This paper reports an experimental study of welding of dissimilar materials between transparent Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and stainless steel 304 sheets using a pulsed mode Nd:YAG laser. The process was carried out for two cases; laser transmission joining (LTJ) and conduction joining (CJ). The former is achieved when the joint is irradiated from the polymer side and the latter when the joint is irradiated from the opposite side (metal side). The light and process parameters represented by the peak power (Pp), pulse duration (τ), pulse repetition rate (PRR), scanning speed (ν) and pulse shape have a significant effect on the joint strength (Fb), joint bead width (b), joint quality and appearance. The optimum parameters were determined according to joint quality, joint strength and bead width. The optimum results for the joint strength and bead width for both LTJ and CJ are 925 N, 7.25 mm and 495 N, 8 mm respectively using a rectangular pulse shape (RC). Further modeling studies were carried out based on two methods; one factor at a time method (OFM) and surface response methodology (RSM) method. RSM was used to determine optimum parameters for the experimental data building mathematical models for correlating parameters and responses (Fb and b) as well as to investigate how different parameters interact with each other and their effect on the weld quality.
Nystatin is the drug of choice for treatment of cutaneous fungal infections with main disadvantage that is the need for multiple applications to achieve complete eradication which may reduce patient compliance. Microparticles offer a solution for such issue as they are one of sustained release preparations that achieve slow release of drug over an extended period of time. The objectives of this study were to fabricate nystatin-loaded chitosan microparticles with the ultimate goal of prolonging drug release and to analyze the influence of polymer concentration on various properties of microparticles. Microparticles were prepared by chemical cross-linking method using glutaraldehyde as cross-linking agent. Five formulas, namely N1C1, N1C2,
... Show MoreBackground: Bilastine is a non-sedating, second-generation antihistamine used to treat urticaria and allergic conjunctivitis. Objective: to formulate and test bilastine as a mucoadhesive ophthalmic in situ gel in order to extend its presence at site for longer time and help treat conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. Methods: We prepared formulations using different concentrations of poloxamers (Poloxamer 407 (P407) and Poloxamer 188 (P188)) in combination with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The prepared formulas were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, sol-gel transition temperature, viscosity, mucoadhesive strength, drug release, and kinetic modeling. Results: The prepared in situ gels were clear and transparen
... Show MoreComposting is one of the solid waste management (SWM) methods where the organic component decomposed biologically under controlled conditions. In this study, a 0.166 m3 bioreactor tank was designed to compose 59.2Kg of simulated common municipal solid food waste having a bulk density, organic matter, organic carbon, pH, nitrogen content, C/N and nitrification index (NH4-N/ NO3-N) of 536.62 kg/m3, 62.34%, 34.76%, 6.53, 1.86%, 23 and 0.34 respectively. The bioreactor operated aerobically for 30 days, and anaerobically for 70 days, until the end of the composting process. Results proved that the composting process could reduce the mass of the waste by 69%. Nitrogen content,
... Show MoreA tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is one of the most popular kinds of welding used to join metals mainly for aluminum alloys. However, many challenges may be met with this kind of joining process; these challenges arise from decay of mechanical properties of welded materials. In the present study, an attempt was made to enhancing the mechanical properties of TIG weld joint of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy by hardening the surfaces using shoot peening technique. To optimize the shoot peening process three times of exposure (5, 10, and 15) min. was used. All peened and unpeened, and welded and unwelded samples were characterized by metallographic test to indicate the phase transformation and modification in microstructure occurring d
... Show MoreThe protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is a causative agent of amoebiasis, where it causes millions of cases of dysentery and liver abscess each year. Metronidazole is a drug of choice against amoebiasis. The drug is a choice because of its efficacy and low cost, but at the same time it causes several adverse side effects; therefore, it is important to find effective medications to treat amoebiasis without any complications or any side effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different concentrations (50, 75 and 100 µg/ml) of silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) against trophozoites stages of E. histolytica in vitro. The results showed a significant decrease (p ? 0.05) in numbers of trophozoites stages after treated
... Show MoreA new series of N-acyl hydrazones (4a-g) derived from indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) were synthesized. These N-acyl hydrazones were prepared by the reaction of 3-(1H-indol-3-yl) propane hydrazide and aldehyde in the existence of glacial acetic acid as a catalyst. 1HNMR and FT-IR analyses were used to identify the synthesized compounds and they were in vitro evaluated as antibacterial agents against six different types of microorganisms by using well diffusion method. All the tested N-acyl hydrazones (4a-g) displayed moderate activity against the Gram-negative E.coli, comparable to that of Amoxicillin. Some of the tested N-acyl hydrazones also exhibited intermediate activity ag
... Show More<span lang="EN-US">Usability evaluation is a core usability activity that minimizes risks and improves product quality. The returns from usability evaluation are undeniable. Neglecting such evaluation at the development stage negatively affects software usability. In this paper, the authors develop a software management tool used to incorporate usability evaluation activities into the agile environment. Using this tool, agile development teams can manage a continuous evaluation process, tightly coupled with the development process, allowing them to develop high quality software products with adequate level of usability. The tool was evaluated through verification, followed by the validation on satisfaction. The evaluation resu
... Show MoreThe research aims to improve the performance of the Directorate of Maysan water by reconciling the objectives of the employees of the directorate with the objectives of the Directorate itself, as well as to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the performance of the Directorate (Leadership - Individuals - Knowledge - Operations - Financial) and presented to experts and arbitrators of specialized, and the researchers have relied on the case study methodology as a descriptive approach is comprehensive analysis, and draws on more than one approach, method and scientific design, has been interviewed a number of experts in the Directorate Maysan's water Identify the weaknesses and strengths of the Directorate, the research has rea
... Show MorePatch in transdermal drug delivery(TDDS) used to overcome the hypodermic drawback, but these patch also have absorption limitation for hydrophilic and macromolecule like peptide and DNA. So that micronized projection have the ability for skin penetration developed named as microneedle. Microneedle drug delivery system is a novel drug delivery to overcome the limitation of TDDS like skin barrier restriction for large molecule. Microneedle patch can penetrate through skin subcutaneous into epidermis, avoiding nerve fiber and blood vessel contact. There are many type of microneedle patch like solid, polymer, hallow, hydrogel forming microneedle and dissolving microneedle with different method of microfabrication