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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Switching from batch to continuous granulation: A case study of metoprolol succinate ER tablets

Continuous manufacturing (CM) has been used to produce several immediate release drug products. No extended-release (ER) product manufactured employing CM technology has been approved yet. Herein this study investigated the critical aspects of switching from the batch mode of high shear granulation to the continuous operation of twin-screw granulation for extended-release tablets. Metoprolol succinate ER tablets was used as a model ER formulation for this purpose. A central composite design (CCD) was employed to determine the effects of high shear granulator (HSG) parameters, namely impeller speed, granulation time, and binder liquid feeding rate, on the critical granulation characteristics important for product performance. These critical granulation characteristics served as a guide for switching from the batch processing to the continuous operation for achieving the same breaking strength and dissolution for this ER metoprolol tablets. The granulation time was the most critical factor affecting the bulk properties of granules which contributed to tablet dissolution. The higher density and lower compressibility of granules were attained at the longest granulation time of 5.4 min with the fastest liquid feeding rate of 75 g/min. The granules’ density was the primary factor negatively affecting the dissolution of metoprolol tablets. However, the breaking strength of tablets confounded the effect of granules density on metoprolol dissolution. Switching the processing parameters of high shear granulation to twin-screw granulation achieved similar dissolution profiles (F2 greater than 50). The screw speed was not found to affect bulk properties of granules. The root cause of granulation failures in twin-screw granulation, such as premature consolidation, excessive swelling, poor cohesion, inconsistent shearing effects, and formation of deformed agglomerates, were identified. In conclusion, the use of critical granulation characteristics through a performance-based approach of ER tablets facilitated the switching of manufacturing of an ER formulation form batch to continuous operation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

A novel peridynamics-based approach to predict pharmaceutical tablet robustness

The pharmaceutical drug product development process can be greatly accelerated through the use of modeling and simulation techniques to predict the manufacturability and performance of a given formulation. The anticipation and possible mitigation of tablet damage due to manufacturing stresses represents a specific area of interest in the pharmaceutical industry for predicting formulation and tableting performance. While the finite element method (FEM) has been extensively used for predicting the mechanical behavior of powder material in the compaction processes, a shortcoming of the approach is the inherent difficulty to predict discontinuities (e.g., damage or cracking) within a tablet as FEM is a continuum-based approach. In this work, we propose a novel method utilizing peridynamics (PD), a numerical method that can capture discontinuities such as tablet fracture, to predict the evolution of damage and breakage in pharmaceutical tablets. The approach links (1) the finite element method – to elucidate the behavior of powders during die compaction – with (2) the peridynamics modeling technique – to model the discontinuous nature of damage and predict tablet breakage during the critical stages of unloading and ejection from the compression die. This short communication presents a proof of concept including a workflow to calibrate the linked FEM-PD simulation models. Further, it demonstrates promising results from a preliminary experimental validation of the approach. Following further development, this approach could be used to guide the optimization of compression processes through targeted changes to formulation material properties, compression process conditions, and/or tooling geometries to deliver improved process efficiency and tablet robustness.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1991

Calcification prevention tablets

Citric acid tablets, which slowly release citric acid when flushed with water, are under development by the Navy for calcification prevention. The citric acid dissolves calcium carbonate deposits and chelates the calcium. For use in urinals, a dispenser is not required because the tablets are non-toxic and safe to handle. The tablets are placed in the bottom of the urinal, and are consumed in several hundred flushes (the release rate can be tailored by adjusting the formulation). All of the ingredients are environmentally biodegradable. Mass production of the tablets on commercial tableting machines was demonstrated. The tablets are inexpensive (about 75 cents apiece). Incidences of clogged pipes and urinals were greatly decreased in long term shipboard tests. The corrosion rate of sewage collection pipe (90/10 Cu/Ni) in citric acid solution in the laboratory is several mils per year at conditions typically found in traps under the urinals. The only shipboard corrosion seen to date is of the yellow brass urinal tail pieces. While this is acceptable, the search for a nontoxic corrosion inhibitor is underway. The shelf life of the tablets is at least one year if stored at 50 percent relative humidity, and longer if stored in sealed plastic buckets.

Lindsay, Geoffrey A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Optimization of screw design for continuous wet granulation: A case study of metoprolol succinate ER tablets

This study aimed at understanding the effect of screw design on the critical characteristics of granules and tablets of an extended-release (ER) formulation for twin screw granulation process. The screw design parameters assessed included number of kneading elements (KEs) per kneading zone, distance separating kneading zones, staggering angle (SA) of kneading elements and number of sizing elements (SEs). These input variables were varied using a design of experiment (DoE) approach to manufacture granules. Particle size distribution (PSD), flow and bulk properties of the granules, breaking strength and dissolution of tablets manufactured using these granules were characterized. The results of least square fitting showed that KEs, SA, and SEs of the screws significantly (p -values < 0.05) affected the PSD, cohesion, compressibility (CPS), conditioned bulk density (CBD) and permeability of the granules. The KEs and SEs significantly (p -value < 0.05) affected the dissolution, which was attributed to their effects on CPS and CBD of the granules. The distance between kneading zones had no significant effect on granules and tablet characteristics. Finally, these results may be used to further study the interaction of the identified critical screw design parameters with other processing parameters for continuous manufacturing of this ER matrix-based tablet formulation.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1994

Fluid-loading solutions and plasma volume: Astro-ade and salt tablets with water

Fluid loading with salt and water is a countermeasure used after space flight to restore body fluids. However, gastrointestinal side effects have been frequently reported in persons taking similar quantities of salt and water in ground-based studies. The effectiveness of the Shuttle fluid-loading countermeasure (8 gms salt, 0.97 liters of water) was compared to Astro-ade (an isotonic electrolyte solution), to maintain plasma volume (PV) during 4.5 hrs of resting fluid restriction. Three groups of healthy men (n=6) were studied: a Control Group (no drinking), an Astro-ade Group, and a Salt Tablet Group. Changes in PV after drinking were calculated from hematocrit and hemoglobin values. Both the Salt Tablet and Astro-ade Groups maintained PV at 2-3 hours after ingestion compared to the Control Group, which had a 6 percent decline. Side effects (thirst, stomach cramping, and diarrhea) were noted in at least one subject in both the Astro-ade and Salt Tablet Groups. Nausea and vomiting were reported in one subject in the Salt Tablet Group. It was concluded that Astro-ade may be offered as an alternate fluid-loading countermeasure but further work is needed to develop a solution that is more palatable and has fewer side effects.

Fortney, Suzanne M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Chocolate tablet aspects of cytherean Meshkenet Tessera

Meshkenet Tessera structures were mapped from Magellan data and several resemblances to chocolate tablet boudinage were found. The complex fault sets display polyphase tectonic sequences of a few main deformation phases. Shear and tension have contributed to the areal deformation. Main faults cut the 1600-km long Meshkenet Tessera highland into bar-like blocks which have ridge and groove pattern oriented along or at high angles to the faults. The first approach to the surface block deformation is an assumption of initial parallel shear faulting followed by a chocolate tablet boudinage. Major faults which cut Meshkenet Tessera into rectangular blocks have been active repetitively while two progressive or superposed boudinage set formations have taken place at high angles during the relaxational or flattening type deformation of the area. Chocolate tablet boudinage is caused by a layer-parallel two-dimensional extension resulting in fracturing of the competent layer. Such structures, defined by two sets of boudin neck lines at right angles to each other, have been described by a number of authors. They develop in a flattening type of bulk deformation or during superposed deformation where the rock is elongated in two dimensions parallel to the surface. This is an attempt to describe and understand the formation and development of structures of Meshkenet Tessera which has complicated fault structures.

Raitala, J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

VORTAB - A data-tablet method of developing input data for the VORLAX program

A method of developing an input data file for use in the aerodynamic analysis of a complete airplane with the VORLAX computer program is described. The hardware consists of an interactive graphics terminal equipped with a graphics tablet. Software includes graphics routines from the Tektronix PLOT 10 package as well as the VORTAB program described. The user determines the size and location of each of the major panels for the aircraft before using the program. Data is entered both from the terminal keyboard and the graphics tablet. The size of the resulting data file is dependent on the complexity of the model and can vary from ten to several hundred card images. After the data are entered, two programs READB and PLOTB, are executed which plot the configuration allowing visual inspection of the model.

Denn, F. M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

[Determination of six main components in compound theophylline tablet by convolution curve method after prior separation by column partition chromatography]

On a partition chromatographic column in which the support is Kieselguhr and the stationary phase is sulfuric acid solution (2 mol/L), three components of compound theophylline tablet were simultaneously eluted by chloroform and three other components were simultaneously eluted by ammonia-saturated chloroform. The two mixtures were determined by computer-aided convolution curve method separately. The corresponding average recovery and relative standard deviation of the six components were as follows: 101.6, 1.46% for caffeine; 99.7, 0.10% for phenacetin; 100.9, 1.31% for phenobarbitone; 100.2, 0.81% for theophylline; 99.9, 0.81% for theobromine and 100.8, 0.48% for aminopyrine.

NASA Program Flight↗
NASA NTRS2016

The Virtual Tablet: Virtual Reality as a Control System

In the field of human-computer interaction, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have been rapidly growing areas of interest and concerted development effort thanks to both private and public research. At NASA, a number of groups have explored the possibilities afforded by AR and VR technology, among which is the IT Advanced Concepts Lab (ITACL). Within ITACL, the AVR (Augmented/Virtual Reality) Lab focuses on VR technology specifically for its use in command and control. Previous work in the AVR lab includes the Natural User Interface (NUI) project and the Virtual Control Panel (VCP) project, which created virtual three-dimensional interfaces that users could interact with while wearing a VR headset thanks to body- and hand-tracking technology. The Virtual Tablet (VT) project attempts to improve on these previous efforts by incorporating a physical surrogate which is mirrored in the virtual environment, mitigating issues with difficulty of visually determining the interface location and lack of tactile feedback discovered in the development of previous efforts. The physical surrogate takes the form of a handheld sheet of acrylic glass with several infrared-range reflective markers and a sensor package attached. Using the sensor package to track orientation and a motion-capture system to track the marker positions, a model of the surrogate is placed in the virtual environment at a position which corresponds with the real-world location relative to the user's VR Head Mounted Display (HMD). A set of control mechanisms is then projected onto the surface of the surrogate such that to the user, immersed in VR, the control interface appears to be attached to the object they are holding. The VT project was taken from an early stage where the sensor package, motion-capture system, and physical surrogate had been constructed or tested individually but not yet combined or incorporated into the virtual environment. My contribution was to combine the pieces of hardware, write software to incorporate each piece of position or orientation data into a coherent description of the object's location in space, place the virtual analogue accordingly, and project the control interface onto it, resulting in a functioning object which has both a physical and a virtual presence. Additionally, the virtual environment was enhanced with two live video feeds from cameras mounted on the robotic device being used as an example target of the virtual interface. The working VT allows users to naturally interact with a control interface with little to no training and without the issues found in previous efforts.

virtual control interface↗
NASA NTRS1988

TABLET: The personal computer of the year 2000

The University of Illinois design of the TABLET portable computer extends the freedom of pen and notepad with a machine that draws on the projected power of 21st century technology. Without assuming any new, major technological breakthroughs, it seeks to balance the promises of today's growing technologies with the changing role of computers in tomorrow's education, research, security, and commerce. It seeks to gather together in one basket the matured fruits of such buzzword technologies as LCD, GPS, CCD, WSI, and DSP. The design is simple, yet sleek. Roughly the size and weight of a notebook, the machine is a dark, featureless monolith with no moving parts. Through magneto-optics, a simple LaserCard provides exchangeable, mass data storage. Its I/O surface, in concert with built-in infrared and cellular transceivers, puts the user in touch with anyone and anything. The ensemble of these components, directed by software that can transform it into anything from a keyboard or notepad to an office or video studio, suggests an instrument of tremendous power and freedom.

Mel, Bartlett W.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Evaluation of Tablet-Based Methods for Assessment of Contrast Sensitivity

Some astronauts have suffered degradation of vision during long-duration space flight, suffering from a condition that has come to be known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). While related morphological changes can be observed with imaging technologies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), it may be useful to have a rapid method for functional vision assessment. In this paper, we compare three tablet-based methods for rapid assessment of contrast sensitivity. First, a relatively novel method developed expressly for touch screens, in which the subject ”swipes” a frequency/contrast sweep grating to indicate the boundary between visible and invisible patterns; second, a method-of-adjustment task in which the subject adjusts the contrast of a grating patch up and down to bracket the visual threshold; and third, a traditional temporal two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) task, in which the subject is presented with a near-threshold stimulus in one of two intervals, and must report the interval containing the stimulus. The swipe method shows variability comparable to the 2AFC method, and shows good agreement in estimates of the spatial frequency of peak sensitivity. The absolute sensitivity estimated with the swipe method is higher than that of the other methods, perhaps because subjects are biased to trace outside of the visible pattern region, or perhaps due to stimulus differences.

Mulligan, Jeffrey B.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Urine Pretreat Injection System

A new method of introducing the OXONE (Registered Trademark) Monopersulfate Compound for urine pretreat into a two-phase urine/air flow stream has been successfully tested and evaluated. The feasibility of this innovative method has been established for purposes of providing a simple, convenient, and safe method of handling a chemical pretreat required for urine processing in a microgravity space environment. Also, the Oxone portion of the urine pretreat has demonstrated the following advantages during real time collection of 750 pounds of urine in a Space Station design two-phase urine Fan/Separator: Eliminated urine precipitate buildup on internal hardware and plumbing; Minimized odor from collected urine; and Virtually eliminated airborne bacteria. The urine pretreat, as presently defined for the Space Station program for proper downstream processing of urine, is a two-part chemical treatment of 5.0 grams of Oxone and 2.3 ml of H2SO4 per liter of urine. This study program and test demonstrated only the addition of the proper ratio of Oxone into the urine collection system upstream of the Fan/Separator. This program was divided into the following three major tasks: (1) A trade study, to define and recommend the type of Oxone injection method to pursue further; (2) The design and fabrication of the selected method; and (3) A test program using high fidelity hardware and fresh urine to demonstrate the method feasibility. The trade study was conducted which included defining several methods for injecting Oxone in different forms into a urine system. Oxone was considered in a liquid, solid, paste and powered form. The trade study and the resulting recommendation were presented at a trade study review held at Hamilton Standard on 24-25 October 94. An agreement was reached at the meeting to continue the solid tablet in a bag concept which included a series of tablets suspended in the urine/air flow stream. These Oxone tablets would slowly dissolve at a controlled rate providing the proper concentration in the collected urine. To implement the solid tablet in a bag approach, a design concept was completed with prototype drawings of the complete urine pretreat prefilter assembly. A successful fabrication technique was developed for retaining the Oxone tablets in a fabric casing attached to the end of the existing Space Station Waste Collection System urine prefilter assembly. The final pretreat prefilter configuration held sufficient Oxone in a tablet form to allow normal scheduled daily (or twice daily) change out of the urine filter depending on the use rate of the Space Station urine collection system. The actual tests to prove the concept were conducted using the Urine Fan/Separator assembly that was originally used in the STS-52 Design Test Objective (DTO) urinal assembly. Other related tests were conducted to demonstrate the actual minimum ratio of Oxone to urine that will control microbial growth.

Source record↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Supervisory Control with Dual Tasking in Post G-Transition Vehicle Landings

BACKGROUND Landing during exploration spaceflight may consist of both planned automated supervisory control and unplanned crew override. Supervisory control, particularly when performed under cognitive load with additional monitoring tasks, is essential for ensuring overall mission success during landing contingencies. Evaluating performance in a relevant Human Landing System (HLS) supervisory landing task after long-duration microgravity exposure can help identify potential risks from human error and sensorimotor alterations. Adaptive changes in the sensorimotor system can manifest during g-transitions as spatial disorientation. Although training and landing aids facilitate successful landings despite disorientation, these adaptive changes may heighten cognitive demand, which must be considered in the landing strategy. It is important to characterize these effects as soon as possible following the G-transition while the sensorimotor system remains in a state of adaptive flux to inform appropriate countermeasures. METHODS A Multi-attribute Lunar Table Battery (MALTB) task was developed for an iOS tablet device to provide flexible crew testing and training capabilities in-flight and on the ground. Elements of the tablet task were derived from the Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MATB, Cegarra et al. 2020). The task requires crew members to study a map of a planned landing site and memorizing the terrain and surface landmarks to inform potential divert maneuvers during landing. The user will oversee a series of approaches through touchdown simulations on the tablet with an external camera view of the Lunar surface. The primary responsibility of the crew member will be to execute a divert if the guidance recommended site is erroneous (e.g., the guidance projected landing target is not within 10m of the planned landing site center), or the projected landing site is no longer suitable due to surface obstacles. Considering vehicle maneuverability and fuel reserves, the divert capabilities will diminish as the task progresses. In cases where a divert is initiated, a new landing target will need to be designated by the user and will be evaluated for the proximity to the original pre-planned site. A secondary operational monitoring task will challenge the user's cognitive reserve by requiring the user to maintain several gauges within acceptable limits and respond to a visual indicator while completing the landing approach. Outcome measures include distance from the planned landing site to the user-initiate divert landing location, ground slope at the new landing site, time to divert, the ability to accomplish the secondary monitoring tasks, and perceived workload. The tablet task is being evaluated in a ground-based study to determine the learning effect of first-time users. The tablet task will be utilized in a flight study to test performance multiple times postflight. Future potential testing in-flight have been identified for capsules with iOS tablet devices. Multi-attribute Lunar Table Battery Task MALTB comprises video footage of thirty distinct landing conditions. The landing scenarios feature various landing sites (n = 3), hazardous object sizes (n = 6), sun azimuth degrees (n = 4), camera modes (i.e., fixed or gimbaled), and navigation bias (i.e., true or false). Each seventy second trial uses a sixty-degree constant glideslope trajectory. The application architecture and layout include user identification setup and data storing, a guided walkthrough of the task and interface components, practice mode for task familiarization, and a modified Bedford workload scale administered following task completion. The time-based dependent measures are saved locally to the iOS Files application and post-processing scripts have been developed to evaluate the remaining measures of performance. RELEVANCE This project will deliver an operational demonstration of crew monitoring capability following spaceflight and identify potential deficits that may require remediation. Comparison of individual vestibular and cognitive changes with crew performance will help better characterize the landing risks associated with sensorimotor alterations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This project is funded by NASA’s Human Research Program Human Health Countermeasures Element. REFERENCES Cegarra J, Valery B, Avril E, Calmettes C, Navarro J (2020) OpenMATB: A Multi-Attribute Task Battery promoting task customization, software extensibility and experiment replicability. Behav Res Methods 52:1980-1990 doi: 10.3758/s13428-020-01364-w

Matthew McDonnell↗
DOE OSTI2021

The mesoscale order of nacreous pearls

A pearl’s distinguished beauty and toughness are attributable to the periodic stacking of aragonite tablets known as nacre. Nacre has naturally occurring mesoscale periodicity that remarkably arises in the absence of discrete translational symmetry. Gleaning the inspiring biomineral design of a pearl requires quantifying its structural coherence and understanding the stochastic processes that influence formation. By characterizing the entire structure of pearls (~3 mm) in a cross-section at high resolution, we show that nacre has medium-range mesoscale periodicity. Self-correcting growth mechanisms actively remedy disorder and topological defects of the tablets and act as a countervailing process to long-range disorder. Nacre has a correlation length of roughly 16 tablets (~5.5 µm) despite persistent fluctuations and topological defects. For longer distances (>25 tablets ~8.5 µm), the frequency spectrum of nacre tablets follows f –1.5 behavior, suggesting that growth is coupled to external stochastic processes—a universality found across disparate natural phenomena, which now includes pearls.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗