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Melatonin alters the photodegradation of paracetamol

  • Authors: Anoopkumar-Dukie, Shailendra , Glass, Beverley D , Walker, Roderick B , Daya, Santylal
  • Date: 2000
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184357 , vital:44211 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1211/146080800128735755"
  • Description: The effects of melatonin, a known free-radical scavenger, on paracetamol in the presence of UV irradiation was studied by use of HPLC. The experiments were performed in air and nitrogen. The results show that the rate of photodegradation of melatonin is faster in air than in nitrogen whereas that of paracetamol is similar in air and nitrogen. When the two drugs were combined, melatonin retarded the degradation of paracetamol for up to 6h in the presence of nitrogen. However, in the presence of air melatonin rapidly enhances the photodegradation of paracetamol. This study shows that a combination of melatonin and paracetamol in the presence of air and UV irradiation can lead to rapid inactivation of both agents, thus raising important concerns about the possible use of melatonin as sunscreen
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2000

Mesozooplankton community structure in the vicinity of the Prince Edward Islands (Southern Ocean) 37⁰ 50'E, 46⁰ 45'S

  • Authors: Hunt, Brian Peter Vere
  • Date: 2000
  • Subjects: Zooplankton , Zooplankton -- Prince Edward Islands , Phytoplankton , Chlorophyll
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5732 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005418 , Zooplankton , Zooplankton -- Prince Edward Islands , Phytoplankton , Chlorophyll
  • Description: Mesozooplankton community structure in the vicinity of the Prince Edward Islands (PEIs) was investigated during six surveys conducted in late austral summer (April/May), 1996 to 1999. Each year zooplankton samples were collected with a bongo net (300 µm mesh) at stations upstream (west), between and downstream (east) of the islands. Chlorophyll a concentrations were determined fluorometrically, corresponding with each net tow. The positions of the Subantarctic Front (SAF) and the Antarctic Polar Front (APF), in relation to the islands in the upstream region, were determined by a line of CTD and/or XBT stations. Both the SAF and the APF were characterised by a high degree of meridional variation in position. Changes in position of the fronts were shown to occur very rapidly. In 1999 the APF moved southwards by ~40nm and the SAF northwards by ~60nm in a period of two weeks, while in 1996 the SAF appeared to move ~120nm northwards in a two week period. The positions of the SAF and APF appeared to have a significant impact on phytoplankton biomass in the vicinity of the PEIs, through the alteration of local flow dynamics. Water retention in 1996, associated with the location of the SAF and APF far to the north and south of the PEIs respectively, corresponded with high chlorophyll a concentrations in the inter-island region (reaching 1.54 mg.m^(-3)). When the fronts were close to the islands, in 1997 and 1999, and a flow through environment existed, chlorophyll a concentrations in the inter-island region were comparatively low. Although biomass enhancement was only observed at the SAF in 1996, phytoplankton size structure in 1999 indicated that, when close to the PEIs, frontal production may be transported to the island system. This is potentially an important source of allochthonous input into the island system. Zooplankton assemblages were a mix of sub-Antarctic and Antarctic communities, with a weak presence of sub-tropical species. Cluster analysis showed that during each survey the region in the vicinity of the PEIs was divided into different, spatially separated zooplankton communities, associated with water masses of different origins. These communities were identified by variations in the abundance and biomass of species rather than variation in species composition and, in general, there was a relatively high degree of similarity both within and between surveys. Inter-annual community analysis revealed that, in many cases, there was greater similarity between communities from different years than communities within years, indicating that short-term variability exceeded inter-annual variability. Multiple regression analysis showed that the major correlate with zooplankton community structure during all surveys was sea temperature, accounting for as much as 77% of the variation in community structure. Temperature was indicative of the relative contribution of sub-Antarctic and Antarctic communities, with low temperatures being characterised by an increased predominance of Antarctic communities and vice versa. The differentiation between sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters, and their respective communities, was particularly pronounced when the SAF and APF were in close proximity to the islands. Surface salinity and sounding had limited effect on community structure. The affect of sounding was intrinsically related to zooplankton interaction with the island ecosystem. Predation by the islands' land based predators and benthic fish appears to decrease zooplankton biomass over the island shelf, particularly the macrozooplankton size fraction. However, this may only be an important factor under conditions of water retention when replenishment of zooplankton stocks is low. The low densities of many macrozooplankton species, and other deep migrators, on the island shelf may be due to their limited advection onto shallow topography. By contrast, there are indications that zooplankton species occurring at shallower depths may be concentrated in the inter-island region by mesoscale flow patterns. Analysis of the population structure of the copepod Calanus simillimus showed that this species occurred at different stages in its life cycle during different years, even though sampling took place in the same calendar months, indicating that there was inter-annual variation in the timing of the biological season. Differences in the population structure of species, and consequently their contribution to abundance and biomass, may therefore have been an important contributor to inter-annual variation in community structure. Evidence is provided for a long-term trend of southward movement of the SAF. This may have a significant affect on the PEI ecosystem, increasing the proportion of allochthonous input and altering the tropho-dynamics of the island ecosystem
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2000

Methods for designing and optimizing fuzzy controllers

  • Authors: Swartz, Andre Michael
  • Date: 2000
  • Subjects: Fuzzy sets , Fuzzy systems , Automatic control
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5412 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005226 , Fuzzy sets , Fuzzy systems , Automatic control
  • Description: We start by discussing fuzzy sets and the algebra of fuzzy sets. We consider some properties of fuzzy modeling tools. This is followed by considering the Mamdani and Sugeno models for designing fuzzy controllers. Various methods for using sets of data for desining controllers are discussed. This is followed by a chapter illustrating the use of genetic algorithms in designing and optimizing fuzzy controllers.Finally we look at some previous applications of fuzzy control in telecommunication networks, and illustrate a simple application that was developed as part of the present work.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2000

Microemulsions : a new perspective in the treatment of paediatric and geriatric tuberculosis patients

  • Authors: Wisch, Michael Henry
  • Date: 2000
  • Subjects: Emulsions (Pharmacy) , Tuberculosis -- Treatment -- South Africa , Tuberculosis in children -- Treatment , Tuberculosis in old age -- Treatment , Tuberculosis -- Treatment
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:3805 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003283 , Emulsions (Pharmacy) , Tuberculosis -- Treatment -- South Africa , Tuberculosis in children -- Treatment , Tuberculosis in old age -- Treatment , Tuberculosis -- Treatment
  • Description: Tuberculosis(TB) was declared to be a global emergency in 1993, with South Africa declaring it to be the country’s top health priority in 1996, but ineffective treatment strategies have led to fewer than half of all treated patients in South Africa being cured. At present,paediatric treatment remains a problem, as the antitubercular preparations of rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide, that are currently available, were not initially designed for the treatment of paediatric TB patients, providing a motivation for this project. The aim of this project is thus the development of a microemulsion dosage form for the oral delivery of RIF(Rifampicin), INH(Isoniazid) and PZA(Pyrazinamide) in combination. RIF, INH and PZA were adequately characterised with reference to the monograph standards referenced and were found to be sufficiently pure to be used in subsequent work. A chromatographic system and conditions were selected and validated as being optimal for HPLC analysis of RIF, INH and PZA in combination, with a drug partitioning method for miglyol 812 developed and validated. Ternary and pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed and reported, all employing miglyol 812 as the lipid. It was undoubtedly the imwitor 308 and crillet 3 combination o/w microemulsion system that proved most successful, maintaining homogeneity on dilution. The microemulsion used in formulation comprised imwitor 308 (27.63%), crillet 3 (27.63%), miglyol 812 23.68%) and water (21.06%). The stability of RIF, INH and PZA was investigated in aqueous solution, miglyol 812, corn oil, 10%m/v cremophor RH, 5%m/v imwitor 308, 10%m/v crillet 3 and 70%m/v sorbitol solution. Trends in the stability assessments conducted on RIF, INH and PZA were noted, with slight variation depending on the formulation component being evaluated. RIF invariably demonstrated temperature and oxidation dependent degradation in all vehicles, with a definite distinction possible between samples stored at 25, 40 and 600C over a 7 day trial period. A definite advantage of storing RIF solutions under nitrogen was observed, with these solutions showing less degradation over the course of the trial, than those stored under air. INH produced a pronounced increase in the degree of degradation of RIF, whereas PZA had a negligible effect on it’s stability. INH proved to be most stable in the 70%m/v sorbitol solution with no significant oxidation or temperature dependent degradation indicated. Temperature dependent degradation was only noticable when INH was in combination with RIF, most significant in crillet 3 solution. PZA was the most stable of the three drugs, remaining relatively unaffected by temperature and the presence of air, independent of the vehicle employed, although the drug remaining did decrease slightly in the presence of RIF.Due to drug dose specifications and solubility limitations, the final formulation assessed, only contained RIF and INH, despite INH and PZA having no significant effect on the stability of each other. The solubility of PZA in the lipid and aqueous components of the microemulsion was not great enough to achieve the required 500 mg/10ml dose, while RIF and INH could achieve the respective 150mg/10ml and 100mg/10ml dose. RIF stability was improved, as anticipated, with the incorporation of RIF into the internal phase decreasing contact with INH which has been shown to affect it’s stability. RIF behaved as predicted, possessing greater stability than shown in the individual formulation components, however, INH did not, being less stable in formulation in the absence of antioxidant, than in it’s presence. A novel microemulsion formulation capable of delivering the incompatible RIF and INH in combination, with numerous microemulsion systems mapped,with the ability of being used for the delivery of other lipophilic drugs and drug combinations, was produced.The final formulation provided valuable information into possible future improvements of the microemulsion to improve drug stability.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2000

Minimal motion capture with inverse kinematics for articulated human figure animation

  • Authors: Casanueva, Luis
  • Date: 2000
  • Subjects: Virtual reality , Image processing -- Digital techniques
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4620 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006485 , Virtual reality , Image processing -- Digital techniques
  • Description: Animating an articulated figure usually requires expensive hardware in terms of motion capture equipment, processing power and rendering power. This implies a high cost system and thus eliminates the use of personal computers to drive avatars in virtual environments. We propose a system to animate an articulated human upper body in real-time, using minimal motion capture trackers to provide position and orientation for the limbs. The system has to drive an avatar in a virtual environment on a low-end computer. The cost of the motion capture equipment must be relatively low (hence the use of minimal trackers). We discuss the various types of motion capture equipment and decide to use electromagnetic trackers which are adequate for our requirements while being reasonably priced. We also discuss the use of inverse kinematics to solve for the articulated chains making up the topology of the articulated figure. Furthermore, we offer a method to describe articulated chains as well as a process to specify the reach of up to four link chains with various levels of redundancy for use in articulated figures. We then provide various types of constraints to reduce the redundancy of non-defined articulated chains, specifically for chains found in an articulated human upper body. Such methods include a way to solve for the redundancy in the orientation of the neck link, as well as three different methods to solve the redundancy of the articulated human arm. The first method involves eliminating a degree of freedom from the chain, thus reducing its redundancy. The second method calculates the elevation angle of the elbow position from the elevation angle of the hand. The third method determines the actual position of the elbow from an average of previous positions of the elbow according to the position and orientation of the hand. The previous positions of the elbow are captured during the calibration process. The redundancy of the neck is easily solved due to the small amount of redundancy in the chain. When solving the arm, the first method which should give a perfect result in theory, gives a poor result in practice due to the limitations of both the motion capture equipment and the design. The second method provides an adequate result for the position of the redundant elbow in most cases although fails in some cases. Still it benefits from a simple approach as well as very little need for calibration. The third method provides the most accurate method of the three for the position of the redundant elbow although it also fails in some cases. This method however requires a long calibration session for each user. The last two methods allow for the calibration data to be used in latter session, thus reducing considerably the calibration required. In combination with a virtual reality system, these processes allow for the real-time animation of an articulated figure to drive avatars in virtual environments or for low quality animation on a low-end computer.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2000

Minor "dings" - major effects? a study into the cognitive effects of mild head injuries in high school rugby

  • Authors: Ackermann, Tessa Ruth
  • Date: 2000
  • Subjects: Rugby football injuries , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Psychology , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Patients -- Rehabilitation
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
  • Identifier: vital:2920 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002429 , Rugby football injuries , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Psychology , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Patients -- Rehabilitation
  • Description: The present study is part of a larger and ongoing research initiative investigating the cumulative cognitive effects of mild head injury in rugby union and focused specifically on high school rugby players. A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to top team high school rugby players (n = 47), and a non-contact sport control group of top team high school hockey players (n = 34). Direct comparisons of group mean scores and standard deviations across each neuropsychological test were carried out for the Total Rugby group versus the Total Hockey group as well as for the subgroups Rugby Forwards versus Rugby Backs. A correlational analysis was conducted to ascertain whether a relationship exists between the number of mild head injuries reported by the players and their cognitive test performance. Results of the group comparisons of means and variability on WMS Paired Associate Learning Hard Pairs - Delayed Recall provides tentative indications of the initial stages of diffuse damage associated with mild head injury in the rugby group and provides some evidence for impairment of verbal learning and memory in the Rugby Forwards group. The correlational analysis revealed no significant relationship between number of reported mild head injuries and cognitive performance. The findings and possible latent effects of the multiple mild head injuries reported by the rugby players are discussed in terms of brain reserve capacity theory and suggestions for future research are provided.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2000

Minwoun

Missal Madjiguene

Morphological development in the interlanguage of English learners of Xhosa

  • Authors: Hobson, Carol Bonnin
  • Date: 2000
  • Subjects: Grammar, Comparative and general -- Morphology Xhosa language -- Foreign speakers Xhosa language -- Morphology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:2348 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002630
  • Description: This study investigates the development of morphology in the interlanguage of English learners of Xhosa. A quasi-longitudinal research design is used to trace development in the oral interlanguage of six learners of Xhosa for a period of eight months. The elicitation tasks employed range from fairly unstructured conversation tasks to highly structured sentence-manipulation tasks. The learners have varying levels of competence at the beginning of the study and they are exposed to input mainly in formal contexts of learning. One of the aims of the study is to investigate whether the features of interlanguage identified in other studies appear in the learner language in this study. Most other studies discussed in the literature have investigated the features of the interlanguage produced by learners of analytic and inflectional languages. However, this study analyses the interlanguage of learners of an agglutinative language. Studies of other languages have concluded that learners do not use inflectional or agreement morphology at early stages of development and this conclusion is tested for learners of an agglutinative language in this study. Since agreement and inflectional morphology play a central role in conveying meaning in Xhosa, it is found that learners use morphology from the beginning of the learning process. Although forms may be used incorrectly and the functions of forms may be restricted, morphemes appear in the interlanguage of learners of this study earlier than other studies predict. One of the characteristics of early interlanguage and an early form of learner language called the Basic Variety (Klein & Perdue 1997) is the lack of morphology, but this feature proves to be inadequate as a measure of early development in the interlanguage of learners of a language such as Xhosa. This study concludes, therefore, that the presence of morphology in the interlanguage of learners of Xhosa cannot be an indicator of advanced language development.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2000

Mort ne au 4 Avril

Moya

Multiple metaphors in an understanding of academic literacy

  • Authors: Boughey, Chrissie
  • Date: 2000
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: vital:6088 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008587
  • Description: This article describes understandings derived from work in a first year Systematic Philosophy class at a historically black South African university which challenge the assumptions on which the writer has based her practice as a teacher of English as a second language for many years. These assumptions focus on the perception of problems related to the production and reception of academic texts as solely, or even mainly, linguistic in origin. Analysis of writing and interviews with students suggests that the problems in the writing stem mainly from their unfamiliarity with academic discourses in spite of the fact that all are speakers of English as an additional language.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2000

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