The project contributes to the general theme of complex chemical systems and strengthens ties with Innospec, a multi-national chemical company. Sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate (SLMI. Trade name “Iselux”) is a newly developed surfactant with attractive product properties for personal care applications. Little is known about the fundamental surface and solution properties of SLMI, and it is not currently possible to use information on available surfactants to predict phase behaviour. We characterise the solution and liquid crystalline phase behaviour of the SLMI/water system using a combination of optical microscopy, X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. SLMI is synthesised using a batch process that leads to variable component concentrations. Preliminary studies conducted by Innospec indicate that the presence of particular process components has a significant influence on SLMI formulation rheological properties. We investigate the effects of synthesis-derived components on the rheological properties of the SLMI/sodium {(3-(dodecanoylamino)propyl)(dimethyl)ammonio)}acetate/water system using rheology and light scattering (static and dynamic) techniques. SLMI is often formulated into personal care products on mixing aqueous formulation components. Micelle growth occurs via a mechanistic process that is not understood and the equilibrium viscosity is attained at a time after mixing that ranges from seconds to weeks. Developing an improved understanding of the micelle growth mechanism is of both academic and industrial value. We utilise static light scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to probe a range of samples in the viscoelastic region of the SLMI/(carboxymethyl)hexadecyldimethyl ammonium hydroxide/water system. Experimental findings improve our current understanding of micelle growth process and provide a platform for future research on non-equilibrium mixing kinetics. In the final section we investigate salt-induced cloud point and precipitation phenomena in the SLMI/salt/water system. The cloud point is commonly observed in surfactant and protein systems by increasing the solution temperature above a critical value, resulting in phase separation of solute-rich and solute-depleted layers. Cloud point induced phase separation may also be prompted by addition of salt. The mechanistic process driving electrolyte-induced cloud point phenomena is not understood. We use a combination of turbidimetry measurements and lightscattering (static and dynamic) techniques to measure cloud point curves andcharacterise micellar behaviour prior to clouding.

Although it is generally acknowledged and accepted that case formulations are useful in psychotherapy treatment, there is significantly little research illustrating how case formulations are useful in treatment. Research also suggests that case formulations are seldom used in practice after initial training (Eells, 1997; Sim, Gwee, & Bateman, 2005). This research was premised on a particular case study which appeared to highlight shifts in psychotherapy treatment in the sessions directly after the writing or revising of the case formulation, thus prompting the inquiry into the influence of the case formulation on therapeutic work. The research utilised a qualitative methodology and focused on a single case which was a 19 year old university student who expressed a problem with binge eating. The data was drawn from five original and revised case formulations. The participant was seen for 27 therapy sessions, over which time five case formulations were developed and revised. The findings in this study highlight the process of how a psychodynamic case formulation can influence therapeutic work, as reflected in three broad themes of adherence to the case formulation, the confidence of the therapist, and using the formulation as an intervention. The study contributes to arguments for the revival of the case formulation as a necessary therapeutic tool. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in

With demand for gasoline and diesel expected to decline in the near future, crude-tochemicals technologies have the potential to become the most important processes in the petrochemical industry. This trend has triggered intense research to maximize the production of light olefins and aromatics at the expense of fuels, which calls for disruptive processes able to transform crude to chemicals in an efficient and environmentally friendly way. Simultaneously, the production of high-demand chemical commodities such as olefins, aromatics and gasoline from alternative feedstocks such as methanol has been central to research in both academia and industry. In both conversions, catalyst composition and formulation play a key role. In principle, shaping and optimal compositional formulation are major challenges in the successful industrial application of heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we evaluate the application of the spray-drying shaping technique to manufacture spherical zeolite-based catalysts and their applicability in the direct crude-to-chemicals and the methanol-to-hydrocarbons processes. A thorough study of the effect of formulated fluid catalytic cracking catalyst composition on the one-step cracking of Arabian light crude oil was studied in the present thesis. Our results demonstrate that over a 35wt.% yield to light olefins can be achieved on spray-dried catalysts containing 1:1 mixtures of ZSM-5 and FAU zeolites. On the other hand, the nature of the selected clay, one of the key components in formulated catalysts, has a significant influence in modifying the final acidity of the composite, which, when applied in methanol to hydrocarbons, results in the propagation of either the alkene or arene cycles. The present PhD thesis also has been dedicated to the study of optimal conditions for the highly selective and stable production of aromatics during methanol to aromatics at high pressure. High selectivity to aromatics (~50%) can be achieved on a commercial high silica ZSM-5 at 400° and 30 bar total pressure. The high partial pressure of primary olefins and the promoted methanol-induced hydrogen transfer pathway result in an exponential increase in aromatization, while the high partial pressure of steam generated via dehydration of methanol leads to in situ coke removal and, therefore, to a slower deactivation of the zeolite.

Previous studies have shown that the molecule MR1, a cGMP analogue, may be a suitable drug for neurodegenerative eye diseases. These diseases cause the eyesight to greatly deteriorate which in turn can result in the patient becoming blind. In this thesis, several salt forms of MR1 were synthesized and characterized to generate the drugs physicochemical properties, such as solubility and solid-state behavior. This in order to determine the drugs pre-formulation data. Synthesis of MR1 Na+ and MR1 Free form were performed in order generate material for solubility studies and solid state characterizations. Solid-state characterization was done in terms of X-ray, Microscopy, Hot Stage Controller, DSC, TGA and DVS. All salt forms, expect for the Free form, indicated crystallinity through X-ray analyses. However, none of the salt forms showed any clear melting point after being evaluated by DSC. TGA analysis of MR1 Na+ salt form indicated a huge weight decrease. A total amount of 15 % of the sample decreased over a very short time range in just a few seconds. The result is very extraordinary and should be controlled and analyzed once again. Results regarding amorphicity of MR1 Free form did not completely comply with results from DVS and X-ray. Further analyses should therefore be performed with extra material to obtain a more consistent result. Moreover, the solubility of the salt forms was determined and it was observed that MR1 Na+ indicated to be most soluble in all the tested buffers, as compared to MR1 TEAH+ and MR1 Free form. The pre-formulation data from this thesis are of importance for the work on understanding how the drug MR1 behaves. The work carried out in this thesis will continue (beyond the scope of this bachelor thesis) and the results herein will be used for further studies of neurodegenerative eye diseases. / Studier har visat att molekylen MR1, en cGMP analog, kan vara ett lämpligt läkemedel för neurodegenerativa ögonsjukdomar. Dessa sjukdomar leder till att synen kraftigt försämras vilket kan leda till att patienten förlorar sin synförmåga. I detta examensarbete har olika saltformer av MR1 syntetiserats för att frambringa molekylens preformuleringsdata. Denna preformuleringsdata kommer sedan användas för framtida studier inom forskningsområdet. Olika saltformer av MR1 har syntetiserats och karakteriserats med avseende på molekylens fysikalkemiska egenskaper såsom löslighet och karakterisering av dess fasta tillstånd. Syntetisering av MR1 Na+ och MR1 fri form har utförts för att få fram prover till löslighetsstudier och karakterisering av dess fasta tillstånd. Karakteriseringen av saltformernas fasta tillstånd utfördes genom tillämpning av röntgenmetoder, Mikroskopi, Hot Stage Controller, DSC, TGA och DVS. Alla saltformer förutom den fria formen visade sig ha kristallina inslag. Ingen av salterna visade någon tydlig smältpunkt efter att ha analyserats i DSC instrumentet. TGA analysen visade 15 % viktminskning för MR1 Na+ saltet, vilket är ett relativt ovanligt resultat och bör kontrolleras och repeteras ännu en gång. När MR1 fri form analyserades i DVS och röntgen instrumentet för att detektera hur amorft saltet är överstämde resultaten inte med varandra. Analysen bör därmed kontrolleras och repeteras. Löslighetsstudierna visade att MR1 Na+ har högst löslighet i jämförelse med MR1 TEAH+ och MR1 fri form när salterna analyserats i olika buffertar.

Regenerative braking in conjunction with friction braking represents one of the most common braking strategies employed in electric and hybrid vehicles. As the friction brake accounts for about 5 to 85% of total braking in these “blended scenarios”, this warrants for more research into the development of new lightweight, wear resistant, and sustainable friction materials and also for reviewing the existing testing procedures.This research primarily focuses on generation of new knowledge related to development of environmentally friendly, lightweight friction material for vehicles with regenerative braking systems. A sample formulation was initially developed from knowledge gained by literature review and analysis of existing commercially available brake linings. Design of experiments based on Taguchi method and other statistical analysis tools were used to optimize the sample formulation. The density, porosity, shore D hardness, thermal stability, damping capacity of these pads were measured and compared with commercially available friction material. Pads were tested against commercially available rotors (ASTM A48 C30 gray cast iron) coated with ceramic material. Friction performance tests were completed using Universal Mechanical Tester (Tribolab by Bruker) and the scaled-down ISO SAE J2522 procedure. Friction surfaces of pads and rotors were analyzed in order to understand their surface chemistry and morphology, as well as their impact on performance of the tested friction material. The final optimized pad based on design of experiments (DOE 9) showed high and stable friction levels in high temperature sections (Section 9, Section 12.2 and Section 14 in ISO/SAE J2522 testing procedure) and excellent recovery capabilities at lower temperatures (Section 10, Section 13 and Section 15). This pad material was compatible with coated rotors, had low wear, and meets all the industry specifications and standards. SEM and EDX analysis showed that the pads developed stable friction layer on the friction surfaces and this capacity to develop friction material contributed towards overall friction stability of the material.

No description available.

<p> Mixed transitional finite elements, which enable the simultaneous use of the three-node triangular mixed and eight-node isoparametric displacement finite elements, are developed to reduce the amount of computer storage required in the mixed finite element method. Numerical testing of the simultaneous use of the above mixed, mixed transitional and displacement finite elements are also carried out to investigate numerical instability, orientation problems and convergence in the energy sense. The examples of a plane stress cantilever subjected to parabolically varying end shear and a plane strain, square plate with a circular hole in the middle are analyzed and the results obtained are found to be in very good agreement with those reported in the literature.</p> <p> The three-element scheme above is then applied to problems in linear elastic fracture mechanics. The energy release rate approach using the direct derivative method is incorporated to compute the Mode I stress intensity factor KI. Two plane stress isotropic rectangular plates with symmetric edge cracks and a central crack, respectively, and a plane stress orthotropic square plate with a central crack are analyzed. The stress intensity factors obtained are in excellent agreement with the available numerical results, and with significant reduction in computer storage requirements compared to that of the mixed finite element method alone.</p> <p> Mixed mode linear elastic fracture problems are also considered. In this case, Ishikawa's scheme of decomposing the near crack tip stress and displacement fields is used along with the direct derivative method to compute the mixed mode stress intensity factors KI and KII. The stress intensity factors KI and KII obtained for a deep cantilever with an edge crack subjected to end shear are within 0.62 and 3.74 percent of the numerical results reported in the literature. The prediction of the branching angles for crack extensions are examined and the criterion of maximum energy release rate is used along with Ishikawa's scheme to calculate the angles of crack branching for a plane stress square plate with an oblique crack, subject to uniaxial tension. Good agreement with the results using the maximum stress criterion is observed.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

No description available.

Protein aggregation is a phenomenon that plays a major role in protein crystallization and in protein formulation. In protein crystallization, aggregation is the prerequisite step; however, in protein formulation it has to be suppressed to assure therapeutic efficiency of the product. Light scattering techniques are the most promising methods to study the hydrodynamic properties of macromolecular solutions, which directly measures protein aggregation. Unfortunately, the normal dynamic light scattering technique is regarded as expensive because of the amount of protein used for these experiments. In order to address this problem, a scale down dynamic light scattering device has been designed. The osmotic second virial coefficient, a dilute solution parameter helps in identifying solution conditions for protein crystal growth. The second part of this thesis involves comparison of osmotic second virial coefficient (B) measurements of lysozyme using laser light scattering techniques with B measurements of lysozyme performed using self-interaction chromatography (SIC).

Wheyruit slush formulas were evaluated prior to consumer testing of pre-selected formulated beverages. Varying ingredients were prepared in accordance to a factorial design of maximum use of whey and minimum use of additional ingredients. Whey was obtained from the Mississippi State University Dairy Processing Plant and evaporated. The evaporated sweet whey was combined with blueberries, cherry concentrate, Splenda®, water and ice. Sensory tests were conducted to evaluate appearance, flavor and overall acceptability of formulations. Panelists were asked to participate in a survey to elaborate personal perceptions of the products. Formulation of 125mL whey and 30g blueberries had the higher acceptability score, but was not different from the beverage with 150mL whey and 30g blueberries. These two formulas were tested for chemical analysis. Adequate levels of antioxidants, total phenolics and neutral pH were observed. Results from proximate analysis showed minimal caloric levels with low presence of protein and carbohydrate.