BACKGROUND: Although mental health literacy is a major determining factor of mental health outcomes and functional capacity of individuals, there is dearth of research on the issue in South Africa AIM: To assess the literacy of three mental disorders, namely major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and to compare the resultant assumed literacy level between urban and townships participants SETTING: Five clinics of region 1 in Tshwane, South Africa METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed between November 2019 and January 2020. A total of 385 questionnaires were distributed equally in all five clinics. By means of questions about three fictive cases with clinical pictures indicative of MDD, schizophrenia and GAD the following were assessed: recognising a mental disorder, identifying the cause and knowledge about what would help best RESULTS: The majority of participants (67.3%) recognised the clinical picture indicative of schizophrenia as a mental disorder, almost half of the participants (49.9%) recognised the clinical picture indicative of MDD as a mental disorder, whilst just more than one third (36.3%) of participants recognised the clinical picture GAD as a mental disorder. Concerning the causes for the clinical pictures, most participants indicated that stress was the cause for MDD and GAD (77.4% and 68.1%, respectively), whilst indicating that biological or psychological (59.5%) causes are relevant to the clinical picture indicative of schizophrenia symptoms. Fewer participants indicated supernatural causes for any of the clinical case (MDD: 2.6%; schizophrenia 15.3%; GAD 4.2%). Most participants chose professional help as the best option for all three cases (MDD 81.3%, schizophrenia 82.2%, GAD 66.1%). The indicators for health literacy in this study show that urban participants had better knowledge than township participants across all questions about the cases CONCLUSION: Overall, the study indicated a variable knowledge regarding the three mental disorders in region 1 of Tshwane and variable literacy levels in townships compared with urban settings. The results indicate that awareness campaigns should focus on the deficient areas

BACKGROUND: The use of antipsychotic medication, particularly second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people with severe mental illness (SMI). Few studies have compared body measures of people with SMI taking first generation antipsychotics (FGAs) to those taking SGAsAIM: We compare body measures between long-term male inpatients using either FGAs or SGAsSETTING: The study was conducted at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital, in Pretoria, GautengMETHODS: A total of 30 patients were selected from a list of male inpatients and were included in our study. Each participant had the following anthropometric measures done and these were compared between the two groups: Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR) and hip circumference (HC). Hospital records were used to record demographic variables, diagnosis, comorbid disease and psychotropic medication for each participantRESULTS: Participants in the FGA and SGA groups had similar body measures, resulting in similar BMI, WHR and WHtR. Participants had a mean HC of 100.5 cm, 95% confidence interval (CI) (97.68, 103.22). BMI ranged from 21.87 kg/m² to 37.65 kg/m², with an overall mean of 28.5 kg/m², 95% CI (26.69, 30.22). Participants had a mean WHtR of 0.59, 95% CI (0.56, 0.61). Participants had a mean WC of 100.6 cm and 95% CI (96.26, 104.87), and the mean WHR of both groups was 1.0CONCLUSION: Participants using FGAs and SGAs had similar body measures, and these indicated that this sample of male inpatients with SMI is at high risk for CVD

This work presents some modifications in the post-synthetic processing for a classical arsenic reagent: AsI3. In comparison with the widely used analog, the trichloride, arsenic triiodide presents several advantages such as low toxicity, air stability, and low volatility. It was used as a synthetic precursor in the preparation of a variety of arsenic(III) derivatives like arsines, arsenites, and thioarsenites. Besides that, AsI3 was submitted to a diversity-oriented Grignard reaction in the preparation of a homologous series of trialkyl arsines ranging from AsC3H9 to AsC12H27. The series was analyzed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry to provide a trialkyl arsines library that can be used for the direct analysis of natural samples.

Carbon is an extremely versatile element and can generate a plethora of structures with distinct properties. Proposing new possible metastable allotropic structures for carbon has been the subject of increasing interest over the past few years. In this contribution, we present a new carbon allotrope, named ABF-Carbon, based on the connection of spiropentadiene molecular motif and sp3 carbon atoms. This new structure is a metastable carbon allotrope formed by 6 carbon atoms, being 2 sp2 and 4 sp3, in a body-centered tetragonal with space group (space group 119) and point group . By first-principles calculations using the density functional theory (DFT), we predict that this new structure is mechanically and structurally stable and presents thermal stability up to 900 K. The calculations also show that ABF-Carbon presents a direct bandgap of 2.39 eV and higher cohesive energy than other carbon allotropes, such as T-Carbon and Y-Carbon/1-diamondyne.

Arylation reactions are an important class of reactions and allow the synthesis of natural and synthetic products. Despite the efficient, but high cost and toxic methodologies involving transition metals, radical arylations have gained importance after the advent of photoredox catalysis. Arylation of enol acetates is an important tool for obtaining aryl ketones but the scope of the reaction is limited to the pattern of substitution at phenyl radical and α-carbon of the enol. Theoretical calculations ((U)BHandHLYP/6-311G**) show that the polar effect is the key factor in this reaction. A good correlation of calculated rate constants with field effect explained why phenyl radicals with electron-withdrawing groups react faster toward enol acetate. The presence of alkyl groups at α carbon at the enol showed some influence of enthalpic effect but strong influence of steric effect, evidenced by great correlations with Taft and Charton parameters. Finally, substitution at β carbon showed no significant effect at reaction rates.

An automated method based on open-source hardware was created for the separation of porphyrins fractions from crude oil, an essential step for the quantification of V and Ni as metalloporphyrins. Preparative liquid chromatography was implemented with a reverse phase gradient from MeOH to toluene. The system allows three solvents and fractions changes by using quaternary valves connected to an Arduino microcontroller, programmed on the basis of the absorbance signal measured and its first derivative. Additionally, the method was applied to crude oils (Venezuelan National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 8505 and from a marine reservoir). V and Ni were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the V-porphyrin profile was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-ICP-MS. The concentrations of the metals grow in the last eluting toluene fractions, associated with asphaltenes. On the other hand, V-porphyrins in the first eluting MeOH fractions showed profiles of labile compounds, with a higher percentage in the Brazilian crude oil (4.9 mg L-1, corresponding to 18% of total V), in comparison to the one from the biodegraded NIST 8505 (59 mg L-1, corresponding to 7% of total V). The overall methodology has a good reproducibility and provides information on elements concentrations associated with porphyrin class compounds.

BACKGROUND: Referral of patients from tertiary specialist psychiatric hospitals to primary healthcare settings is a worldwide goal. This is of particular importance in South Africa with its considerable burden of mental disorders and limited resources. However, patients are often reluctant to be referred and studies have shown that patients may prefer a dedicated psychiatric service over an integrated primary healthcare service AIM: This study explored the opinions of patients receiving care at a tertiary psychiatric hospital's outpatient department (OPD) about referral to a primary healthcare clinic (PHCC). SETTING: The study was conducted at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital OPD. METHODS: This was a qualitative study based on grounded theory. Participants were recruited through purposive-theoretical sampling. Data were collected by means of individual interviews and mini-essays. RESULTS: From the 80 participants, 18 had individual interviews and 62 wrote mini-essays. Thirty-nine participants had previously attended a PHCC, while 41 had not. Perceived advantages of referral to PHCCs included: close proximity to participants' homes, resulting in saving on travelling time and transport costs, as well as the convenience of receiving psychiatric and other medical treatment at the same healthcare facility. Perceived disadvantages of PHCCs included: unavailability of treatment; lack of doctor-based care; lack of specialised care; loss of established relationships with hospital healthcare workers; mistreatment by PHCC nursing staff; longer waiting times; more stigmatisation. CONCLUSION: The perceived disadvantages of referral from a tertiary psychiatric hospital to a PHCC outweighed the perceived advantages. Nonetheless, participants expressed willingness for such a referral if their concerns were addressed.

A reação de Heck entre enoatos de configuração Z e E e o iodobenzeno foi estudada na presença de Pd(OAc)2. A estereoquímica nos adutos formados foi dependente da geometria do enoato (reação estereoespecífica). Os melhores rendimentos foram obtidos a partir de enoatos Z, em acetona, utilizando Ag2CO3 como base. Os principais intermediários catiônicos de paládio possivelmente envolvidos no ciclo catalítico puderam ser interceptados e caracterizados por espectrometria de massas com ionização electrospray (ESI-MS). A estereosseletividade observada pôde ser racionalizada através do mecanismo clássico da reação de Heck.

The Heck reaction between E- and Z-enoates and iodobenzene was studied in the presence of Pd(OAc)2. The stereochemistry in resulting adducts was dependent on the enoate geometry (stereospecific reaction). Best yields were obtained from Z-isomers in acetone using Ag2CO3 as base. The main cationic palladium intermediates possibly involved in the catalytic cycle could be intercepted and characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The stereoselectivity observed was rationalized through the classic mechanism of the Heck reaction.

Os ácidos tribromo- e tricloro-isocianúricos reagem com ácidos cinâmicos na presença de NaOH/H2O/Et2O à temperatura ambiente para produzir regiosseletivamente (E)-2-halo-estirenos em 25-95% de rendimento. Estudo sobre o mecanismo da reação utilizando correlações Hammett e cálculos DFT (teoria do funcional da densidade) mostraram que esta reação tem como passo determinante a velocidade da adição eletrofílica de um átomo de cloro à ligação dupla.

Tribromo- and trichloroisocyanuric acids react with cinnamic acids in NaOH/H2O/Et2O at room temperature to produce (E)-2-halostyrenes regioselectively in 25-95% yield. Mechanism studies using Hammett correlations and DFT (density functional theory) calculations have shown that this reaction has as rate determining step the electrophilic addition of chlorine atom to the double bond.

Primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols can be easily distinguished due to their reactivity towards tribromoisocyanuric acid (TBCA). The test is performed by adding TBCA to the alcohol in a test tube heated in a boiling water bath. Orange color develops in the tube containing the primary alcohol, light yellow is observed in the tube containing the secondary alcohol while the tertiary alcohol results in a colorless mixture.

O ácido dicloro-iodo-isocianúrico foi preparado em 93% de rendimento através do aquecimento do ácido tricloro-isocianúrico com 1,05 equiv. mol de iodo. Esse novo reagente se mostrou bastante eficiente para a iodação regiosseletiva de arenos ativados. Os alquenos reagem com o ácido dicloro-iodo-isocianúrico na presença de solventes nucleofílicos oxigenados (água, álcoois, ácido acético) para gerar, respectivamente, iodoidrinas, β-iodoéters e β-iodoacetatos em menos de um minuto de reação e em alto grau de regiosseletividade. Enol-éteres levam à formação regiosseletiva dos iodo-dialquilacetais correspondentes. Os resultados experimentais juntamente com os cálculos por DFT mostraram que, para reações com sistemas insaturados, o ácido dicloro-iodo-isocianúrico é mais reativo do que o ácido triiodo-isocianúrico.

Dichloroiodoisocyanuric acid was prepared in 93% by heating trichloroisocyanuric acid with 1.05 mol equiv. of iodine. This new reagent is very efficient for regioselective electrophilic iodination of activated arenes. Alkenes react with dichloroiodoisocyanuric acid in the presence of oxygenated nucleophiles (water, alcohols, and acetic acid), leading to the corresponding iodohydrins, β-iodoethers and β-iodoacetates with reaction times of less than one minute and with a high degree of regioselectivity. Enol ethers resulted in the regioselective formation of the corresponding iodine-dialkylacetals. Experimental results and DFT calculations showed that dichoroiodoisocyanuric acid is more reactive with unsaturated systems than triiodoisocyanuric acid.

O polieterglicol derivado do líquido da casca da castanha do caju (CNSL) inibiu a formação de hidrato de metano. O polímero mostrou-se mais eficiente que o copolímero poli(vinilpirrolidona)-poli-(N-vinilcaprolactama)(PVP-PVCap) nas condições testadas (CH4, 1470 psi e 4 ºC), sendo esse último um dos melhores inibidores de hidratos comercialmente disponíveis.

The polyether glycol derived from cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) inhibited the formation of methane hydrate. The polymer proved to be more efficient than the polyvinyl pyrrolidone-poly(N-vinyl) caprolactam (PVP-PVCap) co-polymer under tested conditions (CH4, 1470 psi and 4 ºC), being the latter one of the best commercially available hydrate inhibitors.

Evolutionary approaches to carcinogenesis have gained prominence in the literature and enhanced our understanding of cancer. However, an appreciation of neoplasia in the context of evolutionary transitions, particularly the transition from independent genes to a fully integrated genome, is largely absent. In the gene-genome evolutionary transition, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) can be studied as the extant exemplars of selfish autonomous lower-level units that cooperated to form a higher-level, functionally integrated genome. Here, we discuss levels of selection in cancer cells. In particular, we examine the tension between gene and genome units of selection by examining the expression profiles of MGE domains in an array of human cancers. Overall, across diverse cancers, there is an aberrant expression of several families of mobile elements, including the most common MGE in the human genome, retrotransposon LINE 1. These results indicate an alternative life-history strategy for MGEs in the cancers studied. Whether the aberrant expression is the cause or effect of tumourigenesis is unknown, although some evidence suggests that dysregulation of MGEs can play a role in cancer origin and progression. These data are interpreted in combination with phylostratigraphic reports correlating the origin of cancer genes with multicellularity and other potential increases in complexity in cancer cell populations. Cooperation and conflict between individuals at the gene, genome and cell level provide an evolutionary medicine perspective of cancer that enhances our understanding of disease pathogenesis and treatment.

Carbocátions atuam de formas diferentes quando interagem com anéis aromáticos. É interessante como na biosíntese de terpenos, os intermediários carbocatiônicos não alquilam a cadeia lateral aromática de aminoácidos presentes no sítio ativo, como seria esperado para outros carbocátions, como o cátion terc-butila. Neste trabalho, a interação entre benzeno e diferentes carbocátions alílicos é analisada, mimetizando carbocátions terpenóides, para melhor compreender como esta interação ocorreria. Cálculos em nível de teoria do funcional da densidade (DFT) mostram que para carbocátions alílicos secundários e terciários (como os encontrados na natureza), a forma não ligada da interação é mais estável energeticamente do que a alquilação do anel aromático, justificando a escolha da natureza por esses carbocátions mais estabilizados.

Carbocations act in different ways when interacting with aromatic rings. It is interesting that in terpene biosynthesis, the carbocationic intermediates do not alkylate the aromatic side chain of the amino acids present in the enzymatic active site, as would be expected by other carbocations such as the tert-butyl cation. In this study, the interaction between benzene and different allylic carbocations, mimicking terpenoid cations, is analysed in order to better understand how this interaction would occur. Density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations show that for secondary and tertiary allylic carbocations (as found in nature), the non-covalent interaction is energetically favoured with respect to alkylation of the aromatic ring.