Analysis of supersaturation and nucleation in a moving solution droplet with flowing supercritical carbon dioxide

A supercritical antisolvent (SAS) process is employed for production of solid nanoparticles from atomized droplets of dilute solution in a flowing supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO₂) stream by attaining extremely high, very rapid, and uniform supersaturation. This is facilitated by a two‐way mass transfer of CO₂ and solvent, to and from the droplet respectively, rendering rapid reduction in equilibrium solubility of the solid solute in the ternary solution. The present work analyses the degree of supersaturation and nucleation kinetics in a single droplet of cholesterol solution in acetone during its flight in a flowing SC CO₂ stream. Both temperature and composition are assumed to be uniform within the droplet, and their variations with time are calculated by balancing the heat and mass transfer fluxes to and from the droplet. The equilibrium solubility of cholesterol with CO₂ dissolution has been predicted as being directly proportional to the Partial Molar Volume Fraction (PMVF) of acetone in the binary (CO₂–acetone) system. The degree of supersaturation has been simulated up to the time required to attain almost zero cholesterol solubility in the droplet for evaluating the rate of nucleation and the size of the stable critical nuclei formed. The effects of process parameters have been analysed in the pressure range of 7.1–35.0 MPa, temperature range of 313–333 K, SC CO₂ flow rate of 0.1136–1.136 mol s^?1, the ratio of the volumetric flow rates of CO₂‐to‐solution in the range of 100–1000, and the initial mole fraction of cholesterol in acetone solution in the range of 0.0025–0.010. The results confirm an extremely high and rapid increase in degree of supersaturation, very high nucleation rates and stable critical nucleus diameter of the order of a nanometre. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chlorophyll and plankton of the Gulf coastal waters of Saudi Arabia bordering a desalination plant

As on land, plants are the real producers in the sea, and on them depend all marine living resources and the basic sustainability of ecosystems. Primary production is performed by chlorophyll-bearing plants ranging from the tiny phytoplankton to the giant kelps through the process ofphotosynthesis. Zooplankton play an important role as secondary producers, and together with phytoplankton they support the vast assemblages of marine food chain with all their diversity and complexity. Data on chlorophyll pigments, phytoplankton and zooplankton are regarded as a sound basis for environmental appraisal of ecosystems. This paper presents a set of data collected from the Saudi Arabian coastal waters near the desalination plants in AI-Jubail. Materials were collected from six different sites covering the intake and discharge zones during cruises carried out in 1997-1998. Analyses of chlorophyll pigments were made using the spectrophotometric method. Plankton samples were collected using a Nansen plankton net with a mesh size of 75 μ and analyzed following standard procedures. Chlorophyll a, b, c and phaeophytin are the most commonly occurring pigments in seawater. Their concentrations showed wide fluctuation. The phytoplankton community was composed of 35 genera representing the Diatoms, Dinoflagellates and blue- green algae. Zooplankton were composed ofProtozoa, Coelenterata, Ctenophora, Aschelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata and Chordata. Arthropoda, represented by Cladocera, Copepoda and Crustacean larvae, formed the largest group followed by Chordata. The distribution of phyto- and zooplankton was examined and discussed on a seasonal, annual and inter-annual basis. In terms of species, overall species composition was not affected by plant discharge. The study brings out a greater understanding of the changes experienced by biotic communities as a result of impingement, entrainment and entrapment consequent to water passage through the plant structures. The study reflects the ecological relationships that the phytoplankton and the zooplankton of the region possess with respect to intake and discharge. Further, the study has brought to light a very redeeming feature of the ecosystem to sustain its productivity and planktonic abundance. It was observed that seawater temperature, conductivity and total suspended solids did not act as limiting factors. Besides throwing much light on the little known biological aspects of desalination sites, the data provided constitute a significant addition to the knowledge base of marine living resources in an industrial zone of Gulf coastal waters.     

Usage patterns,health, and nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users: a cross-sectional study

Background  

Dietary supplement use in the United States is prevalent and represents an important source of nutrition. However, little is known about individuals who routinely consume multiple dietary supplements. This study describes the dietary supplement usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users, and where possible makes comparisons to non-users and multivitamin/mineral supplement users.     

Interpenetrating polymer networks based on nitrile rubber and metal methacrylates

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on nitrile rubber (NBR) as first component and zinc dimethacrylate (ZnDMA), aluminum trimethacrylate (AlTMA), or zirconium tetramethacrylates (ZrTeMA) as second component were synthesized. Sequential IPNs (SeqIPN) were formed by two routes such as compression molding (CM) and swelling/curing (SC). The IPNs were found to have superior properties compared to metal oxide/hydroxide‐filled NBR. Tensile strength has increased to a large extent while maintaining appreciable elongation. Total crosslink density (covalent and ionic) was found to increase in the order NBR/metal oxide or hydroxide < SeqIPN(CM route) < SeqIPN (SC route). IPNs are found to retain high storage modulus even in the rubbery region. It is observed that change of technique for IPN formation has drastically changed the modulus of the present system. Decrease in tan δ value and inward shifting of peaks were observed because of IPN formation. Morphology of SeqIPN by SC process was found to be more uniform compared to others. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 2542–2548, 2006     

Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspective

In the field of anxiety research, animal models are used as screening tools in the search for compounds with therapeutic potential and as simulations for research on mechanism underlying emotional behaviour. However, a solely pharmacological approach to the validation of such tests has resulted in distinct problems with their applicability to systems other than those involving the benzodiazepine/GABAA receptor complex. In this context, recent developments in our understanding of mammalian defensive behaviour have not only prompted the development of new models but also attempts to refine existing ones. The present review focuses on the application of ethological techniques to one of the most widely used animal models of anxiety, the elevated plus-maze paradigm. This fresh approach to an established test has revealed a hitherto unrecognized multidimensionality to plus-maze behaviour and, as it yields comprehensive behavioural profiles, has many advantages over conventional methodology. This assertion is supported by reference to recent work on the effects of diverse manipulations including psychosocial stress, benzodiazepines, GABA receptor ligands, neurosteroids, 5-HT1A receptor ligands, and panicolytic/panicogenic agents. On the basis of this review, it is suggested that other models of anxiety may well benefit from greater attention to behavioural detail.     

Numerical study of mixed convective heat transfer in a lid‐driven enclosure with rotating cylinders

A numerical simulation is performed to characterize the mixed convective transport in a three‐dimensional square lid‐driven enclosure with two rotating cylinders. The top wall is moving in the positive x‐direction, and the bottom wall is at a higher fixed temperature compared with all other isothermal walls. Both cylinders are rotating in its own plane about their centroidal axis. On the basis of rotation of both cylinders in clockwise or counter‐clockwise directions, four rotational models are studied. Various controlling parameters considered in the present study are Grashof number (10 ³ < Gr < 10 ⁵), rotating speed of the cylinder (5 < ω < 50), and the Reynolds number based on top wall movement is fixed to 100. The effect of cylinder rotation on the heat transfer of bottom wall is reported with the help of streamlines, contour plots of z‐component of vorticity, averaged and local Nusselt number, ratios of secondary flow and drag coefficient. It is observed that the heat transfer at the bottom wall is substantially dependent on the rotational model and rotational speed of the cylinder.     

Studies on semi‐interpenetrating polymer network based on nitrile rubber and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Sequential interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on nitrile rubber and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were synthesized. IPN compositions were varied by varying the swelling time. Two methods were adopted for making IPNs. The first method is “single‐step IPN” (SIPN) and the second method is “multistep IPN” (MIPN). The compositions were fixed around 90, 80, 70, 60 and 50% of NBR. In SIPN mode, swelling in monomer and subsequent curing was done once. In MIPN mode, swelling in monomer and curing was repeatedly done. Tensile strength of IPNs was found to increase with PMMA content, MIPN showing higher strength compared to SIPN. Dynamic modulus showed a similar trend. The tan δ value was found to decrease with PMMA content. At 62/38 nitrile rubber (NBR)/PMMA, MIPN composition isolated tan δ peaks appeared near glass transition temperatures of NBR and PMMA, respectively. Scanning electron micrograph showed phase‐separated morphology at the same MIPN composition. Solvent resistance increased with IPN formation maintaining higher resistance for MIPN compared to SIPN. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 354–360, 2004     

A simple and versatile overcurrent protection circuit for power MOSFETs

This paper proposes an overcurrent protection (OCP) circuit for power MOSFETs employed in low voltage power converters. The proposed configuration requires only discrete components with a gate driver IC and uses the voltage drop across the device for overcurrent detection. It can operate independently in cycle-by-cycle shutdown and multiple cycle shutdown modes. In coordination with a micro-controller based driver IC input signal generator and controller, the proposed OCP circuit can also operate in a single cycle latch-up and hiccup OCP modes. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated experimentally at both, hard and soft fault conditions. By experimentation, it is shown that the proposed circuit can operate in various protection modes and capable of protecting a MOSFET in both, hard and soft fault conditions.     

Synergistic effect of carbon black and nanoclay fillers in styrene butadiene rubber matrix: Development of dual structure

Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) based hybrid nanocomposites containing carbon black (CB) and organo-modified nanoclay (NC) was prepared. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the presence of intercalated, aggregated, and partially exfoliated structures. Incorporating 10 phr NC to the control SBR containing 20 phr CB resulted 153% increase in tensile strength, 157% increase in elongation at break and 144% stress improvement at 100% strain, which showed synergistic effect between the fillers. The dynamic modulus reinforcement of nanocomposites was examined by the Guth, Modified Guth, and Halpin–Tsai equations. For predicting CB filled nanocomposite modulus, the contribution of modified intercalated structure of clay and the ‘nano-unit’ (dual structure) comprising CB–NC should be considered.     

Parameters controlling supersaturation by DELOS using carbon dioxide

The present work pertains to estimation of the maximum degree of supersaturation that can be attained in an organic solution by the DELOS process using carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a cosolvent. The paper analyzes the effects of initial mole fraction of carbon dioxide, temperature and pressure on the degree of supersaturation of cholesterol in a CO₂—acetone—cholesterol solution. It has been observed that owing to liberation of large amounts of CO₂ very large temperature drops may be attained by depressurization, resulting in attainment of very high supersaturation. Within the ranges of the parameters studied in this work, the degree of supersaturation is higher with higher values of initial temperature and initial CO₂ mole fraction of the solution due to inverse interdependence of the final temperature and the residual CO₂ mole fraction in the depressurized solution. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry