Digital age: challenges for libraries

Information technology and globalization are the two most influential forces of the modern times. IT has given new meanings to the transmission, dissemination and storage of information; whereas globalisation is reducing the importance of geographical boundaries. Libraries as an important social institution have been affected by these changes. Information retrieval, information storage and information transmission are the core competencies of the libraries. Digital age characterized by efficient graphic user interface, digital imaging, efficient transfer and storage of texts, is presenting important challenges for the libraries. Information privacy, copyrights, and information security are some of the challenging issues faced by the libraries in digital age. This paper is an attempt to present as well as to discuss the implications of these issues so that strategies can be devised to address them effectively and efficiently

A Proposed Rural Development Program and its Implications for Puktia, Afghanistan

The main concern of this study is to work out a community development program for the Province of Puktia, Afghanistan, which will correspond to the basic values of the existing social systems in that part of the country. People in Puktia have lived their traditional way of life for centuries and will continue to do so until changes are introduced by an outside agency. We are assuming that the people in this society cannot conintue their way of life without being affected by the progress made in the surrounding areas and other parts of the world; therefore, changes must be made if they are to compete with the outside forces imposed upon them. In almost all undeveloped areas including Puktia, it is not often the lack of scientific knowledge that retards progress, but rather the lack of appropriate and effective channels of communication for disseminating information to rural people. If progress is desired, the existing gap between the public and the source of information must be bridged in the shortest possible time. All changes introduced into a society are not desirable; therefore, in Puktia, conscious attempts must be made to introduce those innovations which will help improve the level of living. It has only been since World War II that a concentrated and scientific approach has been made to improve rural levels of living. The approach for a rural development program in Puktia in this thesis is based upon the experiences of many trained people engaged in such work in similar cultures. Consideration has been given especially to the rural development programs in Egypt, India, Iran, and Pakistan because these cultures are similar in many respects to the culture of Puktia. The successes and mistakes made in these countries form the basis for selecting the objectives and goals in this study

Solubility enhancement of poorly water soluble drugs using liposome technology

The aim of this work is to investigate the various parameters that could control the encapsulation of lipophilic drugs and investigate the influence of the physical properties of poorly water-soluble drugs on bilayer loading. Initial work investigated on the solubilisation of ibuprofen, a model insoluble drug. Drug loading was assessed using HPLC and UV spectrophotometric analysis. Preliminary studies focused on the influence of bilayer composition on drug loading to obtain an optimum cholesterol concentration. This was followed up by studies investigating the effect of longer alkyl chain lipids, unsaturated alkyl chain lipids and charged lipids. The studies also focused on the effects of pH of the hydration medium and addition of the single chain surfactant a-tocopherol. The work was followed up by investigation of a range of insoluble drugs including flurbiprofen, indomethacin, sulindac, mefenamic acid, lignocaine and progesterone to investigate the influence of drugs properties and functional group on liposomal loading. The results show that no defined trend could be obtained linking the drug loading to the different drug properties including molecular weight, log P and other drug specific characteristics. However, the presence of the oppositely charged lipids improved the encapsulation of all the drugs investigated with a similar effect obtained with the substitution of the longer chain lipids. The addition of the single chain surfactant a-tocopherol resulted in enhancement of drug loading and possibly is governed by the log P of the drug candidate. Environmental scanning-electron microscopy (ESEM) was used to dynamically follow the changes in liposome morphology in real time during dehydration thereby providing a alternative assay of liposome formulation and stability. The ESEM analysis clearly demonstrated ibuprofen incorporation enhanced the stability of PC:Chol liposomes

Functionalised particles using dry powder coating in pharmaceutical drug delivery:promises and challenges

Introduction: Production of functionalised particles using dry powder coating is a one-step, environmentally friendly process that paves the way for the development of particles with targeted properties and diverse functionalities. Areas covered: Applying the first principles in physical science for powders, fine guest particles can be homogeneously dispersed over the surface of larger host particles to develop functionalised particles. Multiple functionalities can be modified including: flowability, dispersibility, fluidisation, homogeneity, content uniformity and dissolution profile. The current publication seeks to understand the fundamental underpinning principles and science governing dry coating process, evaluate key technologies developed to produce functionalised particles along with outlining their advantages, limitations and applications and discusses in detail the resultant functionalities and their applications. Expert opinion: Dry particle coating is a promising solvent-free manufacturing technology to produce particles with targeted functionalities. Progress within this area requires the development of continuous processing devices that can overcome challenges encountered with current technologies such as heat generation and particle attrition. Growth within this field requires extensive research to further understand the impact of process design and material properties on resultant functionalities

Pharmaceutics:a new open-access journal for all those interested in designing medicines

We know the many hurdles that face us when we look to deliver a drug, starting from the basic characteristics of the drug (its solubility, stability, absorption and biodistribution), to overcoming the physiological barriers faced in reaching the target site, and to maintaining the concentration within the therapeutic window. In addition we must also remember the patient needs in this – is it a child that needs a liquid dosage form? Is it someone having to take multiple doses in a day? Do we need a rapid onset of action in a convenient format? Will people find it convenient to take the drug in the format we are presenting to them – or are there alternative options? [...

Characterisation and surface-profiling techniques for composite particles produced by dry powder coating in pharmaceutical drug delivery

The production of composite particles using dry powder coating is a one-step, environmentally friendly, process for the fabrication of particles with targeted properties and favourable functionalities. Diverse functionalities, such flowability enhancement, content uniformity, and dissolution, can be developed from dry particle coating. In this review, we discuss the particle functionalities that can be tailored and the selection of characterisation techniques relevant to understanding their molecular basis. We address key features in the powder blend sampling process and explore the relevant characterisation techniques, focussing on the functionality delivered by dry coating and on surface profiling that explores the dynamics and surface characteristics of the composite blends. Dry particle coating is a solvent- and heat-free process that can be used to develop functionalised particles. However, assessment of the resultant functionality requires careful selection of sensitive analytical techniques that can distinguish particle surface changes within nano and/or micrometre ranges

Four-Face Heated Uniaxial Reinforced Concrete Columns Interaction Charts

This paper presents an analytical method for generating the interaction diagrams of uniaxially reinforced concrete (RC) columns that are subjected to four-face heating. Twenty-one (21) specimens obtained from previous case studies that were subjected to four-face heating (with different fire test times ranging from 63 to 356 fire minutes) are used to validate the proposed uniaxial interaction charts. The results obtained from the case studies and from the proposed charts are also compared with the finite element software (FIN EC). The 500°C isotherm as well as the zone method are used in the computer software program to find the required load capacities. The proposed method's values fall within the range of values obtained from laboratory tests and computer software, which suggests its validity. Also, the zone method in FIN-EC software is reliable for evaluating load-bearing capacity, while the 500°C method is useful in situations with shorter fire times. The results obtained provide a valuable tool for designing and evaluating structures that may be exposed to fire. Nonetheless, the study is restricted by its concentration on a particular type of column under four-face heating, which may reduce its relevance to other types of structures and heating situations. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-07-01 Full Text: PD

Simplified Irregular Beam Analysis and Design

This paper presents simple method to estimate the strength design of reinforced concrete beam sections based on structural safety and reliability. Irregular beam shaped sections are commonly used nowadays in the construction industry. This study reveals the simplified method to analyze and design the different irregular shaped beam sections. In this study, the selected irregular beam shaped sections are divided mainly into three groups, beams with straight edges, beams with sloped edges and circular beams. Each group contains the most commonly used beam shaped sections in that category. Six beams sections (B-1 to B-6) are selected for group-1 whereas five beam sections (B-7 to B-11) and a circular beam section (B-12) are chosen for group 2 and 3 respectively. Flexural beam formulas for three groups of reinforced concrete beams are derived based on section geometry and ACI building code of design. This study also analyzed numerical examples for some of the sections in each group category using the proposed simplified method to determine the strength design of the irregular beams. The results obtained using simplified method for all of the three groups are compared with the finite element software (SAP v2000). The percentage difference of simplified method with the finite element software ranges within 5% to 10%. This makes the simplified method for irregular shaped beam sections quite promising

An investigation into the effects of excipient particle size, blending techniques and processing parameters on the homogeneity and content uniformity of a blend containing low-dose model drug

Powder blend homogeneity is a critical attribute in formulation development of low dose and potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) yet a complex process with multiple contributing factors. Excipient characteristics play key role in efficient blending process and final product quality. In this work the effect of excipient type and properties, blending technique and processing time on content uniformity was investigated. Powder characteristics for three commonly used excipients (starch, pregelatinised starch and microcrystalline cellulose) were initially explored using laser diffraction particle size analyser, angle of repose for flowability, followed by thorough evaluations of surface topography employing scanning electron microscopy and interferometry. Blend homogeneity was evaluated based on content uniformity analysis of the model API, ergocalciferol, using a validated analytical technique. Flowability of powders were directly related to particle size and shape, while surface topography results revealed the relationship between surface roughness and ability of excipient with high surface roughness to lodge fine API particles within surface groves resulting in superior uniformity of content. Of the two blending techniques, geometric blending confirmed the ability to produce homogeneous blends at low dilution when processed for longer durations, whereas manual ordered blending failed to achieve compendial requirement for content uniformity despite mixing for 32 minutes. Employing the novel dry powder hybrid mixer device, developed at Aston University laboratory, results revealed the superiority of the device and enabled the production of homogenous blend irrespective of excipient type and particle size. Lower dilutions of the API (1% and 0.5% w/w) were examined using non-sieved excipients and the dry powder hybrid mixing device enabled the development of successful blends within compendial requirements and low relative standard deviation

Pattern of drug use in psoriasis inpatients in the department of dermatology at a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: The pattern of drug use in people hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of psoriasis has never been studied previously in India. The aim of the study was to characterize the prescription pattern of people admitted to hospital with psoriasis so that rational prescribing could be promoted among dermatologists.Methods: Case files belonging to 32 patients, admitted in the Department of Dermatology with psoriasis, of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Kerala, over a period of 1-year were retrieved with the assistance of the medical records department. The data thus obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: The average age of patients who were admitted with psoriasis was 49.9 years, and their average duration of hospital stay was 7.96 days. A total of 296 formulations were prescribed to 32 patients. Out of 296 formulations, only 10 (3.37%) were generic and rest 286 (96.62%) branded. Fixed dose combinations consisted of 32.43% (96/296) of the prescribed formulations. Psoriasis vulgaris (56.25%) was the most common cause for admission. Of all the prescribed medications, 4 (1.35%) did not contain clear instructions for the route of administration. Strength was clearly mentioned in only 89 (30%) of the preparations. In 98% of the prescriptions, the exact dose was missing.Conclusions: The study reveals various deficiencies which exist in the prescribing pattern of drugs for management of psoriasis. Educational interventions among the doctors as well as students should be carried out to promote rational drug use.