Adaptation of the kirkstall QV600 LLI microfluidics system for the study of gastrointestinal absorption by mass spectrometry imaging and LC-MS/MS

Absorption studies on oral drugs can be difficult due to the challenge of replicating the complex structure and environment of the GI tract. Drug absorption studies can be conducted using in vivo and ex vivo animal tissue or animal-free techniques. These studies typically involve the use of Caco-2 cells. However, Caco-2 cells do not incorporate all the cell types found in intestinal tissue and lack P450 metabolizing enzymes. The QV600 LLI system is a microfluidics system designed for use with cell culture. Here, it has been adapted to house appropriate sections of ex vivo porcine tissue to act as a system that models the duodenum section of the small intestine. A pH regulated solution of Atorvastatin was flowed over the apical layer of the GI tissue and a nutrient solution flowed over the basal layer of the tissue to maintain tissue viability. The tissue samples were snap-frozen, cryosectioned, and imaged using MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI). A proof-of-concept study on the effect of excipients on absorption was conducted. Different concentrations of the solubilizing agent were added to the donor circuit of the QV600 LLI. The amount of Atorvastatin in the acceptor circuit was determined to study the effect of the excipient on the amount of drug that had permeated through the tissue. Using these data, Papp, pig values were calculated and compared with the literature

'If you can't measure it, how can you manage it?': HE-GOV-BUS R&D collaboration - what is the evidence?

Paper presented at the SARIMA Conference, Pretoria, 10-12 MayThis presentation reports on evidence for the existence of collaborative behaviour in research and development gleaned from the 2004/05 survey of inputs into research and experimental development (R&D). The study compares this finding with previous results on the same phenomenon that were obtained in the 2000 innovation survey of the University of Pretoria. The results of R&D collaboration are examined by sector and size and provide encouraging evidence regarding the vitality of the system of innovation

Accreditation for student services Making national vocational qualifications work

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:4300.650(97) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Is the business sector an R&D island in South Africa

Paper presented at the HSRC Winter Conference, Birchwood Conference Centre, Benoni, 27-28 Jul

National research and experimental development survey 2004/05: draft report

Report to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), 28 Marc

Extent of access to information and communications technology by the rural population of South Africa

This paper investigates the trends in access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in rural compared to the urban areas of South Africa. Using data from the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) covering the period from 2003 to 2009, the study found that access to both the 'older' and the 'newer' forms of ICTs has remained significantly lower (P < 0.001) in rural areas compared to urban areas. The paper then examines these trends in the context of the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) policies and strategies on the diffusion of science and technology in South Africa.

Nutritional contribution of street foods to the diet of people in developing countries: a systematic review

Objective: To review studies examining the nutritional value of street foods and their contribution to the diet of consumers in developing countries. Design: The electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Proquest Health and Science Direct were searched for articles on street foods in developing countries that included findings on nutritional value. Results: From a total of 639 articles, twenty-three studies were retained since they met the inclusion criteria. In summary, daily energy intake from street foods in adults ranged from 13% to 50% of energy and in children from 13% to 40% of energy. Although the amounts differed from place to place, even at the lowest values of the percentage of energy intake range, energy from street foods made a significant contribution to the diet. Furthermore, the majority of studies suggest that street foods contributed significantly to the daily intake of protein, often at 50% of the RDA. The data on fat and carbohydrate intakes are of some concern because of the assumed high contribution of street foods to the total intakes of fat, trans-fat, salt and sugar in numerous studies and their possible role in the development of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Few studies have provided data on the intake of icronutrients, but these tended to be high for Fe and vitamin A while low for Ca and thiamin. Conclusions: Street foods make a significant contribution to energy and protein intakes of people in developing countries and their use should be encouraged if they are healthy traditional foods.

Nutritional contribution of street foods to the diet of people in developing countries: a systematic review

Objective To review studies examining the nutritional value of street foods and their contribution to the diet of consumers in developing countries. Design The electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Proquest Health and Science Direct were searched for articles on street foods in developing countries that included findings on nutritional value. Results From a total of 639 articles, twenty-three studies were retained since they met the inclusion criteria. In summary, daily energy intake from street foods in adults ranged from 13 % to 50 % of energy and in children from 13 % to 40 % of energy. Although the amounts differed from place to place, even at the lowest values of the percentage of energy intake range, energy from street foods made a significant contribution to the diet. Furthermore, the majority of studies suggest that street foods contributed significantly to the daily intake of protein, often at 50 % of the RDA. The data on fat and carbohydrate intakes are of some concern because of the assumed high contribution of street foods to the total intakes of fat, trans-fat, salt and sugar in numerous studies and their possible role in the development of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Few studies have provided data on the intake of micronutrients, but these tended to be high for Fe and vitamin A while low for Ca and thiamin. Conclusions Street foods make a significant contribution to energy and protein intakes of people in developing countries and their use should be encouraged if they are healthy traditional foods.Human Sciences Research Council, Medical Research Council, Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the National Research Foundatio

National survey of research & experimental development (R&D) 2006/07

Commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), MarchThe 2006/07 National Survey of Research and Experimental Development (R&D) is the fourth survey conducted under the aegis of the Ministry of Science and Technology. R&D Surveys provide data, collected under strict conditions of confidentiality, which are essential for planning at system and organisational level, and that furnish key indicators for national competitiveness. The 2006/07 Survey, in common with its predecessors involves the collection of primary data from the public and private sectors. The public sector comprises universities, science research councils and department based research institutes. The private sector comprises firms and not-for-profit organisations. In the case of firms, the number reporting R&D increased by nearly 12%, mainly comprising small R&D performers. As noted previously this increased response is because of improved survey capability and capacity, and the interest and commitment of many organisations and firms that were approached to provide the required information