Konjac- ja galaktoglukomannaanipohjaiset emulsiokalvot

Emulsiokalvolla tarkoitetaan kalvoa, joka on valmistettu haihduttamalla ylimääräinen vesi pois emulsiosta. Polysakkaridipohjainen emulsiokalvo koostuu kalvonmuodostuspolysakkaridista, rasvasta, emulgointiaineesta ja pehmittimestä. Kirjallisuusosassa selvitettiin, mitä raaka-aineita polysakkaridipohjaisissa emulsiokalvoissa käytetään ja mitkä tekijät vaikuttavat emulsiokalvojen vesihöyrynläpäisevyyteen ja mekaanisiin ominaisuuksiin. Tutkimuksen kokeellisen osan tavoitteena oli selvittää, miten konjac-glukomannaani (KGM) ja kuusen galaktoglukomannaani (GGM) soveltuvat emulsiokalvon raaka-aineiksi. Lisäksi selvitettiin, miten rasvan tyyppi ja rasvapitoisuus vaikuttavat GGM-KGM-pohjaisten emulsiokalvojen mekaanisiin ominaisuuksiin ja vesihöyrynläpäisevyyteen. Mehiläisvahasta, mäntyöljystä ja rypsiöljystä valmistettiin emulsiokalvot, joissa oli 30 %:n (paino-% GGM:sta) rasvapitoisuudet. Lisäksi mehiläisvahasta valmistettiin emulsiokalvot, joissa oli 10 ja 50 % mehiläisvahaa. Emulsiokalvoja verrattiin vertailukalvoon, jossa ei ollut rasvaa. Kalvoissa käytetty KGM:n ja GGM:n suhde oli 1:1. Kalvoista mitattiin vesihöyrynläpäisevyys ja -läpäisynopeus, vetolujuus, Youngin moduuli ja murtovenymä. Näiden lisäksi kalvojen poikkileikkaus kuvattiin pyyhkäisyelektronimikroskoopilla. GGM ja KGM soveltuvat emulsiokalvon raaka-aineiksi. Huoneenlämpötilassa kuivatuista kalvoista saatiin tasaisemman näköisiä kuin lämpökaapissa kuivatuista. Pyyhkäisyelektronimikroskooppikuvissa vahapisarat olivat öljypisaroita pienempiä, mikä mahdollisesti vaikutti siihen, että vahapisarat pysyivät paremmin kiinnittyneenä kalvomatriisissa. Öljypisaroiden koko oli kalvoissa noin 10 ?m ja vahapisaroiden 2–6 ?m. Vesihöyrynläpäisynopeus oli pienin 50 %:n mehiläisvahakalvolla (p < 0,05). Vesihöyrynläpäisevyys laski lineaarisesti mehiläisvahapitoisuuden suurentuessa. Öljykalvot ja 10 %:n mehiläisvahakalvo eivät eronneet tilastollisesti merkitsevästi vesihöyrynläpäisevyyden suhteen vertailukalvosta. Pienin vetolujuus ja Youngin moduuli oli 50 %:n mehiläisvahakalvolla. Vertailukalvo oli kestävin ja jäykin. Murtovenymän suhteen kalvot eivät eronneet toisistaan tilastollisesti merkitsevästi. Tutkimuksessa onnistuttiin valmistamaan GGM-KGM-pohjaisia emulsiokalvoja, jotka pidättivät vesihöyryä vertailukalvoa paremmin ja silti säilyttivät mekaaniset ominaisuutensa kohtuullisen hyvin.

Harvesting undelimbed Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from first thinnings for integrated production of kraft pulp and energy

The present study evaluates the feasibility of undelimbed Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) for integrated production of pulp and energy in a kraft pulp mill from the technical, economic and environmental points of view, focusing on the potential of bundle harvesting. The feasibility of tree sections for pulp production was tested by conducting an industrial wood-handling experiment, laboratory cooking and bleaching trials, using conventional small-diameter Scots pine pulpwood as a reference. These trials showed that undelimbed Scots pine sections can be processed in favourable conditions as a blend with conventional small-diameter pulpwood without reducing the pulp quality. However, fibre losses at various phases of the process may increase when using undelimbed material. In the economic evaluation, both pulp production and wood procurement costs were considered, using the relative wood paying capability of a kraft pulp mill as a determinant. The calculations were made for three Scots pine first-thinning stands with the breast-height diameter of the removal (6 12 cm) as the main distinctive factor. The supply chains included in the comparison were based on cut-to-length harvesting, whole-tree harvesting and bundle harvesting (whole-tree bundling). With the current ratio of pulp and energy prices, the wood paying capability declines with an increase in the proportion of the energy fraction of the raw material. The supply system based on the cut-to-length method was the most efficient option, resulting in the highest residual value at stump in most cases. A decline in the pulp price and an increase in the energy price improved the competitiveness of the whole-tree systems. With short truck transportation distances and low pulp prices, however, the harvesting of loose whole trees can result in higher residual value at stump in small-diameter stands. While savings in transportation costs did not compensate for the high cutting and compaction costs by the second prototype of the bundle harvester, an increase in transportation distances improved its competitiveness. Since harvesting undelimbed assortments increases nutrient export from the site, which can affect soil productivity, the whole-tree alternatives included in the present study cannot be recommended on infertile peatlands and mineral soils. The harvesting of loose whole trees or bundled whole trees implies a reduction in protective logging residues and an increase in site traffic or payloads. These factors increase the risk of soil damage, especially on peat soils with poor bearing capacity. Within the wood procurement parameters which were examined, the CO2 emissions of the supply systems varied from 13 27 kg m3. Compaction of whole trees into bundles reduced emissions from transportation by 30 39%, but these reductions were insufficient to compensate for the increased emissions from cutting and compaction.

Acute toxicity of methyl isocyanate in rabbit: In vitro and in vivo effects on rabbit erythrocyte membrane

Methyl isocyanate (MIC) interaction with the rabbit erythrocyte membrane increased the fluidity of the membrane and decreased the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes both in vitro and in vivo in rabbits intoxicated with MIC subcutaneously. MIC inhibited both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities of erythrocytes dose-dependently in vitro, while in vivo a decreased trend in ATPase activity with unaltered AChE activity was observed. MIC also caused significant decrease in plasma sodium level with corresponding increase in potassium level in rabbits. The observed effects are due to MIC, per se, as the hydrolysis products of MIC, methylamine and N,Nprime-dimethylurea did not affect the erythrocyte fluidity and enzymes activities both in vitro and in vivo while they increased the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in vivo in rabbits administered subcutaneously in equimolar concentration to MIC dosage. Inhibition of Na+-K+-dependent ATPase with altered permeability to cations and also probably water transport of plasma membrane due to MIC interaction are envisaged.

Literature Review: Investigating Drug Transport at the Blood-Brain Barrier and the Effects of P-glycoprotein on the Brain Distribution of Drugs.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a unique barrier that strictly regulates the entry of endogenous substrates and xenobiotics into the brain. This is due to its tight junctions and the array of transporters and metabolic enzymes that are expressed. The determination of brain concentrations in vivo is difficult, laborious and expensive which means that there is interest in developing predictive tools of brain distribution. Predicting brain concentrations is important even in early drug development to ensure efficacy of central nervous system (CNS) targeted drugs and safety of non-CNS drugs. The literature review covers the most common current in vitro, in vivo and in silico methods of studying transport into the brain, concentrating on transporter effects. The consequences of efflux mediated by p-glycoprotein, the most widely characterized transporter expressed at the BBB, is also discussed. The aim of the experimental study was to build a pharmacokinetic (PK) model to describe p-glycoprotein substrate drug concentrations in the brain using commonly measured in vivo parameters of brain distribution. The possibility of replacing in vivo parameter values with their in vitro counterparts was also studied. All data for the study was taken from the literature. A simple 2-compartment PK model was built using the Stella™ software. Brain concentrations of morphine, loperamide and quinidine were simulated and compared with published studies. Correlation of in vitro measured efflux ratio (ER) from different studies was evaluated in addition to studying correlation between in vitro and in vivo measured ER. A Stella™ model was also constructed to simulate an in vitro transcellular monolayer experiment, to study the sensitivity of measured ER to changes in passive permeability and Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameter values. Interspecies differences in rats and mice were investigated with regards to brain permeability and drug binding in brain tissue. Although the PK brain model was able to capture the concentration-time profiles for all 3 compounds in both brain and plasma and performed fairly well for morphine, for quinidine it underestimated and for loperamide it overestimated brain concentrations. Because the ratio of concentrations in brain and blood is dependent on the ER, it is suggested that the variable values cited for this parameter and its inaccuracy could be one explanation for the failure of predictions. Validation of the model with more compounds is needed to draw further conclusions. In vitro ER showed variable correlation between studies, indicating variability due to experimental factors such as test concentration, but overall differences were small. Good correlation between in vitro and in vivo ER at low concentrations supports the possibility of using of in vitro ER in the PK model. The in vitro simulation illustrated that in the simulation setting, efflux is significant only with low passive permeability, which highlights the fact that the cell model used to measure ER must have low enough paracellular permeability to correctly mimic the in vivo situation.

Simultaneous heat and mass transfer under unsteady mixed convection along a vertical slender cylinder embedded in a porous medium

Unsteady laminar mixed convection flow (combined free and forced convection flow) along a vertical slender cylinder embedded in a porous medium under the combined buoyancy effect of thermal and species diffusion has been studied. The effect of the permeability of the medium as well as the magnetic field has been included in the analysis. The partial differential equations with three independent variables governing the flow have been solved numerically using a implicit finite difference scheme in combination with the quasilinearization technique. Computations have been carried out for accelerating, decelerating and oscillatory free stream velocity distributions. The effects of the permeability of the medium, buoyancy forces, transverse curvature and magnetic field on skin friction, heat transfer and mass transfer have been studied. It is found that the effect of free stream velocity distribution is more pronounced on the skin friction than on the heat and mass transfer. The permeability and magnetic parameters increase the skin friction, but reduce the heat and mass transfer. The skin friction, heat transfer and mass transfer are enhanced due to the buoyancy forces and curvature parameter. The heat transfer is strongly dependent on the viscous dissipation parameter and the Prandtl number, and the mass transfer on the Schmidt number. Untersucht wurde die instationäre laminare Mischkonvektion längs eines vertikalen, in einem porösen Medium eingebetteten Zylinders unter kombinierten Auftriebseffekten von thermischer und spezieller Diffusion. Der Einfluß der Permeabilität des Mediums sowie des magnetischen Feldes wurden in die Betrachtung einbezogen. Die partiellen Differentialgleichungen mit drei unabhängigen Variablen, welche die Strömung beschreiben, wurde numerisch anhand des Schemas der endlichen Differenzen in Verbindung mit der Technik der Quasilinearisation gelöst. Berechnungen für die beschleunigte, verzögerte und oszillierende Geschwindigkeitsverteilung der freien Strömung sind durchgeführt worden. Untersucht wurden ebenfalls die Effekte der Permeabilität des Mediums, der Auftriebskräfte, der transversalen Krümmung, des magnetischen Feldes auf die Oberflächenreibung sowie die Wärmeund Stoffübertragung. Es wurde festgestellt, daß die Geschwindigkeit mehr Einfluß auf die Oberflächenreibung als auf die Wärmeund Stoffübertragung hat. Die Oberflächenreibung sowie die Wärme- und Stoffübertragung werden durch die Auftriebskräfte und die Krümmungsparameter verbessert. Die Wärmeübertragung ist stark abhängig von den Parametern der viskosen Dissipation und der Prandtl-Zahl; die Stoffübertragung von der Schmidt-Zahl.

Modified-Pore-Filled-PVDF-Membrane Electrolytes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

The polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane is modified by the chemical etchant-route employing a sodium naphthalene charge-transfer complex followed by impregnation with Nafion ionomer or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) polymeric blend solutions by a dip-coating technique to form pore-filled-membrane electrolytes for application in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The number of coatings on the surface-modified PVDF membrane is varied between 5 and 15 and is found to be optimum at 10 layers both for Nafion and PVA-PSSA impregnations for effective DMFC performance. Hydrophilicity of the modified-membrane electrolytes is studied by determining average contact angle and surface-wetting energy. Morphology of the membranes is analyzed by a cross-sectional scanning electron microscope. The modified PVDF membrane electrolytes are characterized for their water-methanol sorption in conjunction with their mechanical properties, proton conductivity, and DMFC performance. Air permeability for the modified membranes is studied by a capillary-flow porometer. Methanol crossover flux across modified-PVDF-membrane electrolytes is studied by measuring the mass balance of methanol using a density meter. DMFCs employing membrane electrode assemblies with the modified PVDF membranes exhibit a peak power-density of 83 mW/cm(2) with Nafion impregnation and 59 mW/cm(2) for PVA-PSSA impregnation, respectively. Among the membranes studied here, stabilities of modified-pore-filled PVDF-Nafion and PVDF-PVA-PSSA membranes with 10-layers coat are promising for application in DMFCs. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. DOI: 10.1149/1.3518774] All rights reserved.

Tropical Clays .1. Index Properties And Microstructural Aspects

Soils showing changes in plasticity characteristics upon driving form an important group in tropical soils. These changes are attributed to the grouping of particles into aggregates either due to mineralogy or presence of cementing agents and/or pore fluid characteristics. These changes are found to be permanent. In this paper, the effect of these changes leading to changes in index properties is discussed. The coefficient of permeability has been found to be comparable at liquid limit water content for different soils of varying liquid limit values. Permeability is an indirect reflection of microstructure and indicates the flow rate, which depends upon pore geometry. Other mechanical properties like compressibility and shear strength also depend upon pore geometry. These microstructural aspects of liquid limit as a reference state for the analysis of engineering behavior of tropical soils are examined in detail.

Consolidation behavior of clayey soils under radial drainage

For Barren's degree of consolidation, U-r, versus the time factor, T-r, relationship for soils undergoing consolidation with radial drainage for the equal vertical strain condition, a simple method has been developed to determine the value of the coefficient of consolidation with radial drainage c(r). Theoretical log(10)(d(e)(2)/t) versus U-r curves where d(e) is the diameter of influence and r is the real time for the different known value of c(r) have been generated. A method has been developed wherein both the theoretical and experimental behaviors of soils undergoing consolidation with radial drainage can be simultaneously compared and studied on the same plot. The experimental log(10)(d(e)(2)/t) versus U-r curves have been compared with the theoretical curves. Effects of initial compression, secondary compression, and duration of load increment are studied. Simple procedures are presented for calculating the values of c(r) using the experimental log(10)(d(e)(2)/t) versus U-r curves. A comparative study of the coefficient of consolidation and the coefficient of permeability between the cases of vertical and radial drainage has been done.

Structural and vibrational studies of the layered structure solid Fe1 ? xNixPS3 (1 greater-or-equal, slanted x greater-or-equal, slanted 0)

We report here the results of structural and vibrational studies on the solid solution Fe1 ? xNixPS3 (1 greater-or-equal, slanted x greater-or-equal, slanted 0) systems. From the structural analysis, we show that there is a lattice compaction as the composition x is varied from 0 to 1, the basic lattice symmetry being maintained. We find that the compaction is more in the basal plane. These subtle structural changes are also reflected in the vibrational bands. We observed splitting of certain bands due to these small changes in the lattice constants, which we explained as arising from a correlation splitting. These changes in the vibrational bands have also been seen on cooling where there is a preferential thermal compaction in the basal plane compared to that perpendicular to the plane.

Effect of Speed and Pressure on Dry Sliding Interactions of Alumina against Steel

Sliding of alumina (87%) pins against a hardened steel disk over a range of pressures (3.3-30.0 MPa) and speeds (0.1-12.0 ms(-1)) has been studied. Four different regions (R1, R2, R3, and R4) of friction as a function of speed have been identified. R1 and RS exhibit single-valued friction while in R2 and R4 the friction exhibits dual behavior. The speed range over which these regions prevail is sensitive to the pressure. R1 and R2 are low-speed and low-temperature regions, and in both, metal transfer and formation and compaction of gamma-Fe2O3 occur. R3 and R4 are associated with high speeds and high interface temperatures. Formation of FeO, FeAl2O4, and FeAlO3 has been observed. The implications of the tribochemical interactions on friction and wear characteristics are discussed.

The effect of surface mass transfer on buoyancy induced flow in a variable porosity medium adjacent to a vertical heated plate

The effect of surface mass transfer on buoyancy induced flow in a variable porosity medium adjacent to a heated vertical plate is studied for high Rayleigh numbers. Similarity solutions are obtained within the frame work of boundary layer theory for a power law variation in surface temperature,T Wpropx lambda and surface injectionv Wpropx(lambda–1/2). The analysis incorporates the expression connecting porosity and permeability and also the expression connecting porosity and effective thermal diffusivity. The influence of thermal dispersion on the flow and heat transfer characteristics are also analysed in detail. The results of the present analysis document the fact that variable porosity enhances heat transfer rate and the magnitude of velocity near the wall. The governing equations are solved using an implicit finite difference scheme for both the Darcy flow model and Forchheimer flow model, the latter analysis being confined to an isothermal surface and an impermeable vertical plate. The influence of the intertial terms in the Forchheimer model is to decrease the heat transfer and flow rates and the influence of thermal dispersion is to increase the heat transfer rate.

Angelica archengelica extract induced perturbation of rat skin and tight junctional protein (ZO-1) of HaCaT cells

Background and purpose of the study: Herbal enhancers compared to the synthetic ones have shown less toxis effects. Coumarins have been shown at concentrations inhibiting phospoliphase C-Y (Phc-Y) are able to enhance tight junction (TJ) permeability due to hyperpoalation of Zonolous Occludense-1 (ZO-1) proteins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of ethanolic extract of Angelica archengelica (AA-E) which contain coumarin on permeation of repaglinide across rat epidermis and on the tight junction plaque protein ZO-1 in HaCaT cells. Methods: Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) from the rat skin treated with different concentrations of AA-E was assessed by Tewameter. Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) on were performed on AA-E treated rat skin portions. The possibility of AA-E influence on the architecture of tight junctions by adverse effect on the cytoplasmic ZO-1 in HaCaT cells was investigated. Finally, the systemic delivery of repaglinide from the optimized transdermal formulation was investigated in rats. Results: The permeation of repaglinide across excised rat epidermis was 7-fold higher in the presence of AA-E (5% w/v) as compared to propylene glycol:ethanol (7:3) mixture. The extract was found to perturb the lipid microconstituents in both excised and viable rat skin, although, the effect was less intense in the later. The enhanced permeation of repaglinide across rat epidermis excised after treatment with AA-E (5% w/v) for different periods was in concordance with the high TEWL values of similarly treated viable rat skin. Further, the observed increase in intercellular space, disordering of lipid structure and corneocyte detachment indicated considerable effect on the ultrastructure of rat epidermis. Treatment of HaCaT cell line with AA-E (0.16% w/v) for 6 hrs influenced ZO-1 as evidenced by reduced immunofluorescence of anti-TJP1 (ZO-1) antibody in Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy studies (CLSM) studies. The plasma concentration of repaglinide from transdermal formulation was maintained higher and for longer time as compared to oral administration of repaglinide. Major conclusion: Results suggest the overwhelming influence of Angelica archengelica in enhancing the percutaneous permeation of repaglinide to be mediated through perturbation of skin lipids and tight junction protein (ZO-1).

Steady state three-dimensional mathematical model for cupola

A three-dimensional mathematical model has been developed to simulate the gas flow, composition, and temperature profiles inside a cupola. Comparison of the model with the reported experimental data shows the presence of a zone with low combustion rate at the tuyere level. For a 24 in (610 mm) cupola with four rows of tuyeres, the combustion zones from each tuyere overlap each other, forming an overall combustion zone of cylindrical shape of height similar to 0.2 m. Using the model, it is found that the spout temperature initially increases with increasing blast velocity and attains a maximum. Further increase in blast velocity does not change the spout temperature. This suggests that smaller size tuyeres and higher permeability of the bed can give superior cupola performance. (C) 1997 The Institute of Materials.

Simplified seepage consolidation test for soft sediments

The consistency of very soft sediments prevents the conventional oedometer test from being applied to study their compressibility and permeability characteristics. The hydraulic consolidation test in existence requires sophisticated instrumentation and testing procedures. The present paper proposes a seepage-force-induced consolidation testing procedure for studying the compressibility and permeability behavior of soft sediments at low effective stress levels. The good agreement that has been observed between the results obtained from the proposed method and the conventional oedometer test at overlapping effective stress levels indicates that the proposed method can be used to study the compressibility and permeability characteristics of soft sediments at low effective stress levels satisfactorily.

Suction in compacted states

Examines the possible magnitude of suction in compacted states of clayey soils. From the test results, it is concluded that suction is zero in monotonically loaded unsaturated states. This implies that suction in compacted states should be equal to the compaction stress itself. However, as data previously reported in literature have often shown - suction is strongly related to the water content and not much affected by the compaction stress.