Computer simulation of the gas separation properties of zeolite Li-X

The criteria determining the effectiveness of a particular zeolite for gas separation are the physical pore size and the location, size, and charge of any cations present. To date the experimentalist has had to use a great deal of intuition when selecting a zeolite for a specific use. Computer modelling of such systems, using a Grand Canonical Monte Carlo method, has been successful in elucidating the behaviour of adsorbates in a wide range of systems. Successful predictions for adsorption isotherms for nitrogen, oxygen and argon have been previously reported by the authors for zeolites A, X and Y with calcium and sodium cations.The aim of the work reported in this paper is to investigate the air separation properties of a different, although similar system namely: zeolite X with lithium cations. The simulations performed using Cerius² molecular modelling software are able to predict adsorption isotherms for nitrogen and oxygen gases, both as single component, and as binary mixtures in Li-X. Further the predicted equilibrium separation factor is calculated to be in the range of 6 to 13 at room temperature, making this system ideal for the preferential adsorption of nitrogen and production of oxygen.     

Developing a RAD standard

The UK's Dynamic Systems Development Method Consortium has identified the special characteristics of RAD (rapid application development) projects and published a first version of a development standard. The three critical success factors are: easy access to end users, a stable and skilled development team, and a commercial application     

Cerebral glucose utilization is reduced in second test session

Cerebral glucose utilization was higher during the first positron emission tomography (PET) session than during the second session, as assayed using the PET [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose method in male human volunteers. This difference was due largely to data from subjects with low-trait anxiety, since subjects with high anxiety showed similar metabolism in both PET sessions. High-anxiety subjects showed greater right/ left ratios of cerebral metabolism than low-anxiety subjects, particularly during the second PET session. These findings suggest that the level of anxiety may be an important variable to consider in PET studies using multiple sessions.     

Future of Ironmaking

It has been predicted that production rates as high as 4000 tpd of hot metal will be achieved by some blast furnaces by 1972. Based on data from the 10 blast furnaces in the United States that are topmost in production, the operating improvements necessary to attain this goal are discussed in detail. The more important improvements include:increase in hot-blast temperature, incorporation of more flux in the agglomerates, greater uniformity in the chemistry and size-consist of coke and iron-bearing materials, increase in top pressure, and oxygen enrichment of the blast. In addition, such factors as furnace and casthouse size and charging operations are discussed in relation to achieving the goal.     

Multi-frequency SAR images of ship-generated internal waves

During the joint U.K./U.S.A. experiment conducted in the Loch Linnhe, Scotland, U.K., in 1989, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) multifrequency airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) was deployed to investigate the relation between the SAR images and ship-generated internal waves. One of the intriguing results, consistent throughout the experiment, was the striking difference in phase (position) between the images of internal wave wakes in the P-band ( 68cm) wavelength and those in L-band ( 24 cm) and C-band ( 6 cm) wavelengths. An explanation for this difference is found in the sensitivity of different radar wavelengths to oceanic surface waves in different ranges of wavelengths, that are perturbed by varying surface currents by different amounts and at different positions, depending on the wavelength of surface waves.     

The use of the Zebris motion analysis system for measuring cervical spine movements in vivo

The cervical spine exhibits the greatest range of motion among the spinal segments due to the complex interaction of its triplanar components of movement. As a result, measurement of movements of the cervical spine and of the various orthoses used in cervical spine injuries has proved difficult with no one method proving satisfactory. This paper uses the Zebris ultrasonic three-dimensional motion analysis system to measure flexion, extension, range of lateral bending, and range of axial rotation in five similar male and five similar female subjects with no history of neck injuries. The subjects were tested unrestrained and in soft and hard collars, as well as in Philadelphia, Miami J, and Minerva orthoses. Results show that the Minerva is the most stable construct for restriction of movement in all planes in both groups. Looking at these results allows ranking of the measured orthoses in order of their three-dimensional stability. Furthermore, by presenting reproducible data incorporating the composite triplanar movements of the cervical spine, thus allowing comparative analysis of the studied orthoses, they propose the Zebris as a reliable, repeatable, and safe method of measurement of cervical spine motion with low intersubject variability.