Phase diagram for freeze-dried persimmon

Phase transitions of freeze-dried persimmon in a large range of moisture content were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In order to study this transitions at low and intermediate moisture content domains, samples were conditioned by adsorption at various water activities (a(w) = 0.11-0.90) at 25 degreesC. For the high moisture content region, samples were obtained by water addition. At a(w) less than or equal to 0.75 two glass transitions were visible, with T(g) decreasing with increasing water activity due to water plasticizing effect. The first T(g) is due to the matrix formed by sugars and water, the second one, less visible and less plasticized by water, is probably due to macromolecules of the fruit pulp. At a(w) between 0.80 and 0.90 a devitrification peak appeared after T(g) and before T(m). At this moisture content range, the Gordon-Taylor model represented satisfactorily the matrix glass transition curve. At the higher moisture content range (a(w) > 0.90), the more visible phenomenon was the ice melting. T(g) appeared less visible because the enthalpy change involved in glass transition is practically negligible in comparison with the latent heat of melting. In the high moisture content domain T(g) remained practically constant around T(g)' (-56.6 degreesC). (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Glass transitions and state diagram for freeze-dried pineapple

Glass transition temperature of freeze-dried pineapple conditioned by adsorption at various water activities at 25 degreesC was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). High moisture content samples corresponding to water activities higher than 0.9, obtained by liquid water addition, were also analysed. The DSC traces showed a well-visible shift in baseline at the glass transition temperature (T(g)). Besides, no ice formation was observed until water activity was equal to 0.75. For water activities lower than 0.88, the glass transition curve showed that T(g) decreased with increasing moisture content and the experimental data could be well-correlated by the Gordon-Taylor equation. For higher water activities, this curve exhibited a discontinuity, with suddenly increasing glass transition temperatures approaching a constant value that corresponds to the T(g) of the maximally freeze-concentrated amorphous matrix. The unfreezable water content was determined through melting enthalpy dependence on the sample moisture content.

Influence of nearest-neighbor Coulomb interactions on the phase diagram of the ferromagnetic Kondo model

The influence of a nearest-neighbor Coulomb repulsion of strength V on the properties of the ferromagnetic Kondo model is analyzed using computational techniques. The Hamiltonian studied here is defined on a chain using localized S = 1/2 spins, and one orbital per site. Special emphasis is given to the influence of the Coulomb repulsion on the regions of phase separation recently discovered in this family of models, as well as on the double-exchange-induced ferromagnetic ground state. When phase separation dominates at V= 0, the Coulomb interaction breaks the large domains of the two competing phases into small islands of one phase embedded into the other. This is in agreement with several experimental results, as discussed in the text. Vestiges of the original phase separation regime are found in the spin structure factor as incommensurate peaks, even at large values of V. In the ferromagnetic regime close to density n = 0.5, the Coulomb interaction induces tendencies to charge ordering without altering the fully polarized character of the state. This regime of charge-ordered ferromagnetism may be related with experimental observations of a similar phase by Chen and Cheong [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 4042 (1996)]. Our results reinforce the recently introduced notion [see, e.g., S. Yunoki et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 845 (1998)] that in realistic models for manganites analyzed with unbiased many-body techniques, the ground state properties arise from a competition between ferromagnetism and phase-separation - charge-ordering tendencies. ©1999 The American Physical Society.

Short-chain di-ureasil ormolytes doped with potassium triflate: Phase diagram and conductivity behavior

Di-urea cross-linked poly(oxyethylene)/siloxane hybrids, synthesized by the sol-gel process and containing a wide concentration range of potassium triflate, KCF3SO3, have been analyzed by x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The pseudo-phase diagram proposed has been taken into account in the interpretation of the complex impedance measurements. The xerogels prepared are obtained as transparent, thin monoliths. At room temperature the highest conductivity found was 2 × 10-6 Ω-1 cm-1.

Study of a hybrid solid oxide fuel cell: Energetic analysis and sankey diagram

In this paper a hybrid solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system is analyzed. This system applies a combined cycle utilizing gas turbine associated to a SOFC for rational decentralized energy production. Initially the relative concepts about the fuel cell are presented, followed by some chemical and technical informations such as the change of Gibbs free energy in isothermal fuel oxidation (or combustion) directly into electricity. This represents a very high fraction of the lower heating value (LHV) of a hydrocarbon fuel. In the next step a methodology for the study of SOFC associated with a gas turbine system is developed, considering the electricity and steam production for a hospital, as regard to the Brazilian conditions. This methodology is applied to energetic analysis. Natural gas is considered as a fuel. In conclusion, it is shown by a Sankey Diagram that the hybrid SOFC system may be an excellent opportunity to strengthen the decentralized energy production in Brazil. It is necessary to consider that the cogeneration in this version also is a sensible alternative from the technical point of view, demanding special methods of design, equipment selection and mainly of the contractual deals associated to electricity and fuel supply.

Sorption isotherm, glass transitions and state diagram for freeze-dried plum skin and pulp

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine phase transitions of freeze-dried plums. Samples at low and intermediate moisture contents, were conditioned by adsorption at various water activities (0.11≤a w≤0.90) at 25°C, whereas in the high moisture content region (a w>0.90) samples were obtained by direct water addition, with the resulting sorption isotherm being well described by the Guggenheim-Anderson-deBoer (GAB) model. Freeze-dried samples of separated plum skin and pulp were also analysed. At a w≤0.75, two glass transitions were visible, with the glass transition temperature (T g) decreasing with increasing a w due to the water plasticising effect. The first T g was attributed to the matrix formed by sugars and water. The second one, less visible and less plasticised by water, was probably due to macromolecules of the fruit pulp. The Gordon-Taylor model represented satisfactorily the matrix glass transition curve for a w≤0.90. In the higher moisture content range T g remained practically constant around T g′ (-57.5°C). Analysis of the glass transition curve and the sorption isotherm indicated that stability at a temperature of 25°C, would be attained by freeze dried plum at a water activity of 0.04, corresponding to a moisture content of 12.9% (dry basis). © 2006 SAGE Publications.

Development of a thermoeconomic methodology for the optimization of biodiesel production - Part I: Biodiesel plant and thermoeconomic functional diagram

This work developed a methodology that uses the thermoeconomic functional diagram applied for allocating the cost of products produced by a biodiesel plant. The first part of this work discusses some definitions of exergy and thermoeconomy, with a detailed description of the biodiesel plant studied, identification of the system functions through Physical Diagram, calculation of the irreversibilities of the plant, construction of the Thermoeconomic Functional Diagram and determination of the expressions for the plant's exergetic functions. In order to calculate the exergetic increments and the physical exergy of certain flows in each step, the Chemical Engineering Simulation Software HYSYS 3.2 was used. The equipments that have the highest irreversibilities in the plant were identified after the exergy calculation. It was also found that the lowest irreversibility in the system refers to the process with a molar ratio of 6:1 and a reaction temperature of 60 °C in the transesterification process. In the second part of this work (Part II), it was calculated the thermoeconomic cost of producing biodiesel and related products, including the costs of carbon credits for the CO2 that is not released into the atmosphere, when a percentage of biodiesel is added to the petroleum diesel used by Brazil's internal diesel fleet (case study). © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Método e kit para a identificação de polimorfismos associados à morte súbita cardíaca (msc)

A presente invenção descreve um método e kit para a identificação de polimorfismos associados à morte súbita cardíaca (MSC) . A tecnologia desenvolvida promove a análise em conjunto de SNPs (polimorfismo de um único nucleotídeo) relacionados à MSC. Esta técnica poderá ser utilizada na genética forense e médica, para auxiliar no diagnóstico de causa de morte e doenças cardiovasculares, respectivamente, bem como na identificação da pré-disposição genética ao desenvolvimento destas doenças.

Enhancement of Nematic Order and Global Phase Diagram of a Lattice Model for Coupled Nematic Systems

We use an infinite-range Maier-Saupe model, with two sets of local quadrupolar variables and restricted orientations, to investigate the global phase diagram of a coupled system of two nematic subsystems. The free energy and the equations of state are exactly calculated by standard techniques of statistical mechanics. The nematic-isotropic transition temperature of system A increases with both the interaction energy among mesogens of system B, and the two-subsystem coupling J. This enhancement of the nematic phase is manifested in a global phase diagram in terms of the interaction parameters and the temperature T. We make some comments on the connections of these results with experimental findings for a system of diluted ferroelectric nanoparticles embedded in a nematic liquid-crystalline environment.

Hero's journey in bifurcation diagram

The hero's journey is a narrative structure identified by several authors in comparative studies on folklore and mythology. This storytelling template presents the stages of inner metamorphosis undergone by the protagonist after being called to an adventure. In a simplified version, this journey is divided into three acts separated by two crucial moments. Here we propose a discrete-time dynamical system for representing the protagonist's evolution. The suffering along the journey is taken as the control parameter of this system. The bifurcation diagram exhibits stationary, periodic and chaotic behaviors. In this diagram, there are transition from fixed point to chaos and transition from limit cycle to fixed point. We found that the values of the control parameter corresponding to these two transitions are in quantitative agreement with the two critical moments of the three-act hero's journey identified in 10 movies appearing in the list of the 200 worldwide highest-grossing films. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Milky Way demographics with the VVV survey I. The 84-million star colour-magnitude diagram of the Galactic bulge

Context. The Milky Way (MW) bulge is a fundamental Galactic component for understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies, in particular our own. The ESO Public Survey VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea is a deep near-IR survey mapping the Galactic bulge and southern plane. Particularly for the bulge area, VVV is covering similar to 315 deg(2). Data taken during 2010 and 2011 covered the entire bulge area in the JHKs bands. Aims. We used VVV data for the whole bulge area as a single and homogeneous data set to build for the first time a single colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) for the entire Galactic bulge. Methods. Photometric data in the JHK(s) bands were combined to produce a single and huge data set containing 173 150 467 sources in the three bands, for the similar to 315 deg(2) covered by VVV in the bulge. Selecting only the data points flagged as stellar, the total number of sources is 84 095 284. Results. We built the largest colour-magnitude diagrams published up to date, containing 173.1+ million sources for all data points, and more than 84.0 million sources accounting for the stellar sources only. The CMD has a complex shape, mostly owing to the complexity of the stellar population and the effects of extinction and reddening towards the Galactic centre. The red clump (RC) giants are seen double in magnitude at b similar to -8 degrees-10 degrees, while in the inner part (b similar to -3 degrees) they appear to be spreading in colour, or even splitting into a secondary peak. Stellar population models show the predominance of main-sequence and giant stars. The analysis of the outermost bulge area reveals a well-defined sequence of late K and M dwarfs, seen at (J - K-s) similar to 0.7-0.9 mag and K-s greater than or similar to 14 mag. Conclusions. The interpretation of the CMD yields important information about the MW bulge, showing the fingerprint of its structure and content. We report a well-defined red dwarf sequence in the outermost bulge, which is important for the planetary transit searches of VVV. The double RC in magnitude seen in the outer bulge is the signature of the X-shaped MW bulge, while the spreading of the RC in colour, and even its splitting into a secondary peak, are caused by reddening effects. The region around the Galactic centre is harder to interpret because it is strongly affected by reddening and extinction.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) prevented the progression of renovascular hypertension, improved renal function and architecture

Renovascular hypertension induced by 2 Kidney-1 Clip (2K-1C) is a renin-angiotensin-system (RAS)-dependent model, leading to renal vascular rarefaction and renal failure. RAS inhibitors are not able to reduce arterial pressure (AP) and/or preserve the renal function, and thus, alternative therapies are needed. Three weeks after left renal artery occlusion, fluorescently tagged mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) (2×10(5) cells/animal) were injected weekly into the tail vein in 2K-1C hypertensive rats. Flow cytometry showed labeled MSC in the cortex and medulla of the clipped kidney. MSC prevented a further increase in the AP, significantly reduced proteinuria and decreased sympathetic hyperactivity in 2K-1C rats. Renal function parameters were unchanged, except for an increase in urinary volume observed in 2K-1C rats, which was not corrected by MSC. The treatment improved the morphology and decreased the fibrotic areas in the clipped kidney and also significantly reduced renal vascular rarefaction typical of 2K-1C model. Expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α angiotensinogen, ACE, and Ang II receptor AT1 were elevated, whereas AT2 levels were decreased in the medulla of the clipped kidney. MSC normalized these expression levels. In conclusion, MSC therapy in the 2K-1C model (i) prevented the progressive increase of AP, (ii) improved renal morphology and microvascular rarefaction, (iii) reduced fibrosis, proteinuria and inflammatory cytokines, (iv) suppressed the intrarenal RAS, iv) decreased sympathetic hyperactivity in anesthetized animals and v) MSC were detected at the CNS suggesting that the cells crossed the blood-brain barrier. This therapy may be a promising strategy to treat renovascular hypertension and its renal consequences in the near future.

Microemulsion: prediction of the phase diagram with a modified Helfrich free energy

Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable, macroscopically homogeneous but microscopically heterogeneous, mixtures of water and oil stabilised by surfactant molecules. They have unique properties like ultralow interfacial tension, large interfacial area and the ability to solubilise other immiscible liquids. Depending on the temperature and concentration, non-ionic surfactants self assemble to micelles, flat lamellar, hexagonal and sponge like bicontinuous morphologies. Microemulsions have three different macroscopic phases (a) 1phase- microemulsion (isotropic), (b) 2phase-microemulsion coexisting with either expelled water or oil and (c) 3phase- microemulsion coexisting with expelled water and oil.rnrnOne of the most important fundamental questions in this field is the relation between the properties of the surfactant monolayer at water-oil interface and those of microemulsion. This monolayer forms an extended interface whose local curvature determines the structure of the microemulsion. The main part of my thesis deals with the quantitative measurements of the temperature induced phase transitions of water-oil-nonionic microemulsions and their interpretation using the temperature dependent spontaneous curvature [c0(T)] of the surfactant monolayer. In a 1phase- region, conservation of the components determines the droplet (domain) size (R) whereas in 2phase-region, it is determined by the temperature dependence of c0(T). The Helfrich bending free energy density includes the dependence of the droplet size on c0(T) as