Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1971. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Mechatronics involves the combination of the disciplines of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering with computer technology. The purpose of this work is to incorporate mechatronics technology into a novel experimental apparatus and perform a series of experiments to generate data on the filter cycle using this novel technique. The experimental data generated are compared with results obtained from a selection of existing theoretical models which successfully demonstrates the advantages of the novel technology used.

This thesis investigates questions of uniqueness in the theory of Compressible flow. First, various uniqueness theorems for compressible flow are reviewed in an expository manner. Roughly, these theorems state that fluid motion in a bounded region Ω = Ω(t) is uniquely determined by its initial data together along with certain boundary conditions. Next, this analysis is extended to magnetohydrodynamic flows and uniqueness theorems are given for a variety of possible cases. The basic question in all these theorems is the determination of appropriate boundary conditions. The proofs are by energy estimates. / Science, Faculty of / Mathematics, Department of / Graduate

In some diseases it is preferable that the drugs used in their treatment are released in the colon. The colon is also suitable for systemic delivery of a variety of drugs. A variety of systems have been developed for the purpose of achieving colonic targeting. These approaches are either drug-specific (prodrugs) or formulation specific (coated or matrix preparations) and depends on the pH, transit time and pressure or bacteria in the colon. Different polymers, like chitosan, have been evaluated for their susceptibility to degradation by these bacterial enzymes. Chitosan is considered a good candidate for bacterial degradation and is widely available at low cost and has favourable biological properties. To investigate the influence of formulation factors on the properties of chitosan minitablets, it was necessary to ensure that the chitosan had satisfactory powder flow characteristics to ensure uniform compression in the tablet press and to prevent unacceptable variation in the tablet properties such as weight, thickness, disintegration and strength. Moisture content of the powder, particle size and the inclusion of glidants had an effect on the flowability and it could be improved from a composite flow index value of 32.7 to a value of 58.8. The compressibility of chitosan is very poor and different factors that might influence it, was investigated. Compression forces of between 15 and 20 bar resulted in tablets with acceptable physical characteristics. An increase in moisture content, using the powder fraction > 212 ym as well as a decrease in powder weight resulted in tablets with a higher tensile strength. Lower compression forces resulted in tablets that are extremely porous. This suggests that the chitosan can only be compressed at high compression forces which are difficult to obtain using a standard tablet press. The standard tablet press was therefore modified to fill more powder in the die and generate higher compression forces. Minitablets were compressed and the dissolution of isoniazide from these tablets was investigated. Varying the punch depth or the compaction of the powder did not result in the desired slower release of the drug as a result. The porosity of the tablets compressed at all the punch depth settings and compaction percentages was probably too high to have an effect on the wettablity of the tablets and as a result on the dissolution of the isoniazide from the tablets. The inclusion of excipients such as citric acid (an organic acid which would lower the pH in the tablet, allowing the chitosan to form a gel) and pectin (which would form an insoluble complex with the chitosan) into the formulation delayed the dissolution of the isoniazide from the minitablets. Coating of the minitablets with an enteric coating (Eudragit S ®) initially delayed the dissolution of the isoniazide and would protect the tablets from the harsh environment of the stomach so that the tablets will reach the colon and release the drug. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. / In this research a finite element analysis program was developed for the modelling of general compressible Euler flows. An explicit Taylor-Galerkin algorithm was used as the flow solver and was used in conjunction with a flux-corrected transport algorithm in order to obtain high shock resolution without numerical oscillations and overshoots. The solver was applied to two and three dimensional geometries. An axisymmetric extension of the Taylor Galerkin algorithm was also developed. For the two dimensional code, a fully automatic mesh generator was implemented which was able to generate meshes for completely arbitrary geometries, as well as an adaptive refinement algorithm which performs an error analysis on the solution and refines and coarsens the mesh appropriately in order to maintain an optimal mesh resolution. The automatic mesh generator dramatically reduced problem setup time and the adaptive refinement algorithm reduced compllter time by up to 90%" A number of test cases were performed covering a wide range of compressible flows including steady and unsteady flows in air, using the ideal gas model, and shocks in liquids, using the Tait model. Within the limitations of the inviscid and real gas assumptions made, accurate results were obtained, / AC 2018

Thesis (Ph.D. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. / Desai, Prateen V., Committee Chair; Ghiaasiaan, S. Mostafa, Committee Member; Yoda, Minami, Committee Member; Kirkconnell, Carl S., Committee Member; Morris, Jeffrey F., Committee Member. Includes bibliographical references.

Crude gliadins were extracted from Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat flour with 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol solutions and then lyophilized. Lyophilized crude gliadins were dissolved in 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol (EtOH) or 4 mM acetic acid (HAc) and the density and ultrasound properties were measured at 20 °C. Good linear relationships of density, ultrasound velocity and ultrasound attenuation with solution concentrations were found. Solvent and sonication effects on the crude gliadins were discussed in terms of the values of the partial specific volume and the partial specific adiabatic compressibility coefficient for crude gliadins. The ethanol soluble crude gliadins had a larger partial specific volume and larger partial specific adiabatic compressibility coefficient than those for acidic soluble crude gliadins. These large values for the physical properties of ethanol soluble crude gliadins were thought to be evidence for the existence of complexes formed by some proteins (ethanol soluble LMW-glutenins and gliadins) and lipids in ethanol solutions and it was also found that the protein-lipid complexes were not destroyed by sonication treatment. Besides, there was no evidence showing that gliadins change with different wheat flours and cause different volume and compressibility properties of crude gliadins.

The thermodynamic properties of bioactive peptides determine how they interact with cellular assemblies. Ultrasonic velocity and density measurements were used to analyse the volumetric properties in aqueous solution of 3 different materials: KCl, bioactive peptides (from hemp seed and dairy proteins), and liposomes (cell membrane models), as well as the interaction between peptides and liposomes. Serial dilutions of the three different materials showed linear relationships between density and concentration and between ultrasonic velocity and concentration. The apparent specific volume and apparent specific compressibility in solution of all materials showed concentration dependence as a result of increased electrostriction as solutions were diluted. The experimental ultrasonic velocities of liposome-dairy peptide mixes were higher than the theoretical additive value, due to interactions between liposomes and peptides. My research demonstrates the benefits of precise volumetric assessments in biological assays.

In some diseases it is preferable that the drugs used in their treatment are released in the colon. The colon is also suitable for systemic delivery of a variety of drugs. A variety of systems have been developed for the purpose of achieving colonic targeting. These approaches are either drug-specific (prodrugs) or formulation specific (coated or matrix preparations) and depends on the pH, transit time and pressure or bacteria in the colon. Different polymers, like chitosan, have been evaluated for their susceptibility to degradation by these bacterial enzymes. Chitosan is considered a good candidate for bacterial degradation and is widely available at low cost and has favourable biological properties. To investigate the influence of formulation factors on the properties of chitosan minitablets, it was necessary to ensure that the chitosan had satisfactory powder flow characteristics to ensure uniform compression in the tablet press and to prevent unacceptable variation in the tablet properties such as weight, thickness, disintegration and strength. Moisture content of the powder, particle size and the inclusion of glidants had an effect on the flowability and it could be improved from a composite flow index value of 32.7 to a value of 58.8. The compressibility of chitosan is very poor and different factors that might influence it, was investigated. Compression forces of between 15 and 20 bar resulted in tablets with acceptable physical characteristics. An increase in moisture content, using the powder fraction > 212 ym as well as a decrease in powder weight resulted in tablets with a higher tensile strength. Lower compression forces resulted in tablets that are extremely porous. This suggests that the chitosan can only be compressed at high compression forces which are difficult to obtain using a standard tablet press. The standard tablet press was therefore modified to fill more powder in the die and generate higher compression forces. Minitablets were compressed and the dissolution of isoniazide from these tablets was investigated. Varying the punch depth or the compaction of the powder did not result in the desired slower release of the drug as a result. The porosity of the tablets compressed at all the punch depth settings and compaction percentages was probably too high to have an effect on the wettablity of the tablets and as a result on the dissolution of the isoniazide from the tablets. The inclusion of excipients such as citric acid (an organic acid which would lower the pH in the tablet, allowing the chitosan to form a gel) and pectin (which would form an insoluble complex with the chitosan) into the formulation delayed the dissolution of the isoniazide from the minitablets. Coating of the minitablets with an enteric coating (Eudragit S ®) initially delayed the dissolution of the isoniazide and would protect the tablets from the harsh environment of the stomach so that the tablets will reach the colon and release the drug. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007