Extraction of Cerium (IV) Using Di–n-butylsulfoxide in Chloroform from Nitric Acid and Determination with Arsenazo (III) as Chromogenic Reagent

A new and advantageous extraction procedure was developed for extraction of cerium (IV) from nitric acid with di-n-butylsulfoxide (DBSO) in perchloric acid. The extracted Ce (IV) was determined spectrophotometrically using 0.01 % solution of arsenazo-III in 3Mper-chloric acid. Various parameters such as equilibration time, metal ion concentration, effect of temperature and diverse ions on the extraction of the Ce (IV) were established. U (VI), Th (IV) and Pb (II) interfere whereas only phosphate and fluoride suppress the extraction among anions. The stoichiometric composition of the cerium complex withDBSO was determined by slope analysis and found to be 1:4. The process of extraction was found to be exothermic. Deionized water was the most appropriate solvent for back extraction of cerium. This method is easier and more sensitive than many of the reported procedures.KEYWORDS Cerium, extraction, DBSO, perchloric acid, arsenazo-II

Adversities faced by Y or Z category health science journals with HEC, Pakistan

Objective: To know the rate and predictors for derecognition/demotion in HEC-indexed Y, and Z categories health science journals (HSJs) Methods: A list of HEC-indexed Y and Z categories HSJs was downloaded from the official website of HEC, Pakistan on 29 July 2019. General information like the type of publisher, specialty, sponsoring body, origin city, and sector (Armed Forces/Civilian) of the derecognized or demoted journals were noted. Fundamental issues like HEC's procedures were resolved using literature review, contacts to the affected journals, and peer-to-peer discussions.   Results: Of 50 journals, 25 (50%) were found against each of the Y and Z categories.  Fourteen (56% of the total) Y category journals faced adversity in the form of derecognition (n = 5) or demotion (n = 9). Whereas, the rate increased remarkably to 64% (n = 16) in the Z category. Similarly, the high rate was noticed in specialty-specific journals (67.9%, n =19). A journal under private sponsorship had twofold more chance of the adversity (95%CI:1.003-2.918, p = .05) than public-sponsored journals (75 vs. 50%, respectively). Most of the affected Z category journals (n = 13, 81.3%) had their first registration with HEC before 2015. Conclusion: The policy of HEC for derecognition/demotion of HSJs needs extensive review to promote medical publications

Comparison of Conventional and Newer Iron Preparations for the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Children

Introduction: Commonly used iron salt, ferrous sulphate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, has several gastrointestinal side effects. Nowadays new iron salts such as ferrous bisglycinate are marketed with claims of raising hemoglobin faster with fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Objective: To compare the efficacy of ferrous sulphate with ferrous bisglycinate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was carried out at Children Hospital, PIMS, Islamabad from July 2015 to June 2016. A total of 136 children were selected through systematic sampling and randomized into 2 groups using a computer-generated table of random numbers; ferrous sulphate as group 1 and ferrous bisglycinate as group 2. Clinical outcome was assessed on the basis of a mean increase in hemoglobin after 12 weeks of therapy in both groups. The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.   Results: The baseline characteristics i.e. mean age, mean hemoglobin levels were similar in both study groups. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean increase in hemoglobin was 1.8  ±1.59 g/dl in ferrous sulphate group as compare to 2.5  ±1.31g/dl in ferrous bisglycinate group showing the higher level of rising with ferrous bisglycinate than ferrous sulphate, P =0.0033. Conclusion: Newer iron preparation, ferrous bisglycinate is a better treatment option than conventional preparation of ferrous sulphate for increasing hemoglobin in iron deficiency anemia in children

The use of biomedicine, complementary and alternative medicine, and ethnomedicine for the treatment of epilepsy among people of South Asian origin in the UK

Studies have shown that a significant proportion of people with epilepsy use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM use is known to vary between different ethnic groups and cultural contexts; however, little attention has been devoted to inter-ethnic differences within the UK population. We studied the use of biomedicine, complementary and alternative medicine, and ethnomedicine in a sample of people with epilepsy of South Asian origin living in the north of England. Interviews were conducted with 30 people of South Asian origin and 16 carers drawn from a sampling frame of patients over 18 years old with epilepsy, compiled from epilepsy registers and hospital databases. All interviews were tape-recorded, translated if required and transcribed. A framework approach was adopted to analyse the data. All those interviewed were taking conventional anti-epileptic drugs. Most had also sought help from traditional South Asian practitioners, but only two people had tried conventional CAM. Decisions to consult a traditional healer were taken by families rather than by individuals with epilepsy. Those who made the decision to consult a traditional healer were usually older family members and their motivations and perceptions of safety and efficacy often differed from those of the recipients of the treatment. No-one had discussed the use of traditional therapies with their doctor. The patterns observed in the UK mirrored those reported among people with epilepsy in India and Pakistan. The health care-seeking behaviour of study participants, although mainly confined within the ethnomedicine sector, shared much in common with that of people who use global CAM. The appeal of traditional therapies lay in their religious and moral legitimacy within the South Asian community, especially to the older generation who were disproportionately influential in the determination of treatment choices. As a second generation made up of people of Pakistani origin born in the UK reach the age when they are the influential decision makers in their families, resort to traditional therapies may decline. People had long experience of navigating plural systems of health care and avoided potential conflict by maintaining strict separation between different sectors. Health care practitioners need to approach these issues with sensitivity and to regard traditional healers as potential allies, rather than competitors or quacks

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF ZERO AND FIRST ORDER SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF OPIPRAMOL IN BULK AND PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM

Objective: Two simple, precise and accurate zero and first order spectrophotometric methods were developed and validated for the quantification of opipramol in bulk and tablet dosage form.Methods: The quantitative analysis of the drug was carried out using the zero order and first order derivative values were measured at 254 nm and 266 nm respectively. The estimation of the drug was carried out by regression equations with the standard solution.Results: Calibration graph was found to be linear r2 = 0.996 for zero order and r2 = 0.998 for first order derivative over the concentration range of 2-10 µg/ml. Precise (intra-day relative standard deviation [RSD] and inter-day RSD values < 1.0%), accurate (mean recovery = 100.77 %), specific and robust. No obstruction was observed from general pharmaceutical adjutants.Conclusion: The developed derivative methods can be utilized in its routine analysis opipramol in quality control division.Â

Fuzzy Logic Based Autonomous Traffic Control System

The aim of this paper is to design and implement fuzzy logic based traffic light Control system to solve the traffic congestion issues. In this system four input parameters: Arrival, Queue, Pedestrian and Emergency Vehicle and two output parameters: Extension in Green and Pedestrian Signals are used. Using Fuzzy Rule Base, the system extends or terminates the Green Signal according to the Traffic situation at the junction. On the presence of emergency vehicle, the system decides which signal(s) should be red and how much an extension should be given to Green Signal for Emergency Vehicle. The system also monitors the density of people and makes decisions accordingly. In order to verify the proposed design algorithm MATLAB simulation is adopted and results obtained show concurrency to the calculated values according to the Mamdani Model of the Fuzzy Control System