Cleanability of Surfaces from Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Surrogate Riboflavin by Falling Film

Falling films in wash down process are of major interest for pharmaceutical isolators, which are used for processing of highly potent pharmaceutical products. In this study multiple process parameters were examined with common materials of isolator systems. The importance of material and surface finish in respect of cleanability and complete wetting as well as a combination of process parameters are presented and discussed. For cleaning validation an effect of high interest was discovered: swab sampling areas changed their properties over many repeated cycles and showed decreased cleanability.     

Surface modification of Scots pine: the effect of process parameters on the through thickness density profile

This study evaluated the significance of different process parameters (press temperature, closing time, holding time, moisture content and compression ratio) on solid wood surface densification and its effect on the density profile generated in Scots pine sapwood. Changes in the microstructure of the wood were also evaluated microscopically. The results showed that with a shorter closing time, densification occurred closer to the sample surface than with an extended closing time. At a compression temperature of 150 °C, the vertical density profile exhibited a sharp peak in density that was close to the wood surface. A higher temperature of 200 °C resulted in a slightly broader density peak that was less intense and further from the surface. A holding time of 10 min resulted in the wood compressing to a slightly greater extent than when using a holding time of 1 min. Higher moisture content led to more extensive deformation. The results indicate that surface modification by densification is a viable method of enhancing wood properties.     

Befugnisse der Aufsichtsbehörde gegenüber Rechtsanwälten

Der Beschluss des KG Berlin hat gro?e Beachtung in der Anwaltschaft gefunden. Die Entscheidung ist damit Gegenstand vieler zustimmender Bewertungen. Die folgenden Ausführungen sollen einerseits die Fehler der Entscheidung aufzeigen und andererseits einen Gegenpol zu diesen Auseinandersetzungen darstellen.     

Silicon‐Doped LiFePO4 Single Crystals: Growth,Conductivity Behavior,and Diffusivity

Single crystals of silicon doped LiFePO₄ with a silicon content of 1% are grown successfully by the floating zone technique and characterized by single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and chemical analysis. Electron paramagnetic resonance demonstrates the presence of only Fe²⁺; no traces of Fe³⁺ are found. Impedance spectroscopy as well as step‐function polarization/depolarization (DC) measurements are carried out using the cells Ti/LiFe(Si)PO₄/Ti and LiAl/LiI/LiFe(Si)PO₄/LiI/LiAl. The electronic and ionic conductivities as well as the Li‐diffusivity of the sample in the major crystallographic directions ([h00], [0k0], and [00l]) are determined. Within experimental error the transport properties along the b‐ and c‐axes are found to be the same but differ significantly from the a‐axis, which exhibits lower values. Compared to undoped LiFePO₄, Si‐doping leads to an increase of the ionic conductivity while the electronic conductivity decreases, which is in agreement with a donor effect. The activation energies of conductivities and diffusivities are interpreted in terms of defect chemistry and relevant Brouwer diagrams are given.     

The effect of the particle size and the morphology of alumina powders on the processing of green bodies by electrophoretic deposition

The electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method was investigated for the preparation of compacts from nanosized alumina powders. Ethanol suspensions of commercially available nanosized transition alumina and α-alumina powders were used. In addition, submicron powders were also considered for comparison. Besides the influence of operational pH change, the influence of the addition of three different surfactants – two branched polyethylene imines with molecular masses 1800 and 10,000, and citric acid—on the zeta-potential of the particles in ethanol and afterwards on the EPD was investigated.The packing density of the green parts prepared by the EPD of nanosized α-alumina powders at 30 V/cm was low (the green density was 27 vol. % of the theoretical density—TD), and a bimodal pore size distribution was observed. In contrast, the packing density in deposits made with the transition alumina nanopowder was much higher (the green density was 42 vol. % of the TD) and a monomodal distribution of pores was observed. In general, for all the deposits made from nanosized alumina powders, the particle-packing density was found to be lower than for those made from the submicron alumina powders (a green density equal to 59 vol. % of the TD).     

Selection of input features across subjects for classifying crewmember workload using artificial neural networks

The issue of crewmember workload is important in complex system operation because operator overload leads to decreased mission effectiveness. Psychophysiological research on mental workload uses measures such as electroencephalogram (EEG), cardiac, eye-blink, and respiration measures to identify mental workload levels. This paper reports a research effort whose primary objective was to determine if one parsimonious set of salient psychophysiological features can be identified to accurately classify mental workload levels across multiple test subjects performing a multiple task battery. To accomplish this objective, a stepwise multivariate discriminant analysis heuristic and artificial neural network feature selection with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are used. In general, EEG power in the 31-40-Hz frequency range and ocular input features appeared highly salient. The second objective was to assess the feasibility of a single model to classify mental workload across different subjects. A classification accuracy of 87% was obtained for seven independent validation subjects using neural network models trained with data from other subjects. This result provides initial evidence for the potential use of generalized classification models in multitask workload assessment.     

Clinic characteristics associated with reduced hospitalization of drug users with AIDS

The purpose of this study was to develop a substantive grounded theory of courage among middle-aged adults with long-term health concerns. Twenty-five persons from rural and non-metropolitan areas of Central Illinois were selected to participate in this study based on theoretical sampling procedures. Interviews of 1 to 2 hours using openended questions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed using grounded theory methods. Courage among middle-aged adults with long-term health concerns was determined to consist of an ongoing progressive-regressive process of becoming and being courageous. Being courageous involves being fully aware of and accepting the threat of a long-term health concern, solving problems using discernment, and developing enhanced sensitivities to personal needs and the world in general. Courageous behaviour consists of taking responsibility and being productive. Courage is not limitless, and the process of becoming and being courageous is dependent on intrapersonal and interpersonal factors. Health-care providers facilitate this process by demonstrating competence and communicating effectively. Outcomes of being courageous include personal integrity and thriving in the midst of normality.     

Policies and measures to address climate change in Central and Eastern European Countries

Pursuant to the commitments under the Framework Convention of Climate Change (FCCC), all Annex I Parties of FCCC have compiled their National Communications on Climate Change. There, Parties have reported the national greenhouse gas inventories, policies, and measures to address climate change, the greenhouse gas emissions projections, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, and education and public awareness.

Implementation of policies and measures to address climate change in economies in transition (EIT) is very complicated due to the experienced deep economic crisis. It is important to outline the efforts of EIT countries to identify their climate change policy and to recognize the most effective policies and measures achieved under these countries' special circumstances.

This paper compiles information from the policies and measures section of the National Communications of nine EIT countries. The analysis has been carried out in the framework of overall policy context and the national circumstances of EIT countries in terms of energy and economy development.

In general, policies and measures in EIT countries tend to follow the trends observed in the other Annex I Parties to the FCCC. They address primarily carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion as the most important greenhouse gas and the energy transformation sector as the major greenhouse emissions source. The most effective mitigation measures — in terms of both greenhouse gas emission reduction and costs — were energy efficiency and the promotion of non-fossil energy sources. A prevailing part of policies and measures implemented or under implementation in EIT countries were cost-effective and no-regret measures. It was considered very difficult in these countries to go beyond no-regret measures in a situation of deep economic crisis and insufficient investments.