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We have applied an electrophysiologic technique (Reuss L.(1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 6014) to measure changes in steady-state hepatocyte volume during osmotic stress. Hepatocytes in mouse liver slices were loaded with tetramethylammonium ion (TMA+) during transient exposure of cell to nystatin. Intracellular TMA+ activity (αiTMA) was measured with TMA+ -sensitive, double-barrelled microelectrodes. Loading hepatocytes with TMA+ did not change their membrane potential (Vm), and under steady-state conditions αiTMA remained constant over 4 min in a single impalement. Hyperosmotic solutions (50, 100 and 150 mM sucrose added to media) and hyposmotic solutions (sucrose in media reduced by 50 and 100 mM) increased and decreased αiTMA, respectively, which demonstrated transmembrane water movements. The slope of the plot of change in steady-state cell water volume, [(αiTMA)O/(αiTMA)4min] - 1, on the relative osmolality of media, (experimental mosmol/control mosmol) -1, was less than predicted for a perfect osmometer. Corresponding measurements of Vm showed that its magnitude increased with hyposmolality and decreased with hyperosmolality. When Ba2+ (2 mM) was present during hyposmotic stress of 0.66 × 286 mosmol (control), cell water volume increased by a factor of 1.44 ± 0.02 compared with that of hyposmotic stress alone, which increased cell water volume by a factor of only 1.12 ± 0.02, P< 0.001. Ba2+ also decreased the hyperpolarization of hyposmotic stress from a factor of 1.62 ± 0.04 to 1.24 ± 0.09, P < 0.01. We conclude that hepatocytes partially regulate their steady-state volume during hypo- and hyperosmotic stress. However, volume regulation during hyposmotic stress diminished along with hyperpolarization of Vm in the presence of the K+ -channel blocker, Ba2+. This shows that variation in Vm during osmotic stress provides an intercurrent, electromotive force for hepatocyte volume regulation.

In this work, new small deflection magnetic actuators have been proposed, designed, and tested for applications in Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering optical sensors. Despite the fact that SERS sensors have been shown to increase Raman over ten orders of magnitude for molecular detection, several technological challenges have prevented the design of practical sensors, such as making SERS sensors that can efficiently detect a wide variety of molecules. Since the optimum signal-to-noise in SERS occurs at different excitation wavelengths for different molecules, individual metal nanostructures need to be designed and fabricated for each independent chemical species. One possible solution to this problem is to tune the plasmon resonance frequency of the metal nanoparticles to eliminate the need for individually optimized particles. In order to achieve a tunable local dielectric environment, and thus allow for control over the resonance frequency of metal nanoparticles, a new SERS sensor geometry is proposed and a large deflection magnetic actuator is fabricated and tested as a starting point for the design of a small deflection magnetic actuator. Using the newly developed SERS geometry and the optimized fabrication processing techniques, two small deflection magnetic actuator beam structures were designed, fabricated, and tested. These devices utilizes an off-chip electromagnet source able to produce a magnetic force of approximately 14 μN on the on-chip nickel film generating deflections up to 139 nm for the straight beam device and 164 nm for the curved beam device. iii In the process of characterizing the newly developed small deflection magnetic actuator, an integrated magnetic actuator with electrostatic restoration geometry was conceived. This device was designed to meet the specifications of the small deflection magnetic actuator as well as eliminate the need of an off-chip magnetic source and fully integrate the process atop the metal nanoparticle arrays. Using adhesive iron based magnetic strips as the magnetic drive source, circular NiFe beams with 1, 2, 3, and 4 mm diameters were designed and simulated. Calculations predicted maximum achievable actuation of up to 2.5 μm. Processing steps were laid out for a set of integrated devices as a possible predecessor to the newly designed small deflection magnetic actuator.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T12:56:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MIRELA GHISI.pdf: 1324849 bytes, checksum: 5d9ca5c5a49c366f3bf4959e2e942a14 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-05-16 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The metals content in biodiesel is directly related with the raw material used and also with the utilized biodiesel production method. In this work, an evaluation of the main metals present in biodiesel samples from different sources was done. The qualitative analysis of the metal content was assessed using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry technique after sample digestion in microwave oven. The main metals identified in the analyzed biodiesel samples were Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn. Metals like Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Tl and V have not significant presence in the samples. Among these, Cu and Fe were selected due to their relevance and importance in oxidative process of biodiesel, to the development of an analytical methodology to be used in the determination by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, and also evaluate the effect of these metals over the oxidative stability of the soy biodiesel. The samples were prepared with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), and the pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were optimized pyrolysis and atomization curves. The high pyrolysis temperature adopted, 1000 oC, certainly minimized potential interferences, but calibration had to be carried out with aqueous standard solutions in the presence of the TMAH. The detection limits in the sample (3s, n=10), were quite low 15 ng g-1 and 24 ng g-1 for Cu and Fe, respectively. Seven biodiesel samples, produced from different raw materials, including vegetable seed, waste frying oil and animal fat were analyzed. Accuracy was validated by applying the recovery test (recoveries from 105% to 120%) and through comparison with the obtained results by High Resolution Continuum Source Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The precision, expressed by the relative standard deviation, was better than 3% for Cu and than 7% for Fe. Copper could be quantified in two and Fe in three of the seven samples. The biodiesel sample from fodder turnip was especially rich in the analytes in comparison to the other samples. The influence of metals Cu and Fe on soy biodiesel oxidative stability was evaluated by Rancimat method through induction period, according with the Standard EN 14112. The metals Cu2+ and Fe3+ were added to the biodiesel samples in the form of theirs salts, and different storage times of the samples were evaluated. Due to the catalytic behaviour of these metals, the oxidative stability of the samples was affected, even under low metal concentrations. Compared to Cu2+, the effect over the biodiesel stability was higher when Fe3+ was added. / A presença de metais no biodiesel está diretamente relacionada com a matéria-prima utilizada e também com o processo utilizado para a obtenção do biodiesel. Neste trabalho realizou-se uma avaliação dos principais metais presentes em amostras de biodiesel provenientes de diferentes fontes. A análise semi-quantitativa nas amostras de biodiesel foi realizada utilizando a técnica de Espectrometria de Massa com Plasma Indutivamente Acoplado após a digestão das amostras em micro-ondas. Os principais metais identificados nas amostras de biodiesel analisadas são Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr e Zn. Metais como Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Tl e V não estão presentes em concentrações significativas nessas amostras. Em função de sua relevância e importância em processos oxidativos do biodiesel, selecionou-se Cu e Fe para o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia analítica para a determinação destes por Espectrometria de Absorção Atômica com Atomização Eletrotérmica e também a avaliação do efeito destes metais sobre a estabilidade oxidativa do biodiesel de soja. As amostras foram preparadas com hidróxido de tetrametilamônio (TMAH), e as temperaturas de pirólise e atomização foram otimizadas através de curvas de pirólise e atomização. A alta temperatura de pirólise adotada, 1000 oC, certamente ajudou a minimizar possíveis interferências; porém, a calibração teve de ser realizada com padrões aquosos na presença de TMAH. Os limites de detecção (3s, n = 10), na amostra, foram baixos, 15 ng g-1 e 24 ng g-1 para Cu e Fe, respectivamente. Sete amostras de biodiesel, produzidas de diferentes matérias-primas, incluindo óleos vegetais, óleo de fritura e gordura animal foram analisadas. A exatidão foi avaliada através do teste de recuperação (recuperações de 105% a 120%) e através da comparação com os resultados obtidos por Espectrometria de Absorção Atômica de Alta Resolução com Fonte Contínua e Atomização Eletrotérmica. A precisão, expressa pelo desvio padrão relativo foi melhor que 3% para Cu e que 7% para Fe. Cobre pôde ser quantificado em duas e Fe em três das sete amostras. A amostra de biodiesel proveniente do nabo forrageiro era especialmente rica nos analitos comparada às outras amostras. A influência dos metais Cu e Fe sobre a estabilidade oxidativa do biodiesel de soja foi avaliada pelo método Rancimat através do período de indução, de acordo com a Norma EN 14112. Os metais Cu2+ e Fe3+ foram adicionados nas amostras de biodiesel na forma de seus sais, e foram avaliados diferentes tempos de armazenamento das amostras. Devido ao efeito catalítico destes metais, a estabilidade oxidativa das amostras analisadas foi reduzida mesmo na presença de baixas concentrações dos metais. O efeito do Fe3+ sobre a estabilidade do biodiesel foi significativamente maior quando comparado ao Cu2+.

Ce travail combine l'électrochimie à l'interface liquide - liquide avec le procédé sol - gel pour la modification interfaciale avec de la silice mésoporeuse. Dans la première partie de ce travail, l’interface liquide – liquide macroscopique a été utilisée pour séparer la solution aqueuse de l'espèce de précurseur de silice hydrolysées (tétraéthoxysilane (TEOS)) de l'agent tensioactif cationique (cethyltrimethylammonium (CTA+) qui a agi comme un template et a été dissous dans le dichloroéthane. Le dépôt de matériau de silice a été déclenchée par le transfert du CTA+ à partir de la phase organique vers la phase aqueuse. CTA+ qui a transféré à la phase aqueuse a catalysé la réaction de condensation de la silice sur l’interface liquide – liquide. Le dépôt de silice à des interfaces liquide – liquide miniaturisées était la deuxième partie de ce travail. Les dépôts stables sur le côté de l'interface ont été synthétisés in situ par voie électrochimique. La stabilité mécanique des dépôts de silice permis un traitement thermique de la silice. Basé sur les techniques d’imagerie (par exemple SEM) il a été constaté que les dépôts forment des hémisphères pour des temps plus long. La réaction interfaciale a également été suivie in situ par spectroscopie Raman confocale. Caractéristiques moléculaires de l'interface ont été modifiées de manière spectaculaire une fois les espèces CTA+ ont été transférés à la phase aqueuse. Les interfaces liquide – liquide miniaturisés et modifiés ont également été évaluée avec le transfert voltampérométrique / This work combines the electrochemistry at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) with the Sol – Gel process of silica leading to an interfacial modification with mesoporous silica using soft template. In the first part of this work the macroscopic liquid – liquid interface was employed to separate the aqueous solution of the hydrolyzed silica precursor species (tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)) from the cationic surfactant (cethyltrimethylammonium (CTA+)) dissolved in the dichloroethane. The silica material deposition was controlled by the electrochemical CTA+ transfer from the organic to the aqueous phase. Template transferred to the aqueous phase catalyzed the condensation reaction and self-assembly resulting in silica deposition at the interface. Silica deposition at the miniaturized ITIES (membranes supporting array of micrometer in diameter pores were used in this regard) was the second part of this work. Silica interfacial synthesis performed in situ resulted in stable deposits growing on the aqueous side of the interface. Mechanical stability of the supported silica deposits allowed further processing – silica material was cured. Based on imaginary techniques (e.g. SEM) it was found that deposits forms hemispheres for longer experimental time scales. Interfacial reaction was also followed with in situ confocal Raman spectroscopy. Molecular characteristics of the interface were changed dramatically once CTA+ species were transferred to the aqueous phase. Array of microITIES modified with silica was also assessed by ion transfer voltammetry