Simplification and Validation of a Spectral-Tensor Model for Turbulence Including Atmospheric Stability

A spectral-tensor model of non-neutral, atmospheric-boundary-layer turbulence is evaluated using Eulerian statistics from single-point measurements of the wind speed and temperature at heights up to 100 m, assuming constant vertical gradients of mean wind speed and temperature. The model has been previously described in terms of the dissipation rate epsilon, the length scale of energy-containing eddies L, a turbulence anisotropy parameter Gamma, the Richardson number Ri, and the normalized rate of destruction of temperature variance eta(theta) equivalent to epsilon(theta)/epsilon. Here, the latter two parameters are collapsed into a single atmospheric stability parameter z/L usingMonin-Obukhov similarity theory, where z is the height above the Earth's surface, and L is the Obukhov length corresponding to {Ri ,eta(theta)}. Model outputs of the one-dimensional velocity spectra, as well as cospectra of the streamwise and/or vertical velocity components, and/or temperature, and cross-spectra for the spatial separation of all three velocity components and temperature, are compared with measurements. As a function of the four model parameters, spectra and cospectra are reproduced quite well, but horizontal temperature fluxes are slightly underestimated in stable conditions. In moderately unstable stratification, our model reproduces spectra only up to a scale similar to 1 km. The model also overestimates coherences for vertical separations, but is less severe in unstable than in stable cases

Effect of Cholesterol on the Properties of Spray-Dried Lysozyme-Loaded Liposomal Powders

The influence of cholesterol (Chol) in the liposomal bilayer on the properties of inhalable protein-loaded liposomal powders prepared by spray-drying technique was investigated. Lysozyme (LSZ) was used as a model protein. Feed solution for spray drying was prepared by direct mixing of aqueous solution of LSZ with mannitol solution and empty liposome dispersions composed of hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine and Chol at various molar ratios. The spray-dried powders were characterized with respect to morphology, thermal property, and crystallinity using scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Most formulations gave slightly aggregated, spherical particles, and percentage yields of the spray-dried powders decreased with increasing Chol content. Degree of particle aggregation depended on the powder composition. The powders spontaneously formed liposomes which efficiently entrapped LSZ after reconstitution with HEPES buffered saline (HBS) at 37°C. Lysozyme entrapment efficiency and size distribution of the reconstituted liposomes were evaluated after the powders were reconstituted with HBS. Increasing Chol content resulted in a decrease in size of the reconstituted liposomes and an increase in entrapment efficiency of LSZ. These results correlated with thermal behaviors of the reconstituted liposomes. Biological activity of LSZ was not affected by the spray-drying process. It was also demonstrated that LSZ-loaded liposomal powders could be produced without the need to preload the LSZ into liposomes prior to spray-drying process