Thermal transformations of Cu–Mg (Zn)–Al(Fe) hydrotalcite-like materials into metal oxide systems and their catalytic activity in selective oxidation of ammonia to dinitrogen

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing Mg^{2+}, Cu^{2+} or Zn^{2+} cations in the Me^{II} positions and Al^{3+} and Fe^{3+} in the Me^{III} positions were synthesized by co- precipitation method. Detailed studies of thermal trans- formation of obtained LDHs into metal oxide systems were performed using high temperature X-ray diffraction in oxidising and reducing atmosphere, thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry and temperature-pro- grammed reduction. The LDH samples calcined at 600 and 900 °C were tested in the role of catalysts for selective oxidation of ammonia into nitrogen and water vapour. It was shown that all copper congaing samples presented high catalytic activity and additionally, for the Cu–Mg–Al and Cu–Mg–Fe hydrotalcite samples calcined at 600 °C rela- tively high stability and selectivity to dinitrogen was obtained. An increase in calcination temperature to 900 °C resulted in a decrease of their catalytic activity, possibly due to formation of well-crystallised metal oxide phase which are less catalytically active in the process of selective oxidation of ammonia

Reduced costs with bisoprolol treatment for heart failure - An economic analysis of the second Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study (CIBIS-II)

Background Beta-blockers, used as an adjunctive to diuretics, digoxin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, improve survival in chronic heart failure. We report a prospectively planned economic analysis of the cost of adjunctive beta-blocker therapy in the second Cardiac Insufficiency BIsoprolol Study (CIBIS II). Methods Resource utilization data (drug therapy, number of hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, ward type) were collected prospectively in all patients in CIBIS . These data were used to determine the additional direct costs incurred, and savings made, with bisoprolol therapy. As well as the cost of the drug, additional costs related to bisoprolol therapy were added to cover the supervision of treatment initiation and titration (four outpatient clinic/office visits). Per them (hospital bed day) costings were carried out for France, Germany and the U.K. Diagnosis related group costings were performed for France and the U.K. Our analyses took the perspective of a third party payer in France and Germany and the National Health Service in the U.K. Results Overall, fewer patients were hospitalized in the bisoprolol group, there were fewer hospital admissions perpatient hospitalized, fewer hospital admissions overall, fewer days spent in hospital and fewer days spent in the most expensive type of ward. As a consequence the cost of care in the bisoprolol group was 5-10% less in all three countries, in the per them analysis, even taking into account the cost of bisoprolol and the extra initiation/up-titration visits. The cost per patient treated in the placebo and bisoprolol groups was FF35 009 vs FF31 762 in France, DM11 563 vs DM10 784 in Germany and pound 4987 vs pound 4722 in the U.K. The diagnosis related group analysis gave similar results. Interpretation Not only did bisoprolol increase survival and reduce hospital admissions in CIBIS II, it also cut the cost of care in so doing. This `win-win' situation of positive health benefits associated with cost savings is Favourable from the point of view of both the patient and health care systems. These findings add further support for the use of beta-blockers in chronic heart failure

Acoustic and volumetric studies of intermolecular interactions in dilute solutions of methanol in aromatic amines

Limiting partial compressibilities and volumes of methanol in pyridine, 2-methylpyridine, 3-methylpyridine, 4-methylpyridine and 2,6-dimethylpyridine were calculated from the experimental speeds of sounds and densities of dilute solutions at 298.15 K. The limiting functions were found to be linearly correlated with the association energies of isolated 1:1 complexes of the pyridine derivatives with water. Those association energies are close to the energies for similar complexes with methanol. The results evidence that ortho effect enhances the ability of pyridines to hydrogen bonding with methanol in the same way as with water. The effect consist in changes of hydrogen bond energy, unspecific interactions with a steric hindrance, $e.g.$ between hydrocarbon tail of the alcohol molecule and the methyl group in the ring, and changes in resonance interactions. Stronger hydrogen bonds cause smaller partial molar compressibilities and volumes of the solute, as well as greater negative enthalpies of solution. Importantly, single molecule of water or methanol forms one hydrogen bond with the proton-accepting solvent

Coupling a Statistical Process-Device Simulator with a Circuit Layout Extractor for Realistic Circuit Simulation of VLSI Circuits

This paper discusses methodology of statistical simulation of an IC design which includes disturbances described by independent random variables, spatially correlated random disturbances and deterministic process parameters distribution on a wafer. The method of coupling of a processldevice simulator with a circuit extractor is proposed. Practical example of an operational amplifier design optimization is presented. 1