Cellulose is an important pharmaceutical excipient. This study aimed to produce cellulose from the fiber ofLuffa cylindricaas an effective binder in the formulation of acetaminophen tablets. This study was divided into three phases, namely, (I) preparation of cellulose fromLuffa cylindrica, (II) determination of the powder properties of the LC-cellulose, and (III) production and evaluation of acetaminophen of the tablets produced using LC-cellulose as binder. The percentage yield of LC-cellulose was 61%. The values of the powder properties of LC-cellulose produced show fair and passable flow properties and are within the specifications of a powdered pharmaceutical excipient. The mean tablet hardness and disintegration time of the LC-cellulose tablets have a significant difference in the mean tablet hardness and disintegration time of the tablets without binder; thus the cellulose produced improved the suitability of acetaminophen in the dry compression process. However, the tablet properties of the tablets produced using LC-cellulose as binder do not conform to the specifications of the US pharmacopeia; thus the study of additional methods and excipients is recommended.

The present study investigated pre-service chemistry teachers' problem solving strategies and alternative conceptions in solving stoichiometric problems and later on formulate a teaching framework based from the result of the study. The pre-service chemistry teachers were given four stoichiometric problems with increasing complexity and they need to write the process that they undertake to solve the problem. The study found out that the most prominent strategy among pre-service chemistry teachers is the mole method, which is algorithmic by nature. Very few of them used the proportionality method and none made use of the logical method. Alternative conception noted among the pre-service chemistry teachers is that some of them rely on Avogadro's number in converting between moles with a given mass. The results indicate that these pre-service chemistry teachers has the tendency to teach stoichiometry using the mole method only and that they might carry on the alternative conception about Avogadro's number as they start their teaching career. It is therefore suggested that the teaching of stoichiometry to pre-service chemistry teachers should not be confined to demonstration as they will imitate such technique when they are already a full pledged chemistry teacher. They should be involved in the process of thinking of ways to solve the stoichiometric problem in such a way that it will help them become independent thinkers and be responsible for their own learning by developing metacognitive and critical thinking strategies.

<p>Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are composed of a polymer matrix (PE-PS) combined with a fiber (bamboo fibers) to provide conspicuous reinforcement. In light of recycling plastic and natural fibers, the research aim to fabricate and characterize bamboo fiber-reinforced polyethylene-polystyrene composites using glycerol as plasticizer. Specifically, the study investigated the effect on the physical and mechanical properties and water absorption of the composites by varying the following parameters: substitution of glycerol instead of the usual cooking oil in fabrication of DRM, and bamboo fiber loading. Using 1:3 PE-PS ratio, glycerol incorporation was done in DRM by melting together plastic and styrofoam wastes using a densifying machine at 150˚C. DRM samples with 70% (w/w) glycerol incorporation were then compared to the original DRM samples with 70% (w/w) cooking oil. The modified DRM were then loaded with 1, 2 and 3% bamboo fiber-reinforcement using a two-roll mill at 200˚C and compression molding machine at 200˚C and 50 kg/cm2 for 5 mins in the aluminium mold. The composites were characterized by Universal Testing Machine (tensile strength) following the ASTM standard D638. In addition, water absorption of the fabricated composites was tested using the standard method specified by ASTM D570.The bamboo fiber-reinforced polyethylene-polystyrene composites at 1:3 PE: PS ratio rendered better tensile strength and less water absorbed using 70% (w/w) glycerol as plasticizer and at 1% bamboo fiber loading. For future studies, it is recommended to study the impact of different parameters (glycerol percentage, time, temperature, pressure, fiber type and dimensions, fiber extraction, etc.) in the fabrication of the fiber-reinforced recycled plastic composites. Other characterizations of the fabricated plastic composite including thermal properties, leaching and biodegradation experiments and compressive and flexural strengths can also be done.</p><p>Keywords: Fiber-reinforced polymer, plasticizer, composites.</p>

Nanotechnology and its promises for clinical translation to targeted drug delivery with limited accompanying toxicity provide exciting research opportunities that demands multidisciplinary approaches. The colloidal metallic systems have been recently investigated in the area of nanomedicine. Gold nanoparticles have found themselves useful for diagnostics and drug delivery applications. In this study, we have reported a novel method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles using natural, biocompatible and biodegradable chitosan which came from deacetylating chitin from Portunus Pelagicus. It serves many purposes, as a reducing agent, stabilizer and absorption and penetration enhancer.Erythropoietin would have high loading efficiency with chitosan reduced gold nanoparticles; the binding is predominantly through hydrogen bonding. Chitosan reduced gold nanoparticles improve the pharmacodynamics and cellular uptake of Erythropoietin across mucosal sites and have immunoadjuvant properties.There is almost 50 % shell waste in crustacean industry. It is resourceful if it would be bioconverted. The process of bioconversion is deproteination, demineralization and deacetylation to obtain chitosan. In synthesizing gold nanoparticles, 1.48 × 10−2 M chloroauric acid will be reduced by heating for 15 minutes in 100mL chitosan solution prepared in 1% acetic acid to yield a ruby-red solution. Erythropoietin would be loaded into it and will undergo 13,000rpm of centrifuge followed by calculating the loading efficiency.

With the aim of identifying competencies specific to a Filipino chemistry teacher, the present study surveyed and interviewed chemistry education academics and pre-service chemistry teachers across the Philippines. The results are divided into two: the primary competencies and the secondary competencies. The primary competency got the highest rating in the survey while the secondary competency got the second highest as agreed upon by the academics and the pre-service teachers. Results of aspect 1 show the importance of pedagogical content knowledge. In aspect 2, however, good knowledge on assessment of a teacher is deemed necessary. Aspect 3 deals with the ability of the teacher to vary his/her teaching strategy while aspect 4 recommends teachers to invest on professional development.