The European Union, borders and conflict transformation: the case of Cyprus

Much of the existing literature on the European Union (EU), conflict transformation and border dynamics has been premised on the assumption that the nature of the border determines EU intervention and the consequences that flow from this in terms of EU impact. The article aims to transcend this literature through assessing how domestic interpretations influence EU border transformation in conflict situations, taking Cyprus as a case study. Moreover, the objective is to fuse the literature on EU bordering impact and perceptions of the EU’s normative projection in conflict resolution. Pursuing this line of inquiry is an attempt to depart from the notion of borders being constructed solely by unidirectional EU logics of engagement or bordering practices to a conceptualization of the border as co-constituted space, where the interpretations of the EU’s normative projections by conflict parties, and the strategies that they pursue, can determine the relative openness of the EU border

A Taguchi approach for optimization of design parameters in a tube with coiled wire inserts

This study presents the determination of the optimum values of the design parameters in a tube with equilateral triangular cross-sectioned coiled wire inserts. The effects of the design parameters such as the ratio of the distance between the coiled wire and test tube wall to tube diameter (s/D), pitch ratio (P/D), ratio of the side length of equilateral triangle to tube diameter (a/D) and Reynolds number (Re) on heat transfer and pressure drop were investigated by using Taguchi method. The Nusselt number and friction factor were considered as performance parameters. An L9(34) orthogonal array was chosen as experimental plan. The goal of this study is to reach maximum heat transfer (i.e. Nusselt number) and minimum pressure drop (i.e. friction factor). First of all, each goal was optimized, separately. Then, all the goals were optimized together, considering the priority of the goals. Contribution ratios for each parameter on the heat transfer and pressure drop were determined. Consequently, the optimum results were found to be s/D = 0.0357, P/D = 1, a/D = 0.0714 and Re = 19800. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Enhanced dermal delivery of diflucortolone valerate using lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles: In-vitro and in-vivo evaluations

PubMed ID: 23390364The objective of this study was to prepare a suitable formulation for dermal delivery of diflucortolone valerate (DFV) that would maintain the localization in skin layers without any penetration and to optimize efficiency of DFV. Drug-loaded lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles with high entrapment efficiency (86.8%), were successfully prepared by ionic interaction technique. Sustained release of DFV was achieved without any initial burst release. Nanoparticles were also incorporated into chitosan gel at different ratios for preparing a more suitable formulation for topical drug delivery with adequate viscosity. In ex-vivo permeation studies, nanoparticles increased the accumulation of DFV especially in the stratum corneum + epidermis of rat skin without any significant permeation. Retention of DFV from nanoparticle in chitosan gel formulation (0.01%) was twofold higher than commercial cream, although it contained ten times less DFV. Nanoparticles in gel formulations produced significantly higher edema inhibition in rats compared with commercial cream in in-vivo studies. Skin blanching assay using a chromameter showed vasoconstriction similar to that of the commercial product. There were no barrier function changes upon application of nanoparticles. In-vitro and in-vivo results demonstrated that lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles in chitosan gel may be a promising carrier for dermal delivery of DFV in various skin disorders. © 2013 Özcan et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd

Mucoadhesive in situ gel formulations of miconazole nitrate for the treatment of mucosal candidiasis

This study focused on developing in situ gel formulations of miconazole nitrate with poloxamer 188 and 407 for treatment of mucosal candidiasis. In situ gel formulations were prepared and gelation temperature, rheological, mechanical and mucoadhesive properties, syringeability and release profiles were evaluated. Based on their suitable gelation temperature properties, formulations containing the poloxamer (Plx) 407 and 188 in ratios of 15:15 (F1), 15:20 (F2) and 20:10 (F3) were chosen for further studies. F3 exhibited typical gel-type mechanical spectra at 37 °C whereas F1 and F2 behaved like weakly cross-linked gels. Texture profile analysis demonstrated that F3 showed the highest cohesiveness, adhesiveness, hardness and compressibility. According to the these results, F3 was chosen for in vivo studies and it was shown that it is effective for the treatment of the vaginal candidiasis. Histopathologic evaluation also supported the effectiveness of the formulation. As a result, in situ gel formulations prepared with Plx 407 and 188 mixture of miconazole nitrate proved to be a promising alternative dosage form for treatment of mucosal candidiasis