Thermal diffusion in binary mixtures H2-CCl2F2 and H2-CHClF2

Thermal diffusion coefficients were measured in two gaseous mixtures, in which one component was close to the critical temperature, in the pressure range (19.6–127.4)·10⁴ N/m² and at a freon concentration of 0.25–0.8.     

Simultaneous sorption and desorption of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in acid soils II. Soil ranking and influence of soil characteristics

In Part I of this paper we reported, for each of 11 acid soils, the rankings of six metals according to their sorption from solutions containing all six, and according to their retention under desorption conditions. Here, we analyse the same data from a different perspective: for each metal, we rank the soils by their capacities to sorb and retain it as reflected by soil/solution distribution coefficients K(d100) measured using starting solutions containing 100mgL(-1) of each metal. We also ranked the soils for overall heavy metal sorption and retention capacities using Kaplan's compound measure K(dSigma), and we investigated the influence of soil characteristics on K(d100) and K(dSigma100) values. Overall capacity for sorption of heavy metals was positively related to HOM, kaolinite and Fe oxides contents, and negatively related to CEC and to vermiculite and haematite contents. Overall capacity for retention of heavy metals was positively related to HOM and kaolinite contents, and negatively related to CEC and vermiculite content. The good correlation between K(dSigma100)(sorption) and the first component extracted in a principal components analysis of K(d100)(sorption) values, and between K(dSigma100)(retention) and the first component extracted in a principal components analysis of K(d100)(retention) values, supports the adequacy of K(dSigma) as a measure of the overall capacity of a soil to sorb or retain heavy metals.     

Validation of Liquid Chromatographic Method of Assay for Acetaminophen,Butalbital and Caffeine in Solid Dosage Forms

Abstract

The validation of a liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of acetaminophen, butalbital and caffeine in solid dosage forms is described. The dosage content of tablets or capsules is diluted and chromatographed on a Radialpak Cyanopropylsilane Cartridge with a mobile phase of water-acetonitrile-1M dibutylamine phosphate (90+9+1, V/V) with detection at 215 nm. The calibration curve is linear with correlation coefficients of 0.999 for each component. Recoveries of spiked excipient blend averaged 99.5% for acetaminophen, 102.5% for butalbital and 101.0% for caffeine. The method met USP requirements for system suitability with proper resolution between two adjacent peaks. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of peak response of each component (obtained by chromatographing six replicates of standard solution) is less than 2.0% and the tailing factor of each component is not greater than 1.5. The method can be used for composite, content uniformity and dissolution assay of acetaminophen, butalbital and caffeine in tablet and capsule formulations.     

Preparation, evaluation, and NMR characterization of vinpocetine microemulsion for transdermal delivery

A novel microemulsion was prepared to increase the solubility and the in vitro transdermal delivery of poorly water-soluble vinpocetine. The correlation between the transdermal permeation rate and structural characteristics of vinpocetine microemulsion was investigated by pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR). For the microemulsions, oleic acid was chosen as oil phase, PEG-8 glyceryl caprylate/caprate (Labrasol®) as surfactant (S), purified diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (Transcutol P®) as cosurfactant (CoS), and the double-distilled water as water phase. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to obtain the concentration range of each component for the microemulsion formation. The effects of various oils and different weight ratios of surfactant to cosurfactant (S/CoS) on the solubility and permeation rate of vinpocetine were investigated. Self-diffusion coefficients were determined by PFG-NMR in order to investigate the influence of microemulsion composition with the equal drug concentration on their transdermal delivery. Finally, the microemulsion containing 1% vinpocetine was optimized with 4% oleic acid, 20.5% Labrasol, 20.5% Transcutol P, and 55% double-distilled water (w/w), in which drug solubility was about 3160-fold higher compared to that in water and the apparent permeation rate across the excised rat skin was 36.4 ± 2.1 µg/cm²/h. The physicochemical properties of the optimized microemulsion were examined for the pH, viscosity, refractive index, conductivity, and particle size distribution. The microemulsion was stable after storing more than 12 months at 25°C. The irritation study showed that the optimized microemulsion was a nonirritant transdermal delivery system.     

Validation of Liquid Chromatographic Method of Assay for Acetaminophen, Butalbital and Caffeine in Solid Dosage Forms

The validation of a liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of acetaminophen, butalbital and caffeine in solid dosage forms is described. The dosage content of tablets or capsules is diluted and chromatographed on a Radialpak Cyanopropylsilane Cartridge with a mobile phase of water-acetonitrile-1M dibutylamine phosphate (90+9+1, V/V) with detection at 215 nm. The calibration curve is linear with correlation coefficients of 0.999 for each component. Recoveries of spiked excipient blend averaged 99.5% for acetaminophen, 102.5% for butalbital and 101.0% for caffeine. The method met USP requirements for system suitability with proper resolution between two adjacent peaks. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of peak response of each component (obtained by chromatographing six replicates of standard solution) is less than 2.0% and the tailing factor of each component is not greater than 1.5. The method can be used for composite, content uniformity and dissolution assay of acetaminophen, butalbital and caffeine in tablet and capsule formulations.     

Preparation,Evaluation, and NMR Characterization of Vinpocetine Microemulsion for Transdermal Delivery

A novel microemulsion was prepared to increase the solubility and the in vitro transdermal delivery of poorly water‐soluble vinpocetine. The correlation between the transdermal permeation rate and structural characteristics of vinpocetine microemulsion was investigated by pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG‐NMR). For the microemulsions, oleic acid was chosen as oil phase, PEG‐8 glyceryl caprylate/caprate (Labrasol®) as surfactant (S), purified diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (Transcutol P®) as cosurfactant (CoS), and the double‐distilled water as water phase. Pseudo‐ternary phase diagrams were constructed to obtain the concentration range of each component for the microemulsion formation. The effects of various oils and different weight ratios of surfactant to cosurfactant (S/CoS) on the solubility and permeation rate of vinpocetine were investigated. Self‐diffusion coefficients were determined by PFG‐NMR in order to investigate the influence of microemulsion composition with the equal drug concentration on their transdermal delivery. Finally, the microemulsion containing 1% vinpocetine was optimized with 4% oleic acid, 20.5% Labrasol, 20.5% Transcutol P, and 55% double‐distilled water (w/w), in which drug solubility was about 3160‐fold higher compared to that in water and the apparent permeation rate across the excised rat skin was 36.4?±?2.1 µg/cm²/h. The physicochemical properties of the optimized microemulsion were examined for the pH, viscosity, refractive index, conductivity, and particle size distribution. The microemulsion was stable after storing more than 12 months at 25°C. The irritation study showed that the optimized microemulsion was a nonirritant transdermal delivery system.     

Phoswich detectors combining doubly or triply ZnS(Ag), NE102A, BGO and/or NaI(Tl) scintillators for simultaneous counting of α, β and γ rays

Phoswich detectors for simultaneous counting of α, β and γ rays have been developed: ZnS(Ag)/Au Mylar/NE102A, ZnS(Ag)/Au Mylar/BGO and ZnS(Ag)/NaI(Tl) for α and β(γ) rays and ZnS(Ag)/Au Mylar/NE102A/BGO and ZnS(Ag)/NE102A/NaI(Tl) for α, β and γ rays. They were prepared by coupling a ZnS(Ag) film scintillator for α counting with a scintillator(s) for β and γ counting having different rise time. In order to adjust each component of pulse height within a given dynamic range, a sheet of Au-coated Mylar (Au Mylar) was used, if necessary, as an optical ND filter for lowering transmittance of scintillation of the ZnS(Ag). Characteristics of these phoswiches were examined by a technique of pulse-shape discrimination. Excellent discrimination among the radiations was attained and small tailings from each other peak were obtained for the prepared phoswiches.     

Novel azobenzene precursors for NLO active polyuretanes: Synthesis, quantum chemical and experimental characterization

For the development of electro optical active polyurethanes six new derivatives of 2-{(2-hydroxyethyl)-[4-(4-nitrophenylazo)phenyl]amino}ethanol and two of 2-{(2-hydroxyethyl)-[4-(5-nitropyridin-2-ylazo)phenyl]amino}ethanol were synthesized by azocoupling reaction. Molecular geometry, hyperpolarizability β_FF and ground state dipole moment μ_g were acquired by RHF ab initio (6–31G**) calculations using HyperChem software package. To characterize NLO performance of synthesized azo compounds second order non linear coefficients d₃₁ and d₃₃ were measured as function of chromophore load in guest–host films (PMMA). Eight synthesized compounds can be grouped in four similar gross formula pairs (different position of octyloxy group) with almost equal μ_g β_FF product and different μ_g values. At low chromophore concentrations higher dipole moment compounds perform better. Lower dipole moment compounds have better NLO efficiency at high chromophore loads. Accurate ranking of all chromophores, based on two-level model corrected zero frequency d₃₃(0) values, was not viable due to overestimation of the dispersion factor.     

Measurement of effective piezoelectric coefficients of PZT thin films for energy harvesting application with interdigitated electrodes

Interdigitated electrode (IDE) systems with lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films play an increasingly important role for two reasons: first, such a configuration generates higher voltages than parallel plate capacitor-type electrode (PPE) structures, and second, the application of an electric field leads to a compressive stress component in addition to the overall stress state, unlike a PPE structure, which results in tensile stress component. Because ceramics tend to crack at relatively moderate tensile stresses, this means that IDEs have a lower risk of cracking than PPEs. For these reasons, IDE systems are ideal for energy harvesting of vibration energy, and for actuators. Systematic investigations of PZT films with IDE systems have not yet been undertaken. In this work, we present results on the evaluation of the in-plane piezoelectric coefficients with IDE systems. Additionally, we also propose a simple and measurable figure of merit (FOM) to analyze and evaluate the relevant piezoelectric parameter for harvesting efficiency without the need to fabricate the energy harvesting device. Idealized effective coefficients e(IDE) and h(IDE) are derived, showing its composite nature with about one-third contribution of the transverse effect, and about two-thirds contribution of the longitudinal effect in the case of a PZT film deposited on a (100)-oriented silicon wafer with the in-plane electric field along one of the <011> Si directions. Randomly oriented 1-μm-thick PZT 53/47 film deposited by a sol-gel technique, was evaluated and yielded an effective coefficient e(IDE) of 15 C???m(???2). Our FOM is the product between effective e and h coefficient representing twice the electrical energy density stored in the piezoelectric film per unit strain deformation (both for IDE and PPE systems). Assuming homogeneous fields between the fingers, and neglecting the contribution from below the electrode fingers, the FOM for IDE structures with larger electrode gap is derived to be twice as large as for PPE structures, for PZT-5H properties. The experiments yielded an FOM of the IDE structures of 1.25 × 10(10) J/m(3) and 14 mV/μ strain.     

Strategic defense and attack for reliability systems

This article illustrates a method by which arbitrarily complex series/parallel reliability systems can be analyzed. The method is illustrated with the series–parallel and parallel–series systems. Analytical expressions are determined for the investments and utilities of the defender and the attacker, depend on their unit costs of investment for each component, the contest intensity for each component, and their evaluations of the value of system functionality. For a series–parallel system, infinitely many components in parallel benefit the defender maximally regardless of the finite number of parallel subsystems in series. Conversely, infinitely many components in series benefit the attacker maximally regardless of the finite number of components in parallel in each subsystem. For a parallel–series system, the results are opposite. With equivalent components, equal unit costs for defender and attacker, equal intensity for all components, and equally many components in series and parallel, the defender always prefers the series–parallel system rather than the parallel–series system, and converse holds for the attacker. Hence from the defender's perspective, ceteris paribus, the series–parallel system is more reliable, and has fewer “cut sets” or failure modes.     

Heats of Solution,Transition, and Formation of Three Crystalline Forms of Metaboric Acid

The three crystalline forms of metaboric acid HBO₂ were prepared, purified, and analyzed. Heats of solution in water or of reaction with sodium hydroxide solution were compared with those of orthoboric acid H₃BO₃(c). The best values for the heats of transition at 25 °C are: (c,I) to (c,II), 2.33±0.23 kcal/mole; (c,II) to (c,III), 1.30±0.05 kcal/mole; (c,I) to (c,III), 3.63±0.24 kcal/mole. The following heats of formation at 25 °C were derived: −192.77 ± 0.35 kcal/mole for the cubic HBO₂(c,I), −190.43 ±0.34 kcal/mole for the monoclinic HBO₂ (c,II), and −189.13 ± 0.34 kcal/mole for the orthorhombic HBO₂(c,III).     

Growth,ageing and scaling laws of coronary arterial trees

Despite the well-known design principles of vascular systems, it is unclear whether the vascular arterial tree obeys some scaling constraints during normal growth and ageing in a given species. Based on the micro-computed tomography measurements of coronary arterial trees in mice at different ages (one week to more than eight months), we show a constant exponent of 3/4, but age-dependent scaling coefficients in a length–volume scaling law ( L_c is the crown length, V_c is the crown volume, K_{length–volume} is the age-dependent scaling coefficient) during normal growth and ageing. The constant 3/4 exponent represents the self-similar fractal-like branching pattern (i.e. basic mechanism to regulate the development of vascular trees within a species), whereas the age-dependent scaling coefficients characterize the structural growth or resorption of vascular trees during normal growth or ageing, respectively. This study enhances the understanding of age-associated changes in vascular structure and function.     

A comparison of methods of combining force parameters

A study is made of two models for the molecular-interaction potential in calculating diffusion coefficients for binary vapor-gas systems.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 276–281, February, 1987.     

A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Packaging for the Distribution of Italian Fruit and Vegetables

Each year in Italy, millions of tons of fruits and vegetables are harvested, packed and transported to national and foreign retail outlets. Packaging is an essential component of this system, but what is its environmental impact? This study takes into consideration the delivery from the field to the retail outlet of 12 types of fruits and vegetables grown and harvested in Italy and sold in Italy and Europe. The study compares two different packaging and distribution systems: one‐way with corrugated boxes and reusable with plastic containers. A number of different scenarios were generated by combining the most diffused packaging sizes with the most important production and selling locations for each type of fruit and vegetable and by considering the specific route required to perform the transportation with each distribution system. The environmental impact of each system in each scenario has then been analysed using the life cycle assessment methodology. Two algorithms and a number of coefficients were derived to simplify data collection and impact analysis for all scenarios. This provides an easy tool to evaluate the potential environmental burden of the two alternative distribution systems in a specific scenario by taking into consideration only a few variables (such as size of packaging and transportation distance). These algorithms and coefficients are presented in the work, along with the process that led to their generation and with considerations about the main critical environmental aspects for both distribution systems. The work aims to suggest possible design solutions that can make each system more sustainable. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The shear viscosity and mutual diffusion coefficients of binary mixtures using the modified Enskog Theory

We use an extended form of the modified Enskog Theory (MET) to calculate viscosity and mutual diffusion coefficients for several binary mixtures. Second and third virial coefficients are required for the calculations. We find that the extended MET provides predictions of the shear viscosity for He-Ar and Ne-Ar mixtures with an accuracy of 2% at densities up to 6 mol · L^–1. Extended MET values of mutual diffusion coefficients of binary mixtures in which the mole fraction of one component approaches zero were calculated for He-Ar and Kr-Ar mixtures. The MET values fall within 10–15% of the experimental data at densities up to 11 mol · L^–1.Paper presented at the Tenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 20–23, 1988, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A.     

Vapour-liquid equilibrium of the CH4Ar,CH4CO,and ARCO systems at elevated pressures

High pressure vapour-liquid equilibrium data for the CH₄Ar, CH₄CO, and ArCO systems are presented in this work. The data are obtained isothermally and for each data point T, P, x_i, and y_i are measured. When possible, the measurements are compared to other published data, and good agreement is found with previous investigations.Each isotherm is subjected to a thermodynamic analysis, and activity coefficients are calculated. When both components are condensable, the ordinary symmetrical convention for normalization of activity coefficients is used, and when one component is supercritical, the unsymmetrical convention is used.The activity coefficients are adjusted to a constant pressure via the Poynting correction factor, and these pressure adjusted activity coefficients are subjected to a thermodynamic consistency test based on the isothermal-isobasic form of the Gibbs-Duhem equation. It is found that the maximum inconsistency for the data presented in this work is 10%.     

Flow-boiling of R22, R134a, R507, R404A and R410A inside a smooth horizontal tube

Flow boiling heat transfer coefficients of R22, R134a, R507, R404A and R410A inside a smooth horizontal tube (6 mm I.D., 6 m length) were measured at a refrigerant mass flux of about 360 kg/m² s varying the evaporating pressure within the range 3–12 bar, with heat fluxes within the range 11–21 kW/m². The experimental data are discussed in terms of the heat transfer coefficients as a function of the vapour quality. The experimental results clearly show that the heat transfer coefficients of R134a are always higher than those pertaining to R22 (from a minimum of +6 to a maximum of +45%).     

Liquid-phase mass transfer in high-pressure systems with a supercritical and a liquid phase

Liquid-phase diffusion coefficients and mass-transfer coefficients were measured in binary two-phase systems at high pressures. Both were determined from the rates of absorption of the gaseous component into the liquid. Diffusion coefficients were measured by observing unsteady-state diffusion into a sell) i infinite liquid phase and fitting transient counterdiffusion mass-flow rates to the visually determined change of the position of the interface between the liquid and the supercritical phase. Mass-transfer coefficients in the liquid phase were determined from the absorption rate of the gaseous component into a falling liquid film of known flow and physical properties. Experiments were performed with the binary systems carbon dioxide-oleic acid, carbon dioxide -methyl myristate, and carbon dioxide-methyl palmitate. Liquid-phase diffusion coefficients rise significantly with concentration as viscosity decreases. Temperature also has a strong effect on diffusivities. Experimental mass-transfer coefficients in nearly saturated liquids agree well with calculations for falling films with known properties, whereas far from equilibrium, Marangoni convection greatly enhances mass-transfer rates. Close to the critical point of the binary system at a given temperature, a sharp decline of the mass-transfer coefficient is observed.     

Creation of Nonlocal Spin-Entangled Electrons via Andreev Tunneling, Coulomb Blockade, and Resonant Transport

We discuss several scenarios for the creation of nonlocal spin-entangled electrons which provide a source of electronic Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) pairs. Such EPR pairs can be used to test nonlocality of electrons in solid state systems, and they form the basic resources for quantum information processing. The central idea is to exploit the spin correlations naturally present in superconductors in form of Cooper pairs possessing spin-singlet wavefunctions. We show that nonlocal spin-entanglement in form of an effective Heisenberg spin interaction is induced between electron spins residing on two quantum dots with no direct coupling between them, but each of them being tunnel-coupled to the same superconductor. We then discuss a nonequilibrium setup with an applied bias where mobile and nonlocal spin-entanglement can be created by coherent injection of two electrons, in a pair (Andreev) tunneling process, into two spatially separated quantum dots and subsequently into two Fermi liquid leads. The current for injecting two spin-entangled electrons into different leads shows a resonance and allows the injection of electrons at the same orbital energy, which is a crucial requirement for the detection of spin-entanglement via the current noise. On the other hand, tunneling via the same dot into the same lead is suppressed by the Coulomb blockade effect of the quantum dots. We discuss Aharonov–Bohm oscillations in the current and show that they contain h/e and h/2e periods, which provides an experimental means to test the nonlocality of the entangled pair. Finally, we discuss a structure consisting of a superconductor weakly coupled to two separate one-dimensional leads with Luttinger liquid properties. We show that strong correlations again suppress the coherent subsequent tunneling of two electrons into the same lead, thus generating again nonlocal spin-entangled electrons in the Luttinger liquid leads.     

Review of advanced absorption cycles: performance improvement and temperature lift enhancement

The objective of this study is to propose and evaluate advanced absorption cycles for the coefficient of performance (COP) improvement and temperature lift enhancement applications. The characteristics of each cycle are assessed from the viewpoints of the ideal cycle COP and its applications. The advanced cycles for the COP improvement are categorized according to their heat recovery method: condensation heat recovery, absorption heat recovery, and condensation/absorption heat recovery. In H₂O–LiBr systems, the number of effects and the number of stages can be improved by adding a third or a fourth component to the solution pairs. The performance of NH₃–H₂O systems can be improved by internal heat recovery due to their thermal characteristics such as temperature gliding. NH₃–H₂O cycles can be combined with adsorption cycles and power generation cycles for waste heat utilization, performance improvement, panel heating and low temperature applications. The H₂O–LiBr cycle is better from the high COP viewpoints for the evaporation temperature over 0°C while the NH₃–H₂O cycle is better from the viewpoint of low temperature applications. This study suggests that the cycle performance would be significantly improved by combining the advanced H₂O–LiBr and NH₃–H₂O cycles.