ABSTRACT
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have been used extensively as refrigerants over the past four decades; however, HFCs are currently being phased out due to large global warming potentials. As the next generation of hydrofluoroolefin refrigerants are phased in, action must be taken to responsibly and sustainably deal with the HFCs currently in circulation. Ideally, unused HFCs can be reclaimed and recycled; however, many HFCs in circulation are azeotropic or near-azeotropic mixtures and must be separated before recycling. Previously, pure gas isotherm data were presented for both HFC-125 (pentafluoroethane) and HFC-32 (difluoromethane) with zeolite 5A, and it was concluded that this zeolite could separate refrigerant R-410A (50/50 wt % HFC-125/HFC-32). To further investigate the separation capabilities of zeolite 5A, binary adsorption was measured for the same system using the Integral Mass Balance method. Zeolite 5A showed a selectivity of 9.6-10.9 for HFC-32 over the composition range of 25-75 mol % HFC-125. Adsorbed phase activity coefficients were calculated from binary adsorption data. The Spreading Pressure Dependent, modified nonrandom two-liquid, and modified Wilson activity coefficient models were fit to experimental data, and the resulting activity coefficient models were used in Real Adsorbed Solution Theory (RAST). RAST binary adsorption model predictions were compared with Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST) predictions made using the Dual-Site Langmuir, Tóth, and Jensen and Seaton pure gas isotherm models. Both IAST and RAST yielded qualitatively accurate predictions; however, quantitative accuracy was greatly improved using RAST models. Diffusion behavior of HFC-125 and HFC-32 was also investigated by fitting the isothermal Fickian diffusion model to kinetic data. Molecular-level phenomena were investigated to understand both thermodynamic and kinetic behaviors.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Free Open-Access Medical education (FOAM) use among residents continues to rise. However, it often lacks quality assurance processes and residents receive little guidance on quality assessment. The Academic Life in Emergency Medicine Approved Instructional Resources tool (AAT) was created for FOAM appraisal by and for expert educators and has demonstrated validity in this context. It has yet to be evaluated in other populations. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the AAT's usability in a diverse population of practicing emergency medicine (EM) physicians, residents, and medical students; solicited feedback; and developed a revised tool. METHODS: As part of the Medical Education Translational Resources: Impact and Quality (METRIQ) study, we recruited medical students, EM residents, and EM attendings to evaluate five FOAM posts with the AAT and provide quantitative and qualitative feedback via an online survey. Two independent analysts performed a qualitative thematic analysis with discrepancies resolved through discussion and negotiated consensus. This analysis informed development of an initial revised AAT, which was then further refined after pilot testing among the author group. The final tool was reassessed for reliability. RESULTS: Of 330 recruited international participants, 309 completed all ratings. The Best Evidence in Emergency Medicine (BEEM) score was the component most frequently reported as difficult to use. Several themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: for ease of use-understandable, logically structured, concise, and aligned with educational value. Limitations include deviation from questionnaire best practices, validity concerns, and challenges assessing evidence-based medicine. Themes supporting its use include evaluative utility and usability. The author group pilot tested the initial revised AAT, revealing a total score average measure intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of moderate reliability (ICC = 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0 to 0.962). The final AAT's average measure ICC was 0.88 (95% CI = 0.77 to 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: We developed the final revised AAT from usability feedback. The new score has significantly increased usability, but will need to be reassessed for reliability in a broad population.
ABSTRACT
Lead foreign bodies in joint spaces, often due to projectiles such as bullets, may cause localized arthropathy. There are no reports of joint fracture related to lead arthropathy. Additionally, lead foreign bodes embedded in the joint space may be a source of systemic lead absorption, causing elevated blood lead levels and toxicity to other organs. We present a young adult patient with retained left hip joint bullet fragments who developed suspected lead arthropathy and subsequent acute left hip fracture, as well as systemic lead absorption demonstrated by elevated blood lead levels.
ABSTRACT
Selective adsorption of SO2 is realized in a porous metal-organic framework material, and in-depth structural and spectroscopic investigations using X-rays, infrared, and neutrons define the underlying interactions that cause SO2 to bind more strongly than CO2 and N2 .
ABSTRACT
An experimental setup is described for the automated recording of sorption isotherms by NMR experiments at precisely defined levels of relative humidity (RH). Implementation is demonstrated for a cotton fabric; Bloch decays. T1 and T2* relaxation times were measured at predefined steps of increasing and decreasing relative humidities (RHs) so that a complete isotherm of NMR properties was obtained. Bloch decays were analyzed by fitting to relaxation functions consisting or a slow- and a fast-relaxing component. The fraction of slow-relaxing component was greater than the fraction of sorbed moisture determined from gravimetric sorption data. The excess slow-relaxing component was attributed to plasticized segments of the formerly rigid cellulose matrix. T1 and T2* sorption isotherms exhibit hysteresis similar to gravimetric sorption isotherms. However, correlating RH to moisture content (MC) reveals that both relaxation constants depend only on MC, and not on the history of moisture exposure.
