Silicon (Si)-based materials are sought in different engineering applications including Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Materials, Energy and Minerals engineering. Silicon and Silicon dioxide are processed extensively in the industries in granular form, for example to develop durable concrete, shock and fracture resistant materials, biological, optical, mechanical and electronic devices which offer significant advantages over existing technologies. Here we focus on the constitutive behaviour of Si-based granular materials under mechanical shearing. In the recent times, it is widely recognised in the literature that the microscopic origin of shear strength in granular assemblies are associated with their ability to establish anisotropic networks (fabrics) comprising strong-force transmitting inter-particle contacts under shear loading. Strong contacts pertain to the relatively small number of contacts carrying greater than the average normal contact force. However, information on how such fabrics evolve in Si-based assemblies under mechanical loading, and their link to bulk shear strength of such assemblies are scarce in the literature. Using discrete element method (DEM), here we present results on how Si-based granular assemblies develop shear strength and their internal fabric structures under bi-axial quasi-static compression loading. Based on the analysis, a simple constitutive relation is presented for the bulk shear strength of the Si-based assemblies relating with their internal fabric anisotropy of the heavily loaded contacts. These findings could help to develop structure-processing property relations of Si-based materials in future, which originate at the microscale.
Lafutidine (LAF) a newly developed histamine H2-receptor antagonist with absorption window makes it a good candidate to be prepared as floating drug delivery system. The current study involves formulation and in- Vitro evaluation of lafutidine as floating microspheres. Different formulation variables that affect the physicochemical properties of the prepared microspheres besides to the drug release behavior were investigated. Fourteen formulas were prepared by emulsion (o/w) solvent evaporation method using Ethyl cellulose (EC) as the polymeric matrix and tween 80 (TW80) as an emulsifying agent. The prepared formulas were evaluated for their percentage buoyancy (%), Percentage yield (%) and Entrapment efficiency (EE %). The results obt
... Show MoreOn the basis of known coumarin-based prodrug system, a novel coumarin-based mutual prodrug of 5-fluorouracil and dichloroacetic acid was designed, synthesized and evaluated as a promising oral chemotherapeutic agent basing on in vitro stability study in HCl buffer (pH 1.2) and in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), as well as in vitro release study in human serum. The chemical structure of prodrug was confirmed by analyzing its FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS-ESI spectra. The results of in vitro kinetic study indicated that the prodrug was significantly stable in HCl and in phosphate buffers, and was hydrolyzed in human serum followed pseudo first order kinetics.
Keywords: Coumarin-bas
... Show MoreTooth restoration one of the most common procedures in dental practice. The replacement of the entire restoration leads to loss of tooth structure and increase risk of pulp injury; replacement is also time consuming and costly. According to the minimally invasive approach when minimal defects, repair is the better choice than the total replacement of the restoration. This study aims to evaluate repair rating versus replacement treatment procedure for defective composite fillings among Iraqi dentists. Material and methodology: A questionnaire survey were designed and distributed to 184 post-graduate dentists in Iraq. The inquiry pertained general information; including their clinical experience in years, their preference in terms of direct c
... Show MoreSilica-based mesoporous materials are a class of porous materials with unique characteristics such as ordered pore structure, large surface area, and large pore volume. This review covers the different types of porous material (zeolite and mesoporous) and the physical properties of mesoporous materials that make them valuable in industry. Mesoporous materials can be divided into two groups: silica-based mesoporous materials and non-silica-based mesoporous materials. The most well-known family of silica-based mesoporous materials is the Mesoporous Molecular Sieves family, which attracts attention because of its beneficial properties. The family includes three members that are differentiated based on their pore arrangement. In this review,
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