Consolidation properties and permeability values of sediments from three ODP Leg 205 sites

Vertical permeability and sediment consolidation measurements were taken on seven whole-round drill cores from Sites 1253 (three samples), 1254 (one sample), and 1255 (three samples) drilled during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 205 in the Middle America Trench off of Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. Consolidation behavior including slopes of elastic rebound and virgin compression curves (Cc) was measured by constant rate of strain tests. Permeabilities were determined from flow-through experiments during stepped-load tests and by using coefficient of consolidation (Cv) values continuously while loading. Consolidation curves and the Casagrande method were used to determine maximum preconsolidation stress. Elastic slopes of consolidation curves ranged from 0.097 to 0.158 in pelagic sediments and 0.0075 to 0.018 in hemipelagic sediments. Cc values ranged from 1.225 to 1.427 for pelagic carbonates and 0.504 to 0.826 for hemipelagic clay-rich sediments. In samples consolidated to an axial stress of ~20 MPa, permeabilities determined by flow-through experiments ranged from a low value of 7.66 x 10**-20 m**2 in hemipelagic sediments to a maximum value of 1.03 x 10**-16 m**2 in pelagic sediments. Permeabilities calculated from Cv values in the hemipelagic sediments ranged from 4.81 x 10**-16 to 7.66 x 10**-20 m**2 for porosities 49.9%-26.1%.

Effect of bituminous impregnation on nonwoven geotextiles tensile and permeability properties

Geosynthetics interlayer systems are effective techniques to control reflective cracking in damaged pavements. It comprises the inclusion of nonwoven geotextiles between the damaged layer and the new overlay of the pavement to reduce the propagation of cracks and to extend pavement life. However, the success of this technique depends directly on the understanding of the geotextile`s behavior when impregnated with asphalt This paper evaluates different nonwoven geotextiles frequently used in anti-reflective cracking systems, focusing on initial stiffness gain and permeability reduction after asphalt impregnation. Fresh and impregnated samples of polyester and polypropylene nonwoven geotextiles were tested. Cationic rapid setting emulsified asphalt was used as asphalt binder. Wide-width tensile tests were carried out based on the specification of ABNT - NBR 12824 (1993). Water vapor transmission tests were conducted according to ASTM E 96M (2005). Results of tensile tests on impregnated geotextiles showed a significant increase on tensile strength values, probably due to the inter contact of the fibers. Results also showed high increase in strength values at strain levels less than 0.05% and decrease on stiffness gains with increase of strains. Water vapor transmission tests demonstrated that cationic asphalt emulsion applied on nonwoven geotextiles allows a drastic reduction in permeability values to turn nonwoven geotextiles into a low permeability barrier. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Relating the permeability of quartz sands to their grain size and spectral induced polarization characteristics

Recently, Revil & Florsch proposed a novel mechanistic model based on the polarization of the Stern layer relating the permeability of granular media to their spectral induced polarization (SIP) characteristics based on the formation of polarized cells around individual grains. To explore the practical validity of this model, we compare it to pertinent laboratory measurements on samples of quartz sands with a wide range of granulometric characteristics. In particular, we measure the hydraulic and SIP characteristics of all samples both in their loose, non-compacted and compacted states, which might allow for the detection of polarization processes that are independent of the grain size. We first verify the underlying grain size/permeability relationship upon which the model of Revil & Florsch is based and then proceed to compare the observed and predicted permeability values for our samples by substituting the grain size characteristics by corresponding SIP parameters, notably the so-called Cole-Cole time constant. In doing so, we also asses the quantitative impact of an observed shift in the Cole-Cole time constant related to textural variations in the samples and observe that changes related to the compaction of the samples are not relevant for the corresponding permeability predictions. We find that the proposed model does indeed provide an adequate prediction of the overall trend of the observed permeability values, but underestimates their actual values by approximately one order-of-magnitude. This discrepancy in turn points to the potential importance of phenomena, which are currently not accounted for in the model and which tend to reduce the characteristic size of the prevailing polarization cells compared to the considered model, such as, for example, membrane polarization, contacts of double-layers of neighbouring grains, and incorrect estimation of the size of the polarized cells because of the irregularity of natural sand grains.

Effect of pH, mucin and bovine serum on rifampicin permeability through Caco-2 cells

Rifampicin, a poorly soluble drug, has great importance in therapeutics as it is the main drug used to treat tuberculosis. The characterization of its permeability and the factors that influence it represent an important tool for predicting its bioavailability. Caco-2 cell monolayers were used as models of the intestinal mucosa to assess the uptake and transport of rifampicin and the effects of various experimental conditions were investigated, in order to establish the influence of these variables on rifampicin permeability. Different pHs (5.8, 6.8 and 7.4) in the apical medium, the presence or absence of mucin (3.0% w/v) in the donor site and the presence or absence of bovine serum albumin (4.0% v/v) in the receptor chamber were the evaluated conditions. The quantification of rifampicin in the apical or basolateral chambers was performed by a validated HPLC-UV method. The change in the donor chamber pH showed that permeability values were greater at pH 6.8, although this increase does not result in an alteration of the qualitative classification of rifampicin, which has high permeability. Mucin and bovine serum showed no effects on the permeability of rifampicin at the concentration tested. Overall, the current study suggests that pH, artificial mucin and bovine serum proteins have no influence on rifampicin permeability. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Entropy generation for forced convection in a porous saturated circular tube with uniform wall temperature

A numerical study is reported to investigate both the First and the Second Law of Thermodynamics for thermally developing forced convection in a circular tube filled by a saturated porous medium, with uniform wall temperature, and with the effects of viscous dissipation included. A theoretical analysis is also presented to study the problem for the asymptotic region applying the perturbation solution of the Brinkman momentum equation reported by Hooman and Kani [1]. Expressions are reported for the temperature profile, the Nusselt number, the Bejan number, and the dimensionless entropy generation rate in the asymptotic region. Numerical results are found to be in good agreement with theoretical counterparts.

Thermally developing Brinkman–Brinkman forced convection in rectangular ducts with isothermal walls

The Extended Weighted Residuals Method (EWRM) is applied to investigate the effects of viscous dissipation on the thermal development of forced convection in a porous-saturated duct of rectangular cross-section with isothermal boundary condition. The Brinkman flow model is employed for determination of the velocity field. The temperature in the flow field was computed by utilizing the Green’s function solution based on the EWRM. Following the computation of the temperature field, expressions are presented for the local Nusselt number and the bulk temperature as a function of the dimensionless longitudinal coordinate. In addition to the aspect ratio, the other parameters included in this computation are the Darcy number, viscosity ratio, and the Brinkman number.

Metabolite mean transit times in the liver as predicted by various models of hepatic elimination

Predicted area under curve (AUC), mean transit time (MTT) and normalized variance (CV2) data have been compared for parent compound and generated metabolite following an impulse input into the liver, Models studied were the well-stirred (tank) model, tube model, a distributed tube model, dispersion model (Danckwerts and mixed boundary conditions) and tanks-in-series model. It is well known that discrimination between models for a parent solute is greatest when the parent solute is highly extracted by the liver. With the metabolite, greatest model differences for MTT and CV2 occur when parent solute is poorly extracted. In all cases the predictions of the distributed tube, dispersion, and tasks-in-series models are between the predictions of the rank and tube models. The dispersion model with mixed boundary conditions yields identical predictions to those for the distributed tube model (assuming an inverse gaussian distribution of tube transit times). The dispersion model with Danckwerts boundary conditions and the tanks-in series models give similar predictions to the dispersion (mixed boundary conditions) and the distributed tube. The normalized variance for parent compound is dependent upon hepatocyte permeability only within a distinct range of permeability values. This range is similar for each model but the order of magnitude predicted for normalized variance is model dependent. Only for a one-compartment system is the MIT for generated metabolite equal to the sum of MTTs for the parent compound and preformed metabolite administered as parent.

Forward osmosis membranes tailored by hydrogel coatings

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Thermo-compression molding of chitosan with a deep eutectic mixture for biofilms development

Supplementary information available at: http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/c5/gc/c5gc02231b/c5gc02231b1.pdf

Off-Diagonal Magnetoimpedance Dependence of Magnetostriction and Anisotropy in Co-Based and Fe-Based Amorphous Ribbons

The object of this work is the comparison of domain structure and off-diagonal magnetoimpedance effect in amorphous ribbons with different magnetostriction coefficient. The Co66Fe4Ni1Si15B14 and Fe80B20 samples were obtained by melt-spinning. During the quenching procedure a 0.07 T transverse magnetic field was applied to some of the samples. Domain patterns obtained by the Bitter technique confirm that the differences on the samples are related to the different anisotropy and magnetostriction coefficient, and the quenching procedure. Small changes on the anisotropy distribution and the magnetostriction coefficient can be detected by the off-diagonal impedance spectra as a consequence of the different permeability values of the samples

Development of an air-scour control system for membrane bioreactors

The thesis involves the development and implementation of a new and robust control system based on permeability trends but at the same time capable of reducing aeration proportionally to permeate flux. Permeability was made a key parameter for directly comparing temporary changes in membrane performance. Transmembrane pressure and flux were gathered every 10 seconds and permeability values were automatically calculated; different mathematical algorithms were applied for the signal filtering of on-line data. Short term and long term permeability trends were compared once a day, and a control action was applied proportionally to the short term/long term permeability ratio without exceeding the aeration flow recommended by the membrane suppliers.

Effect of surfactants on the functional properties of gelatin-based edible films

The aim of this research was to evaluate the plasticizing effect of natural surfactants lecithin or yucca extract from Yucca schidigera on gelatin-based films Films containing yucca extract showed higher tensile strength values (similar to 90-40 MPa) and moisture contents (similar to 15%) and less elongation (similar to 5%) and water vapor permeability values (similar to 0 22-009 g mm m(-2) h(-1) kPa(-1)) compared to films containing lecithin Soluble films (similar to 20-50%) were obtained when yucca extract was used while lecithin produced low soluble films (<10%) The opacity of the films (similar to 14 5-16 2%) was similar for both surfactants and the film surface morphologies were continuous and homogeneous X-ray diffraction indicated that the addition of surfactants produced amorphous films compared to gelatin-based films and FT-Infrared spectroscopy showed no evidence of association between the surfactants and the gelatin The plasticizing effect was not obtained after surfactants addition and casting technique (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

Avaliação in vitro do efeito de sucos de frutas ácidas e da escovação com diferentes escovas na permeabilidade da dentina radicular

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Propriedades mecânicas e durabilidade do concreto branco com adições pozolânicas

O presente trabalho tem a finalidade de verificar o comportamento do concreto de cimento Portland Branco com adição de metacaulim e sílica ativa, avaliando o comportamento mecânico, a absorção de água e o nível de porosidade e durabilidade em concretos com este aglomerante. Para isso, foram realizados ensaios no estado plástico (consistência e massa específica) e endurecido (resistência à compressão axial, resistência à tração por compressão diametral, módulo de elasticidade, absorção de água, penetração de cloretos e carbonatação). Foram realizadas avaliações de sua resistência à compressão axial e à tração por compressão dimetral nas idades de 7 e 28 dias através do método IPT/EPUSP que utiliza os traços 1:5, 1:3,5 e 1:6,5. O módulo de elasticidade aos 28 dias. Além destes foi avaliada a permeabilidade por meio de ensaio de absorção; durabilidade através do ensaio acelerado de cloretos e da carbonatação; a porosidade foi verificada com a realização da microscopia eletrônica de varredura. De maneira geral, verificou-se que mesmo a resistência dos concretos de menor proporção agregado/aglomerante (traço pobre), está acima das resistências mais usuais na região metropolitana de Belém que é em torno de 25 a 30 MPa, visto que o cimento branco utilizado é o estrutural, por isso, justifica-se o alcance destes valores mesmo com traço pobre. Com relação à permeabilidade, os resultados demonstraram que assim como a resistência, esta é dependente do tipo de cimento empregado e das adições utilizadas. Os valores mais elevados de permeabilidade foram obtidos nos concretos referência (sem adição). Para estudar a porosidade viu-se que concreto referência apresenta-se menos compacto e com mais poros perceptíveis, principalmente os com maiores proporções agregado/aglomerante. Já nas micrografias dos concretos CMT e CSA, é possível observar uma menor quantidade de poros na região ocupada pela pasta Por fim, foi feita uma comparação das propriedades mecânicas, capacidade de absorção de água e porosidade do Cimento Portland Branco (CPB).

Desenvolvimento de tratamentos térmicos visando ganhos magnéticos em aços com ultra baixa concentração de carbono

The relationship between the microstructure and the magnetic properties of soft magnetic materials, have been studied by different researchers who seek to employ electrical systems, increasing their life span and reduce their energy consumption. Following this same line the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory developed a new synchrotron light source, the Sirius, where magnetic materials with high magnetic permeability values are being studied for use in accelerator dipoles. The low carbon steel is a ferromagnetic material that has a great relationship between cost and magnetic permeability. Aiming to raise the values of permeability of the material, heat treatments were done and evaluated the magnetic properties, microstructure and mechanical properties to correlate them. It was noted that the thermal annealing were the most effective, and the annealing performed with a small time threshold, which only phenomenon observed was the primary recrystallisation, was the most elevated values of magnetic permeability of the material, due to the average grain size ideal achieved. The heat treatments do not guide the magnetic domains of the material and not influence the mechanical properties of the material due to lack of carbon in the microstructure. The annealing treatments were shown to be an alternative to raising the values of the magnetic permeability of the material and facilitate the implementation of ultra low carbon steel in the dipoles of Sirius