Computer attitudes of primary and secondary students in South Africa

This study investigated computer attitudes of 240 students from eight primary and secondary schools in South Africa. The student population of six of the eight schools that participated in the study can be characterised as middle or upper class. Two schools were from South African townships. All eight schools used computers for educational purposes, although the availability and use of the computers differed. The research question of the study was whether differences in computer attitude could be found between boys and girls, and to what extent these differences could be explained by student, school, and environment characteristics. In contrast to most studies on gender differences and computer attitudes, no gender differences in computer attitudes were found. However, this study showed differences in computer attitudes between students from the upper/middle class schools and students from the township schools. The latter showed a less positive attitude towards computers, but more interest in computer-related careers compared with the students in the upper/middle class schools. The study found that computer access and experience, which was significantly lower in the township schools, was also related to computer attitude.     

Energetics and mechanism of drug transport mediated by the lactococcal multidrug transporter LmrP

The gene encoding the secondary multidrug transporter LmrP of Lactococcus lactis was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The energetics and mechanism of drug extrusion mediated by LmrP were studied in membrane vesicles of E. coli. LmrP-mediated extrusion of tetraphenyl phosphonium (TPP+) from right-side-out membrane vesicles and uptake of the fluorescent membrane probe 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene (TMA-DPH) into inside-out membrane vesicles are driven by the membrane potential (Deltapsi) and the transmembrane proton gradient (DeltapH), pointing to an electrogenic drug/proton antiport mechanism. Ethidium bromide, a substrate for LmrP, inhibited the LmrP-mediated TPP+ extrusion from right-side-out membrane vesicles, showing that LmrP is capable of transporting structurally unrelated drugs. Kinetic analysis of LmrP-mediated TMA-DPH transport revealed a direct relation between the transport rate and the amount of TMA-DPH associated with the cytoplasmic leaflet of the lipid bilayer. This observation indicates that drugs are extruded from the inner leaflet of the cytoplasmic membrane into the external medium. This is the first report that shows that drug extrusion by a secondary multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter occurs by a "hydrophobic vacuum cleaner" mechanism in a similar way as was proposed for the primary lactococcal MDR transporter, LmrA.     

Synthesis of methacrylated hyaluronic acid with tailored degree of substitution

The aim of this work was to develop a new method to derivatize hyaluronic acid (HyA) with polymerizable methacrylate residues with precise control over the substitution degree. The synthesis of methacrylated HyA (HyA-MA) was performed in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) using glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine as a catalyst. HyA was rendered soluble in DMSO by exchanging the Na⁺ ions by the more lipophilic tetrabutylammonium ions. HyA-MA with a fully controlled degree of substitution (DS, defined as the number of methacrylate groups per 100 disaccharide units), ranging from 5 to 30, was obtained at 50 °C after 48 h. Hydrogels were obtained upon radical polymerization of aqueous solutions of HyA-MA using potassium peroxodisulfate (KPS) as initiator and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) as catalyst. Almost complete methacrylate conversion (95%) was achieved for hydrogels obtained by polymerization of HyA-MA with a degree of substitution of 15. At lower DS (DS 8.5 and 5) the methacrylate conversion was 82% and 68%, respectively. Rheological characterization showed that with increasing DS the storage modulus of these HyA-MA hydrogels increased. Swelling experiments showed that HyA-MA gels with a DS of 15 or above were dimensionally stable, whereas HyA-MA gels with DS 5 and DS 8.5 swelled 1.6 and 1.4 times their initial weight, respectively. In conclusion, this paper shows that the DS of HyA-MA can be tailored by the reaction conditions and that consequently HyA-MA hydrogels with different characteristics can be prepared.     

Monitoring poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production in cupriavidus necator DSM 428 (H16) with raman spectroscopy

This study explored the potential of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in bacteria. PHB can be formed in large amounts by certain bacteria as a storage material and is of high importance for industrial biodegradable plastic production. Raman spectra were collected from Cupriavidus necator DSM 428 (H16), from its non-PHB-producing mutant strain C. necator DSM 541, and from pure PHB, in order to determine at which Raman shifts a contribution of PHB in bacterial spectra can be expected. The Raman band intensity at ca. 1734 cm(-1) appeared to be suitable for the monitoring of PHB production and consumption. These intensities were linearly related to the PHB concentration (mg L(-1) culture) determined by parallel HPLC analysis. Therefore, Raman spectroscopy is considered as a fast and noninvasive technique for the determination and monitoring of the PHB content in bacteria.     

Helium solubility and behaviour in uranium dioxide

A set of devices was developed in order to infuse UO₂ disks with helium, at high temperature and pressure, to measure the helium infused quantity and from these data to calculate the helium solubility in the UO₂ matrix. Samples of UO₂ single crystal and UO₂ polycrystal were infused at a temperature of 1473 and 1743 K in a helium atmosphere ranging between 50 and 100 MPa. These samples were then annealed and the helium released was measured with a mass spectrometer. From the obtained spectra it was possible to give an interpretation of the helium release mechanism and to calculate its solubility in the UO₂ lattice in these specific thermodynamic conditions. Additionally to the helium solubility measurement from infused samples, a 37 years old sample of ²³⁸PuO₂, retrieved from an old ²⁴²Cm radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), containing radiogenic helium, was also measured to widen perspectives of this kind of measurements to damaged sample more representative of spent fuel.     

Stability of artemisinin in aqueous environments: impact on its cytotoxic action to Ehrlich ascites tumour cells

We have recently shown artemisinin to be cytotoxic against Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the stability of this compound in the aqueous environment of the in-vitro Ehrlich ascites tumour cell system (RPMI 1640 cell culture medium supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum (RPMI/FBS) with reference to its cytotoxic action. Literature data show that artemisinin can react with Fe2+ yielding reactive intermediates leaving artemisinin G as a major end-product. The current study showed that only excess addition of Fe2+ to artemisinin in distilled water, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and RPMI/FBS and incubation for 24 h led to degradation of artemisinin and yielded artemisinin G. If Fe2+ was not added results from HPLC analysis were indicative of complete recovery of artemisinin from distilled water and RPMI/FBS, with or without cells, at 37 degrees C for at least 24 h. In addition, incubation of artemisinin in RPMI/FBS with or without cells at 37 degrees C for 24 h before cytotoxicity assay did not change its cytotoxic action. On the basis of these results, we suggest that cytotoxicity to tumour cells was caused by unchanged artemisinin. This is not so for the antimalarial activity of artemisinin and derivatives, for which the presence of a pool of (haem) Fe2+ is a prerequisite resulting in free radicals or electrophilic intermediates or both.     

Direct space structure solution from precession electron diffraction data: Resolving heavy and light scatterers in Pb13Mn9O25

The crystal structure of a novel compound Pb₁₃Mn₉O₂₅ has been determined through a direct space structure solution with a Monte-Carlo-based global optimization using precession electron diffraction data (a=14.177(3) Å, c=3.9320(7) Å, SG P4/m, R_F=0.239) and compositional information obtained from energy dispersive X-ray analysis and electron energy loss spectroscopy. This allowed to obtain a reliable structural model even despite the simultaneous presence of both heavy (Pb) and light (O) scattering elements and to validate the accuracy of the electron diffraction-based structure refinement. This provides an important benchmark for further studies of complex structural problems with electron diffraction techniques. Pb₁₃Mn₉O₂₅ has an anion- and cation-deficient perovskite-based structure with the A-positions filled by the Pb atoms and 9/13 of the B positions filled by the Mn atoms in an ordered manner. MnO₆ octahedra and MnO₅ tetragonal pyramids form a network by sharing common corners. Tunnels are formed in the network due to an ordered arrangement of vacancies at the B-sublattice. These tunnels provide sufficient space for localization of the lone 6s² electron pairs of the Pb²⁺ cations, suggested as the driving force for the structural difference between Pb₁₃Mn₉O₂₅ and the manganites of alkali-earth elements with similar compositions.     

Raman and X‐ray Studies of Uranium–Lanthanum‐Mixed Oxides Before and After Air Oxidation

UO₂ samples doped with 6, 11, 22 mol% lanthanum were examined before and after air oxidation. To verify the formation of uranium–lanthanum‐mixed oxide solid solutions, powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of the crystalline phases in the materials were carried out. The presence of oxygen vacancies in the La‐doped UO₂ samples was identified by Raman spectrometry. It was evidenced by changes induced in the Raman spectra by air oxidation. This latter was carried out either by increasing the Raman laser power or by thermally treating the samples at 500 K for 370 h. In addition, oxidation behavior differences of pure and La‐doped UO₂ samples were reported by comparing XRD and Raman results of the samples before and after air oxidation. It was shown that the concentration of the M₄O₉ (M: U, La) phase increased with increasing content of La, whereas inhibition for the formation of M₃O₈ phase was observed.     

Monitoring of mercury,arsenic, and lead in traditional Asian herbal preparations on the Dutch market and estimation of associated risks

Traditional herbal preparations used in Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Tibetan medicine, and other Asian traditional medicine systems may contain significant amounts of mercury, arsenic or lead. Though deliberately incorporated in Asian traditional herbal preparations for therapeutic purposes, these constituents have caused intoxications worldwide. The aim of this study was therefore to determine mercury, arsenic, and lead levels in Asian traditional herbal preparations on the Dutch market. A total of 292 traditional herbal preparations used in Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and traditional Tibetan medicine were sampled between 2004 and 2007. Samples were mostly multi-ingredient traditional herbal preparations containing herbs and minerals. The labeling of less than 20% of the traditional herbal preparations suggested the presence of mercury, arsenic or lead. These elements were shown by inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in 186 (64%) of 292 traditional herbal preparations. Estimated weekly mercury, arsenic, and lead intake levels were calculated for each traditional herbal preparation from the analytically determined concentrations and the recommended dose. A total of 59 traditional herbal preparations (20%) were likely to result in intakes of these elements significantly exceeding safety limits. Of these 59 traditional herbal preparations, intake estimates for 50 traditional herbal preparations significantly exceeded the safety limit for mercury (range = 1.4–1747 mg week^?1); intake estimates for 26 traditional herbal preparations significantly exceeded the safety limit for arsenic (range = 0.53–427 mg week^?1) and intake estimates for eight traditional herbal preparations were significantly above the safety limit for lead (range = 2.6–192 mg week^?1). It is concluded that the mercury, arsenic, and lead contents of traditional herbal preparations used in Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and traditional Tibetan medicine remain a cause for concern and require strict control.