Universal features of the jamming phase diagram of wet granular materials.

We investigate the influence of the shape of a particle on the structure of the jamming phase diagram of wet granular materials. We compute the jamming phase diagram of wet dimers (two fused disks) and compare it with that of the wet disks. Amplitude of the external force at solidification, i.e., the jamming force F(s), is computed as a function of the packing fraction ϕ, the capillary bridge energy ɛ, and the aspect ratio of dimers α. Based on data collapse, an equation for amplitude of the external force at solidification F(s)(ϕ,ɛ,α) is derived. F(s) has scaling and logarithmic relations with ϕ and ɛ, respectively, exactly the same type reported for wet disks earlier. Interestingly, F(s) does not depend on the aspect ratio of dimers α. The only difference is that wet dimers are found to be more stiffer than wet disks. However, the similarities of the equations describing F(s)(ϕ,ɛ,α) of wet dimers and disks imply that there exists, yet unknown, universal aspects of mechanical response of wet granular materials to the external forces, independent from the particle shape. In addition, we study local orientation of particles and its statistical properties.

Formaldehyde-sensitive sensor based on recombinant formaldehyde dehydrogenase using capacitance versus voltage measurements.

A new formaldehyde-selective biosensor was constructed using NAD(+)- and glutathione-dependent recombinant formaldehyde dehydrogenase as a bio-recognition element immobilised on the surface of Si/SiO(2)/Si(3)N(4) structure. Sensor's response to formaldehyde was evaluated by capacitance measurements. The calibration curves obtained for formaldehyde concentration range from 10 microM to 20mM showed a broad linear response with a sensitivity of 31 mV/decade and a detection limit about 10 microM. It has been shown that the output signal decreases with the increase of borate buffer concentration and the best sensitivity is observed in 2.5mM borate buffer, pH 8.40. The response of the created formaldehyde-sensitive biosensor has also been examined in 2.5mM Tris-HCl buffer, and the shift to the positive bias of the C(V) curves along with the potential axis has been observed, but the sensitivity of the biosensor in this buffer is decreased dramatically to the value of 2.4 mV/decade.

Formaldehyde assay by capacitance versus voltage and impedance measurements using bi-layer bio-recognition membrane.

A novel formaldehyde sensitive biosensor based on bacterial formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH) as a bio-recognition element has been developed. The bio-recognition membrane had bi-layer architecture and consisted of FDH, cross-linked with albumin, and of the cofactor NAD at a high concentration level (first layer). The second layer was a negatively charged Nafion membrane, which prevented a leakage of negatively charged NAD molecules from the bio-membrane. As transducers, gold electrodes SiO(2)/Si/SiO(2)/Ti/Au and electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor Si/SiO(2) (EIS) structures have been used. Changes in capacitance and impedance properties of the bio-recognition membrane have been used for monitoring formaldehyde concentration in a bulk solution. It has been shown that formaldehyde can be detected within a concentration range from 1 microM to 20mM depending on the type of transduction used, with a detection limit of 1 and 100 microM for gold-based and EIS-based transducers, respectively.