FORMULATION, PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOEMULSIONS FOR PARENTERAL NUTRITION
Dušica Mirković, 2019, doktorska disertacija
Opis: The aim of this doctoral research was to develop and optimize parenteral nanoemulsions as well as the total parenteral nutrition (TPN) admixture containing a nanoemulsion obtained in the course of the optimization process (hereinafter referred to as optimal nanoemulsion), and to examine their physicochemical and biological quality as well. In addition, the quality of the prepared nanoemulsions was compared with the quality of the industrial nanoemulsion (Lipofundin® MCT/LCT 20%), and, in the end, the TPN admixture initially prepared was also compared with the admixture into which the industrial emulsion was incorporated. Parenteral nanoemulsions that were considered in this dissertation were prepared by the high-pressure homogenization method. This method is the most widely applied method for the production of nanoemulsions due to the shortest length of homogenization time, the best-obtained homogeneity of the product and the smallest droplet diameter. For the nanoemulsion formulation, preparation and optimization purposes, by using, firstly, the concept of the computer-generated fractional design, and, after that, the full experimental design, the assessment of both direct effects of different formulation and process parameters (the oil phase type, the emulsifier type and concentration, a number of homogenization cycles and the pressure under which homogenization was carried out) as well as the effects of their interactions on the characteristics of prepared nanoemulsions was performed. Monitoring the nanoemulsion physical and chemical stability parameters was carried out immediately after their preparation, and then after 10, 30 and 60 days. It included the visual inspection, the measurement of the droplet diameter (the mean and volume droplet diameter), the polydispersity index, the ζ-potential, the pH value, the electrical conductivity, and the peroxide number. After the preparation and after 60 days, the biological evaluation (the sterility test and the endotoxic test) of the prepared nanoemulsions was carried out. As far as the characterization of the TPN admixture is concerned, it included practically the same parameters. The dynamics of monitoring the characteristics of the TPN admixture was determined on the basis of practical needs of hospitalized patients (0h, 24h and 72h). The scope and comprehensiveness of this issue indicated the need to divide the doctoral dissertation into three basic stages. The first stage was preliminary. Using the 24-1 fractional factorial design, nanoemulsions for the parenteral nutrition were prepared. They contained either a combination of soybean and fish oil, or a combination of medium chain triglycerides and fish oil. In addition, the type and the amount of an emulsifier used, a number of high-pressure homogenization cycles, and the homogenization pressure, were also varied. The measurement of the above-mentioned parameters for the industrial nanoemulsion was parallely carried out (Lipofundin® MCT/LCT 20%). The objective of this part of the research was to identify critical numerical factors having the most significant effect on the characteristics that define the prepared parenteral nanoemulsions. Parameters that were singled out as the result of this stage of the research (the emulsifier concentration and a number of homogenization cycles) were used as independent variables in the second stage of the research.
Ključne besede: nanoemulsions, total parenteral nutrition admixtures, high pressure homogenization, design of experiments, optimization, analysis of variance, artificial neural networks
Objavljeno: 07.06.2019; Ogledov: 11009; Prenosov: 0
Thought Experiments, Fiction, and Literary Genres
Tadej Todorović, 2017, magistrsko delo
Opis: The thesis explores the relationship between thought experiments and fiction. It argues that thought experiments should be looked at as a sub-category of fiction, as this would enable fiction to be regarded as a source of knowledge and simultaneously preserve the special status of thought experimenting in philosophy. Furthermore, the thesis explores how the notion of thought experiments as a sub-category of fiction can illuminate and resolve certain issues in the classification of the literary genre utopia. Namely, it focuses on how to differentiate between eutopias, anti-utopias, and dystopias. By splitting the category of thought experiments into constructive and destructive thought experiments, it shows that eutopias can be perceived as being built upon constructive thought experiments, and anti-utopias and dystopias as being built upon destructive thought experiments, which suggests that dystopia is a sub-category of anti-utopia. Moreover, the developed theory is tested by showing how Le Guin's The Dispossessed, Huxley's Brave New World, and Atwood's Maddaddam series, examples of anti-utopias and dystopias, are built upon destructive thought experiments, which substantiates our claim extensively.
Ključne besede: literary cognitivism, thought experiments, fiction, utopia, eutopia, dystopia, anti-utopia
Measurement of branching fractions for $B \to J/\psi \eta K$ decays and search for a narrow resonance in the $J/\psi \eta$ final state
T. Iwashita, Marko Bračko, Boštjan Golob, Jure Klučar, Samo Korpar, Peter Križan, Rok Pestotnik, Marko Petrič, Marko Starič, Luka Šantelj, Anže Zupanc, 2014, izvirni znanstveni članek
Opis: We report an observation of the $B^{\pm } \to J/\psi \eta K^{\pm }$ and $B^0 \to J/\psi \eta K^0_S$ decays using $772\times 10^{6}B\overline {B}$ pairs collected at the $\Upsilon (4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider. We obtain the branching fractions ${\mathcal B}(B^{\pm }\rightarrow J/\psi \eta K^{\pm })=(1.27\pm 0.11(\hbox {stat.})\pm 0.11(\hbox {syst.}))\times 10^{-4}$ and ${\mathcal B}(B^0\to J/\psi \eta K^0_S)=(5.22 \pm 0.78 (\hbox {stat.}) \pm 0.49 (\hbox {syst.}))\times 10^{-5}$. We search for a new narrow charmonium(-like) state $X$ in the $ J/\psi \eta$ mass spectrum and find no significant excess. We set upper limits on the product of branching fractions, ${\mathcal B}(B^\pm \to XK^\pm){\mathcal B}(X \to J/\psi \eta)$, at $3872\,\hbox {MeV}\,c^{-2}$ where a $C$-odd partner of $X(3872)$ may exist, at $\psi (4040)$ and $\psi (4160)$ assuming their known mass and width, and over a range from 3.8 to $4.8\,\hbox {GeV}\,c^{-2}$. The obtained upper limits at 90% confidence level for $X^{C\hbox {-}{\rm odd}}(3872)$, $\psi (4040)$, and $\psi (4160)$ are $3.8\times 10^{-6}$, $15.5\times 10^{-6}$, and $7.4\times 10^{-6}$, respectively.
Ključne besede: C07, C21, particle properties, lepton collider experiments, experimental particle physics
High-statistics study of $K^0_S K^0_S$ pair production in two-photon collisions
S. Uehara, Marko Bračko, Boštjan Golob, Jure Klučar, Samo Korpar, Peter Križan, Rok Pestotnik, Marko Petrič, Marko Starič, Luka Šantelj, Anže Zupanc, 2013, izvirni znanstveni članek
Opis: We report a high-statistics measurement of the differential cross section of the process $\gamma \gamma \to K^0_S K^0_S$ in the range $1.05\,{\mathrm {GeV}} \leq W \leq 4.00$ , where W is the center-of-mass energy of the colliding photons, using 972 $^{-1}$ of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e− collider operated at and near the $\Upsilon$-resonance region. The differential cross section is fitted by parameterized S-, $D_0$, $D_2$-, $G_0$-, and $G_2$-wave amplitudes. In the $D_2$ wave, the $f_2$(1270), $a_2$(1320), and $f′_2$(1525) are dominant and a resonance, the $f_2$(2200), is also present. The $f_0$(1710) and possibly the $f_0$(2500) are seen in the S wave. The mass, total width, and product of the two-photon partial decay width and decay branching fraction to the $K \bar {K}$ state $\Gamma _{\gamma \gamma }\mathcal {B}(K \bar {K})$ are extracted for the $f′_2$(1525), $f_0$(1710), $f_2$(2200), and $f_0$(2500). The destructive interference between the $f_2$(1270) and $a_2$(1320) is confirmed by measuring their relative phase. The parameters of the charmonium states $\chi _{c0}$ and $\chi _{c2}$ are updated. Possible contributions from the $\chi _{c0}(2P)$ and $\chi _{c2}(2P)$ states are discussed. A new upper limit for the branching fraction of the P- and CP-violating decay channel $\eta _c \to K^0_S K^0_S$ is reported. The detailed behavior of the cross section is updated and compared with QCD-based calculations.
Ključne besede: C00, C05, C07, C21, quantum chromodynamics, quark model, particle properties, lepton collider experiments, experimental particle physics
Experimental determination of fatigue parameters of high chromium steel under different loading and temperature conditions
Matej Drobne, Nenad Gubeljak, Srečko Glodež, 2014, izvirni znanstveni članek
Opis: Fatigue investigation of high chromium steel (HCS) at different loading ratios (R = 0, R = -1) and different temperatures (20 °C, 600 °C) is presented in this paper. Before fatigue testing, monotonic mechanical properties (ultimate compressive and ultimate tensile strength) are determined at different temperatures, using standardized testing procedures according to DIN 50125 standard. Moreover Charpy impact tests at different temperatures were done with specimens that comply with the standard ISO 14556. Fatigue testing is performed on a servo - hydraulic testing machine with consideration of different loading conditions as described above. On the basis of the experimental results the S - N curves are constructed from which typical fatigue parameters (the fatigue strength coefficient 0'f and the fatigue strength exponent b) are determined. After fatigue testing a comprehensive investigation of fracture surfaces is performed using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Experimental results presented in this paper will serve as a basis for further investigations related to fatigue behaviour of real working rolls in hot strip mills made of HCS.
Ključne besede: experiments, high chromium steel, high cycle fatigue, fracture mechanics
Search for B decays to final states with the η c meson
A. Vinokurova, Marko Bračko, Boštjan Golob, Samo Korpar, Peter Križan, Rok Pestotnik, Marko Petrič, Eva Ribežl, Samo Stanič, Marko Starič, Luka Šantelj, Anže Zupanc, 2015, izvirni znanstveni članek
Opis: We report a search for B decays to selected final states with the ηc meson: B± → K±ηcπ+π−, B± → K±ηcω, B± → K±ηcη and B± → K±ηcπ0. The analysis is based on 772 × 10^6 B¯B pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e− collider. We set 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions of the studied B decay modes, independent of intermediate resonances, in the range (0.6–5.3)×10^−4. We also search for molecular-state candidates in the D^0 ¯D^∗0 − ¯D^0D^∗0, D^0 ¯D^0 + ¯D^0D^0 and D^∗0¯D^∗0 + ¯D^∗0D^∗0 combinations, neutral partners of the Z(3900)± and Z(4020)±, and a poorly understood state X(3915) as possible intermediate states in the decay chain, and set 90% confidence level upper limits on the product of branching fractions to the mentioned intermediate states and decay branching fractions of these states in the range (0.6–6.9)×10^−5.
Ključne besede: exotics, quarkonium, e+-e- experiments, B physics, particle and resonance production
Measurement of time-dependent CP violation in B 0 → η′K 0 decays
Luka Šantelj, Marko Bračko, Boštjan Golob, Samo Korpar, Peter Križan, Tara Nanut, Rok Pestotnik, Marko Petrič, Eva Ribežl, Marko Starič, Anže Zupanc, 2014, izvirni znanstveni članek
Opis: We present a measurement of the time-dependent CP violation parameters in B0 → η′K0 decays. The measurement is based on the full data sample containing 772 × 10^6 BB pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance using the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e− collider. The measured values of the mixing-induced and direct CP violation parameters are: sin⁡ 2ϕ1eff=+0.68±0.07±0.03, Aη′K0=+0.03±0.05±0.04, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The values obtained are the most accurate to date. Furthermore, these results are consistent with our previous measurements and with the world-average value of sin 2ϕ1 measured in B0 → J/ψK0 decays.
Ključne besede: CP violation, CKM angle beta, e+-e- Experiments, B physics
If cooperation is likely punish mildly: insights from economic experiments based on the snowdrift game
Luo-Luo Jiang, Matjaž Perc, Attila Szolnoki, 2013, izvirni znanstveni članek
Opis: Punishment may deter antisocial behavior. Yet to punish is costly, and the costs often do not offset the gains that are due to elevated levels of cooperation. However, the effectiveness of punishment depends not only on how costly it is, but also on the circumstances defining the social dilemma. Using the snowdrift game as the basis, we have conducted a series of economic experiments to determine whether severe punishment is more effective than mild punishment. We have observed that severe punishment is not necessarily more effective, even if the cost of punishment is identical in both cases. The benefits of severe punishment become evident only under extremely adverse conditions, when to cooperate is highly improbable in the absence of sanctions. If cooperation is likely, mild punishment is not less effective and leads to higher average payoffs, and is thus the much preferred alternative. Presented results suggest that the positive effects of punishment stem not only from imposed fines, but may also have a psychological background. Small fines can do wonders in motivating us to chose cooperation over defection, but without the paralyzing effect that may be brought about by large fines. The later should be utilized only when absolutely necessary.
Ključne besede: public goods, punishment, economic experiments, snowdrift game
MODERN INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MORAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN H. G. WELLS' THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU
Tjaša Šuc, 2014, magistrsko delo
Opis: In the time of H.G. Wells, vivisection of animals and the human were common topics. Nowadays, the human still remains a common topic. Scientific research has developed further with cloning, in-vitro fertilization, organ transplantation, etc. Out of these various scientific developments and experiments, which are examined in the Island of Doctor Moreau, the question of ethics and morality arises, as well as the question how these concepts have changed from the time of Wells` Doctor Moreau and today. The objective of my thesis, Modern Interpretations of the Moral and Ethical Issues in H. G. Wells` The Island of Doctor Moreau, is to analyze the moral and ethical issues in the work of H. G. Wells' The Island of Doctor Moreau and to show their relevance and topicality. Firstly, the genre of science-fiction novel is discussed, followed by an analysis and the structure of the work, and an analysis of the characters, which enables further analysis and relevance to the main theme: moral and ethical issues.
Ključne besede: H. G. Wells, Doctor Moreau, vivisection, ethics and morality, scientific experiments.
Objavljeno: 29.10.2014; Ogledov: 1452; Prenosov: 125
Fatigue behaviour of 42CrMo4 steel under contact loading
Péter Göncz, Rok Potočnik, Srečko Glodež, 2010, izvirni znanstveni članek
Opis: The presented paper describes the experimental determination of fatigue crack growth parameters for high strength low-alloy steel 42CrMo4. The experiments were performed according to the ASTM E647 standard and the parameters of the Paris equation (C and m) were determined. Test specimens were subjected to impulsive cyclic tensile loading on a testing machine. During that the fatigue crack propagation was monitored as a function of elapsed fatigue cycles. Taking these experimental results into account the fatigue crack growth rates at different stress-intensity factor ranges was determined. To consider the variable material properties of the slewing bearing ring trough depth, specimens of different hardnesses were tested. Beside the experimental result a 2D contact fatigue crack propagation model is also presented. This model can be used for the simulation of surface initiated contact fatigue crack propagation on the roller slewing bearing's raceway. As a computational example the results of a finite element method contact fatigue crack propagation simulation are presented.
Ključne besede: crack propagation, slewing bearings, numerical modelling, experiments
Objavljeno: 07.06.2012; Ogledov: 1555; Prenosov: 70
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