A humidity fiber optic sensor based on phase-shifted (PS) Fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) is demonstrated. Compared to the standard FBG sensors, the peak of the PS-FBG slips into 2 narrow peaks and forms a sharp dip in the middle. As a result, the resolution of the measurement will be higher. The sensors used in the experiments were fabricated by coating the PS-FBG surface with a moisture-sensitive polyimide and is based on the strain effect caused by the swelling of the coating after moisture absorption. The same trend seen in a standard FBG sensor can be achieved, but with higher measurement resolution in environments differing by humidity and temperature. This thesis presents simulation and measurement results, including sensitivity and response time, of the PS-FBG sensor approach for humidity sensing, as compared to the standard FBG sensors. Stability and hysteresis are also discussed.

Roxithromycin is a semi-synthetic, macrolide antibiotic, derived from erythromycin A. It acts as a bacteriostatic drug at low concentrations and a bactericidal drug at high concentrations. It binds to the 50S subunit of the 70S ribosome, which causes the reversible inhibition of RNA-dependent bacterial protein synthesis. It is well known that active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) may exist in numerous solid states. Differences in the solid state significantly influence the physical and chemical properties of an API. The in vivo performance of a dosage form will also be influenced by the solid state properties of a given pharmaceutical active. The amorphous characteristics of APIs have a significant impact on their performance and thus offer the potential for exciting new pharmaceuticals. Whilst amorphous forms of poorly soluble APIs are more soluble than their crystalline counterparts, they tend to be physically unstable, which makes their formulation into solid dosage forms quite challenging. Roxithromycin has only 50% oral bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility and for this reason, its potential for optimal therapeutic effect are limited. Poor solubility is thus an important obstacle in formulation development. During this study, amorphous forms of roxithromycin were prepared via quench cooling, and desolvation of chloroform- and ethyl acetate solvates. These amorphous forms were characterised by means of several techniques, whilst their solubilities and stabilities were also investigated. The outcomes of the solubility studies illustrated the complexity of this API and its amorphous forms with regards to their interactions with water. Solubility studies confirmed the superior solubility of the roxithromycin glass (prepared through quench cooling) and amorphous forms (desolvation of solvates) over the roxithromycin monohydrate in water. The solubility in water improved in the order of roxithromycin monohydrate < roxithromycin glass < roxithromycin glass powder < amorphous chloroform desolvate. The roxithromycin monohydrate, as well as the amorphous forms of roxithromycin demonstrated stability over a one-month period of exposure 40°C and relative humidity (RH) of 75%. The roxithromycin glass powder tended to revert to the more stable crystalline monohydrate after week 3 of stability testing. The roxithromycin glass at lower temperatures of 25°C and 30°C (both at 75% RH) tended to transform into the more crystalline form at week 4 of the study. These transformations were, however, not as significant as during the 40°C / 75% RH study. The conclusion could therefore be made that this transformation into the crystalline form was more temperature – than moisture dependant. At a higher temperature (at identical humidity conditions), the transformation into the crystalline form was much faster. Stability studies on the two roxithromycin desolvates were also performed in order to determine whether these amorphous forms, would differ, with regards to their stability, from the glass prepared through heating and cooling. It was determined that the desolvates were more stable than the roxithromycin glass. / Thesis (MSc (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Roxithromycin is a semi-synthetic, macrolide antibiotic, derived from erythromycin A. It acts as a bacteriostatic drug at low concentrations and a bactericidal drug at high concentrations. It binds to the 50S subunit of the 70S ribosome, which causes the reversible inhibition of RNA-dependent bacterial protein synthesis. It is well known that active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) may exist in numerous solid states. Differences in the solid state significantly influence the physical and chemical properties of an API. The in vivo performance of a dosage form will also be influenced by the solid state properties of a given pharmaceutical active. The amorphous characteristics of APIs have a significant impact on their performance and thus offer the potential for exciting new pharmaceuticals. Whilst amorphous forms of poorly soluble APIs are more soluble than their crystalline counterparts, they tend to be physically unstable, which makes their formulation into solid dosage forms quite challenging. Roxithromycin has only 50% oral bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility and for this reason, its potential for optimal therapeutic effect are limited. Poor solubility is thus an important obstacle in formulation development. During this study, amorphous forms of roxithromycin were prepared via quench cooling, and desolvation of chloroform- and ethyl acetate solvates. These amorphous forms were characterised by means of several techniques, whilst their solubilities and stabilities were also investigated. The outcomes of the solubility studies illustrated the complexity of this API and its amorphous forms with regards to their interactions with water. Solubility studies confirmed the superior solubility of the roxithromycin glass (prepared through quench cooling) and amorphous forms (desolvation of solvates) over the roxithromycin monohydrate in water. The solubility in water improved in the order of roxithromycin monohydrate < roxithromycin glass < roxithromycin glass powder < amorphous chloroform desolvate. The roxithromycin monohydrate, as well as the amorphous forms of roxithromycin demonstrated stability over a one-month period of exposure 40°C and relative humidity (RH) of 75%. The roxithromycin glass powder tended to revert to the more stable crystalline monohydrate after week 3 of stability testing. The roxithromycin glass at lower temperatures of 25°C and 30°C (both at 75% RH) tended to transform into the more crystalline form at week 4 of the study. These transformations were, however, not as significant as during the 40°C / 75% RH study. The conclusion could therefore be made that this transformation into the crystalline form was more temperature – than moisture dependant. At a higher temperature (at identical humidity conditions), the transformation into the crystalline form was much faster. Stability studies on the two roxithromycin desolvates were also performed in order to determine whether these amorphous forms, would differ, with regards to their stability, from the glass prepared through heating and cooling. It was determined that the desolvates were more stable than the roxithromycin glass. / Thesis (MSc (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Diss. (sammanfattning) Alnarp : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1987. / Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-157).

Thesis (M.S.)--Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2010. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed July 29, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-67).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2006 Nov 30

Viral transmission from the environment can occur via fomites, but there is uncertainty about which factors most affect viral persistence on fomites. Children are a population highly susceptible to viral infection, and sharing common fomites like toys may spread infection. The objective of this research was to assess the survival of enveloped viruses on the surfaces of children’s toys, using bacteriophage ϕ6 as a surrogate for enveloped human viruses. The survival of infectious ϕ6 virions was observed over a 24 hour period at 22°C and relative humidities of 40% & 60%. On the surface of children’s toys, ϕ6 was better able to persist at 60% RH (log10 reduction< 2 log10) over a 24 hour period than it was at 40% RH (log10 reduction> 6 log10). If ϕ6 virus persists on toy material for up to 24 hours, then viral transmission via shared fomites is certainly significant.

Orientador: Adler Guilherme Viadana / Banca: Archimedes Perez Filho / Banca: Antônio Carlos Vitte / Resumo: Nas últimas décadas o domínio dos cerrados apresenta-se como um dos mais degradados do território brasileiro. Existe, portanto, a necessidade premente de aprimorar conhecimentos sobre esta formação vegetal, no sentido de fornecer subsídios para práticas preservacionistas das poucas áreas que, ainda mantém a originalidade dos cerrados. A presente proposta tem como objetivos: a identificação das diferentes formações vegetais do cerrado em trecho do Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra (MG), centradas nas fitofisionomias existentes no bioma; delimitar e mapear na forma de um perfil os padrões vegetacionais da área indicada para a pesquisa; definir as relações existentes entre as diferentes fitofisionomias e a textura, profundidade, umidade, dos solos que dão aporte ao cerrado no trecho eleito para a realização do estudo e por fim, indicar parâmetros com a finalidade de garantir a preservação do bioma, objeto desta investigação sistematizada. A condução técnica da pesquisa será balizada pela conceituação de Goodland e Ferri (1979) que definiu classes fisionômicas que se enquadram num gradiente de quase campina a uma quase floresta (com ocorrência gradual e continua). Tal gradiente de biomassa divide-se em cinco tipos: campo limpo; campo sujo; campo cerrado; cerrado e cerradão. / Abstract: In the last few decades the province of cerrado it is presented as one of the most degraded in Brazil. It is necessary studies to improve news knowledge on this vegetal formation to supply subsidies for practical that preserve the environment, of the few areas that, still remain the vegetation of cerrado. The proposal has as objective: the identification of the different vegetal formations of cerrado in stretch of Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra (MG), centered in the existing phytophysiognomies in bioma; to delimit and to mapear in the form of a profile the phytophysiognomies standards of the area indicated for the research; to define the existing relations between the different phytophysiognomy and the texture, depth, humidity, of the ground that give contribution to cerrado in the stretch for the accomplishment of the study and finally to indicate parameters with the purpose to guarantee the preservation of bioma, object of this systemize inquiry. The conduction technique of the research will be delimited by conceptualization of Goodland (1979), that it defined physiognomics classes that if fit in a gradient of almost open savanna to almost forest (with gradual occurrence and continues). Such gradient of biomass is divided in five types: campo limpo; campo sujo; campo cerrado; cerrado e cerradão. / Mestre