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

Temperature changes of pulmonary blood during exposure to cold

Project Number 22-1301-0002 Research ReportContract Number 18(600)-41

Angiostomy cannulae for the study of pulmonary circulation

Project Number 22-1301-0002 Research ReportAF Contract Number 18(600)-41

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

Experimental and numerical investigation of the earthquake response of crane bridges

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. The experimental and numerical response of crane bridges is studied in this work. To this end, an experimental campaign on a scale model of an overhead crane bridge was carried out on the shaking table of CEA/Saclay in France. A special similarity law has been used which preserves the ratios of seismic forces to friction forces and of seismic forces to gravity forces, without added masses. A numerical model, composed of beam elements, which takes into account non-linear effects, especially impact and friction, and simulates the earthquake response of the crane bridge, is presented. The comparison of experimental and analytical results gives an overall satisfactory agreement. Finally, a simplified model of the crane bridge, with only a few degrees of freedom is proposed

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

Pomegranate (Punica graantum) Peels as an Agricultural Waste for Removing of CD(II), CR(VI), CU(II), NI(II), PB(II) and ZN(II) from Their Aqueous Solutions

Pomegranate (Punica graantum) peels as an agricultural waste was used as an adsorbent for removal of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn ions from simulated aqueous solutions. The adsorption process was carried out using the batch method. Various effective parameters such as pH, initial metal ion concentration, and adsorbent dose, shaking time, particle size and temperature were investigated. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of Punica graantum peels were done. The efficiency of Punica graantum peels toward removal of metal ions was ordered as Pb2+ \u3c Cr6+ \u3c Cu2+ \u3c Cd2+ \u3c Zn2+ \u3c Ni2+, with the corresponding values of 92.8%, 84.6%, 52.8%, 38%, 25.4% and 22.8%, respectively

Preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus in Qatar by reducing obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity: mathematical modeling analyses.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of reducing the prevalence of obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity, and introducing physical activity as an explicit intervention, on the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), using Qatar as an example. METHODS: A population-level mathematical model was adapted and expanded. The model was stratified by sex, age group, risk factor status, T2DM status, and intervention status, and parameterized by nationally representative data. Modeled interventions were introduced in 2016, reached targeted level by 2031, and then maintained up to 2050. Diverse intervention scenarios were assessed and compared with a counter-factual no intervention baseline scenario. RESULTS: T2DM prevalence increased from 16.7% in 2016 to 24.0% in 2050 in the baseline scenario. By 2050, through halting the rise or reducing obesity prevalence by 10-50%, T2DM prevalence was reduced by 7.8-33.7%, incidence by 8.4-38.9%, and related deaths by 2.1-13.2%. For smoking, through halting the rise or reducing smoking prevalence by 10-50%, T2DM prevalence was reduced by 0.5-2.8%, incidence by 0.5-3.2%, and related deaths by 0.1-0.7%. For physical inactivity, through halting the rise or reducing physical inactivity prevalence by 10-50%, T2DM prevalence was reduced by 0.5-6.9%, incidence by 0.5-7.9%, and related deaths by 0.2-2.8%. Introduction of physical activity with varying intensity at 25% coverage reduced T2DM prevalence by 3.3-9.2%, incidence by 4.2-11.5%, and related deaths by 1.9-5.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Major reductions in T2DM incidence could be accomplished by reducing obesity, while modest reductions could be accomplished by reducing smoking and physical inactivity, or by introducing physical activity as an intervention