Flow Pattern Transition of Fine Cohesive Powders in a Gas-Solid Fluidized Bed under Mechanical Vibrating Conditions

AbstractIn this study, the fluidization characteristics for fine cohesive powders under mechanical vibrating conditions were experimentally investigated. In a case of handling of fine cohesive powders with fluidized bed, stable gas channels and cracks were easily formed in the bed due to the strong cohesiveness acting among particles. A mechanical vibration is one of the methods to improve the fluidity of fine cohesive powders. In this study, we focused on the transition of the dominant bed flow pattern induced by mechanical bed vibrating conditions. The powders used in this study were different sizes (0.7 – 20μm) and materials (silica, alumina, polymer). All powders belonged to group-C in the Geldart classification. The bed expansion ratio was lower in the relatively smaller vibration strengths regardless of the gas velocity, however, it steeply increased with larger a certain vibration strength. Form the visual observation of the bed, the bubble formation appeared with larger than such a critical vibration strength. This implied that the dominant bed fluidization pattern was transitioned from channeling behavior (group-C) to bubbling behavior (group-A or –AC) by the addition of the mechanical vibration

Isolated gestational proteinuria preceding the diagnosis of preeclampsia : an observational study

Introduction. Some pregnant women develop significant proteinuria in the absence of hypertension. However, clinical significance of isolated gestational proteinuria (IGP) is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IGP in singleton pregnancies and the proportion of women with IGP who subsequently developed preeclampsia (IGP-PE) among all PE cases. Material and methods. This was an observational study of 6819 women with singleton pregnancies at 12 centers, including 938 women with at least once determination of protein-to-creatinine ratio (P/Cr). Significant proteinuria in pregnancy (SPIP) was defined as P/Cr (mg/mg) level >0.27. IGP was defined as SPIP in the absence of hypertension. Gestational hypertension (GH) preceding preeclampsia (GH-PE) was defined as preeclampsia (PE) in which GH preceded SPIP. Simultaneous PE (S-PE) was defined as PE in which both SPIP and hypertension occurred simultaneously. Results. IGP and PE were diagnosed in 130 (1.9%) and 158 (2.3%) of 6819 women, respectively. Of 130 women with IGP, 32 (25%) progressed to PE and accounted for 20% of all women with PE. Hence, women with IGP had a relative risk of 13.1 (95% CI; 9.2-18.5) for developing PE compared with those without IGP [25% (32/130) vs. 1.9% (126/6689)]. At diagnosis of SPIP, P/Cr levels already exceeded 1.0 more often in women with S-PE than in those with IGP-PE [67% (33/49) vs. 44% (14/32), respectively, p = 0.031]. Conclusions. IGP is a risk factor for PE, and IGP-PE accounts for a considerable proportion (20%) of all PE

The changing patterns of dispensing branded and generic drugs for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease between 2006 and 2011 in Japan: A retrospective cohort study

[Background]Despite rising healthcare costs, generic drugs are less frequently dispensed in Japan compared with other developed countries. This study aimed to describe changes in dispensing of branded and generic drugs and to explore possible factors that promote the use of generic drugs. [Methods]We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a Japanese medical and pharmacy claims database. All proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) with indications for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) described on Japanese labels were included. Patterns of dispensing branded and generic drugs for the treatment of GERD between 2006 and 2011 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to investigate factors associated with receiving generic drugs. [Results]The study cohort included 14, 590 patients (male: 50.2%, mean age: 43.1 years). Branded drugs for GERD were still frequently dispensed despite an increase in the share of generic drugs. Only 4.3% of patients who initially received branded drugs switched to generic drugs. The percentage of patients who received only generic drugs increased over time (6.5% to 22.1%). The frequency of generic drug dispensing was the highest in the setting where both prescription and dispensing were implemented in clinics (43.3%), while the lowest in the setting where both prescription and dispensing were implemented in hospitals (11.5%). Factors associated with receiving generic drugs included year of dispensing (adjusted OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.94 to 2.55 for 2009–11 v 2006–8), prescription and dispensing setting (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.26 for prescription in hospitals and dispensing in community pharmacies; OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.80 to 2.72 for prescription in clinics and dispensing in community pharmacies; and OR 4.55, 95% CI 3.68 to 5.62 for prescription and dispensing in clinics v prescription and dispensing in hospitals) and H2RAs (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.49 to 1.81 compared to PPIs). [Conclusions]The share of generic drugs for the treatment of GERD increased over time although branded drugs for GERD were still dispensed frequently. The use of generic drugs for GERD was influenced not only by government policies but also by changes in treatment approach and the setting of prescription and dispensing

Nos lO/ll

Abstract: The aryl groups are easily converted to the carboxyl group by oxidation with ruthenium tetroxide. Utilizing this transformation as a key step, several phytosiderophores (mugineic acid (l), 3-epi-hydroxymugineic acid (2), 2'-hydroxynicotianamine (3), and distichonic acid A (4)) and polyoxamic acid (S), the side chain moiety of the antifungal antibiotics polyoxins, have been efficiently and stereoselectively synthesized Reactivity and water solubility of the carboxyl group sometimes preclude the efficient and convenient synthesis of some natural products having the carboxyl functions. Since the carboxyl function will be easily formed by the oxidation of the aryl groups with ruthenium tetroxide, the temporary use of the aryl groups as a stable and non-reactive substitute for the carboxylic acid during the synthesis will be quite effective. -CO2H ) R u O~ Ar E C02H ( Ar Utilizing this methodology, we have succeeded in the efficient, convenient, and stereoselective synthesis of some natural products containing hydroxy amino acid functions (1-3), which are shown below. Mugineic acid (l), 3-epi-hydroxymugineic acid (2), 2'-hydroxynicotianamine (3), and distichonic acid A (4) are the phytosiderophores while polyoxamic acid (5) is the side chain moiety of the antifungal antibiotics polyoxins. Phytosiderophores The phytosiderophores produced in plants promote uptake and transport of iron required for the chlorophyll biosynthesis. Importance of the phytosiderophores in plant physiology as well as their unique amino acid structures have led us to synthesize them in an efficient manner suitable for the large scale production. In general, these phytosiderophores are composed of three parts, each of which is connected through the nitrogen atom. Thus, the three fragments should be synthesized first, and then the coupling of each fragment will follow to construct the whole molecule. 215

Acid-promoted Cascade Cyclization to Produce Fused-polycyclic Indole Derivatives

An acid-promoted novel cascade cyclization is described. Using 8 equiv of trifluoroacetic acid or a catalytic amount of Lewis acid as the promoter, structurally diverse polycyclic cyclopenta[<i>b</i>]indoles were obtained in moderate to excellent yield. This cascade process was extremely effective for the synthesis of 8-membered ring-fused cyclopenta[<i>b</i>]indole derivatives