Porous Aluminium Oxide Coating for the Development of Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Based Biosensor: Evaluation of Human Serum Albumin Adsorption

An electrochemically synthesised porous anodic aluminium oxide (pAAO) layer has been analysed by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry. The determined thickness of the formed pAAO layer obtained from spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements and modelling was 322.75 ± 0.12 nm. The radius of the nanopores estimated from SEM images was 39 ± 5 nm and the distance between nanopores was 107 ± 6 nm. The investigation of human serum albumin (HSA) adsorption on the pAAO coating showed that: (i) the protein concentration inside nanopores, depending on exposure time, approximately was from 200 up to 600 times higher than that determined in buffer solution; (ii) the initial phase of the adsorption process is slow (3.23 mg·cm−3·min−1) in comparison with the protein desorption rate (21.2 mg·cm−3·min−1) by means of pAAO layer washing; (iii) conventional washing with PBS solution and deionised water does not completely remove HSA molecules from pAAO pores and, therefore, the HSA concentration inside nanopores after 16 h of washing still remains almost 100 times higher than that present in PBS solution. Thus, due to such binding ability, HSA can be successfully used for the blocking of the remaining free surface, which is applied for the reduction in non-specific binding after the immobilisation of biorecognition molecules on the pAAO surface. It was determined that some desorption of HSA molecules from the pAAO layer occurred during the sensor’s surface washing step; however, HSA concentration inside the nanopores still remained rather high. These results recommend the continued application of pAAO in the development of biosensors.This work is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 778157 CanBioS

Thickness-dependent properties of ultrathin bismuth and antimony chalcogenide films formed by physical vapor deposition and their application in thermoelectric generators

This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project No 1.1.1.1/16/A/257. J. A. acknowledges the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.2/1/16/037. Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017 TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2 . The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also form a part of an ongoing study.In this work, a simple cost-effective physical vapor deposition method for obtaining high-quality Bi2Se3 and Sb2Te3 ultrathin films with thicknesses down to 5 nm on mica, fused quartz, and monolayer graphene substrates is reported. Physical vapor deposition of continuous Sb2Te3 ultrathin films with thicknesses 10 nm and below is demonstrated for the first time. Studies of thermoelectrical properties of synthesized Bi2Se3 ultrathin films deposited on mica indicated opening of a hybridization gap in Bi2Se3 ultrathin films with thicknesses below 6 nm. Both Bi2Se3 and Sb2Te3 ultrathin films showed the Seebeck coefficient and thermoelectrical power factors comparable with the parameters obtained for the high-quality thin films grown by the molecular beam epitaxy method. Performance of the best Bi2Se3 and Sb2Te3 ultrathin films is tested in the two-leg prototype of a thermoelectric generator.ERDF project No 1.1.1.1/16/A/257; ERDF project No. 1.1.1.2/1/16/037; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017 TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART

Analogue peptides for the immunotherapy of human acute myeloid leukemia

Accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00262-015-1762-9The use of peptide vaccines, enhanced by adjuvants, has shown some efficacy in clinical trials. However, responses are often short-lived and rarely induce notable memory responses. The reason is that self-antigens have already been presented to the immune system as the tumor develops, leading to tolerance or some degree of host tumor cell destruction. To try to break tolerance against self-antigens, one of the methods employed has been to modify peptides at the anchor residues to enhance their ability to bind major histocompatibility complex molecules, extending their exposure to the T-cell receptor. These modified or analogue peptides have been investigated as stimulators of the immune system in patients with different cancers with variable but sometimes notable success. In this review we describe the background and recent developments in the use of analogue peptides for the immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia describing knowledge useful for the application of analogue peptide treatments for other malignancies

Innovations in the regulation of fixed-term employment contracts in the lithuanian labor law

Innovations in the Regulation of Fixed-term Employment Contracts in the Lithuanian Labor Law This thesis examines the innovations of fixed - term employment contract by analysing the existing and previous legal regulations. Thesis consists of three main parts. The first part examines the concept and the meaning of a fixed-term employment contract. The aim is to reveal the main features of the contract that distinguish a fixed-term employment contract from other employment contracts. Regulatory innovations and the meaning of these innovations in fixed-term employment relationships are also presented. The second part of the thesis presents the innovations in the conclusion and execution of employment contracts. Examination of the fixed-term empoyment contract reveals conditions and restrictions applicable to the conclusion of this contract. Because the execution of a fixed-term employment contract is not very different from execution of other employment contracts, this work reviews only the peculiarities of employment contract performance applicable to fixed-term employment contracts. Analysing the conclusion and execution of fixed-term employment contract the existing and previous legal regulation are compared and in this way the regulatory innovations are disclosed. The third part of the thesis analysis the termination of a fixed-term employment contract. Termination of a fixed-term employment contract usually occurs at the end of the contract term, but fixed-term employment contracts also may be terminated on other general grounds established by law. Analysis of the termination of fixed-term employment contracts presents regulatory innovations related to the rights and obligations of employees and employers in the event of termination of a fixed-term employment contract

Magnetron sputtering of binary, ternary and multicomponent thin film borides and carbides

Design of new thin film materials with improved properties and functionality is an important research field in materials science. In this thesis, I have used magnetron sputtering to deposit new thin film materials, which should combine high hardness and high ductility with other properties such as low friction or a good corrosion resistance. The films have been characterized with a range of techniques to determine the correlation between deposition parameters, microstructure and properties.  The first part of the thesis is focussed on binary and ternary molybdenum-containing boride thin films with potential low-friction properties. It was found that the binary Mo-B films exhibited a nanocrystalline structure of ~ 16 nm large MoB2-x grains surrounded by an amorphous tissue phase. The special microstructure resulted in a very high hardness (29 ± 2 GPa), but limited ductility. An attempt to improve the ductility by formation of crystalline layered ternary borides such as Mo2BC and Mo2FeB2 failed due to difficulties to reach high deposition temperatures. However, the addition of carbon to the binary Mo-B films resulted initially in a reduced grain size of the MoB2-x grains. For carbon concentrations >23 at.%, a completely amorphous film was formed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed that these films contained Mo-rich regions surrounded by a Mo-poor amorphous BCx phase and therefore best can be described an amorphous nanocomposite. The mechanical properties of the Mo-B-C films were strongly correlated to the amount of the softer amorphous BCx phase. Also the Mo-Fe-B films were amorphous with a hardness ranging from 19 to 26 GPa and a limited ductility. Tribological studies of the Mo-B, Mo-B-C and Mo-Fe-B films showed very high coefficients of friction (>0.8). Molybdenum and boron oxides were identified on the surface by Raman spectroscopy, but no indication of lubricating effects from these oxides could be observed. The results suggest that Mo-based borides have limited applications in future low-friction applications. In the second part of the thesis, a high entropy alloy (HEA) of TiCrNbTaW was studied with and without the addition of carbon. The results showed that a HEA phase with bcc structure could be deposited in a wide composition and temperature range. Small amounts of carbon were dissolved into the bcc phase, while higher carbon contents resulted in a multicomponent carbide phase. The correlation between structure and properties were studied in detail. It was found that some of the films exhibited very high hardness combined with high ductility suggesting potential application of these materials as wear-resistant coatings. Finally, the corrosion resistance of these complex alloys were investigated in a very acidic environment. They were found to exhibit excellent corrosion resistance superior to hyper-duplex stainless steels

Magnetron sputtering of binary, ternary and multicomponent thin film borides and carbides

Design of new thin film materials with improved properties and functionality is an important research field in materials science. In this thesis, I have used magnetron sputtering to deposit new thin film materials, which should combine high hardness and high ductility with other properties such as low friction or a good corrosion resistance. The films have been characterized with a range of techniques to determine the correlation between deposition parameters, microstructure and properties.  The first part of the thesis is focussed on binary and ternary molybdenum-containing boride thin films with potential low-friction properties. It was found that the binary Mo-B films exhibited a nanocrystalline structure of ~ 16 nm large MoB2-x grains surrounded by an amorphous tissue phase. The special microstructure resulted in a very high hardness (29 ± 2 GPa), but limited ductility. An attempt to improve the ductility by formation of crystalline layered ternary borides such as Mo2BC and Mo2FeB2 failed due to difficulties to reach high deposition temperatures. However, the addition of carbon to the binary Mo-B films resulted initially in a reduced grain size of the MoB2-x grains. For carbon concentrations >23 at.%, a completely amorphous film was formed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed that these films contained Mo-rich regions surrounded by a Mo-poor amorphous BCx phase and therefore best can be described an amorphous nanocomposite. The mechanical properties of the Mo-B-C films were strongly correlated to the amount of the softer amorphous BCx phase. Also the Mo-Fe-B films were amorphous with a hardness ranging from 19 to 26 GPa and a limited ductility. Tribological studies of the Mo-B, Mo-B-C and Mo-Fe-B films showed very high coefficients of friction (>0.8). Molybdenum and boron oxides were identified on the surface by Raman spectroscopy, but no indication of lubricating effects from these oxides could be observed. The results suggest that Mo-based borides have limited applications in future low-friction applications. In the second part of the thesis, a high entropy alloy (HEA) of TiCrNbTaW was studied with and without the addition of carbon. The results showed that a HEA phase with bcc structure could be deposited in a wide composition and temperature range. Small amounts of carbon were dissolved into the bcc phase, while higher carbon contents resulted in a multicomponent carbide phase. The correlation between structure and properties were studied in detail. It was found that some of the films exhibited very high hardness combined with high ductility suggesting potential application of these materials as wear-resistant coatings. Finally, the corrosion resistance of these complex alloys were investigated in a very acidic environment. They were found to exhibit excellent corrosion resistance superior to hyper-duplex stainless steels

Magnetron sputtering of binary, ternary and multicomponent thin film borides and carbides

Design of new thin film materials with improved properties and functionality is an important research field in materials science. In this thesis, I have used magnetron sputtering to deposit new thin film materials, which should combine high hardness and high ductility with other properties such as low friction or a good corrosion resistance. The films have been characterized with a range of techniques to determine the correlation between deposition parameters, microstructure and properties.  The first part of the thesis is focussed on binary and ternary molybdenum-containing boride thin films with potential low-friction properties. It was found that the binary Mo-B films exhibited a nanocrystalline structure of ~ 16 nm large MoB2-x grains surrounded by an amorphous tissue phase. The special microstructure resulted in a very high hardness (29 ± 2 GPa), but limited ductility. An attempt to improve the ductility by formation of crystalline layered ternary borides such as Mo2BC and Mo2FeB2 failed due to difficulties to reach high deposition temperatures. However, the addition of carbon to the binary Mo-B films resulted initially in a reduced grain size of the MoB2-x grains. For carbon concentrations >23 at.%, a completely amorphous film was formed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed that these films contained Mo-rich regions surrounded by a Mo-poor amorphous BCx phase and therefore best can be described an amorphous nanocomposite. The mechanical properties of the Mo-B-C films were strongly correlated to the amount of the softer amorphous BCx phase. Also the Mo-Fe-B films were amorphous with a hardness ranging from 19 to 26 GPa and a limited ductility. Tribological studies of the Mo-B, Mo-B-C and Mo-Fe-B films showed very high coefficients of friction (>0.8). Molybdenum and boron oxides were identified on the surface by Raman spectroscopy, but no indication of lubricating effects from these oxides could be observed. The results suggest that Mo-based borides have limited applications in future low-friction applications. In the second part of the thesis, a high entropy alloy (HEA) of TiCrNbTaW was studied with and without the addition of carbon. The results showed that a HEA phase with bcc structure could be deposited in a wide composition and temperature range. Small amounts of carbon were dissolved into the bcc phase, while higher carbon contents resulted in a multicomponent carbide phase. The correlation between structure and properties were studied in detail. It was found that some of the films exhibited very high hardness combined with high ductility suggesting potential application of these materials as wear-resistant coatings. Finally, the corrosion resistance of these complex alloys were investigated in a very acidic environment. They were found to exhibit excellent corrosion resistance superior to hyper-duplex stainless steels

Adult Education Centres students’ motivation as a career's premise

The object of research: Vilnius and Kaunas Education centres for adults and its students attitude towards career. The question of research: What are the possibilities for such students to be promoted? The aim of research – to disclose the Adult Education Centres students’ attitude towards the career and its motivation impact. The objectives of research 4. to research adult education centre students’ understanding of the career. 5. to define students‘ learning motives and links with their career. 6. to find out the students’ need for support and its impact on learning. The hypothesis of research • Learning in the formal adult education system satisfies the inner needs connected to the personality development, self- esteem and communication. �� The learner satisfies the need of the professional career planning. Research object - the attitude of students that study at Vilnius and Kaunas Education Centres for Adults.Švietimo akademijaVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Visible Photoluminescence of Variable-Length Zinc Oxide Nanorods Embedded in Porous Anodic Alumina Template for Biosensor Applications

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and porous anodic aluminum oxide (PAAO) are technologically important materials, rich with features that are of interest in optical applications, for example, in light-emitting and sensing devices. Here, we present synthesis method of aligned ZnO nanorods (NR) with 40 nm diameter and variable length in 150 to 500 nm range obtained by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ZnO in pores of continuously variable thickness PAAO. The relative intensity of yellow (1.99 eV), green (2.35 eV), and blue (2.82 eV) photoluminescence (PL) components originating from the different types of defects, varied with non-monotonic dependency on the composite film thickness with a Fabry–Pérot like modulation. The intensity variation of any individual PL component correlated well with anti-reflective properties of ZnO NR–PAAO composite film at the peak wavelength of the particular PL component. This provides a route for selective enhancement or suppression of color components of hybrid fluorescent emitters by tuning only geometric parameters, with potential use in imaging and other optical devices. As an application example we tested the composite film for sensing of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using a widely accessible fluorescence microscopy setup. The intensity of the yellow and green PL components reduced in response to increased VEGF concentrations, whereas blue component remained invariant