Simple Analysis Used in Diagnosis and Follow-up of Schizophrenic Patients (Patent)

Dopamine acts as neurotransmitter in the central and peripheral sympathetic nervous system. Determination of dopamine (DO) was performed by spectrophotometric analysis depending on the formation of new colored compound. The proposed procedure was efficient in quantitative determination of DO as pure material in pharmaceutical preparations and in urine samples. DO concentration in urine sample of patient confirms the affection with schizophrenia and the proposed procedure was used to facilitate diagnosis and followup of schizophrenic patients. It is recommended to apply the proposed procedures as routine analysis in pharmaceutical companies for quality control and in analytical laboratories to diagnose and follow up schizophrenia

The case for early use of rapid whole-genome sequencing in management of critically ill infants: late diagnosis of Coffin-Siris syndrome in an infant with left congenital diaphragmatic hernia, congenital heart disease, and recurrent infections.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) results from incomplete formation of the diaphragm leading to herniation of abdominal organs into the thoracic cavity. CDH is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia, congenital heart disease, and pulmonary hypertension. Genetically, it is associated with aneuploidies, chromosomal copy-number variants, and single gene mutations. CDH is the most expensive noncardiac congenital defect. Management frequently requires implementation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which increases management expenditures 2.4-3.5-fold. The cost of management of CDH has been estimated to exceed $250 million per year. Despite in-hospital survival of 80%-90%, current management is imperfect, as a great proportion of surviving children have long-term functional deficits. We report the case of a premature infant prenatally diagnosed with CDH and congenital heart disease, who had a protracted and complicated course in the intensive care unit with multiple surgical interventions, including postcardiac surgery ECMO, gastrostomy tube placement with Nissen fundoplication, tracheostomy for respiratory failure, recurrent infections, and developmental delay. Rapid whole-genome sequencing (rWGS) identified a de novo, likely pathogenic, c.3096_ 3100delCAAAG (p.Lys1033Argfs*32) variant in ARID1B, providing a diagnosis of Coffin-Siris syndrome. Her parents elected palliative care and she died later that day

Quantum criticality at cryogenic melting of polar bubble lattices

Quantum fluctuations (QFs) caused by zero-point phonon vibrations (ZPPVs) are known to prevent the occurrence of polar phases in bulk incipient ferroelectrics down to 0K1-3. On the other hand, little is known about the effects of QFs on the recently discovered topological patterns in ferroelectric nanostructures4-9. Here, by using an atomistic effective Hamiltonian within classical Monte Carlo (CMC) and path integral quantum Monte Carlo (PI-QMC)1,3,10,11, we unveil how QFs affect the topology of several dipolar phases in ultrathin Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 (PZT) films. In particular, our PI-QMC simulations show that the ZPPVs do not suppress polar patterns but rather stabilize the labyrinth4, bimeron5 and bubble phases12,13 within a wider range of bias field magnitudes. Moreover, we reveal that quantum fluctuations induce a quantum critical point (QCP) separating a hexagonal bubble lattice from a liquid-like state characterized by spontaneous motion, creation and annihilation of polar bubbles at cryogenic temperatures. Finally, we show that the discovered quantum melting is associated with anomalous physical response, as, e.g., demonstrated by a negative longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient.Comment: Nature communication, accepted, 21 pages, 4 Fig

PENINGKATAN KECAKAPAN MASYARAKAT SONAF HONIS BONEN DALAM BUDIDAYA DAN PENGOLAHAN CABAI

Ketersediaan buah cabai di pasaran umumnya tidak stabil. Saat panen raya suplai cabai melimpah sehingga harganya rendah. Sebaliknya saat musim hujan, suplai cabai sangat terbatas sehingga harganya melonjak. Masyarakat desa Oeltua Kabupaten Kupang umumnya adalah petani dan peternak. Salah satu tanaman yang banyak diusahakan adalah cabai. Melalui kegiatan PKM ini dilakukan transfer ilmu pengetahuan dan keterampilan bagi Kelompok Tani Kaum Ibu Sonaf Honis Bonen dan masyarakat setempat untuk meningkatkan kecakapan dalam budidaya cabai serta pengolahan cabai, yaitu dengan pemanfaatan mulsa plastik hitam perak serta penggunaan food dehydrator dalam pengolahan buah cabai. Kegiatan dilakukan dengan metode penyuluhan dan diskusi serta demplot penggunaan mulsa plastik dalam budidaya cabai, serta praktek pengolahan buah cabai menggunakan food dehydrator. Mulsa plastik berguna untuk mencegah pertumbuhan gulma serta mengurangi evaporasi. Hal ini sesuai untuk Kabupaten Kupang yang termasuk daerah semi arid atau beriklim kering. Proses pengeringan buah cabai cukup sederhana sehingga mudah dipraktekkan oleh peserta kegiatan ini. Luaran kegiatan PKM ini berupa produk buah cabai kering, boncabai, serta serpihan cabai atau chilli-flake. Luaran akademik berupa publikasi ilmiah pada jurnal nasional terindeks Sinta-5, publikasi pada media lokal online serta visdeo kegiatan yang diunggah pada web-Fakultas Pertanian Undana

Two Spectrophotometric Assays for Dopamine Derivatives in Pharmaceutical Products and in Biological Samples of Schizophrenic Patients Using Copper Tetramine Complex and Triiodide Reagent

Two simple, rapid, and sensitive spectrophotometric methods are proposed for the determination of levodopa (LD). The first method is based on coupling of 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AAP) with one of the dopamine derivatives (LD, CD) to give a new ligand that reacts with copper tetramine complex to give intensely colored chelates. The colored products are quantified spectrophotometrically at 525 and 520 nm for LD and CD, respectively. The optimization of the experimental conditions is described. The method has been used for the determination of 19.7–69.0 and 18.1–54.3 μg mL(−1) of LD and CD, respectively. The accuracy of the method is achieved by the values of recovery (100 ± 0.2%) and the precision is supported by the low standard deviation (SD = 0.17–0.59) and relative standard deviation (CV = 0.4%–1.54%) values. The second method is based on the formation of ion-pair iodinated inner sphere or outer sphere colored complexes between the LD and triiodide ions at pH 5 and room temperature (23 ± 3(°)C). This method has been used for the determination of LD within the concentration range 39.44–78.88 μg mL(−1) with SD = 0.22–0.24 and recovery percent = 100 ± 0.3%. The sensitivity of the two methods is indicated by Sandell's sensitivity of 0.014–0.019 g cm(−2). The results of the two methods are compared with those of the official method. The interference of common drug additives, degradation products, and excipients was also studied. The proposed methods were applied successfully to the determination of the LD-CD synthetic mixture and Levocare drug. The determination of LD in urine of some schizophrenic patients was applied with good precision and accuracy. The reliability of the methods was established by parallel determinations against the official British pharmacopoeia method

Elastic and magnetic effects on the infrared phonon spectra of MnF2

We measured the temperature dependent infrared reflectivity spectra of MnF2 between 4 K and room temperature. We show that the phonon spectrum undergoes a strong renormalization at TN. The ab-initio calculation we performed on this compound accurately predict the magnitude and the direction of the phonon parameters changes across the antiferromagnetic transition, showing that they are mainly induced by the magnetic order. In this material, we found that the dielectric constant is mostly from phonon origin. The large change in the lattice parameters with temperature seen by X-ray diffraction as well as the A2u phonon softening below TN indicate that magnetic order induced distortions in MnF2 are compatible with the ferroelectric instabilities observed in TiO2, FeF2 and other rutile-type fluorides. This study also shows the anomalous temperature evolution of the lower energy Eu mode in the paramagnetic phase, which can be compared to that of the B1g one seen by Raman spectroscopy in many isostructural materials. This was interpreted as being a precursor of a phase transition from rutile to CaCl2 structure which was observed under pressure in ZnF2.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, updated version accepted in PR

Gupta-Bleuler quantization for minimally coupled scalar fields in de Sitter space

We present in this paper a fully covariant quantization of the minimally-coupled massless field on de Sitter space. We thus obtain a formalism free of any infrared (e.g logarithmic) divergence. Our method is based on a rigorous group theoretical approach combined with a suitable adaptation (Krein spaces) of the Wightman-G\"{a}rding axiomatic for massless fields (Gupta-Bleuler scheme). We make explicit the correspondence between unitary irreducible representations of the de Sitter group and the field theory on de Sitter space-time. The minimally-coupled massless field is associated with a representation which is the lowest term of the discrete series of unitary representations of the de Sitter group. In spite of the presence of negative norm modes in the theory, no negative energy can be measured: expressions as \le n_{k_1}n_{k_2}...|T_{00}|n_{k_1}n_{k_2}...\re are always positive.Comment: 20 pages, appear in class. quantum gra

Indole pulse signalling regulates the cytoplasmic pH of E. coli in a memory-like manner

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.The data that support the findings of this study are available in Apollo (University of Cambridge Repository) at https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.26410.Bacterial cells are critically dependent upon pH regulation. Here we demonstrate that indole plays a critical role in the regulation of the cytoplasmic pH of Escherichia coli. Indole is an aromatic molecule with diverse signalling roles. Two modes of indole signalling have been described: persistent and pulse signalling. The latter is illustrated by the brief but intense elevation of intracellular indole during stationary phase entry. We show that under conditions permitting indole production, cells maintain their cytoplasmic pH at 7.2. In contrast, under conditions where no indole is produced, the cytoplasmic pH is near 7.8. We demonstrate that pH regulation results from pulse, rather than persistent, indole signalling. Furthermore, we illustrate that the relevant property of indole in this context is its ability to conduct protons across the cytoplasmic membrane. Additionally, we show that the efect of the indole pulse that occurs normally during stationary phase entry in rich medium remains as a “memory” to maintain the cytoplasmic pH until entry into the next stationary phase. The indole-mediated reduction in cytoplasmic pH may explain why indole provides E. coli with a degree of protection against stresses, including some bactericidal antibiotics.Leverhulme TrustEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)Winton Programme for the Physics of SustainabilityTrinity-Henry Barlow ScholarshipNational Physical Laboratory (UK)European Research Council (ERC

Cow’s milk protein elimination in autistic children: language, cognitive and behavioral outcome

Background: Behavioral modification and structured education are necessary in autism but rather insufficient. Various dietary restrictions have been suggested as important prerequisites to benefit from other interventions in this disorder. Objective: This study was designed to highlight the degree of benefit in various aspects of development of autistic children upon elimination of cow's milk protein (CMP) from their diet and assess the level of specific IgE for CMP in their sera. Methods: The current study was conducted on 22 autistic children who were compared to 30 age and sex matched healthy children. Enrolled autistic children were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The parents of first group were instructed to eliminate cow milk (CM) from the diet of their children throughout the study period while patients of the second group were allowed to eat without restrictions. Each enrolled child was subjected to complete dietetic history taking, clinical examination and measurement of IgE for CM antigen in their sera by enzyme immunoassay. Autistic patients underwent a Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) test. The patients were also subjected to language and intelligent quotient (IQ) testing, social and mental age assessment and child psychiatric evaluation. The autistic children received an interventional program for six months and were then re-evaluated using the previous clinical parameters. Results: The first group achieved significantly lower CARS test results (p < 0.01), significantly higher language age (p < 0.05) and significantly higher rate of change of CARS, language, social age, mental age and IQ (p < 0.001, <0.05, <0.05, <0.01 and <0.05 respectively) compared to the second group after 6 months of follow up. There was also a significantly higher mean specific IgE level to CMP in the autistic patients as compared to the controls. Additionally, 45.5% of patients who were on CM elimination diet went one CARS category down compared to only 36.4% of the second group. Conclusion: We report improvement in language, cognition and behavioral capabilities upon CM elimination in a group of autistic children. The higher CM specific IgE in these children may suggest that such adverse reaction to CM may have an allergic basis. Wider scale studies are needed to justify this adjuvant therapeutic option in autistic children hoping for better achievement from the current interventional programs. Keywords: Allergy – Autism – CARS – Cow milk – IgE – IQEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2006; 4(1): 15-2