Numerical study of crude oil batch mixing in a long channel.

The main objective of this work is to predict the mixing of two different miscible oils in a very long channel. The background to this problem relates to the mixing of heavy and light oil in a pipeline. As a first step, a 2D channel with an aspect ratio of 250 is considered. The batch-mixing of two miscible crude oils with different viscosities and densities is modeled using an unsteady laminar model and unsteady RANS model available in the commercial CFD solver ANSYS-Fluent. For a comparison, a LES model was used for a 3D version of the 2D channel. The distinguishing feature of this work is the Lagrangian coordinate system utilized to set no-slip wall boundary conditions. The global CFD model has been validated against classical analytical solutions. Excellent agreement has been achieved. Simulations were carried out for a Reynolds number of 6300 (calculated using light oil properties) and a Schmidt number of 10 4 . The results show that, in contrast to the unsteady RANS model, the LES and unsteady laminar models produce comparable mixing dynamics for two oils in the channel. Analysis of simulations also shows that, for a channel length of 100 m and a height of 0.4 m, the complete mixing of two oils across the channel has not been achieved. We showed that the mixing zone consists of the three different mixing sub-zones, which have been identified using the averaged mass fraction of the heavy oil along the flow direction. The first sub-zone corresponds to the main front propagation area with a length of several heights of the channel. The second and third sub-zones are characterized by so-called shear-flow-driven mixing due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices occurring between oils in the axial direction. It was observed that the third sub-zone has a steeper mass fraction gradient of the heavy oil in the axial direction in comparison with the second sub-zone, which corresponds to the flow-averaged mass fraction of 0.5 for the heavy oil.

A parametric study of the hydrodynamic roughness produced by a wall coating layer of heavy oil.

In water-lubricated pipeline transportation of heavy oil and bitumen, a thin oil film typically coats the pipe wall. A detailed study of the hydrodynamic effects of this fouling layer is critical to the design and operation of oil-water pipelines, as it can increase the pipeline pressure loss (and pumping power requirements) by 15 times or more. In this study, a parametric investigation of the hydrodynamic effects caused by the wall coating of viscous oil was conducted. A custom-built rectangular flow cell was used. A validated CFD-based procedure was used to determine the hydrodynamic roughness from the measured pressure losses. A similar procedure was followed for a set of pipe loop tests. The effects of the thickness of the oil coating layer, the oil viscosity, and water flow rate on the hydrodynamic roughness were evaluated. Oil viscosities from 3 to 21300 Pa s were tested. The results show that the equivalent hydrodynamic roughness produced by a wall coating layer of viscous oil is dependent on the coating thickness but essentially independent of oil viscosity. A new correlation was developed using these data to predict the hydrodynamic roughness for flow conditions in which a viscous oil coating is produced on the pipe wall.

Microwave spectra, ab initio calculations, and r0 structural parameters for (methylamino)thiophosphoryl difluoride.

The microwave spectra of (methylamino)thiophosphoryl difluoride, CH(3)NHP(=S)F(2), and two deuterated species, CH(3)NDP(=S)F(2) and CD(3)NHP(=S)F(2), have been investigated in the region from 26.5 to 39.0 GHz. The rotational constants of the ground vibrational state have been determined and have been shown to be only consistent with the trans conformer (CH(3) group antiperiplanar to the P=S bond) with C(s) symmetry. The a-type R branch transitions have been assigned for the trans conformer for the three isotopomers on the basis of the rigid rotor model. Near-trans and near-cis forms without molecular planes of symmetry are predicted by all ab initio calculations with the near-trans form being more stable. However, the double-well potentials governing the interchange between the two enantiomeric near-trans as well as the two near-cis forms are too shallow to accommodate the zero-point energies of the nu(24) asymmetric torsion. Thus, the trans conformation with C(s) symmetry may be more accurate in explaining the microwave experimental data. The "adjusted" r(0) structural parameters have been obtained by systematically adjusting the ab initio MP2(full)/6-311+G(d,p) structure of the trans conformer with C(s) symmetry to fit the microwave rotational constants. The determined heavy atom distances are r(C-N) = 1.459(5), r(P-N) = 1.621(5), r(P=S) = 1.879(5), and r(P-F) = 1.550(5) A, and the heavy atom angles are angleCNP = 124.7(5) degrees , angleNPS = 118.3(5) degrees , angleNPF = 103.2(5) degrees , angleFPS = 117.0(5) degrees , and angleFPF = 94.6(5) degrees . The adjusted r(0) parameters have also been obtained for aminodifluorophosphine, H(2)NPF(2), with a slightly pyramidal -PNH(2) moiety. The results indicate that the previously reported short distance of 0.981(5) A for the N-H(o)(outer) bond from the microwave study is too short, and the adjusted r(0) value of 1.007(3) A is obtained from the combined data. Adjusted r(0) parameters are also reported for (dimethylamino)difluorophosphine, (CH(3))(2)NPF(2), with C(s) symmetry with the PNC(2) portion of the molecule being planar. The previously reported C-H distances from the electron diffraction study are too long, and the anglePNC(i) and angleC(o)NC(i) angles are also found to be in error. These results provide a reasonable explanation why the microwave and electron diffraction results differ for the structures of these latter two molecules.

Cell-specific expression of fibronectin in adult and developing rabbit lung.

Fibronectin (FN), a glycoprotein component of the extracellular matrix, plays a role in tissue morphogenesis and tissue-specific differentiation through its effects on cell adhesion, cell shape, and cytoskeletal organization. Immunohistochemistry has been used to show that during lung development FN deposition changes, yet the cell-specific sites of pulmonary FN synthesis have not been determined. Because cellular FN synthesis is reflected by FN mRNA abundance, we performed in situ hybridizations to identify pulmonary tissue with the capacity to synthesize FN. Both in situ mRNA hybridization and immunohistochemical staining were performed on tissue sections from lungs of adults and late gestation fetal and neonatal rabbits. In adults, FN transcripts and immunostaining were clearly seen in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and chondrocytes. During lung development, FN transcripts were virtually ubiquitous except in airway epithelium. There was a gradual decrease in FN mRNA abundance with advancing fetal age, but low levels of FN mRNA persisted in neonatal and adult lungs. In contrast, parenchymal immunostaining increased throughout fetal development and remained elevated in the newborn. FN immunostaining was lower in adult lung. In all tissues examined, airway epithelial cells contained no FN transcripts above background. However, immunostaining was detected in airway basement membrane zones and on luminal surfaces of some epithelial cells. The lack of FN transcripts in airway epithelial cells suggests that FN synthesis does not normally occur in this cell type and that its associated FN immunostaining is from another source. The colocalization of FN mRNA and protein in pulmonary endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and chondrocytes in adults strongly suggests that these cells are sites of FN synthesis.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior fossa in autism.

The brainstem-cerebellar circuitry has been implicated in the pathophysiology of autism for several decades. Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the posterior fossa have reported various abnormalities, the most noteworthy of which has been selective hypoplasia of the neocerebellar vermis. However, these initial MRI studies are limited by problems in both subject and control selection. The present study was undertaken to further investigate these MRI findings and the role of the cerebellum in autism, taking into consideration these methodologic issues. Eighteen high-functioning autistic subjects were recruited and matched with 18 normal controls on the basis of age, gender, IQ, race and socioeconomic status (SES). The midsagittal areas of the cerebellar vermis, vermal lobes, and the fourth ventricle were measured on 3 mm contiguous magnetic resonance images. Mean areas and standard deviations were comparable for all regions of interest and no statistically significant between-group differences were found. These negative findings argue against theories of autism based on gross structural abnormalities of the cerebellum. Previous reports of posterior fossa abnormalities may be related to technical and methodological factors, based on comparison of extant literature and recently available normative data.

Thin bipolar leads: a solution to problems with coaxial bipolar designs.

A new type of bipolar lead has been designed to be thinner and more reliable than the standard coaxial design. The new lead has passed numerous bench tests to ensure its reliability. Improved fatigue performance was shown during comparisons between the new type of coil (bifilar DFT [drawn filled tube]) and previous standard coils (trifilar MP35N). During the initial animal studies no reliability concerns were raised and stable electrode thresholds were measured. If success in the test process of this lead continues, a bipolar lead may soon be marketed with a size and reliability comparable to unipolar leads.

Alfentanil in short procedures. A comparison with halothane using etomidate or methohexitone for induction of anaesthesia.

Ninety patients, premedicated with temazepam 20 mg, undergoing suction termination of pregnancy, were studied. Forty patients received alfentanil (500 micrograms), and thirty halothane (1.5%) as supplements to either etomidate or methohexitone-nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia. A further 20 patients received alfentanil 250 micrograms at induction of anaesthesia with methohexitone, followed by a further 250 micrograms immediately prior to the onset of surgery. Recovery was assessed by the time patients took to open eyes on command, to giving their correct date of birth, and to performing the 'p' deletion test. Satisfactory operating conditions were not obtained with the combination of etomidate and halothane. Faster recovery was seen in patients with either etomidate or methohexitone and receiving alfentanil (p less than 0.01) Testing by the 'p' deletion test showed impaired psychomotor performance at 30 minutes after cessation of anaesthesia in all groups compared with the pre-operative scores. Side effects leading to unsatisfactory anaesthesia were more frequent in patients who had received etomidate (p less than 0.01).

Intra-patient comparison of the kinetics of alphaxalone and alphadolone in man.

The disposition kinetics of the two steroid components of the anaesthetic agent Althesin have been determined in seven male patients undergoing peripheral vascular reconstructive surgery. The blood decay profiles for both alphaxalone and alphadolone can be described by an open two-compartment model, with a mean alpha phase half life of 1.9 min, and a mean beta phase half life of 34 min. The systemic clearances of alphaxalone and alphadolone were 1.52 l min-1 and 1.09 l min-1 respectively (p less than 0.01). The remaining derived kinetic parameters showed no difference for the two steroids except for a greater fraction of the alphadolone administered being present in the peripheral compartment at steady-state conditions (p less than 0.05). The relative contributions of metabolic loss to total loss of drug from the body were 0.56 and 0.85 at 10 min and 60 min respectively for alphaxalone, and 0.42 and 0.80 respectively for alphadolone (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05). Although alphadolone exists as the acetate in the proprietary formulation, rapid hydrolysis to the native steroid seems to occur in man. The exact site of this hydrolysis remains uncertain at present.

Tachycardia-termination algorithm: a valuable feature for interruption of pacemaker-mediated tachycardia.

A 45-year-old man who had been implanted with a VVI pacemaker for sinus arrest complained of syncope, dizziness and throbbing in the neck. His pacemaker function was normal, but during ventricular pacing, retrograde V-A conduction was observed. This pacer was replaced by a DVI unit which caused periodic abdominal muscular contractions. We replaced this unit with an Intermedics Cosmos DDD-M pacemaker. This type of pacemaker in a patient with V-A conduction may cause pacemaker-mediated tachycardia (PMT). However, the Cosmos has a tachycardia-termination algorithm which detects continued pacing at the ventricular tracking rate, allows it to proceed for 15 consecutive pace events, and inhibits the 16th ventricular output pulse, thus breaking the reentry loop. The Cosmos pacer has a number of features to prevent initiation of PMT, and is also able to terminate the tachycardia when it occurs because of the tachycardia-termination algorithm. This feature is valuable in DDD-M pacemakers implanted in patients with V-A conduction. Whether this algorithm will be effective in all cases remains to be determined.