Al-Quds University

About: Al-Quds University is a education organization based out in East Jerusalem, Palestinian Territory. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Microemulsion. The organization has 956 authors who have published 1491 publications receiving 34293 citations.

Efficiency of membrane technology, activated charcoal, and a micelle-clay complex for removal of the acidic pharmaceutical mefenamic acid

Abstract: The efficiency of sequential advanced membrane technology wastewater treatment plant towards removal of a widely used non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) mefenamic acid was investigated. The sequential system included activated sludge, ultrafiltration by hollow fibre membranes with 100 kDa cutoff, and spiral wound membranes with 20 kDa cutoff, activated carbon and a reverse osmosis (RO) unit. The performance of the integrated plant showed complete removal of mefenamic acid from spiked wastewater samples. The activated carbon column was the most effective component in removing mefenamic acid with a removal efficiency of 97.2%. Stability study of mefenamic acid in pure water and Al-Quds activated sludge revealed that the anti-inflammatory drug was resistant to degradation in both environments. Batch adsorption of mefenamic acid by activated charcoal and a composite micelle (otadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA)–clay (montmorillonite) was determined at 25.0°C. Langmuir isotherm was found to fit the data w...

Obesity and overweight: prevalence and associated socio demographic factors among mothers in three different areas in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract: The increasing number of obesity and overweight cases in developing countries, especially among women, requires serious attention because of its effects on the health care system and the quality of life. Few studies have been conducted in the Gaza Strip to determine obesity and overweight prevalence and the associated factors. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of obesity and overweight cases in relation to socio-demographic factors among mothers aged 18–50 years in the Gaza Strip-Palestine from June 2012 to September 2012. Mothers childbearing age 18–50 years (n = 357) were selected using a cross-sectional multistage sampling methodology from three different geographical locations, namely, El Remal urban area, Jabalia refugee camp, and Al Qarrara rural area. The weight and height of the mothers were measured, and their body mass indexes (BMI) were computed. The mothers were categorized according to the criteria of World Health Organization (WHO) for BMI. The criteria categorize mothers as overweight if they have a BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2 and obese if their BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2. Obesity and overweight rates in urban area, refugee camp, and rural area were found to be 57.0%, 66.8%, and 67.5%, respectively. Moreover, BMI increased with age, adjusted b = 0.39; 95% CI (0.31, 0.48); p = < 0.001, whereas BMI was lower in low-income subjects, adjusted b = −1.59, 95% CI (−2.74,-0.44), p = 0.007. Housewives were more susceptible to obesity than employed woman, adjusted b = −2.76, 95% CI (−5.33,-0.19), p = 0.036. However, the study found no association among BMI level and household size, geographical location, educational level, and family assistance. The results showed that obesity and being overweight are highly prevalent among women in the Gaza Strip. Independent predictors of obesity in the population studied were increasing age, high income, and housewives. This finding is an important baseline for the monitoring of obesity and overweight cases in the future and highlights the need for community-based programs to combat this problem in Palestine.

Stability and removal of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin from wastewater

Abstract: Atorvastatin (ATO), rosuvastatin (RST) and simvastatin (SIM) are commonly used drugs that belong to the statin family (lowering human blood cholesterol levels) and have been detected as contaminants in natural waters. Stability and removal of ATO, RST and SIM from spiked wastewater produced at the Al-Quds University campus were investigated. All three statins were found to undergo degradation in wastewater (activated sludge). The degradation reactions of the three drugs in wastewater at room temperature follow first-order kinetics with rate constants of 2.2 × 10−7 s−1 (ATO), 1.8 × 10−7 s−1 (RST) and 1.8 × 10−6 s−1 (SIM), which are larger than those obtained in pure water under the same conditions, 1.9 × 10−8 s−1 (ATO), 2.2 × 10−8 s−1 (RST) and 6.2 × 10−7 s−1 (SIM). Degradation products were identified by LC-MS and LC/MS/MS. The overall performance of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) installed in the Al-Quds University campus towards the removal of these drugs was assessed showing that more than 90% o...

Mitochondrial PITRM1 peptidase loss-of-function in childhood cerebellar atrophy

Abstract: Objective To identify the genetic basis of a childhood-onset syndrome of variable severity characterised by progressive spinocerebellar ataxia, mental retardation, psychotic episodes and cerebellar ...

Predicting The Solubility of Pesticide Compounds in Water Using QSPR Methods

Abstract: Pesticide contamination of surface water and groundwater due to agricultural activities has been of concern for a long time. Water solubility indicates the tendency of a pesticide to be removed from soil by runoff or irrigation and to reach surface water and indicates the tendency to precipitate at the soil surface. The experimental procedures determining the solubility in water of pesticides are always time-consuming and expensive, and it is difficult to accurately distinguish species with similar physicochemical properties. A highly effective tool depending on a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) can be utilised to predict solubility in water for those pesticide compounds with no literature values. QSPR models were developed using multiple linear regression, partial least squares and neural networks analyses. Following the removal of a small number of outliers, linear and non-linear QSPR models to predict the solubility of pesticide compounds in water were developed for the relevant des...