Development of new methods of detection and quantification of controlled and new psychoactive substances (NPS) using liquid chromatography-amperometric detection (LC-AD)

The global increase in the prevelance and abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has required the development of new analytical methods for rapid, selective and inexpensive protocols for both their separation and detection. Electrochemical sensing of these compounds has been demonstrated to be an effective method for their in-field detection, either in their pure form or the presence of common adulterants. The electrochemical technique can differentiate between structurally-related phenethylamines (for example (±)-paramethoxyamphetamine and (±)-3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine, however it is limited in its ability to distinguish between structurally-related cathinone-derivatives, for example (±)-4-mephedrone and (±)-4-methyl-N-ethycathinone. The HPLC-AD protocol obtained a cost-effective, reproducible, and reliable sensor platform for detection of the target analytes by simultaneous HPLC-UV and amperometric detection protocol. Additionally, the simultaneous HPLC-UV and amperometric detection protocol detailed herein shows a marked improvement in selectively discriminating between structurally related compounds. This thesis demonstrates, for the first time, the combination of HPLC-UV with amperometric detection (HPLC-AD) for the detection and quantitative analysis of new psychoactive substances using a commercially available impinging jet (LC-FC-A system) or using a custom-made iCell channel flow-cell system (LC-FC-B), both incorporating embedded graphite screen-printed macroelectrodes. The method demonstrates the application of a cost-effective, reproducible, and reliable sensor platform for the simultaneous HPLC-UV and amperometric detection of target analytes. Although the amperometric detection (HPLC-AD) system that has been developed is not as sensitive as standard HPLC-UV detection,both LC-FC-A and LC-FC-B show a good agreement between the quantitative electroanalytical data. Therefore, they are suitable for the detection and quantification of new psychoactive substances, either in their pure form or within complex mixtures. Additionally, the simultaneous HPLC-AD protocol shows a marked improvement and advantage over previously reported electroanalytical methods. The electroanalytical methods were either unable to selectively differentiate between structurally related synthetic cathinones (e.g. (±)-mephedrone and (±)-4-MEC (Smith et al., 2014a), or utilised harmful and restrictive materials in their design by adding the illegal compounds in combination with the legal compounds

Exploring Taiwan citizens’ scientific literacy, interest in, and engagement in learning science

This study explored Taiwan citizens' scientific literacy, interest in, and engagement in learning science. By using the stratified random sampling strategy, 1,831 citizens in the age group of 18-70 years were selected to respond to a questionnaire survey along with a paper-pencil test. For exploring the relationship between Taiwan citizens' scientific literacy and their interest in science, the participants were divided into four groups on the basis of their scores for scientific literacy and interest in science. According to the essential results, the high scientific literacy and high science interest (HH) group was mainly represented by males, young citizens, and citizens with higher educational degrees. Conversely, the low scientific literacy and low science interest (LL) group was dominated by females, elderly citizens, and citizens with only a secondary school diploma. Among the four groups, citizens in the HH and LH groups exhibited higher frequency of engagement in science activities. Finally, citizens with high science interest tended to be enthusiastic in learning science and technology. This study contributed a novel insight that the interest in learning science plays a critical role in promoting adults' engagement in learning science. Future studies are recommended for focusing on the citizens in the LH group to investigate how high engagement in learning science influences their scientific literacy

Psychosocial Predictors of Taiwanese Secondary Students' Self-Esteem

This study investigated the relationships between psychosocial factors and self-esteem 1,672 Taiwanese senior high school students (779 boys, 893 girls). Students from Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, completed a Chinese version of the Secondary Student Questionnaire (SSQ), which measures self-esteem, depression, anxiety, stereotyped thinking, personality, and satisfaction with nonacademic performance at school. Students were categorized into four groups: (a) high academic achievement/low self-esteem (HALS); (b) high academic achievement/high self-esteem (HAHS); (c) low academic achievement/ low-self esteem (LALS); and (d) low academic achievement/high self-esteem (LAHS). Results showed that two variables, personality/satisfaction and anxiety, were predictive self-esteem for all four groups. Depression was predictive for all groups except low achievement and high self-esteem (LAHS). Research recommendations and educational implications are discussed.Cette étude porte sur les liens entre des facteurs psychosociaux et l'estime de soi de 1 élèves taïwanais du secondaire (779 garçons, 893filles). Des élèves de Kaohsiung City, Taiwan ont complété une version chinoise du Secondary Student Questionnaire (SSQ) mesure l'estime de soi, la dépression, l'anxiété, les attitudes stéréotypées, le caractère et la satisfaction quant à la performance nonacadémique à l'école. Quatre catégories d'élèves ont été créées : (a) performance académique élevée/estime de soi pauvre (HALS) ; (b) performance académique élevée/estime de soi élevée (HAHS); (c) performance académique pauvre/estime de soi pauvre (LALS) ; et performance académique pauvre/estime de soi élevée (LAHS). Les résultats indiquent que deux variables, caractère/satisfaction et anxiété, étaient prédictives de l'estime de soi pour les quatre groupes. La dépression était une variable prédictive chez tous les élèves sauf pour le groupe caractérisé par une performance académique pauvre/estime de soi élevée. Nous discutons de recommandations de recherche et d'implications pédagogiques

The effect of interest and engagement in learning science on adults' scientific competency and environmental action

Although existing research has documented the significant relationship among student interest, engagement, and learning outcome, limited studies have investigated how adults’ interest and engagement in learning science are related to their scientific competency and environmental action. This study used 2012 and 2015 national datasets which were collected from face-to-face interviews representing how the interest and engagement of Taiwan citizens in understanding and exposure to science in society synergistically interact with their scientific competency and environmental action. Results showed that engagement in learning is more predictive to scientific competency and environmental action than interest. In addition, engagement in visiting science museums appears to be a superior venue for promoting adults’ environmental action than watching science related TV programs. These findings reveal an effective strategy of promoting adult environmental action through science communication and the importance of deep science learning

建構中小學初任輔導人員職前培訓機制：戴明循環觀點之應用

The purpose of this study applied the Deming Cycle perspective on evaluating the pre-service training mechanism. First, a pilot study and field observation were conducted, then we purposively selected seven experts who are in charge of the training programs or service as lectures (Mean of relevant working experience = 20.3 years, SD = 11.1 years) in years of 2015 to 2017. All of them were individually interviewed for collecting deep information, total interview hours up to 715 minutes. An initial result found that the current programs rarely conducted assessment and setting goals, the implementations were mixed with different background of participants, the lack of inspection for training results and curriculum planning, and need to strengthen the system cooperation and learning gap. We suggested: (1) The pre-service training program’s "Plan" should pay more attention on overall thinking and expert team, assess the needs of organizations and individuals, and set training objectives from learners and practitioners; (2) The pre-service training program’s "Do" should establish a dedicated unit and a single contact window, design two-track and blended learning modules, flexible adjustment of curriculum structure and using case teaching methods; (3) The pre-service training program should "Check" training program and training effectiveness; (4) The pre-service training program’s "Act" will be able to develop a standardized mechanism and actively creates a cycle of cooperation through systematic cooperation. This study provides an additional insight of pre-service training program

Microcrystalline testing used in combination with Raman micro-spectroscopy for absolute identification of novel psychoactive substances

Two new psychoactive substances, namely 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and 5,6-methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane (MDAI) were analysed with a novel combination of microcrystalline tests followed by Raman micro-spectroscopy to facilitate their absolute identification. The discrimination power of the proposed combination was successfully demonstrated through the analysis of the positional isomers 2- and 3-methylmethcathinone. The addition of mercury dichloride as a microcrystalline test reagent produced specific microcrystals of each tested analyte. The robustness of the method was evaluated in the presence of common cutting agents (caffeine and benzocaine) as well as on street samples. The crystal lattice structures of mephedrone, 2-methylmethcathinone and MDAI mercury dichloride microcrystals were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This confirmed the presence of both drug and reagent together in the lattice and accounts for the distinct habit of the observed microcrystals. Raman spectra of the formed microcrystals differed from those obtained from their standard salt form by loss and/or gain of some vibrational modes. Particularly important was the appearance of the mercury chloride link to each tested drug molecule which showed as strong bands at low wavenumbers. Its presence was corroborated by its detection in the crystal lattice. It was therefore concluded that microcrystalline testing followed by Raman micro-spectroscopy satisfies the technique combination requirement for psychoactive substances recommended by the Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG) and provides a rapid and cheap analysis route. The proposed technique combination also aids the development of new microcrystalline tests as it allows for confirmation of the uniqueness of the developed microcrystals almost in-situ rather than growing single crystals for often long periods of time needed for single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis

Detection and quantification of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) within the evolved "legal high" product, NRG-2, using high performance liquid chromatography-amperometric detection (HPLC-AD)

The global increase in the production and abuse of cathinone-derived New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) has developed the requirement for rapid, selective and sensitive protocols for their separation and detection. Electrochemical sensing of these compounds has been demonstrated to be an effective method for the in-field detection of these substances, either in their pure form or in the presence of common adulterants, however, the technique is limited in its ability to discriminate between structurally related cathinone-derivatives (for example: (±)-4′-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC, 2a) and (±)-4′-methyl-N-ethylmethcathinone (4-MEC, 2b) when they are both present in a mixture. In this paper we demonstrate, for the first time, the combination of HPLC-UV with amperometric detection (HPLC-AD) for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of 4-MMC and 4-MEC using either a commercially available impinging jet (LC-FC-A) or custom-made iCell channel (LC-FC-B) flow-cell system incorporating embedded graphite screen-printed macroelectrodes. The protocol offers a cost-effective, reproducible and reliable sensor platform for the simultaneous HPLC-UV and amperometric detection of the target analytes. The two systems have similar limits of detection, in terms of amperometric detection [LC-FC-A: 14.66 μg mL−1 (2a) and 9.35 μg mL−1 (2b); LC-FC-B: 57.92 μg mL−1 (2a) and 26.91 μg mL−1 (2b)], to the previously reported oxidative electrochemical protocol [39.8 μg mL−1 (2a) and 84.2 μg mL−1 (2b)], for two synthetic cathinones, prevalent on the recreational drugs market. Though not as sensitive as standard HPLC-UV detection, both flow cells show a good agreement, between the quantitative electroanalytical data, thereby making them suitable for the detection and quantification of 4-MMC and 4-MEC, either in their pure form or within complex mixtures. Additionally, the simultaneous HPLC-UV and amperometric detection protocol detailed herein shows a marked improvement and advantage over previously reported electroanalytical methods, which were either unable to selectively discriminate between structurally related synthetic cathinones (e.g. 4-MMC and 4-MEC) or utilised harmful and restrictive materials in their design

Forensic electrochemistry: simultaneous voltammetric detection of MDMA and its fatal counterpart "Dr Death" (PMA)

The simultaneous detection of substances present in drugs of abuse is increasingly important since some materials are known for their high mortality rate. One drug that received considerable attention is para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA), commonly known as ‘Dr Death’ – this substance is linked with several deaths internationally and can often be found together with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in drugs sold under the alias “ecstasy”, a very popular drug of abuse. This work reports for the first time the detection and quantification of MDMA and PMA simultaneously through an electrochemical technique using screen-printed graphite electrodes (SPEs). The electroanalytical sensing of MDMA/PMA, MDMA and PMA are explored directly at bare unmodified SPEs yielding a detection limit (3σ) corresponding to 0.25 μg mL−1/0.14 μg mL−1 for MDMA/PMA, 0.04 μg mL−1 MDMA and 0.03 μg mL−1 PMA. Raman spectroscopy and presumptive colour tests were also performed on MDMA/PMA, MDMA and PMA using the Marquis, Mandelin, Simon's and Robadope tests but were found to not be able discriminate when PMA and MDMA are both present in the same samples. We report a novel electrochemical protocol for the sensing of PMA and MDMA which is independently validated in a synthetic (MDMA/PMA) sample with HPLC