Development and characterisation study of liposomes-encapsulated piroxicam.

The objective of present work was to develop a novel liposomes-based drug delivery system for a lipophilic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, piroxicam. The system was prepared using proliposomes method and optimised for different preparation parameters including type of proliposomes, concentration of drug, duration of hydration and type of particle size reduction treatment used. All prepared liposomal samples were extensively characterized for their drug-entrapment and size profile using various in-vitro techniques. Present work showed that the most optimum formulation (Pro-lipoTM Duo; 12mg piroxicam per gram Pro-lipoTM; 10 hours hydration time) produced highest amount of actual drug been entrapped in liposomes (800.4 mg/g Pro-lipoTM) with a satisfactory entrapment efficiency of 15.36%. This formulation had also produced liposomal samples with a homogenous (polydispersity index = 0.45) and small particle size (359.95nm). Extrusion technique was found to cause significant reduction in drug-entrapment and size profile of drug-loaded liposomes. A 4-weeks storage study showed that drug-entrapment and size profile of liposomal samples were stable in both refrigerated and room temperature. Electron microscopy revealed that prepared liposomal samples were spherical-shaped and showed concentric lamellae. In conclusion, present work successfully demonstrated a simple, reproducible and practical method of preparation for liposomes-encapsulated piroxicam

Energy absorption behaviour of braided basalt composite tube

Braided composite had been proven to have a great potential as energy absorber. However, the past studies done were limited to synthetic fibre as the reinforcement composite. In this study, we focused on a natural fibre, namely basalt, as the reinforcement material. The effects of braid thickness, braid angle and braid tow density of the basalt composite tube subjected to quasi-static crushing response were investigated. Crushing failure mode had been observed in comparing those braid parametric effects. Moreover, the analysis of variance was used to analyse the main and interaction effects subjected to specific energy absorption (SEA) response for the test. Three crushing modes had been observed. The splayed and diamond shape of progressive folding were reported for the braid angles of ±30° and ±45°, respectively, and fibre micro-cracking mode effects for the ±60° braid angle. Furthermore, SEA increased with the decrease of braid angle and increase of diameter-to-thickness ratio. On the other hand, the highest braid angle demonstrated the lowest crush efficiency and poor triggering crushing progression

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS DENDROCALAMUS ASPER BAMBOO AND SUITABILITY FOR PULP AND PAPER

The chemical analysis of bamboo species, namely Dendrocalamusasper or popular named as BuluhBetong has been evaluated. From the age of 3 years, this species shows different chemical properties related to holocellulose, cellulose, solvent extraction, alkali solubility, lignin, hot water solubility, cold water solubility, ash, silica and pentosan. Holocellulose content of about 60.48% to 64.75%, cellulose content of about 35.73% to 43.14%, for all bamboo segments indicated as a suitable material for pulp and papermaking. Low level of solvent extractive of about 5.09% to 6.23%, hot water soluble of about 6.29% 9.49% and cold water soluble of about 9.35% to 10.49% also produced the content that cannot interfere with the paper-making process. In addition, the low ash and silica content for all sections of bamboo will indicate a normal alkali consumption and give little challenge to the operational process. High pentosan content in the middle and top sections between 16.32% and 20.88% and lignin content of around 39.27% to 32.51% also promise little challenge for pulping as compared to the bottom section. Therefore, based on the overall findings, the middle section, and the top section had an advantage over the bottom section. As a result, the middle and top sections are best used as a new material in pulp and paper making process

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS DENDROCALAMUS ASPER BAMBOO AND SUITABILITY FOR PULP AND PAPER

RACT The chemical analysis of bamboo species, namely Dendrocalamusasper or popular named as BuluhBetong has been evaluated. From the age of 3 years, this species shows different chemical properties related to holocellulose, cellulose, solvent extraction, alkali solubility, lignin, hot water solubility, cold water solubility, ash, silica and pentosan. Holocellulose content of about 60.48% to 64.75%, cellulose content of about 35.73% to 43.14%, for all bamboo segments indicated as a suitable material for pulp and papermaking. Low level of solvent extractive of about 5.09% to 6.23%, hot water soluble of about 6.29% 9.49% and cold water soluble of about 9.35% to 10.49% also produced the content that cannot interfere with the paper-making process. In addition, the low ash and silica content for all sections of bamboo will indicate a normal alkali consumption and give little challenge to the operational process. High pentosan content in the middle and top sections between 16.32% and 20.88% and lignin content of around 39.27% to 32.51% also promise little challenge for pulping as compared to the bottom section. Therefore, based on the overall findings, the middle section, and the top section had an advantage over the bottom section. As a result, the middle and top sections are best used as a new material in pulp and paper making process

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS DENDROCALAMUS ASPER BAMBOO AND SUITABILITY FOR PULP AND PAPER

The chemical analysis of bamboo species, namely Dendrocalamusasper or popular named as BuluhBetong has been evaluated. From the age of 3 years, this species shows different chemical properties related to holocellulose, cellulose, solvent extraction, alkali solubility, lignin, hot water solubility, cold water solubility, ash, silica and pentosan. Holocellulose content of about 60.48% to 64.75%, cellulose content of about 35.73% to 43.14%, for all bamboo segments indicated as a suitable material for pulp and papermaking. Low level of solvent extractive of about 5.09% to 6.23%, hot water soluble of about 6.29% 9.49% and cold water soluble of about 9.35% to 10.49% also produced the content that cannot interfere with the paper-making process. In addition, the low ash and silica content for all sections of bamboo will indicate a normal alkali consumption and give little challenge to the operational process. High pentosan content in the middle and top sections between 16.32% and 20.88% and lignin content of around 39.27% to 32.51% also promise little challenge for pulping as compared to the bottom section. Therefore, based on the overall findings, the middle section, and the top section had an advantage over the bottom section. As a result, the middle and top sections are best used as a new material in pulp and paper making process

Noise control in air conditioning system

An air conditioning system cools air within an area. An air conditioner controller defines information based on input data from door and window open status sensors and a return air monitor sensing the dry bulb temperature and the wet bulb temperature or relative humidity of the air within the area being cooled by the air conditioning system and shuts down the system when specific conditions exist. The defined information is transmitted to a remote host device which retains and presents the transmitted information or information derived therefrom. The air conditioning system usually will produce some noise especially in bigger unit such as chiller unit. There are ways to control the noise in order to give comfort to everybody

Evaluation of sound comfort in examination hall using acoustical environmental analyses

Acoustics environmental analyses were conducted in the unoccupied examination hall at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), in order to determine the acoustical environment which reflects to sound comfort during sitting exam. The acoustic parameters that measured are background noise level, sound pressure level and reverberation time. The analysis result of untreated wall condition (without absorbent material) was revealed poor while treated wall condition (with absorbent material) revealed the improvement result. Installation of absorbent material on the wall and speakers rearrangement had reduced the highest background noise level of examination hall average reverberation times. A minor alteration at examination hall had contributed to better acoustic performance

Evaluation of sound comfort in examination hall using acoustical environmental analyses

Acoustics environmental analyses were conducted in the unoccupied examination hall at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), in order to determine the acoustical environment which reflects to sound comfort during sitting exam. The acoustic parameters that measured are background noise level, sound pressure level and reverberation time. The analysis result of untreated wall condition (without absorbent material) was revealed poor while treated wall condition (with absorbent material) revealed the improvement result. Installation of absorbent material on the wall and speakers rearrangement had reduced the highest background noise level of examination hall average reverberation times. A minor alteration at examination hall had contributed to better acoustic performance

In vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of the aqueous, chloroform and methanol extracts of Dicranopteris linearis leaves

The in vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of the aqueous, chloroform and methanol extracts of the Dicranopteris linearis leaves were investigated in the present study. The cytotoxic effect was determined against the normal (3T3) and cancer cells’ lines (MCF-7, HeLa, HT-29, HL-60, K-562 and MDA-MB-231) using the 3,(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay, while the antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical and superoxide scavenging assays. Based on the results obtained, the aqueous extract was not effective against any of the types of cancer cells studied; the chloroform extract was effective only against MCF-7 and HeLa; and the methanol extract was effective against all the cancer cells used. Interestingly, all extracts failed to produce cytotoxic effect against the 3T3 cells (normal cell) indicating their safety. All extracts (20, 100 and 500 mg/ml) were found to exert antioxidant activity when tested using the DPPH radical and superoxide scavenging assays; with the methanol, followed by the aqueous and chloroform extracts exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity in both assays. The total phenolic content for the aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts were 3112.1 ± 6.7, 3417.3 ± 4.7 and 1012.7 ± 5.3 mg/100 g gallic acid, respectively. In conclusion, the leaves of D. linearis possess potential cytotoxic activity against various types of cancer cell lines depending on the types of extracts used and antioxidant activity, which need to be further explored