Micromechanics of agglomeration forced by the capillary bridge: The restitution of momentum

The formation of capillary bridge formed by a liquid adsorbate is one of the main reasons for agglomeration in multiphase flows. Agglomeration takes place when the relative momentum of two colliding particles is fully consumed by the bridge. This article presents a theoretical study of the collisions of particles with adsorbed liquid taking into account the influence of capillary and viscous dissipative forces. The article proposes an approximate analytical solution for the dynamics of the bridge formed during the collision, together with a more complete numerical model, which is validated with experimental data. The restitution of the relative momentum of the colliding particles, depending on a series of dimensionless parameters characterizing the bridge, is investigated. A criterion for prediction of agglomeration, or “collision efficiency,” in a flow involving cohesive particles is given. An expression is proposed for the coefficient of restitution for the case of collision via a liquid bridge. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 4045–4057, 2013     

A review of recent observations concerning the synaptic organization of the basilar pontine nuclei

Ultrastructural studies are described that have identified in the basilar pontine nuclei (BPN), the synaptic boutons formed by the corticopontine, cerebellopontine, tectopontine, and dorsal column nucleipontine afferent projection systems. In addition, immunocytochemical studies visualized neuronal somata, dendrites, and synaptic boutons that contain immunoreactivity for GABA or the synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). Based upon differences in the mode of degeneration and postsynaptic locus of degenerative synaptic boutons in the BPN, it is suggested that two types of cortical neurons and three classes of deep cerebellar nuclear cells project to the BPN. For similar reasons, it appears that two types of neurons in the dorsal column nuclei project to the BPN while only one type of afferent synaptic bouton takes origin from the superior colliculus. Furthermore it appears that the population of BPN neurons projecting to the paramedian lobule receives convergent inputs from the cutaneous periphery and the corresponding region of sensorimotor cortex. Studies employing GAD immunohistochemistry indicate that GABA-ergic neurons and axon terminals are present in the BPN and thus support the suggestion that a local inhibitory interneuron is present within the BPN. Taken together these observations suggest that basilar pontine neurons might play a more active role in the integration of various types of information destined for the cerebellar cortex than has previously been recognized.     

Hatch-Waxman in the Federal Courts: from 1994--2004

Decisions of the federal courts play a crucial role in drug development. Litigation related to drug development and approval under the abbreviated new drug application (“ANDA”) process over the past 10 years was evaluated, examining over 300 written decisions from 22 U.S. District Courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. These written decisions represent the majority of patent litigation between brand and generic drug manufacturers. The reported data set provides critical information for the drug development and litigation strategies of both brand and generic manufacturers. The examination also provides a realistic portrayal of the anticipated outcome if a legal action is initiated.     

The effect of polydispersity on dust lifting behind shock waves

Knowledge-based modeling of dust lifting behind shock waves is a prerequisite for realistic simulation of dust explosions. Mostly numerical simulations of this process focus on dusts consisting of monodisperse particles, while real dusts are polydisperse. This article investigates the effect on the lifting process of the dust being polydisperse with a log–normal distribution of particle sizes. The spatial distribution of the various sizes in the rising layer is studied, and statistical results for the rise, the collision frequency and the particle kinetic energy are compared for polydisperse and monodisperse dusts. It is shown that a layer consisting of polydisperse particles rises significantly faster than a one consisting of monodisperse particles, all other parameters being the same.     

RNA-Mediated interference of a cdc25 homolog in Caenorhabditis elegans results in defects in the embryonic cortical membrane, meiosis, and mitosis

Infrared spectra of a carbon dioxide sample enriched with oxygen-17 have been recorded with a resolution of about 0.0025 cm-1 in the region of the laser bands near 10 and 9 μm, using the long path difference Fourier Transform Spectrometer of the LPMA in Paris. The two laser bands of the 16O12C17O and 17O12C18O species have been analyzed for the first time. Line intensities for several isotopic species have been measured in this region and the rotationless transition dipole moments and Herman-Wallis coefficients of the corresponding bands have been reported. In particular intensities, alternation in the spectra of 17O12C17O has been analyzed. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Psychometric and clinical tests of validity of the Japanese SF-36 Health Survey

Cross-sectional data from a representative sample of the general population in Japan were analyzed to test the validity of Japanese SF-36 Health Survey scales as measures of physical and mental health. Results from psychometric and clinical tests of validity were compared. Principal components analyses were used to test for the hypothesized physical and mental dimensions of health and the pattern of scale correlations with those components. To test the clinical validity of SF-36 scale scores, self-reports of chronic medical conditions and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale were used to create mutually exclusive groups differing in the severity of physical and mental conditions. The pattern of correlations between the SF-36 scales and the two empirically derived components generally confirmed hypotheses for most scales. Results of psychometric and clinical tests of validity were in agreement for the Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, Vitality, Social Functioning, and Mental Health scales. Relatively less agreement between psychometric and clinical tests of validity was observed for the Bodily Pain, General Health, and Role-Emotional scales, and the physical and mental health factor content of those scales was not consistent with hypotheses. In clinical tests of validity, the General Health, Bodily Pain, and Physical Functioning scales were the most valid scales in discriminating between groups with and without a severe physical condition. Scales that correlated highest with mental health in the components analysis (Mental Health and Vitality) also were most valid in discriminating between groups with and without depression. The results of this study provide preliminary interpretation guidelines for all SF-36 scales, although caution is recommended in the interpretation of the Role-Emotional, Bodily Pain, and General Health scales pending further studies in Japan.     

Numerical modeling of solid oxide fuel cells

This paper presents a numerical model for a planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with mixed ionic-electronic conducting electrodes. Transport of positive or negative charges, which takes place in the direction of down- or up-gradient electric potential, respectively, within the composite electrodes and through the electrolyte membrane, is mimicked by making use of an algorithm for Fickian diffusion in the commercial software. The output cell voltage, which is the potential difference between the two current collectors, is fixed at a given value. The coupled equations describing the conservation of mass, momentum and energy and the chemical and electrochemical processes are solved using the commercial package Star-CD, augmented with subroutines developed in-house. Results for the concentration of chemical species and the distributions of temperature and current density in an anode-supported SOFC with direct internal reforming are presented and discussed. The potential for using this model as a general numerical tool to study the impact of the detailed processes taking place in SOFCs is discussed.     

Numerical investigation of explosion suppression by inert particles in straight ducts

This paper is devoted to the mitigation of explosions in long galleries by means of an inert dust cloud. In practice, this technique bases on mounting shelves under the roof, on which the inert dust is distributed. This issue was numerically investigated in this research. The medium was assumed to be a two-phase mixture consisting of a fast flowing gas (representing the explosion) and a cloud of solid particles (representing the dust phase). The model makes use of the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach, where the solid particles are modelled as moving points, interacting with the gas flow. The objective was to analyse the suppression process and compare with experimental findings.