Evaluation of microbiological and physicochemical profile of some herbal preparations manufactured by pharmaceutical and herbal manufacturers in Bangladesh

A. F. M. Mahmudul Islam,Md. Farhan Khalik,Nizam Uddin,Md. Sazzad Hossain,Md. Monir Hossain,Md. Mahadi Hasan,S. M. Fahad,Pijus Saha 한국약제학회 2015 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.45 No.2

The aim of this study was to scrutinize thephysicochemical and qualitative microbial examination of 30 different (of various dosage forms) herbal medicinalproducts marketed by pharmaceutical and herbal manufacturersin Bangladesh. The microbial evaluation includedtotal viable aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, fungi andStaphylococcus aureus count; physicochemical propertieslike weight variation, hardness, disintegration time, friabilityand density. The IMViC (indole, methyl red, Voges–Proskauer and citrate utilization) tests were frequentlyemployed for identification of E. coli and S. aureus. Totalviable aerobic bacterial counts in the samples analyzed wereranged from 3.8 × 10⁴ to 3.2 × 108 CFU/ml or CFU/g and 36.67 % were within BP standard limit. S. aureus wasdetected in 53.33 % (16) of the samples, ranged from anestimated 3 × 10² to 9.2 × 106 CFU/ml or CFU/g whichwere above the USP standard. E. coli was detected in 40 %(12) of the samples, ranging from 1 × 10² to 4.8 × 10⁴CFU/ml or CFU/g that were above the USP standard. Theranges of the fungi counts were 3.4 × 10³ – 3.1 × 106 CFU/ml or CFU/g and 46.67 %of which were within BP standard. Physicochemical properties of herbal products manufacturedby pharmaceutical manufacturers were found betterthan that of the herbal manufacturers. From the label andpack insert of herbal products, definite release patterninformation weren’t obtained and the majority of herbalproducts showed scattered disintegration time. In order toreduce the potential health related complications, there isnecessity of constant monitoring and control of the standardsof herbal medicine products available in the Bangladeshimarket.

Assessment of N-16 activity concentration in Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission TRIGA Research Reactor

M. Ajijul Hoq,M.A. Malek Soner,M.A. Salam,Salma Khanom,S. M. Fahad 한국원자력학회 2018 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.50 No.1

An assessment for determining N-16 activity concentrations during the operation condition ofBangladesh Atomic Energy Commission TRIGA Research Reactor was performed employing severalgoverning equations. The radionuclide N-16 is a high energy (6.13 MeV) gamma emitter which is predominatelycreated by the fast neutron interaction with O-16 present in the reactor core water. Duringreactor operation at different power level, the concentration of N-16 at the reactor bay region may increasecausing radiation risk to the reactor operating personnel or the general public. Concerning thesafety of the research reactor, the present study deals with the estimation of N-16 activity concentrationsin the regions of reactor core, reactor tank, and reactor bay at different reactor power levels under naturalconvection cooling mode. The estimated N-16 activity concentration values with 500 kW reactor powerat the reactor core region was 7:40 105 Bq=cm3 and at the bay region was 3:39 10 5 Bq=cm3. At3 MW reactor power with active forced convection cooling mode, the N-16 activity concentration in thedecay tank exit water was also determined, and the value was 4:14 10 1 Bq=cm3.

GeneXpert MTB/RIF Testing in the Management of Patients with Active Tuberculosis; A Real Life Experience from Saudi Arabia

Ali S. Omrani,Mohammed F. Al-Otaibi,Souad M. Al-Ateah,Fahad M. Al-Onazi,Kamran Baig,Noura A. El-Khizzi,Ali M. Albarrak 대한감염학회 2014 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.46 No.1

Background: GeneXpert MTB/RIF is a real-time PCR assay with established diagnostic performance in pulmonary and extra-pulmonaryforms of tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay to the management ofpatients with any form of active tuberculosis in a single large tertiary center in Saudi Arabia, with a special focus on the impact ontime to start of antituberculous therapy compared with Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) smears and mycobacterial cultures. Materials and Methods: Clinical, radiological and laboratory records for all patients who were commenced on antituberculous therapybetween March 2011 and February 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 140 patients were included, 38.6% of which had pulmonary tuberculosis. GeneXpert MTB/RIF was requested for only39.2% of patients and was the only reason for starting antituberculous therapy for only 12.1%. The median time to a positive GeneXpertMTB/RIF result was 0 days (IQR 3) compared with 0 day (IQR 1) for smear microscopy (P > 0.999) and 22 days (IQR 21) for mycobacterialcultures (P < 0.001). No patients discontinued antituberculous therapy because of a negative GeneXpert MTB/RIF result. Conclusions: In a setting wherein physicians are highly experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, GeneXpertMTB/RIF was remarkably under-utilized and had only a limited impact on decisions related to starting or stopping antituberculoustherapy. Cost-effectiveness and clinical utility of routine testing of all smear-negative clinical samples submitted for tuberculosisinvestigations by GeneXpert MTB/RIF warrant further study.

Effect of TiB2/Gr Hybrid Reinforcements in Al 7075 Matrix on Sliding Wear Behavior Analyzed by Response Surface Methodology

S. Sivasankaran,K. R. Ramkumar,Fahad A. Al‑Mufadi,Osama M. Irfan 대한금속·재료학회 2021 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.27 No.6

Al 7075 alloy matrix reinforced with different weight percentage of titanium borides (TiB2, 0, 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6 wt%) and1 wt% graphite (Gr) hybrid composites were synthesized by in-situ liquid metallurgy route, then the sliding wear characteristicswere performed and investigated in this research work. TiB2reinforced as 0, 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6 wt% by the in situchemical reaction of KBF4and K2TiF6salts and 1 wt% Gr with the Al 7075 matrix were added constantly in the melt. Severalexperiments were carried out to examine the wear behavior of the fabricated composite specimens through a tribometer atambient temperature. The weight percentage of reinforcement (TiB2 particles), the applied load, the sliding velocity (SV),and the sliding distance (SD) were selected as process parameters at five different levels. The response surface methodology(RSM) was used to conduct the experiments as RSM is the feasible and accurate method employed for optimizing to set theparameters. To check the significance of the developed model by RSM, ANOVA and confirmatory tests were also accomplished. FESEM surface morphology was also carried out to illustrate the uniform dispersion of the TiB2–Gr particulatesin Al 7075 matrix. The predicted wear characteristics from the developed model were well agreed with the experimentalresults. The obtained results were explained that both the increase in the percentage of RF and SV have dropped the wearloss (WL) curve whereas the load at all SVs and the SDs were uplifted the WL. The worn surface morphology explainedthat the adhesive mechanisms were dominated during the sliding wear test. Further, severe and mild wear occurred duringhigher load and lower load respectively.

Assessment of Sustainable Green Lightweight Concrete Incorporated in New Construction Technologies

Fahad K. Alqahtani,Mohamed A. Sherif,Amr M. Ghanem,Ibrahim S. Abotaleb 대한토목학회 2022 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.26 No.12

Recent studies have led to the development of approaches for recycling plastic waste and using it as an alternative for natural aggregates in concrete. The studies mainly focused on the material properties and sustainability aspects of such implementation, with little focus on the financial implications and the technical feasibility. The purpose of this research is to investigate the different lifecycle costs associated with the use of green recycled plastic lightweight aggregates (GLACs) in concrete construction in different structural systems. For that purpose, the authors evaluated a concrete structure with several variable design systems and conducted structural design once using conventional concrete and once using concrete with recycled plastic aggregates, resulting in a total of 36 distinct scenarios. The lifetime cost analysis was performed on such scenarios. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to determine how structural characteristics and critical element costs influence cost-effectiveness. According to the findings, this approach can save up to 6% in life-cycle expenses. The findings of this research will contribute to the upcoming paradigm shift of using recycled plastic in concrete, which will reduce the environmental impacts of both the concrete and plastic industries while also assisting developers in lowering their life cycle costs.