33074 research outputs found
Sort by
Formulation strategies to improve the solubility and ex vivo membrane permeability of curcumin
Get PDFMaster of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusThe natural compound known as curcumin has pharmacological activities including antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects. Unfortunately, the aqueous solubility, membrane permeability and bioavailability of curcumin is very low due to its lipophilic characteristics. Curcumin is also rapidly eliminated in the body that results in limited therapeutic effects. The main goal of this study was to increase the solubility of curcumin and thereby its membrane permeability by using two different formulation strategies, which included formulation of an inclusion complex with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as well as amorphous solid dispersions with different polymers (PVP 30 and HPMCAS). The formulations were characterised by means of Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, simultaneous thermal gravimetric analysis and polarised light microscopy. Solubility studies were conducted on the formulations and a significant increase in the solubility of curcumin (p < 0.05) was achieved with the formulations. The solubility studies resulted in a 1.89-fold, 19.70-fold and 0.47-fold increase for curcumin when applied as the HPβCD inclusion complex and as ASDs with PVP 30 and HPMCAS, respectively. Dissolution studies revealed a noticeable improvement in the rate and extent of dissolution of curcumin in the formulations compared to that of pure curcumin. A significant difference in the dissolution concentrations were obtained with the formulated HPβCD inclusion complex as well as the formulated ASDs with PVP 30 (p < 0.05). The peak concentration of pure curcumin obtained at 15 min during the dissolution test was increased from 2.465 ug/mL to 58.801 ug/mL at 120 min, when applied as the HPβCD inclusion complex and also increased to 71.646 ug/mL at 60 min when applied as the ASD with PVP 30. The formulated ASD with HPMCAS displayed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) at the end of 120 min. Although curcumin permeation was very low in general, the ex vivo permeation results showed a definitive increase in membrane permeability of curcumin in the formulations as compared to curcumin alone, which was statistically significant for the PVP 30 ASD formulation. A significant increase in the percentage curcumin entrapment in the intestinal epithelial tissue was also observed when curcumin was applied as the formulated ASD with PVP 30 (p < 0.05). Additional research will have to be conducted to improve the movement of the entrapped curcumin molecules from the tissue to the basolateral side in order to increase
its absorption and thereby also its bioavailability.- Preclinical Drug Development Platform
- North-West Universit
Intraspecific morphological and genetic variation in South African populations of a polystomatid flatworm parasite
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management-- Potchefstroom CampusThe African Clawed Frog Xenopus laevis, a global invader, exhibits a marked phylogeographic divergence among native populations in southern Africa, which seems to enhance its invasive potential. The polystomatid flatworm, Protopolystoma xenopodis, is the frog’s most frequently co-introduced metazoan parasite. In an integrative approach, we utilised morphometrics and molecular markers to assess variation in P. xenopodis in its native range. We measured twelve key morphological characters from 23 flatworms and compared these statistically between flatworms collected from the northern- and southernmost distribution in South Africa. Phylogenetic analyses were based on three concatenated markers, namely 28S and 12S rDNA and COX1, from six flatworms. The combination of five morphological characters, which involve egg size, gut morphology and size of the attachment hooks, differentiated northern and southern populations of P. xenopodis. The multilocus phylogenetic analyses showed a cluster of northern P. xenopodis and two southern lineages with more basal positioning. These findings demonstrate a relatively high level of intraspecific variation in P. xenopodis in its native range. The presented intraspecific variation of P. xenopodis could be potentially informative to trace geographic origin in its non-native range.The authors express their sincere thanks to the farm and smallholding owners who graciously gave permission for collection to take place on their properties and who provided lodging for the research team: Fanus and Olga Kritzinger, Tobie Bielt and Gert Bench. In addition, we thank Mathys Schoeman and Roxanne Viviers who also assisted with fieldwork. The utilisation of the frogs and the research protocols were approved by the Animal Care, Health and Safety in Research Ethics (AnimCare) Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the North-West University (ethics number: NWU-0380-16-A5-01). Animals were sampled under the permit 0056-AAA007-00224 (CapeNature) provided by the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The Special Research Fund (BOF) of UHasselt supported NK (no. BOF21PD01) and MPMV (no. BOF20TT06). We further acknowledge the financial support of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. ALS received funding from the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology and from the NRF South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. LHdP is indebted to the NRF Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (no. 120782) for financial support. Any opinion, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and the NRF does not accept any liability in this regard
Antibiotic resistance and virulence profiles of Proteus mirabilis isolated from broiler chickens at abattoir in South Africa
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Centre for Animal Health Studies-- Mahikeng CampusBackground: Proteus mirabilis has been identified as an important zoonotic pathogen, causing several illnesses such as diarrhoea, keratitis and urinary tract infections.
Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of P. mirabilis in broiler chickens, its antibiotic resistance (AR) patterns, ESBL-producing P. mirabilis and the presence of virulence genes.
Methods: A total of 26 isolates were confirmed as P. mirabilis from 480 pooled broiler chicken faecal samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The disk diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial susceptibility test, while nine virulence genes and 26 AR genes were also screened by PCR.
Results: All 26 P. mirabilis isolates harboured the ire A (siderophore receptors), ptA, andzapA (proteases), ucaA, pmfA, atfA, and mrpA (fimbriae), hlyA and hpmA (haemolysins)virulence genes. The P. mirabilis isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (62%) and lev-ofloxacin (54%), while 8 (30.7%) of the isolates were classified as multidrug resistant (MDR). PCR analysis identified the blaCTX-M gene (62%), blaTEM (58%) and blaCTX-M-2(38%). Further screening for AMR genes identified mcr-1, cat1, cat2, qnrA, qnrDand mecA, 12%, 19%, 12%, 54%, 27% and 8%, respectively for P. mirabilis isolates. The prevalence of the integron integrase intI1 and intI2 genes was 43% and 4%, respectively.
Conclusions: The rise of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin resistance, as well as MDRstrains, is a public health threat that points to a challenge in the treatment of infections caused by these zoonotic bacteria. Furthermore, because ESBL-producing P. mirabilishas the potential to spread to humans, the presence of blaCTX-M -producing P. mirabilisin broilers should be kept under control. This is the first study undertaken to isolate P.mirabilis from chicken faecal samples and investigate its antibiotic resistance status as well as virulence profiles in South Africa.ETHICS STATEMENT
The animal and human experimentation and animal care procedures ethical committee of NWU approved the study (Ethics number: NWU-00511-18-A5)
Participatory Budgeting in rural councils: The case of Mangwe District Council, Zimbabwe
Get PDFDoctor of Philosophy in Public Management and Governance, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusParticipatory Budgeting (PB) lies at the core of the New Public Management reforms, which seek to reform public finances through increased citizen participation. Participatory Budgeting is fundamental for democratic governance and for empowering communities to play an active role in shaping local fiscal decisions. The adoption of PB in Zimbabwe was motivated by the need to enhance citizen participation, service delivery, transparency and accountability, and responsiveness to the needs of the citizens. This study investigated the intricate dynamics of PB's implementation, and its diverse outcomes within the unique context of Mangwe Rural District Council (RDC) in Zimbabwe. This research is underpinned by a qualitative approach using semi-structured key informant interviews. Extensive fieldwork within the local context provided in-depth understanding of the intricate dynamics at play. These qualitative insights are supplemented by meticulous document analysis which further enriches the empirical fabric of the study. The findings are in sync with the problem which necessitated this study, which is that despite adopting PB, Zimbabwean local councils are failing to attain positive PB outcomes. The research findings yielded an array of PB outcomes ranging from the lack of empowerment of citizens through limited engagement in the PB process, to grappling with accountability and transparency challenges, and navigating constraints in service delivery. In response to these findings, the fifth objective of this study sought to develop a participatory financial model for use in Mangwe RDC, and in other similar environments. Grounded in a robust theoretical foundation, this study seamlessly amalgamates empirical insights garnered from extensive fieldwork with well-established public management paradigms, theoretical frameworks, and globally recognized best practices. Informed by this comprehensive understanding, the study crafts a comprehensive financial model akin to a strategic blueprint. This is done with the aim of strengthening PB within rural local governments. The proposed model underscores the significance of the theoretical frameworks that advocate citizen participation and bottom-up engagement approaches. Moreover, the model recognizes the need to address the dynamics in the political, technological, economic and legislative environments in-order to ensure the efficacy of PB in Mangwe RDC. Going beyond the realms of theoretical discourse, the financial model provides a proactive strategy to overcome barriers to effective implementation of PB in rural local governments. Through fostering synergy between stakeholders, judicious resource allocation, capacity building and empowerment, affording citizens an oversight role, and fostering the evaluation and feedback loop, the model emerges as a citizen-oriented approach, which upholds the ideals of PB. In essence, this study aspires to contribute substantially to the ongoing discourse surrounding PB implementation, underscoring its pivotal role in enhancing local governance and steering community development across the distinct landscape of Zimbabwe.Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.
The critiques and criticisms of positive psychology: a systematic review
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Humanities, Research and Innovation-- Vanderbijlpark CampusThe purpose of this systematic literature review was to explore the current critiques and criticisms of positive psychology and to provide a consolidated view of the main challenges facing the third wave of research. The review identified 32 records that posed 117 unique criticisms and critiques of various areas of the discipline. These could be grouped into 21 categories through conventional content analysis, culminating in six overarching themes or ‘broad criticisms/critiques’. The findings suggested that positive psychology (a) lacked proper theorizing and conceptual thinking, (b) was problematic as far as measurement and methodologies were concerned, (c) was seen as a pseudoscience that lacked evidence and had poor replication, (d) lacked novelty and self-isolated itself from mainstream psychology, (e) was a decontextualized neoliberalist ideology that caused harm, and (f) was a capitalistic venture. We briefly reflect on the findings and highlight the opportunities these criticisms and critiques present
AI chatbots as Open Educational Resources: Enhancing student agency and Self-Directed Learning
Get PDFJournal Article. North-West University, PotchefstroomIn modern education, self-directed learning (SDL) is paramount. SDL empowers learners, OERs democratize access, and AI chatbots, as virtual companions, offer enriched learning experiences. Balancing AI’s advantages and challenges in education is vital. This paper explores AI chatbots’ role in promoting SDL and student autonomy, highlighting their potential to guide and empower learners in navigating the knowledge landscape. By uncovering this potential, the study encourages educators and learners to embrace AI chatbots as partners in achieving self-directed, limitless education
The study demands and resources scale: psychometric properties, longitudinal invariance, and criterion validity.
Get PDFJournal Article. Optentia Research Unit, North-West University (Vaal Triangle Campus), Vanderbijlpark,The Study Demands and Resources Scale (SDRS) has shown promise as a valid and reliable measure for measuring students’ specific study demands and -resources. However, there is no evidence as to its psychometric properties outside of the original context in which it was developed. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the SDRS in a cross-national student population through examining its longitudinal factorial validity, internal consistency, and temporal invariance as well as criterion validity through its association with study engagement and task performance over time. Results showed that a Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Model (ESEM) with one general factor (overall study characteristics) and five specific factors (workload, growth opportunities, lecturer support, peer support, information availability) fitted the data, showed strong measurement invariance over time, and was reliable at different time points. The study further established criterion validity for the overall study characteristics factor through its concurrent and predictive associations with study engagement and task performance. However, the specific factors’ concurrent and predictive capacity could only partially be established when controlling for the general study characteristics factor. These findings suggest that study characteristics should be measured as a dynamic interaction between study demands and resources, rather than a hierarchical model
Essential components of educational program for implementing skin-to-skin contact for preterm infants in intensive care units: An integrative literature review
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Health Sciences, Quality In Nursing and Midwifery (NuMiQ)-- Potchefstroom CampusBackground: Globally, prematurity is the primary factor behind the mortality of children under the age of 5 years, resulting in approximately 1 million children dying annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends Skin-to-Skin Contact (SSC) as part of routine care for preterm infants. Evidence shows that SSC reduces mortality, possibly by improving thermoregulation, facilitating the earlier initiation of breastfeeding and reducing the risk of nosocomial infection. An educational program for implementing SSC has been demonstrated to enhance the knowledge and practice of parents and nurses in intensive care units. This study, the first of its kind in the North West Province (NWP), aims to identify the essential components of an educational program for implementing SSC for premature infants in intensive care units.
Objective: This paper presents an integrative literature review that critically synthesizes research-based literature on essential components of an educational program for implementing SSC for preterm infants in intensive care units.
Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases, such as CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ProQuest and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition and Health Source-Consumer Edition, was conducted using different keywords and references lists from the bibliography.
Results: Twelve articles relevant to this review were identified, read and synthesized to answer the research question. Three essential components emerged from the findings of this review, namely (1) the necessity of policy and role players for implementing SSC, (2) the availability of education and training, and (3) counseling and support for parents of preterm infants.
Conclusions: The outcomes of this study have the potential to facilitate the implementation and expansion of SSC in intensive care units. This could aid program implementers, policymakers, and researchers to implement and scale up this important tool in intensive care units.Funding
Open access funding provided by North-West University. The NWU provided financial support in the form of a bursary for the review (grant number-not applicabl
Specification procedures for multivariate stable-Paretian laws for independent andforconditionally heteroskedastic data
Get PDFJournal Article, Pure and Applied Analytics, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusWe consider goodness-of-fit methods for multivariate symmetric and asymmetric stable Paretian random vectors in arbitrary dimension. The methods are based on the empirical characteristic function and are implemented both in the i.i.d. context as well as for innovations in GARCH models. Asymptotic properties of the proposed procedures are discussed, while the finite-sample properties are illustrated by means of an extensive Monte Carlo study. The procedures are also applied to real data from the financial markets
Preparing graduates for the job market: A strengthbased skill development approach
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Economic and Management Science, North--West University- PotchefstroomOrientation: The lack of skills, such as communication and teamwork among graduates, is a major concern for employers. Graduates should prioritise developing skills in demand for the evolving job market. Research purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the impressions of graduates regarding the skills they need to enter the job market and to develop and present a strengthbased skills training programme for graduates in the South African labour market. Motivation for the study: Graduates can be equipped through a strength-based approach, which could assist them in applying their strengths to find employment in the South African labour market. Research design/approach and method: A qualitative research approach with a social constructivism paradigm was used. The participants were unemployed graduates, with a sample size of N = 10. Data was collected by using qualitative surveys captured on the QuestionPro platform. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Main findings: The findings highlight the challenges faced by unemployed graduates. The participants reported feeling empowered by the training programme, helping them recognise and utilise their skills and strengths. Practical/managerial implications: The study highlighted that a strength-based training program for unemployed graduates could enhance the skills necessary for employment, such as self-awareness and emotional intelligence. A comprehensive understanding of the barriers to decent work is crucial for developing interventions to equip graduates for the labour market. Contribution/value-add: This research provides a basis for training and developing unemployed graduates from a strength-based perspectiv