Barium titanate (BaTiO3, BTO) ferroelectrics are polar material that exhibits net spontaneous polarization without external applied field [1,2]. The polarization can be reoriented by applying the electric field. BTO with perovskite structure is widely used due to their ferroelectric, pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties in various electronic applications such as multi-layer ceramic capacit...

Using the recently developed SIMS-SPM prototype, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) data was combined with topographical data from the scanning probe microscopy (SPM) module for five test structures in order to obtain accurate chemical 3D maps: a polystyrene/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PS/PVP) polymer blend, a nickel-based super-alloy, a titanium carbonitride-based cermet, a reticle test structur...

A large proportion of hospital-related infections are acquired and spread due to the direct contacts between patients and healthcare workers. Accordingly, proper infection prevention measures, and especially hand hygiene, are key to limit the spread of infections in nosocomial settings. However, healthcare workers frequently experience difficulties in complying strictly to hand disinfection pro...

The effect of the amount of pore generating agent (polyvinylpyrrolidone) added to standard polymer membranes containing 18 wt.% of polyethersulfone on the physicochemical properties of the membranes and their capacity for removal of iron and copper ions from the liquid phase was studied. The membranes were obtained by the phase inversion method. The results have shown that the modification of p...

Nano-textured transparent electrodes are commonly used to receive higher light absorption in inverted polymer solar cells (IPSC). However, the performance of the device is often restricted by the highly rough morphology of the textured transparent electrode. In this work, a Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) interlayer was inserted as a surface modifier in IPSCs based on a fluorine-doped SnO2 electrode...

The effects of particle size on the skin permeation and retention of piroxicam (PXC) in an aqueous suspension were investigated. PXC particles of about 23 nm, 173 nm, and 2.1 microm in size were prepared by the cogrinding of PXC/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K12/sodium dodecyl sulfate physical mixture (mean particle size, 9.6 microm) using a vibrational rod and ball mills. Particles were stable af...

Silane-coated silica particle solutions (ISolate(TM) and PureSperm)TM)) and iodixanol (OptiPrep(TM)) were compared to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated silica particles (Percoll(TM)) in their efficacy to recover spermatozoa by gradient centrifugation for use in assisted reproductive procedures. Efficacy was assessed in terms of percentages of sperm recovery, sperm vitality and motility, normal ...

This paper describes the enhancement of dissolution rate of nifluminic acid by spray dry process, as a solid dispersion method using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP C-15) as a water soluble polymer. Using solid dispersions as a well-known principle on an industrial scale, it has to be combined with low-cost and repetable manufacturing method. Therefore, the aim of the authors was the amorphisation of...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to improve the physicochemical properties and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble sirolimus via preparation of a solid dispersion of nanoparticles using a supercritical antisolvent (SAS) process. METHODS First, excipients for enhancing the stability and solubility of sirolimus were screened. Second, using the SAS process, solid dispersions of sirolimus...

BACKGROUND For human ICSI, sperm are normally immobilized immediately prior to injection. However, there are some situations when only sperm of questionable viability are available. There are few evaluations of fertilization or developmental problems in human or animal models using sperm having known intervals between immobilization and injection. METHODS Immobilized human sperm were maintain...