scholarly journals Direct electrochemical production of pseudo-binary Ti–Fe alloys from mixtures of synthetic rutile and iron(III) oxide

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (33) ◽  
pp. 15988-16001
Author(s):  
Simon J. Graham ◽  
Lyndsey L. Benson ◽  
Martin Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Intermetallic Phase ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Strengthening Effect ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Oxide Mixture ◽  
Synthetic Rutile ◽  
Β Phase ◽  
Α Phase ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fe Alloys

Abstract Combining the FFC-Cambridge process with field-assisted sintering technology (FAST) allows for the realisation of an alternative, entirely solid-state, production route for a wide range of metals and alloys. For titanium, this could provide a route to produce alloys at a lower cost compared to the conventional Kroll-based route. Use of synthetic rutile instead of high purity TiO2 offers further potential cost savings, with previous studies reporting on the reduction of this feedstock via the FFC-Cambridge process. In this study, mixtures of synthetic rutile and iron oxide (Fe2O3) powders were co-reduced using the FFC-Cambridge process, directly producing titanium alloy powders. The powders were subsequently consolidated using FAST to generate homogeneous, pseudo-binary Ti–Fe alloys containing up to 9 wt.% Fe. The oxide mixture, reduced powders and bulk alloys were fully characterised to determine the microstructure and chemistry evolution during processing. Increasing Fe content led to greater β phase stabilisation but no TiFe intermetallic phase was observed in any of the consolidated alloys. Microhardness testing was performed for preliminary assessment of mechanical properties, with values between 330–400 Hv. Maximum hardness was measured in the alloy containing 5.15 wt.% Fe, thought due to the strengthening effect of fine α phase precipitation within the β grains. At higher Fe contents, there was sufficient β stabilisation to prevent α phase transformation on cooling, leading to a reduction in hardness despite a general increase from solid solution strengthening.

The Influence of Metallic Addition on Fluidity of Aluminum (LM6) Alloy

2013 ◽  
Vol 465-466 ◽  
pp. 954-957
Author(s):  
Roslee Ahmad ◽  
R. Sadeghi ◽  
M.B.A. Asmael ◽  
H. Mohamad ◽  
Zawati Harun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Diagram ◽  
Intermetallic Phase ◽  
Volume Ratio ◽  
The Other ◽  
Interfacial Region ◽  
Β Phase ◽  
Α Phase ◽  
Cr Addition ◽  
And Shifts ◽  
Fluidity Test

The effect of Cr addition on the fluidity of aluminum (LM6) alloy has been investigated by spiral fluidity test. Presence of 0.1 wt.% Cr decreased fluidity of melt due to formation of sludge. In fact Cr changes the morphology of the intermetallic phase from β-intermetallics less harmful polyhedral morphology (α-intermetallics). The β-phases have largest surface to volume ratio, hence they have the largest interfacial region with the melt and are the most detrimental intermetallic to drop off the fluidity. In Cr-containing alloys the effect of α-phase is less detrimental than β-phase to the fluidity. On the other hand sludge formation and consuming Si and shifts the local chemical composition of the melt to the aluminum side of the phase diagram which has lower fluidity than eutectic and hypereutectic compositions.

7 Development of a leaflet to teach children to swallow tablets

2018 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. e2.47-e2
Author(s):  
Charlotte Mawson
Keyword(s):  
Cost Savings ◽  
European Medicines Agency ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
List Type ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Patients Âgés ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Patients Experience

AimIn paediatric pharmacy a wide range of medications are used, which are often not available in formulations suitable for children. We wanted to design a tool that would enhance our patients’ experience of medication taking as well as improving accessibility to medicines, palatability and ease of administration.MethodThe European Medicines Agency advises that ‘for chronic diseases, the acceptability of tablets in children may be improved by adequate training’.1 Among others a study has shown that almost half of two year olds could swallow a 3 mm tablet, increasing to 85% in 5 year olds.2A leaflet was suggested as the best way to teach our patients and their parents how to swallow tablets as it could be widely distributed. It was developed with a working group of paediatric clinical psychologists and a paediatric pharmacist. The leaflet aims to be encouraging and provide practical tips and advice. It offers seven different techniques for swallowing tablets which were adapted from web-based advice and previous cases. The leaflet was piloted in a small number of patients and they were given a questionnaire.ResultsTen questionnaires were returned, with patients’ ages ranging from 5 to 17. All the patients said that they would now be taking all or some of their medication as tablets. All of the techniques were tried by 2 or more patients and each technique was successful for at least 1 child. The most popular method was the ‘big gulp method’ which worked for 8 patients. This involves swirling the tablet around the mouth for 10 s with as much water as possible and then taking a large gulp until all the water and the tablet have gone.Positive feedback for the leaflet included ‘feels grown up being able to take a tablet’, taking tablets is ‘easier’ and ‘quicker’; one patient wished they had been given the leaflet sooner. Parents also fed back that ‘there was no longer a fight to take medicines’ and ‘it’s much easier for school to manage’.ConclusionThe findings have shown that this is a very successful and useful tool. It allows children and their families to take ownership of their medicine taking. To enable more patients to benefit, further engagement from multidisciplinary teams e.g. play specialists, is needed. In the long-term this leaflet could be used to proactively start patients on tablets rather than reactively, creating potential cost savings and a reduction in the use of unlicensed medicines and specials.ReferencesEuropean Medicines Agency. Guideline on pharmaceutical development of medicines for paediatric use2013. http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Scientific_guideline/2013/07/WC500147002.pdf [Accessed: 28 July 2016].Thomson SA, Tuleu C, Wong ICK, et al. Minitablets: New modality to deliver medicines to preschool-aged children. Paediatrics2009;123(2):235–238.

Health Care Rationing: Can we Afford to Ignore Euthanasia?

1997 ◽  
Vol 10 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 32-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hospice Care ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Patient Choice ◽  
Voluntary Euthanasia ◽  
Health Care Rationing ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Medical Care Costs ◽  
Wide Range

Explicit rationing decisions are being made to encompass a wide range of health care issues. Voluntary euthanasia has largely been excluded from this debate due to, in my view, the emotive nature of the issue. Euthanasia is an issue in which economists have been largely excluded and in which ethicists and philosophers dominate. It is the purpose of this paper to review the economic and ethical literature on euthanasia and to discuss their compatibility within the debate on euthanasia. The potential cost savings by the use of advance directives, do-not-resuscitate orders, and futile care withdrawal are then reviewed, as are the potential cost savings created by hospice care. As a conclusion, the ethical and economic arguments are then balanced to assess their compatibility. It is the contention of this paper that reducing medical care costs near the end of life should not be a taboo subject, and that rationing decisions could focus on an exploration of this area and the approaches to it, which are ethically justifiable and economically worthwhile. The introduction of a policy of voluntary euthanasia could have a large impact on the rationing of health care resources whilst also promoting patient choice and an arena for a more dignified death.

Uptake, Internalization and Degradation of the Novel Plasminogen Activator Reteplase (BM 06.022) in the Rat

1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (06) ◽  
pp. 1501-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Kuiper ◽  
H van de Bilt ◽  
U Martin ◽  
Th J C van Berkel
Keyword(s):  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Liver Cells ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Uptake Mechanism ◽  
Liver Uptake ◽  
Lysosomal Compartment ◽  
Β Phase ◽  
Α Phase ◽  
Parenchymal Liver

SummaryThe catabolism of the novel plasminogen activator reteplase (BM 06.022) was described. For this purpose BM 06.022 was radiolabelled with l25I or with the accumulating label l25I-tyramine cellobiose (l25I-TC).BM 06.022 was injected at a pharmacological dose of 380 μg/kg b.w. and it was cleared from the plasma in a biphasic manner with a half-life of about 1 min in the α-phase and t1/2of 20-28 min in the β-phase. 28% and 72% of the injected dose was cleared in the α-phase and β-phase, respectively. Initially liver, kidneys, skin, bones, lungs, spleen, and muscles contributed mainly to the plasma clearance. Only liver and the kidneys, however, were responsible for the uptake and subsequent degradation of BM 06.022 and contributed for 75% to the catabolism of BM 06.022. BM 06.022 was degraded in the lysosomal compartment of both organs. Parenchymal liver cells were responsible for 70% of the liver uptake of BM 06.022. BM 06.022 associated rapidly to isolated rat parenchymal liver cells and was subsequently degraded in the lysosomal compartment of these cells. BM 06.022 bound with low-affinity to the parenchymal liver cells (550 nM) and the binding of BM 06.022 could be displaced by t-PA (IC50 5.6 nM), indicating that the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) could be involved in the binding of BM 06.022. GST-RAP, which is an inhibitor of LRP, could in vivo significantly inhibit the uptake of BM 06.022 in the liver.It is concluded that BM 06.022 is metabolized primarily in the liver and the kidneys. These organs take up and degrade BM 06.022 in the lysosomes. The uptake mechanism of BM 06.022 in the kidneys is unknown, while LRP is responsible for a low-affinity binding and uptake of BM 06.022 in parenchymal liver cells.

Integrated Tubulars Supply Model Provides Cost Savings to Drilling Projects

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hamzah
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Alternative Scheme ◽  
Safety Stocks ◽  
Storage Location ◽  
Supply Planning ◽  
Drilling Site ◽  
Drilling Project

Classical Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) procurement approach has been practiced in the indus-try with the typical process of setting a quantity level of tubulars ahead of the drilling project, includ-ing contingencies, and delivery to a storage location close to the drilling site. The total cost of owner-ship for a drilling campaign can be reduced in the range of 10-30% related to tubulars across the en-tire supply chain. In recent decades, the strategy of OCTG supply has seen an improvement resulting in significant cost savings by employing the integrated tubular supply chain management. Such method integrates the demand and supply planning of OCTG of several wells in a drilling project and synergize the infor-mation between the pipes manufacturer and drilling operators to optimize the deliveries, minimizing inventory levels and safety stocks. While the capital cost of carrying the inventory of OCTG can be reduced by avoiding the procurement of substantial volume upfront for the entire project, several hidden costs by carrying this inventory can also be minimized. These include storage costs, maintenance costs, and costs associated to stock obsolescence. Digital technologies also simplify the tasks related to the traceability of the tubulars since the release of the pipes from the manufacturing facility to the rig floor. Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) risks associated to pipe movements on the rig can be minimized. Pipe-by-pipe traceability provides pipes’ history and their properties on demand. Digitalization of the process has proven to simplify back end administrative tasks. The paper reviews the OCTG supply methods and lays out tangible improvement factors by employ-ing an alternative scheme as discussed in the paper. It also provides an insight on potential cost savings based on the observed and calculated experiences from several operations in the Asia Pacific region.

Improved Oxygen Dissolution Control for Oxygen Activated Sludge

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Clifft ◽  
M. T. Garrett
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Oxygen Production ◽  
Oxygen Utilization ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Oxygen Dissolution ◽  
The City

Now that oxygen production facilities can be controlled to match the requirements of the dissolution system, improved oxygen dissolution control can result in significant cost savings for oxygen activated sludge plants. This paper examines the potential cost savings of the vacuum exhaust control (VEC) strategy for the City of Houston, Texas 69th Street Treatment Complex. The VEC strategy involves operating a closed-tank reactor slightly below atmospheric pressure and using an exhaust apparatus to remove gas from the last stage of the reactor. Computer simulations for one carbonaceous reactor at the 69th Street Complex are presented for the VEC and conventional control strategies. At 80% of design loading the VEC strategy was found to provide an oxygen utilization efficiency of 94.9% as compared to 77.0% for the conventional control method. At design capacity the oxygen utilization efficiency for VEC and conventional control was found to be 92.3% and 79.5%, respectively. Based on the expected turn-down capability of Houston's oxygen production faciilities, the simulations indicate that the VEC strategy will more than double the possible cost savings of the conventional control method.

Cost-minimization analysis of drugs used in the treatment of Asthma and COPD diseases in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billu Payal ◽  
Anoop Kumar ◽  
Harsh Saxena
Keyword(s):  
Generic Drugs ◽  
Cost Minimization ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Pulmonary Medicine ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Maximum Cost ◽  
Cost Minimization Analysis ◽  
Cost Variation ◽  
The Cost

Background: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) are well known respiratory diseases affecting millions of peoples in India. In the market, various branded generics, as well as generic drugs, are available for their treatment and how much cost will be saved by utilizing generic medicine is still unclear among physicians. Thus, the main aim of the current investigation was to perform cost-minimization analysis of generic versus branded generic (high and low expensive) drugs and branded generic (high expensive) versus branded generic (least expensive) used in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine of Era Medical University, Lucknow for the treatment of asthma and COPD. Methodology: The current index of medical stores (CIMS) was referred for the cost of branded drugs whereas the cost of generic drugs was taken from Jan Aushadi scheme of India 2016. The percentage of cost variation particularly to Asthma and COPD regimens on substituting available generic drugs was calculated using standard formula and costs were presented in Indian Rupees (as of 2019). Results: The maximum cost variation was found between the respules budesonide high expensive branded generic versus least expensive branded generic drugs and generic versus high expensive branded generic. In combination, the maximum cost variation was observed in the montelukast and levocetirizine combination. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study inferred that substituting generic antiasthmatics and COPD drugs can bring potential cost savings in patients.

scholarly journals Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Deposition of TiO2: A Review

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2931
Author(s):  
Soumya Banerjee ◽  
Ek Adhikari ◽  
Pitambar Sapkota ◽  
Amal Sebastian ◽  
Sylwia Ptasinska
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Plasma Deposition ◽  
Atmospheric Pressure Plasma ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Pressure Plasma ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Status ◽  
Deposition Techniques

Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) deposition techniques are useful today because of their simplicity and their time and cost savings, particularly for growth of oxide films. Among the oxide materials, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has a wide range of applications in electronics, solar cells, and photocatalysis, which has made it an extremely popular research topic for decades. Here, we provide an overview of non-thermal APP deposition techniques for TiO2 thin film, some historical background, and some very recent findings and developments. First, we define non-thermal plasma, and then we describe the advantages of APP deposition. In addition, we explain the importance of TiO2 and then describe briefly the three deposition techniques used to date. We also compare the structural, electronic, and optical properties of TiO2 films deposited by different APP methods. Lastly, we examine the status of current research related to the effects of such deposition parameters as plasma power, feed gas, bias voltage, gas flow rate, and substrate temperature on the deposition rate, crystal phase, and other film properties. The examples given cover the most common APP deposition techniques for TiO2 growth to understand their advantages for specific applications. In addition, we discuss the important challenges that APP deposition is facing in this rapidly growing field.

The Future of Plasma-Based Surface Engineering Techniques in Tribology (Keynote)

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Matthews ◽  
Adrian Leyland
Keyword(s):  
Surface Engineering ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Bulk Material ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Ceramic Coatings ◽  
Performance Improvements ◽  
Treatment Techniques ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Macro Scale

Over the past twenty years or so, there have been major steps forward both in the understanding of tribological mechanisms and in the development of new coating and treatment techniques to better “engineer” surfaces to achieve reductions in wear and friction. Particularly in the coatings tribology field, improved techniques and theories which enable us to study and understand the mechanisms occurring at the “nano”, “micro” and “macro” scale have allowed considerable progress to be made in (for example) understanding contact mechanisms and the influence of “third bodies” [1–5]. Over the same period, we have seen the emergence of the discipline which we now call “Surface Engineering”, by which, ideally, a bulk material (the ‘substrate’) and a coating are combined in a way that provides a cost-effective performance enhancement of which neither would be capable without the presence of the other. It is probably fair to say that the emergence and recognition of Surface Engineering as a field in its own right has been driven largely by the availability of “plasma”-based coating and treatment processes, which can provide surface properties which were previously unachievable. In particular, plasma-assisted (PA) physical vapour deposition (PVD) techniques, allowing wear-resistant ceramic thin films such as titanium nitride (TiN) to be deposited on a wide range of industrial tooling, gave a step-change in industrial productivity and manufactured product quality, and caught the attention of engineers due to the remarkable cost savings and performance improvements obtained. Subsequently, so-called 2nd- and 3rd-generation ceramic coatings (with multilayered or nanocomposite structures) have recently been developed [6–9], to further extend tool performance — the objective typically being to increase coating hardness further, or extend hardness capabilities to higher temperatures.

Mechanical Alloying Behavior in the Nb-Si, Ta-Si, and Nb-Ta-Si Systems

1988 ◽  
Vol 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Kumar ◽  
S. K. Mannan
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Mechanical Alloying ◽  
Mechanical Milling ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Crystalline Compound ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Β Phase ◽  
Α Phase

ABSTRACTThe mechanical alloying behavior of elemental powders in the Nb-Si, Ta-Si, and Nb-Ta-Si systems was examined via X-ray diffraction. The line compounds NbSi2 and TaSi2 form as crystalline compounds rather than amorphous products, but Nb5Si3 and Ta5Si3, although chemically analogous, respond very differently to mechanical milling. The Ta5Si3 composition goes directly from elemental powders to an amorphous product, whereas Nb5Si3 forms as a crystalline compound. The Nb5Si3 compound consists of both the tetragonal room-temperature α phase (c/a = 1.8) and the tetragonal high-temperature β phase (c/a = 0.5). Substituting increasing amounts of Ta for Nb in Nb5Si3 initially stabilizes the α-Nb5Si3 structure preferentially, and subsequently inhibits the formation of a crystalline compound.

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