesian filters. For face recognition and human–machine interaction, random trees and well-known methods from natural language processing are deployed. For deliberation, we use the robot programming and plan language READYLOG, which was developed for the high-level control of agents and robots; it allows combining programming the behaviour using planning to find a course of action. READYLOG is a variant of the robot programming language Golog. We extended READYLOG to be able to cope with qualitative notions of space frequently used by humans, such as “near” and “far”. This facilitates human–robot interaction by bridging the gap between human natural language and the numerical values needed by the robot. Further, we use READYLOG to increase the flexible interpretation of human commands with decision-theoretic planning. We give an overview of the different methods deployed in CAESAR and show the applicability of a system equipped with these AI techniques in domestic service robotics Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11370-012-0118-y SN - 1861-2776 N1 - Special Issue on Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Robotics: Sensing, Representation and Action, Part I VL - 5 IS - 4 SP - 259 EP - 276 PB - Springer CY - Berlin ER -