Effect of antimalarials treatment on rat liver lysosomal function—Anin vivo study

Effects of treatmentin vivo with the antimalarials:chloroquine (CQ), primaquine (PQ) and quinine(Q) on lysosomal enzymes and lysosomal membrane integrity were examined. Treatment with the three antimalarials showed an apparent increase in the membrane stability. CQ treatment resulted in increase in both the ‘free’ and ‘total’ activities of all the enzymes i.e. acid phosphatase, RNase II, DNase II and cathepsin D. PQ treatment lowered the ‘free’ and ‘total’ activities of acid phosphatase and cathepsin D, but the DNase II activities increased. Treatment with Q resulted in increased ‘free’ and ‘total’ activities of RNase II and DNase II. While ‘free’ activities of acid phosphatase and cathepsin D were low; the ‘total’ activities increased significantly. Our results suggest that a generalized increase in free nucleases activities following prolonged treatment with antimalarials may lead to cell damage and/or necrosis.     

Magnetic fields and Bohr’s quantization rule

In this section of Resonance, we invite readers to pose questions likely to be raised in a classroom situation. We may suggest strategies for dealing with them, or invite responses, or both. “Classroom” is equally a forum for raising broader issues and sharing personal experiences and viewpoints on matters related to teaching and learning science.     

Correlation between serum lipid profile and carotid intima-media thickness in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Abnormal lipid profile is often found in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. To assess the impact of abnormal lipid profile on atherosclerosis in young Polycystic Ovary Syndrome women, carotid intima-media thickness as judged by B-mode ultrasonography were done in 30 young (18–35 yrs) Polycystic Ovary Syndrome women and in similarly age-matched 30 apparently healthy controls. Compared to controls, young Polycystic Ovary Syndrome women had significantly elevated serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C levels and carotid intima-media thickness. HDL-C level did not differ significantly between two groups of women. In Polycystic Ovary Syndrome women carotid intima-media thickness was positively correlated with serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C and negatively correlated with serum HDL-C. Our study suggests that even young Polycystic Ovary Syndrome women are prone to atherosclerosis from early age.     

Predictors of student Internet use: data from three developing countries 1

Training, organizational support, attitude and national culture were explored in relation to college students’ Internet usage. Samples were drawn from India, Mauritius and Reunion Island (an overseas Department of France). Each nation differs culturally from the others. Questionnaire data was collected on students’ Internet usage as well as the predictor variables. Data was analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. The country groups were dummy‐coded. Results suggested that attitude, training and university support were positively related to students’ Internet use. Non‐significant interaction terms suggested that these relationships did not change according to country sample. The present findings are consistent with previous reports using samples from Western, economically developed countries.     

The Development of Quantum Mechanics

A historical account of the development of quantum mechanics, and the roles played by many outstanding physicists, their views and philosophical attitudes is presented. Ingenious and path-breaking experiments that helped this development along are highlighted. Ideas and notions that initially arose in the course of discussions on foundations of quantum mechanics and later paved the way for the emergence of the field of Quantum Information Science and Technology are briefly touched upon.     

An exploratory study into work/family balance within the Australian higher education sector

The higher education landscape is undergoing major transformation, with a significant impact on the work and family practices of academics and professional staff. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the extent to which (1) time-related, (2) strain-related and (3) demographical variables impact on the work/family balance of academic and professional staff in Victorian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes. Our findings reveal that university employees experience greater work/family imbalance. The results of this research demonstrate how the three constructs contribute to work/family imbalance in academia, especially within the university sector. This paper is believed to be the first to explore work/family balance from an Australian cross-sectoral perspective. It provides an agenda for future theory and research to increase understanding of work/family balance from a cross-sectoral perspective.     

Performance Improvement in Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises Due to Information Systems Implementation

The importance of integrated information systems in large firms is widely accepted by academicians and practitioners. The need for information systems adoption has been proved beyond a doubt for large firms. Small and medium‐sized enterprises can also improve their performance by implementing modern information systems. This case study analyzes the benefits of information systems implementation by comparatively highlighting the performance of three small and medium‐sized enterprises with varied extent and nature of information systems in them.     

A multiple cross-cultural comparison of approaches to learning

This study compares learning approaches of local English-speaking students and students from Asian countries studying at an Australian metropolitan university. The sample consists of students across 13 different countries. Unlike previous studies, students from Asian countries are subdivided into two categories: students from Confucian Heritage Cultures (CHC) and students from Asia-based non-Confucian Heritage Cultures (non-CHC). The rich diversity of student background enables meaningful comparison between cultural groups. There are three key findings. Firstly, CHC and non-CHC students are more likely to adopt a deep learning approach than local English-speaking (LES) students. Secondly, CHC students show a strong tendency to simultaneously adopt surface and deep approaches to learning. This tendency also exists with non-CHC students, albeit not as strongly as in as the former group. The LES students show the least tendency to adopt this mixed approach. Thirdly, memorisation appears correlated with deep learning across all three groups. The study is exploratory in nature but, if confirmed with larger samples, points to the need for further research beyond the traditional focus on CHC students on the role that memorisation and culture play in learning.     

Effect of short term supplementation of tomatoes on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in type-II diabetes

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the beneficial effect of tomatoes, which are rich source of Lycopene, relatively a new carotenoid known to play an important role in human health and disease. In this study lipid peroxidation rate was measured by estimating Malondialdehyde and the levels of serum enzymes involved in antioxidant activities like Super Oxide Dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase, Glutathione Reductase, Reduced Glutathione, in type-II diabetic group (n=40) and age matched control group (n=50), and observed significantly lower levels of antioxidant enzymes and very high lipid peroxidation rate in type-II diabetes when compared to control group (p<0.001). Short term supplementation with tomatoes (cooked) to diabetic group for a period of 30 days, showed a significant improvement in antioxidant enzyme levels (p<0.001) and decreased lipid peroxidation rate (p<0.001) suggesting the supplementation with tomato lycopene may serve as the best method of preventing the oxidative stress in diabetic patients.