An investigation into the subambient behavior of aqueous mannitol solutions using differential scanning calorimetry, cold stage microscopy, and X-ray diffractometry

The subambient behavior of aqueous mannitol solutions is of considerable relevance to the preparation of freeze dried formulations. In this investigation the properties of 3% w/v mannitol solutions were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), cold stage microscopy (CSM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify the thermal transitions and structural transformations undergone by this system. It was found that on cooling from ambient the system formed ice at circa -20°C while a further exotherm was seen at approximately -30°C. Upon reheating an endotherm was seen at circa -30°C followed immediately by an exotherm at circa -25°C. Temperature cycling indicated that the thermal transitions observed upon reheating were not reversible. Modulated temperature DSC (MTDSC) indicated that the transitions observed upon reheating corresponded to a glass transition immediately followed by recrystallization, XRD data showed that recrystallization was into the ß form. Annealing at -35°C for 40 min prior to cooling and reheating resulted in a maximum enthalpy being observed for the reheating exotherm. It is concluded that on cooling 3% w/v aqueous mannitol solutions an amorphous phase is formed that subsequently recrystallises into the ß form. The study has also shown that DSC, CSM, and XRD are useful complementary techniques for the study of frozen systems

Characterisation and evaluation of novel surfactant bacterial anti-adherent coatings for endotracheal tubes designed for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

It is accepted that ventilator-associated pneumonia is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care patients. This study describes the physicochemical properties of novel surfactant coatings of the endotracheal tube and the resistance to microbial adherence of surfactant coated endotracheal tube polyvinylchloride (PVC). Organic solutions of surfactants containing a range of ratios of cholesterol and lecithin (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, dissolved in dichloromethane) were prepared and coated onto endotracheal tube PVC using a multiple dip-coating process. Using modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry it was confirmed that the binary surfactant systems existed as physical mixtures. The surface properties of both surfactant-coated and uncoated PVC, following treatment with either pooled human saliva or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), were characterised using dynamic contact angle analysis. Following treatment with saliva, the contact angles of PVC decreased; however, those of the coated biomaterials were unaffected, indicating different rates and extents of macromolecular adsorption from saliva onto the coated and uncoated PVC. The advancing and receding contact angles of the surfactant-coated PVC were unaffected by sonication, thereby providing evidence of the durability of the coatings. The cell surface hydrophobicity and zeta potentials of isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, following treatment with either saliva or PBS, and their adherence to uncoated and surfactant-coated PVC (that had been pre-treated with saliva) were examined. Adherence of S. aureus and Ps. aeruginosa to surfactant-coated PVC at each successive time period (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 h) was significantly lower than to uncoated PVC, the extent of the reduction frequently exceeding 90%. Interestingly, the microbial anti-adherent properties of the coatings were dependent on the lecithin content. Based on the impressive microbial anti-adherence properties and durability of the surfactant coating on PVC following dip coatings, it is proposed that these systems may usefully reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia when employed as luminal coatings of the endotracheal tube.

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of the phase transformations in titanium alloys

High-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction was used to study the phase transformations in titanium alloys. Three titanium alloys were investigated: Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo-0.08Si and beta21s. Both room and high temperature measurements were performed. The room temperature experiments were performed to study the structure of the alloys after different heat treatments, namely as received (AR), furnace cooling (FC), water quenching (WQ) and water quenching followed by ageing. The alpha, alpha', alpha'' and beta phases were observed in different combinations depending on the heat treatment conditions and the alloy studied. A multicomponent hexagonal close packed (hcp) alpha phase, with different c and the same a lattice parameters, was detected in Ti-6Al-4V after FC. High temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction was used for 'in situ' study of the transformations on the sample surface at elevated temperatures. The results were used to trace the kinetics of surface oxidation and the concurrent phase transformations taking place under different conditions. The influence of the temperature and oxygen content on the lattice parameters of the alpha phase was derived and new data obtained on the coefficients of thermal expansion in the different directions of the hcp alpha phase, for Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo-0.08Si.

Flare X-ray Observations of AB Doradus: Evidence of Stellar Coronal Opacity

X-ray spectra of the late-type star AB Dor obtained with the XMM-Newton satellite are analyzed. AB Dor was particularly active during the observations. An emission measure reconstruction technique is employed to analyze flare and quiescent spectra, with emphasis on the Fe XVII 15 - 17 angstrom wavelength region. The Fe XVII 16.78 angstrom/ 15.01 angstrom line ratio increases significantly in the hotter flare plasma. This change in the ratio is opposite to the theoretical predictions and is attributed to the scattering of 15.01 angstrom line photons from the line of sight. The escape probability technique indicates an optical depth of approximate to 0.4 for the 15.01 angstrom line. During the flare, the electron density is 4.4(-1.6)(+2.7) x 10(10) cm(-3), and the fractional Fe abundance is 0.5 +/- 0.1 of the solar photospheric value Using these parameters, a path length of approximate to 8000 km is derived. There is no evidence of opacity in the quiescent X-ray spectrum of the star.

An investigation into the use of atomic datasets in simulations of the Ni-like gadolinium x-ray laser

The effect of differing the datasets used in the modelling of the Ni-like Gd x-ray laser (XRL) is examined through the 1.50 hydro-atomic code, EHYBRID. Two atomic datasets, including energy levels and radiative and collisional excitation rates, are used as input data for the code. It is found that the behaviour of the XRL is somewhat different than might be expected from superficial examination of the atomic data. The similarities in the gain profiles at low densities are found to have encouraging implications. in our attempts to model XRLs.

X-ray and extreme-ultraviolet emission from the coronae of Capella

The primary objective of this work is the analysis and interpretation of coronal observations of Capella obtained in 1999 September with the High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer on the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE). He-like lines of O (O vii) are used to derive a density of 1.7 x 10(10) cm(-3) for the coronae of the binary, consistent with the upper limits derived from Fe xxi, Ne ix and Mg xi line ratios. Previous estimates of the electron density based on Fe xxi should be considered as upper limits. We construct emission measure distributions and compare the theoretical and observed spectra to conclude that the coronal material has a temperature distribution that peaks around 4-6 MK, implying that the coronae of Capella were significantly cooler than in the previous years. In addition, we present an extended line list with over 100 features in the 5-24 Angstrom wavelength range, and find that the X-ray spectrum is very similar to that of a solar flare observed with SMM. The observed to theoretical Fe xvii 15.012-Angstrom line intensity reveals that opacity has no significant effect on the line flux. We derive an upper limit to the optical depth, which we combine with the electron density to derive an upper limit of 3000 km for the size of the Fe xvii emitting region. In the same context, we use the Si iv transition region lines of Capella from HST/Goddard High-Resolution Spectrometer observations to show that opacity can be significant at T = 10(5) K, and derive a path-length of approximate to 75 kin for the transition region. Both the coronal and transition region observations are consistent with very small emitting regions, which could be explained by small loops over the stellar surfaces.

Improved data for solar flare X-ray spectral analysis

The inclusion of collisional rates for He-like Fe and Ca ions is discussed with reference to the analysis of solar flare Fe XXV and Ca XIX line emission, particularly from the Yohkoh Bragg Crystal Spectrometer (BCS). The new data are a slight improvement on calculations presently used in the BCS analysis software in that the discrepancy in the Fe XXV y and z line intensities (observed larger than predicted) is reduced. Values of electron temperature from satellite-to-resonance line ratios are slightly reduced (by up to 1 MK) for a given observed ratio. The new atomic data will be incorporated in the Yohkoh BCS databases. The data should also be of interest for the analysis of high-resolution, non-solar spectra expected from the Constellation-X and Astro-E space missions. A comparison is made of a tokamak S XV spectrum with a synthetic spectrum using atomic data in the existing software and the agreement is found to be good, so validating these data for particularly high-n satellite wavelengths close to the S XV resonance line. An error in a data file used for analyzing BCS Fe XXVI spectra is corrected, so permitting analysis of these spectra.

Modeling X-ray photoionized plasmas produced at the Sandia Z-facility

In experiments at the high-power Z-facility at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we have been able to produce a low density photoionized laboratory plasma of Fe mixed with NaF. The conditions in the experiment allow a meaningful comparison with X-ray emission from astrophysical sources. The charge state distributions of Fe, Na and F are determined in this plasma using high resolution X-ray spectroscopy. Independent measurements of the density and radiation flux indicate unprecedented values for the ionization parameter xi = 20-25 erg cm s(-1) under nearly steady-state conditions. First comparisons of the measured charge state distributions with X-ray photoionization models show reasonable agreement, although many questions remain.

Plasma-based studies with intense X-ray and particle beam sources

The construction of short pulse (