A Facile Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Iodate in Table Salt using New Chromogenic Reagents

A simple spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of iodate in table salt samples using thionin or azure B. The method is based on the reaction of iodate with potassium iodide in an acid  medium to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine bleaches the violet colour of thionin or azure B, which are measured at 600 and 644 nm, respectively. This decrease in absorbance is directly proportional to the initial iodate concentration and obeys Beer’s law in the range of 1–12 μg mL–1 of iodate with thionin and 0.2–16 μg mL–1 of iodate with azure B. The molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity of using thionin and azure B were found to be 2.7×104 L mol–11 cm–1, 7.9×10–2 μg cm–2 and2.0 6 × 104 L mol–1 cm–1, 0.85×10–2 μg cm–2, respectively. The proposed method has been successfully used for the determination of iodate in table salt samples.KEYWORDS: Iodate determination, spectrophotometry, thionin, azure B

SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF IODATE USING METHYLENE BLUE AS A CHROMOGENIC REAGENT

A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of iodate (IO3-) in table salt and sea water. The proposed method is based on the reaction of iodate with potassium iodide in an acid medium to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine bleaches the blue color of methylene blue and is measured at 665.6 nm. This decrease in absorbance is directly proportional to the iodate concentration and obeys Beer's law in the range of 0.5-14 μgmL–1 of IO3-. The molar absorptivity, Sandell's sensitivity, detection limit and quantitation limit of the method were found to be 1.24 x 104 L mol-1cm–1, 1.41 x 10-2 μgcm-2, 0.048 μgmL–1 and 0.145 μgmL-1, respectively. The optimum reaction conditions and other analytical conditions were evaluated. The effect of interfering ions on the determination has been described. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of the iodate in the table salt and sea water. KEY WORDS: Iodate determination, Methylene blue, Spectrophotometry, Table salt, Sea water Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2006, 20(1), 143-147

Promoting versatile vaccine development for emerging pandemics

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of rapid and versatile development of emergency medical countermeasures such as vaccines. We discuss the role of platform vaccines and prototype pathogen research in modern vaccine development, and outline how previous pathogen-specific funding approaches can be improved to adequately promote vaccine R&D for emerging pandemics. We present a more comprehensive approach to financing vaccine R&D, which maximises biomedical pandemic preparedness by promoting flexible vaccine platforms and translatable research into prototype pathogens. As the numerous platform-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines show, funders can accelerate pandemic vaccine development by proactively investing in versatile platform technologies. For certain emerging infectious diseases, where vaccine research can translate to other related pathogens with pandemic potential, investment decisions should reflect the full social value of increasing overall preparedness, rather than just the value of bringing a vaccine to market for individual pathogens

The effect of distance on observed mortality, childhood pneumonia and vaccine efficacy in rural Gambia.

We investigated whether straight-line distance from residential compounds to healthcare facilities influenced mortality, the incidence of pneumonia and vaccine efficacy against pneumonia in rural Gambia. Clinical surveillance for pneumonia was conducted on 6938 children living in the catchment areas of the two largest healthcare facilities. Deaths were monitored by three-monthly home visits. Children living >5 km from the two largest healthcare facilities had a 2·78 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1·74-4·43] times higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to children living within 2 km of these facilities. The observed rate of clinical and radiological pneumonia was lower in children living >5 km from these facilities compared to those living within 2 km [rate ratios 0·65 (95% CI 0·57-0·73) and 0·74 (95% CI 0·55-0·98), respectively]. There was no association between distance and estimated pneumococcal vaccine efficacy. Geographical access to healthcare services is an important determinant of survival and pneumonia in children in rural Gambia

Isolation and characterization of glycosaminoglycans in brain of different species

The uronic acid-containing glycosaminoglycans present in the brains of rat, monkey, chicken, sheep and rabbit were isolated into various fractions by combining the cetyl pyridinium procedure and DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography. The analyses of the fractions show that hyaluronic acid, chondroitin-4-sulphate, chondroitin-6-sulphate, heparan sulphate and a testicular hyaluronidase-resistant galactosamine-containing GAG are present in the brain of all the species studied. Hyaluronic acid is the major GAG (33-41 per cent). Chondroitin-4-sulphate (19-35 per cent), and heparan sulphate (11-19 per cent), are the next prominent GAGs, in all the species except chicken. The results indicate the similarity in the pattern of GAGs in the brain of all the species

A Study on Self-Medication Practice among Nursing Pharmacy and B. Arch Students in a Private Institution

Background: The consumption of drugs without consulting healthcare professional regardless of side effects and duration of therapy is known as self-medication. Objectives: This study was conducted to analyse the practice of SM among the students and to survey pharmacists regarding the practice of drug counselling while dispensing. Methods:  6 months Study was carried out by collecting the data with the help of questionnaire and thereby collecting their answers. The data was analysed statistically in terms of actual numbers and percentage. Results:  According to our study the prevalence of SM is higher among   juniors than seniors. Previous experience , economy, quick relief were  most prevailing  reasons for  SM. Mostly to Fever and headache , acidity , cough , cold and arthritis .Most frequently used medications were analgesics, antipyretics, and antacids , and all they get information is from media , parents  and friends most probably. Our study also revealed that in nearby pharmacies  most of them were certified pharmacists(96%),mostly dispensed drugs were without prescription and people  do not ask for counselling of the medicine due to lack of time and interest. Conclusion: Our study concluded that the prevalence of SM was seen in higher levels among the students and is the primary reason for irrational use of medicines. Hence proper information has to be given to the students about the negative effects of the drugs and to take proper advice and assistance by a health care professional before taking medication. Keywords: Self-medication, irrational use, prevalence, pharmacist, drugs

Which Market Entry and Product Line Strategies Ought Organisations to Adopt for Emerging Economies?

Emerging economies offer tremendous potential for organisations seeking to expand globally and to attain the associated rewards. However, organisations differ in their entrepreneurial tendencies to enter new markets and to introduce new products in emerging economies. Organisations also differ in their abilities to manage their development programs, that is, their execution of different types of projects that lead to success in emerging markets. Finally, organisations differ in which overall measures of program performance are consistent with their strategic objectives. This study provides a literature foundation and conceptual framework designed to understand which market entry and product line strategies and performance measures are appropriate for organisations pursuing strategic success in emerging markets. This study sets forward grounded propositions that different strategic types will vary in their market entry and product line strategies, in the project composition of their development programs, and in the orientations of performance measures used to evaluate their development programs. Prospectors, according to type, will enter emerging economies by introducing new product lines to new customer types, and by emphasizing new-to-the-world products. They will evaluate their development programs with Growth-oriented performance measures. Defenders will more typically occupy secure niches within emerging economies by emphasizing product improvement and cost reduction projects for current types of customers. They will evaluate their development programs with Efficiency-oriented performance measures. Analyzers will either target new customer types with proven products, or serve an existing market niche with new product lines. They will evaluate their development program performance with Strategy-oriented measures