Compatibility study between indomethacin and excipients in their physical mixtures

Thermal analysis is a routine method for analysis of drugs and substances of pharmaceutical interest. Thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are thermoanalytical methods which offer important information about the physical and chemical properties of drugs (purity, stability, phase transition, polymorphism, compatibility, kinetic analysis, etc.). This work exemplifies a general method of studying the drug-excipient interactions with the aim of predicting rapidly and inexpensively the long thermal stability of their mixtures. The TG/DTG and DSC were used as screening techniques for assessing the compatibility between indomethacin (IND) and its physical associations as binary mixtures with some common excipients. Based on their frequent use in preformulations eleven different excipients: corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose (PH 101; PH 102), colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose (monohydrate and anhydre), polyvinilpyrrolidone K30, magnesium stearate, talc, stearic acid, and manitol were blended with IND. The samples were prepared by mixing the analyte and excipients in a proportion of 1:1 (w:w). In order to investigate the possible interactions between the components, the thermal curves of IND and each selected excipient were compared with those of their 1:1 (w/w) physical mixtures. FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction were used as complementary techniques to adequately implement and assist in interpretation of thermal results. On the basis of thermal results, confirmed by FT-IR and X-ray analyses, a possible interaction was found between IND with polyvinylpyrrolidone K30, magnesium stearate, and stearic acid.     

A Polynomial Time Approximation Scheme for the Grade of Service Steiner Minimum Tree Problem

In this paper, we present the design of a Polynomial Time Approximation Scheme (PTAS) for the Grade of Service Steiner Minimum Tree (GOSST) problem, which is known to be NP-Complete. Previous research has focused on geometric analyses and different approximation algorithms have been designed. We propose a PTAS that provides a polynomial time, near-optimal solution with performance ratio 1+. The GOSST problem has some important applications. In network design, a fundamental issue for the physical construction of a network structure is the interconnection of many communication sites with the best choice of the connecting lines and the best allocation of the transmission capacities over these lines. Good solutions should provide paths with enough communication capacities between any two sites, with the least network construction costs. Also, the GOSST problem has applications in transportation, for road constructions and some potential uses in CAD in terms of interconnecting the elements on a plane to provide enough flux between any two elements.     

Existence and numerical modelling of vortex rings with elliptic boundaries

We revisit in this paper the theory of axisymmetric vortex rings in an ideal fluid. The boundary separating the vortex ring from the external (potential) flow is assumed of elliptic shape. For a given distribution of vorticity in the vortex core, we theoretically put into evidence the critical parameter for the existence of non-trivial solutions, thus confirming the numerical observation of Durst et al. [ZAMP 32 (1981) 156]. A sharp estimation of the critical threshold is analytically derived. Theoretical predictions are confirmed by numerical simulations using finite elements. A new numerical algorithm is presented and shown to display better performances compared to previous published algorithms using finite differences. The convergence of the iterative algorithm is proved using the theory of elliptic partial differential equations with discontinuous nonlinearities.     

The Quantum Cohomology Ring of Flag Varieties

We describe the small quantum cohomology ring of complete flag varieties by algebro-geometric methods, as presented in our previous work Quantum cohomology of flag varieties (Internat. Math. Res. Notices, no. 6 (1995), 263-277). We also give a geometric proof of the quantum Monk formula.

     

Experimental and numerical study of mixed convection with flow reversal in coaxial double-duct heat exchangers

Velocity vectors in a vertical coaxial double-duct heat exchanger for parallel ascending flow of water under conditions of laminar mixed convection have been determined experimentally using the particle image velocimetry technique. The measured velocity distributions for large annular flow rates, resulting in an essentially isothermal environment for the stream in the inner tube, are in very good agreement with corresponding numerical predictions. For flow rates of the same order of magnitude in the inner tube and the annulus, and corresponding temperature differences of about 20 °C, experimental observations show that flow reversal occurs simultaneously in both streams over large axial distances for both heating and cooling of the flow in the inner tube.     

Comparative instrumental investigations of some bile acids

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this work, solifenacin succinate (SOLS), flavoxate HCl (FLXHC) and tolterodine tartrate (TOLT) drugs were investigated using thermal analysis (TA)...     

Intensity dependence of photoassociation in a quantum degenerate atomic gas

We have measured the intensity dependent rate and frequency shift of a photoassociation transition in a quantum degenerate gas of 7Li. The rate increases linearly with photoassociation laser intensity for low intensities, whereas saturation is observed at higher intensities. The measured rates and shifts agree reasonably well with theory within the estimated systematic uncertainties. Several theoretically predicted saturation mechanisms are discussed, but a theory in which saturation arises because of quantum mechanical unitarity agrees well with the data.