Viscoelastic characterization of compacted pharmaceutical excipient materials by analysis of frequency-dependent mechanical relaxation processes

A newly developed method for determining the frequency-dependent complex Young's modulus was employed to analyze the mechanical response of compacted microcrystalline cellulose, sorbitol, ethyl cellulose and starch for frequencies up to 20 kHz. A Debye-like relaxation was observed in all the studied pharmaceutical excipient materials and a comparison with corresponding dielectric spectroscopy data was made. The location in frequency of the relaxation peak was shown to correlate to the measured tensile strength of the tablets, and the relaxation was interpreted as the vibrational response of the interparticle hydrogen and van der Waals bindings in the tablets. Further, the measured relaxation strength, holding information about the energy loss involved in the relaxation processes, showed that the weakest material in terms of tensile strength, starch, is the material among the four tested ones that is able to absorb the most energy within its structure when exposed to external perturbations inducing vibrations in the studied frequency range. The results indicate that mechanical relaxation analysis performed over relatively broad frequency ranges should be useful for predicting material properties of importance for the functionality of a material in applications such as, e.g., drug delivery, drug storage and handling, and also for clarifying the origin of hitherto unexplained molecular processes.     

Non-Static Local String in Higher-Dimensional Gravity

We analyze the space-time structure of local gauge string with a phenomenological energy–momentum tensor, as prescribed by Vilenkin, in an arbitrary number of space-time dimensions with a non-zero cosmological constant Λ. A set of solutions of the full non-linear Einstein's equations for the interior region of such a string is presented.     

The Dial-a-Ride Problem (DARP): Variants,modeling issues and algorithms

The Dial-a-Ride Problem (DARP) consists of designing vehicle routes and schedules for n users who specify pick-up and drop-off requests between origins and destinations. The aim is to plan a set of m minimum cost vehicle routes capable of accommodating as many users as possible, under a set of constraints. The most common example arises in door-to-door transportation for elderly or disabled people. The purpose of this article is to review the scientific literature on the DARP. The main features of the problem are described and classified and some modeling issues are discussed. A summary of the most important algorithms is provided.AMS classification: 90B06, 90C27, 90C59     

Stress State of Multilayer Structural Elements Subjected to Static Loading and Optimization of Laminated Beams and Bars

The results of FEM investigation of the triaxial stress state in multilayer structural elements subjected to axial and bending loads are presented. The distribution regularities of the stiffness and stresses or strains depending on the geometric and mechanical characteristics of layers and their position in the cross section of beams and bars are examined. The optimization of these elements is carried out using the dependences of the Bareisis—Paulauskas method and the Optim-98 computer program created by the present authors. As the optimization criteria, the strength, stiffness, mass, and cost of the structural elements are considered.     

Applications of SMP Bounds to Multi-class Traffic in High-speed Networks

In this paper, we consider the stochastic fluid-flow model of a single node in a high-speed telecommunication network handling multi-class traffic. The node has multiple buffers, one for each class of traffic. The contents of these buffers are multiplexed onto a single output channel using one of the service scheduling policies: the Timed Round Robin Policy or the Static Priority Service Policy. The Quality of Service requirements for each class are based on cell loss probabilities. Using effective bandwidth methodologies and the recently developed bounds for semi-Markov modulated traffic, we solve call admission control problems for the two service scheduling policies at this node. We compare the performance of the effective bandwidth methodologies and the SMP bounds technique. We also numerically compare the performance of the two service scheduling policies.     

Interpretation of Light Scattering Spectra of Dispersions – A Hybrid Approach to Account for Interparticle Interactions

The problem of extracting quantitative information on individual particle properties from spectroscopic measurements conducted at concentrations where particle interactions become significant is of great industrial and theoretical importance. For dispersions of charged particles, this can happen at fairly low concentrations. The effect of the fluid (slurry) structure has to be taken into account to interpret the light scattering spectra of such dispersions. In this paper, a hybrid method that addresses the effect of the fluid structure is proposed. The hybrid approach describes the fluid structure by relating the “effective” Percus‐Yevick hard‐sphere parameters to the system parameters using empirical models. The feasibility of this approach is examined through a theoretical study with data generated by Monte Carlo simulations of a monodisperse dispersion of charged spherical particles using realistic interaction potentials under single scattering conditions.     

Analysis of fluorescence quenching of pyronin B and pyronin Y by molecular oxygen in aqueous solution

The fluorescence quenching of pyronin B and pyronin Y molecules by molecular oxygen in aqueous solution was studied by using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy techniques. In order to understand the quenching mechanism, fluorescence decays, absorption and fluorescence spectra of the probes were recorded as a function of the oxygen concentration and temperature. The quenching was found to be appreciable and shows positive deviation in the Stern-Volmer representation obtained from the fluorescence intensity ratio. Fluorescence quenching constants (k_q) were calculated from the τ_o/τ vs. [Q] plots having linear correlation and compared with calculated diffusion-controlled rate constants (k_diff) values. Experimental results were in good agreement with the simultaneous dynamic and static quenching model.     

Dynamic light scattering – an all-purpose guide for the supramolecular chemist

ABSTRACT

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a useful tool for the study of the solution-based behavior of colloids and molecular assemblies. The aim of this methods paper is to provide perspective on how this technique can be used by supramolecular chemists. As this technique is not extensively used within the field, we also provide a historical background of its development, summarize data interpretation and the strengths and limitations of the technique, and provide a perspective on some of the important features for supramolecular chemists that can be found in an instrument.     

Linear quantum Enskog equation. I. Homogeneous quantum fluids

The quantum-statistical generalization of the well-known classical, linear revised Enskog equation is derived for spatially uniform systems. This new quantum kinetic equation allows the study of equilibrium time correlation functions and their associated transport coefficients of normal quantum fluids where static correlations and degeneracy effects due to particle statistics (both are treated exactly) are important. Furthermore, we derive the quantum-statistical analog of the classical ring operator. These microscopic and systematic derivations are based on a recently developed superoperator formalism (including cluster expansion techniques) that, as a main feature, allows a clear distinction between static and dynamic correlations, which is crucial in the discussion of the Enskog approximation.