The Biodiversity Convention and in situ Conservation in Zambia

This article describes biological diversity, its importance to the global community and to the African continent, focusing particularly on Zambia, my home country. The article considers briefly the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity¹ (the Biodiversity Convention) and in particular the in situ conservation obligations under the Convention. The article identifiies the required actions for the effective in situ conservation of biological diversity in Zambia. In this regard, the article high-lights the main problems associated with biological diversity loss, examines Zambia's legislation on the conservation of biological diversity and considers whether the obligations thereunder comply with the actions required for the effective conservation of biological diversity identified under the Biodiversity Convention. The article concludes with recommendations on what actions are needed for effective in situ conservation of biological diversity in Zambia.     

Spectroscopic study of 1,2-indandione

This paper describes the spectroscopic study of the new fingerprint reagent, 1,2-indandione, using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). When 1,2-indandione is dissolved in methanol, NMR and MS show formation of a hemiketal similar to that proposed for DFO when it is dissolved in methanol. In contrast to DFO where reactivity with amino acids appears to be enhanced by hemiketal formation with alcohol solvents, the reactivity of 1,2-indandione towards amino acids is diminished by hemiketal formation. Alcohols should be avoided in 1,2-indandione formulations.     

The Measurement of Adolescent Psychological Health: One or Two Dimensions?

Psychological health in adult populations has been conceptualized as being comprised of two distinct, though related, dimensions: well-being and distress. Research into adolescent psychological health, however, has been dominated by a single factor approach with well-being and distress defining opposite ends of this continuum. Measures of psychological health were administered to 345 late adolescents. A series of confirmatory factor analyses supported an oblique two-factor model of psychological health with measures of anxiety and negative affect defining a distress construct and measures of positive affect, satisfaction with life, and happiness defining a well-being construct. A measure of depression loaded on both well-being and distress. It is concluded that although these two dimensions are highly correlated, they are distinguishable in adolescent samples. It is suggested that to avoid confusion in the literature authors should take more care in labeling the aspects of psychological health that they wish to assess.