My enemy's enemies: recruiting hemipteran-tending generalist ants for biological control in citrus orchards by spatial partitioning of foraging webs
- Bownes, Angela, Moore, Sean D, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Bownes, Angela , Moore, Sean D , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442075 , vital:73953 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC160247
- Description: Generalist predators are contentious biocontrol agents, especially ants that protect pestilent hemipterans from specialist predators and parasitoids. We attempted to force generalist, hemipteran-tending ants into a degree of dietary specificity by spatially partitioning and simplifying their trophic web. Pupae of Helicoverpa armigera, Thaumatotibia leucotreta and Ceratitis capitata introduced into a citrus orchard survived significantly better in plots where all nests of two pestilent, generalist ant species namely Anoplolepis custodiens and Pheidole megacephala had been poisoned compared with untreated control plots. In some plots the ants' foraging environments were partitioned into arboreal and epigaeic trophic webs using sticky barriers to prevent ground-nesting ants from ascending the trees. Plots partitioned this way showed suppressed levels of survival of emplaced pest pupae that were similar to those in unpartitioned control plots. Pest survival was significantly lower for T. leucotreta than for H. armigera and C. capitata, implicating prey body size or life cycle duration as factors in predation by ants. Pheidole megacephala and the predator complex as a whole can be valuable agents in the natural control of soil-pupating citrus pests if they are restricted to the ground. Trunk banding, rather than poisoning, is therefore recommended as part of managing ecologically mercenary ants in citrus orchards.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Bownes, Angela , Moore, Sean D , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442075 , vital:73953 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC160247
- Description: Generalist predators are contentious biocontrol agents, especially ants that protect pestilent hemipterans from specialist predators and parasitoids. We attempted to force generalist, hemipteran-tending ants into a degree of dietary specificity by spatially partitioning and simplifying their trophic web. Pupae of Helicoverpa armigera, Thaumatotibia leucotreta and Ceratitis capitata introduced into a citrus orchard survived significantly better in plots where all nests of two pestilent, generalist ant species namely Anoplolepis custodiens and Pheidole megacephala had been poisoned compared with untreated control plots. In some plots the ants' foraging environments were partitioned into arboreal and epigaeic trophic webs using sticky barriers to prevent ground-nesting ants from ascending the trees. Plots partitioned this way showed suppressed levels of survival of emplaced pest pupae that were similar to those in unpartitioned control plots. Pest survival was significantly lower for T. leucotreta than for H. armigera and C. capitata, implicating prey body size or life cycle duration as factors in predation by ants. Pheidole megacephala and the predator complex as a whole can be valuable agents in the natural control of soil-pupating citrus pests if they are restricted to the ground. Trunk banding, rather than poisoning, is therefore recommended as part of managing ecologically mercenary ants in citrus orchards.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
On the viability of pro-active automated PII breach detection: A South African case study
- Swart, Ignus, Irwin, Barry V W, Grobler, Marthie
- Authors: Swart, Ignus , Irwin, Barry V W , Grobler, Marthie
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430235 , vital:72676 , https://doi.org/10.1145/2664591.2664600
- Description: Various reasons exist why certain types of information is deemed personal both by legislation and society. While crimes such as identity theft and impersonation have always been in existence, the rise of the internet and social media has exacerbated the problem. South Africa has recently joined the growing ranks of countries passing legislation to ensure the privacy of certain types of data. As is the case with most implemented security enforcement systems, most appointed privacy regulators operate in a reactive way. While this is a completely acceptable method of operation, it is not the most efficient. Research has shown that most data leaks containing personal information remains available for more than a month on average before being detected and reported. Quite often the data is discovered by a third party who selects to notify the responsible organisation but can just as easily copy the data and make use of it. This paper will display the potential benefit a privacy regulator can expect to see by implementing pro-active detection of electronic personally identifiable information (PII). Adopting pro-active detection of PII exposed on public networks can potentially contribute to a significant reduction in exposure time. The results discussed in this paper were obtained by means of experimentation on a custom created PII detection system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Swart, Ignus , Irwin, Barry V W , Grobler, Marthie
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430235 , vital:72676 , https://doi.org/10.1145/2664591.2664600
- Description: Various reasons exist why certain types of information is deemed personal both by legislation and society. While crimes such as identity theft and impersonation have always been in existence, the rise of the internet and social media has exacerbated the problem. South Africa has recently joined the growing ranks of countries passing legislation to ensure the privacy of certain types of data. As is the case with most implemented security enforcement systems, most appointed privacy regulators operate in a reactive way. While this is a completely acceptable method of operation, it is not the most efficient. Research has shown that most data leaks containing personal information remains available for more than a month on average before being detected and reported. Quite often the data is discovered by a third party who selects to notify the responsible organisation but can just as easily copy the data and make use of it. This paper will display the potential benefit a privacy regulator can expect to see by implementing pro-active detection of electronic personally identifiable information (PII). Adopting pro-active detection of PII exposed on public networks can potentially contribute to a significant reduction in exposure time. The results discussed in this paper were obtained by means of experimentation on a custom created PII detection system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Optical nonlinearities and photophysicochemical behaviour of green and blue forms of lutetium bisphthalocyanines
- Sekhosana, Kutloano Edward, Amuhaya, Edith, Mack, John, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Sekhosana, Kutloano Edward , Amuhaya, Edith , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241606 , vital:50954 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC00505H"
- Description: A rare earth sandwich-type phthalocyanine: bis-{2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octa(4-tert-butylphenoxy) phthalocyaninato} lutetium(III) has been synthesized. The photophysical and nonlinear optical behavior of both the “green” and “blue” forms ([LuIIIPc2] and [LuIIIPc2]−, respectively) of the complex have been investigated. High triplet state and singlet oxygen quantum yield values were obtained for the neutral blue form which contains no unpaired electrons. Relatively high third order susceptibility and hyperpolarizability values of the order of 10−10 and 10−28 esu were obtained for both the green and blue forms, respectively. A very low threshold intensity of 0.00051 J cm−2 was obtained for the blue form. Hence the complex shows promise for non-linear optical applications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Sekhosana, Kutloano Edward , Amuhaya, Edith , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241606 , vital:50954 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC00505H"
- Description: A rare earth sandwich-type phthalocyanine: bis-{2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octa(4-tert-butylphenoxy) phthalocyaninato} lutetium(III) has been synthesized. The photophysical and nonlinear optical behavior of both the “green” and “blue” forms ([LuIIIPc2] and [LuIIIPc2]−, respectively) of the complex have been investigated. High triplet state and singlet oxygen quantum yield values were obtained for the neutral blue form which contains no unpaired electrons. Relatively high third order susceptibility and hyperpolarizability values of the order of 10−10 and 10−28 esu were obtained for both the green and blue forms, respectively. A very low threshold intensity of 0.00051 J cm−2 was obtained for the blue form. Hence the complex shows promise for non-linear optical applications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Optical nonlinearities in non-peripherally substituted pyridyloxy phthalocyanines
- Sanusi, Kayode, Antunes, Edith M, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Sanusi, Kayode , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241618 , vital:50955 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C3DT52462K"
- Description: The optical nonlinearities of six non-peripherally-substituted pyridyloxy phthalocyanines have been studied at 532 nm using a nanosecond Z-scan technique in a dimethyl sulphoxide solution. Ring-strain effects and the absence of a metal center were found to greatly reduce the inherent high nonlinearities expected of some of these phthalocyanine complexes. Of the six molecules investigated, 1(4),8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetrakis-(2-pyridyloxy)phthalocyaninato lead(II) 3, 1(4),8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetrakis-(2-pyridyloxy)phthalocyanine 5, and 1(4),8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetrakis-(4-pyridyloxy)phthalocyanine 6 were found to exhibit negligible nonlinear optical behavior, due to either the absence of asymmetry or central metal and/or the presence of a ring-strain effect. A two-photon absorption process was found to be the major contributor to the observed reverse saturable absorption (RSA) in 1(4),8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetrakis-(4-pyridyloxy)phthalocyaninato lead(II) 4, 1(4)-mono-(2-pyridyloxy)phthalocyaninato lead(II) 7, and 1(4)-mono-(4-pyridyloxy)phthalocyaninato lead(II) 8, with large two-photon absorption cross-section, high hyperpolarizability and high third-order susceptibility values in the range of 4.53 × 10−43–5.33 × 10−42 cm4 s per photon, 1.61 × 10−28–1.89 × 10−27 esu and 9.73 × 10−12–7.05 × 10−11 esu respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Sanusi, Kayode , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241618 , vital:50955 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C3DT52462K"
- Description: The optical nonlinearities of six non-peripherally-substituted pyridyloxy phthalocyanines have been studied at 532 nm using a nanosecond Z-scan technique in a dimethyl sulphoxide solution. Ring-strain effects and the absence of a metal center were found to greatly reduce the inherent high nonlinearities expected of some of these phthalocyanine complexes. Of the six molecules investigated, 1(4),8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetrakis-(2-pyridyloxy)phthalocyaninato lead(II) 3, 1(4),8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetrakis-(2-pyridyloxy)phthalocyanine 5, and 1(4),8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetrakis-(4-pyridyloxy)phthalocyanine 6 were found to exhibit negligible nonlinear optical behavior, due to either the absence of asymmetry or central metal and/or the presence of a ring-strain effect. A two-photon absorption process was found to be the major contributor to the observed reverse saturable absorption (RSA) in 1(4),8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetrakis-(4-pyridyloxy)phthalocyaninato lead(II) 4, 1(4)-mono-(2-pyridyloxy)phthalocyaninato lead(II) 7, and 1(4)-mono-(4-pyridyloxy)phthalocyaninato lead(II) 8, with large two-photon absorption cross-section, high hyperpolarizability and high third-order susceptibility values in the range of 4.53 × 10−43–5.33 × 10−42 cm4 s per photon, 1.61 × 10−28–1.89 × 10−27 esu and 9.73 × 10−12–7.05 × 10−11 esu respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Photocatalytic behavior of phthalocyanine-silver nanoparticle conjugates supported on polystyrene fibers
- Khozile, Phindile, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Khozile, Phindile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189909 , vital:44946 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2014.07.031"
- Description: Herein, carbazole derivatized non-peripheral (1,(4)-tetra(carbazol-2-yloxy)phthalocyaninatozinc(II), 3-TCbZnPc) and peripheral (2,(3)-tetra(carbazol-2-yloxy)phthalocyaninato zinc(II), 4-TCbZnPc) are conjugated to silver nanoparticles and their photochemical and photophysical behavior are reported. The presence of silver nanoparticles resulted in reduced fluorescence, and increased triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields. The conjugates were further electrospun into polystyrene fibers, and employed for the photodegradation of methyl orange. The photodegradation of methyl orange using all functionalized fibers followed first order kinetics, and was faster when the conjugates with silver nanoparticles were used. The non-peripherally substituted 3-TCbZnPc gave better photocatalytic activity compared to its peripherally substituted counterpart (4-TCbZnPc). The hybrid electrospun fibers provide great potential as active photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Khozile, Phindile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189909 , vital:44946 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2014.07.031"
- Description: Herein, carbazole derivatized non-peripheral (1,(4)-tetra(carbazol-2-yloxy)phthalocyaninatozinc(II), 3-TCbZnPc) and peripheral (2,(3)-tetra(carbazol-2-yloxy)phthalocyaninato zinc(II), 4-TCbZnPc) are conjugated to silver nanoparticles and their photochemical and photophysical behavior are reported. The presence of silver nanoparticles resulted in reduced fluorescence, and increased triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields. The conjugates were further electrospun into polystyrene fibers, and employed for the photodegradation of methyl orange. The photodegradation of methyl orange using all functionalized fibers followed first order kinetics, and was faster when the conjugates with silver nanoparticles were used. The non-peripherally substituted 3-TCbZnPc gave better photocatalytic activity compared to its peripherally substituted counterpart (4-TCbZnPc). The hybrid electrospun fibers provide great potential as active photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Photophysical behavior of Zn aminophenoxy substituted phthalocyanine conjugates with carboxylic acid-coated silica nanoparticles
- Fashina, Adedayo, Antunes, Edith M, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Fashina, Adedayo , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193802 , vital:45397 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2014.04.034"
- Description: This work reports on the grafting of silica nanoparticles with zinc phthalocyanine complexes tetra-substituted non-peripherally and peripherally with a 4-amino phenoxy group. The phthalocyanine dyes have free amino groups, facilitating covalent attachment of the dyes on the silica surface via amide bond formation. The surface area of the functionalized silica nanoparticles increased on conjugation but the pore volumes were reduced. The phthalocyanine functionalized silica nanoparticles showed lower fluorescence quantum yields as well as shorter triplet lifetimes compared to the free phthalocyanines in dimethyl formamide. For the non-peripherally substituted phthalocyanines increases in triplet yield quantum yields, lifetimes, and singlet oxygen quantum yields were observed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Fashina, Adedayo , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193802 , vital:45397 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2014.04.034"
- Description: This work reports on the grafting of silica nanoparticles with zinc phthalocyanine complexes tetra-substituted non-peripherally and peripherally with a 4-amino phenoxy group. The phthalocyanine dyes have free amino groups, facilitating covalent attachment of the dyes on the silica surface via amide bond formation. The surface area of the functionalized silica nanoparticles increased on conjugation but the pore volumes were reduced. The phthalocyanine functionalized silica nanoparticles showed lower fluorescence quantum yields as well as shorter triplet lifetimes compared to the free phthalocyanines in dimethyl formamide. For the non-peripherally substituted phthalocyanines increases in triplet yield quantum yields, lifetimes, and singlet oxygen quantum yields were observed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Photophysical properties of a new water soluble tetra thiamine substituted zinc phthalocyanine conjugated to gold nanorods of different aspect ratios
- Mthethwa, Thandekile, Antunes, Edith M, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Mthethwa, Thandekile , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241583 , vital:50952 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C4DT00197D"
- Description: A water soluble zinc phthalocyanine substituted with thiamine is reported in this work. The aggregation of this compound in aqueous solutions causes quenching of the fluorescence quantum yields. Gold nanospheres and nanorods were linked to the phthalocyanine. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that both the amine and the sulphur groups on the thiamine substituent of the zinc phthalocyanine were involved in the linking to gold nanoparticles. The Pc showed an increase in the fluorescence quantum yields in the presence of the nanoparticles. The singlet oxygen quantum yield increased when the Pc was conjugated to the nanoparticles and even higher for larger aspect ratio gold nanorods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mthethwa, Thandekile , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241583 , vital:50952 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C4DT00197D"
- Description: A water soluble zinc phthalocyanine substituted with thiamine is reported in this work. The aggregation of this compound in aqueous solutions causes quenching of the fluorescence quantum yields. Gold nanospheres and nanorods were linked to the phthalocyanine. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that both the amine and the sulphur groups on the thiamine substituent of the zinc phthalocyanine were involved in the linking to gold nanoparticles. The Pc showed an increase in the fluorescence quantum yields in the presence of the nanoparticles. The singlet oxygen quantum yield increased when the Pc was conjugated to the nanoparticles and even higher for larger aspect ratio gold nanorods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Photophysichochemical behavior of carbazole derivatized zinc phthalocyanine in the presence of ZnO microparticles and when embedded in electrospun fibers
- Khoza, Phindile, Antunes, Edith M, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Khoza, Phindile , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193860 , vital:45400 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2013.12.019"
- Description: The synthesis of a zinc phthalocyanine complex tetrasubstituted with carbazole functionality at the peripheral position (complex 4) is reported. The singlet oxygen quantum yield of the complex was found to be 0.83 in dimethylformamide (DMF). The complex was subsequently conjugated to zinc oxide microparticles (ZnOMPs), the conjugation (formation of the amide bond) was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. The presence of ZnOMPs was found to reduce the singlet oxygen produced (ΦΔ = 0.63) in DMF. Polystyrene electrospun fibers of complex 4 alone and its conjugate to ZnOMPs were found to be thermally stable. The singlet oxygen quantum yield of the modified electrospun fibers was determined in aqueous media with ADMA as a singlet oxygen quencher and were 0.25 and 0.20 for complex 4 and 4-ZnOMPs embedded in fibers, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Khoza, Phindile , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193860 , vital:45400 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2013.12.019"
- Description: The synthesis of a zinc phthalocyanine complex tetrasubstituted with carbazole functionality at the peripheral position (complex 4) is reported. The singlet oxygen quantum yield of the complex was found to be 0.83 in dimethylformamide (DMF). The complex was subsequently conjugated to zinc oxide microparticles (ZnOMPs), the conjugation (formation of the amide bond) was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. The presence of ZnOMPs was found to reduce the singlet oxygen produced (ΦΔ = 0.63) in DMF. Polystyrene electrospun fibers of complex 4 alone and its conjugate to ZnOMPs were found to be thermally stable. The singlet oxygen quantum yield of the modified electrospun fibers was determined in aqueous media with ADMA as a singlet oxygen quencher and were 0.25 and 0.20 for complex 4 and 4-ZnOMPs embedded in fibers, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Photophysicochemical behavior and antimicrobial activity of dihydroxosilicon tris (diaquaplatinum) octacarboxyphthalocyanine
- Managa, Muthumuni, Idowu, Mopelola A, Antunes, Edith M, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Idowu, Mopelola A , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241527 , vital:50947 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.01.087"
- Description: Platination of dihydroxosilicon octacarboxyphthalocyanine (OH)2SiOCPc was successfully carried out to give dihydroxosilicon tris(diaquaplatinum)octacarboxyphthalocyanine (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate. Slight blue shifting of the absorption spectrum of (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 was observed on conjugation with platinum. Comparative photophysicochemical behavior and antimicrobial photo-activities of (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate with (OH)2SiOCPc or Pt nanoparticles revealed that the heavy atom, Pt on the periphery of the phthalocyanine significantly enhanced its singlet oxygen generation with a quantum yield of 0.56 obtained for the (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate. The (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate showed highest antimicrobial activity towards Candida albicans and Escherichia coli compared to (OH)2SiOCPc and Pt nanoparticles alone under illumination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Idowu, Mopelola A , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241527 , vital:50947 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.01.087"
- Description: Platination of dihydroxosilicon octacarboxyphthalocyanine (OH)2SiOCPc was successfully carried out to give dihydroxosilicon tris(diaquaplatinum)octacarboxyphthalocyanine (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate. Slight blue shifting of the absorption spectrum of (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 was observed on conjugation with platinum. Comparative photophysicochemical behavior and antimicrobial photo-activities of (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate with (OH)2SiOCPc or Pt nanoparticles revealed that the heavy atom, Pt on the periphery of the phthalocyanine significantly enhanced its singlet oxygen generation with a quantum yield of 0.56 obtained for the (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate. The (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate showed highest antimicrobial activity towards Candida albicans and Escherichia coli compared to (OH)2SiOCPc and Pt nanoparticles alone under illumination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Photophysicochemical properties and TD-DFT calculations of a novel terminal alkyne substituted metal free phthalocyanine
- Yilmaz, Yusuf, Mack, John, Sönmez, Mehmet, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Yilmaz, Yusuf , Mack, John , Sönmez, Mehmet , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241562 , vital:50950 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424613501241"
- Description: The synthesis of a novel free base tetrakis(prop-2-ynyloxy)phthalocyanine (2) is described, along with its characterization by IR, UV-visible absorption, and 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The compound exhibited good solubility in a wide range of organic solvents and no significant aggregation was observed over a wide concentration range. The values for the singlet oxygen (ΦΔ), photodegradation, fluorescence (ΦF) and triplet state quantum yields and the fluorescence and triplet state lifetimes are reported. A relatively high ΦΔ value of 0.46 was obtained in DMSO. The ability to carry out "click" chemistry at the ligand periphery enhances the potential utility of 2 for use in bioconjugates in photodynamic therapy (PDT). A moderately high ΦF value of 0.18 is observed for emission in the therapeutic window in the near-IR region, which suggests that it may also be possible to determine the level of localization of 2 in tumor cells through bioimaging.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Yilmaz, Yusuf , Mack, John , Sönmez, Mehmet , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241562 , vital:50950 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424613501241"
- Description: The synthesis of a novel free base tetrakis(prop-2-ynyloxy)phthalocyanine (2) is described, along with its characterization by IR, UV-visible absorption, and 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The compound exhibited good solubility in a wide range of organic solvents and no significant aggregation was observed over a wide concentration range. The values for the singlet oxygen (ΦΔ), photodegradation, fluorescence (ΦF) and triplet state quantum yields and the fluorescence and triplet state lifetimes are reported. A relatively high ΦΔ value of 0.46 was obtained in DMSO. The ability to carry out "click" chemistry at the ligand periphery enhances the potential utility of 2 for use in bioconjugates in photodynamic therapy (PDT). A moderately high ΦF value of 0.18 is observed for emission in the therapeutic window in the near-IR region, which suggests that it may also be possible to determine the level of localization of 2 in tumor cells through bioimaging.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Phylogeny of the family Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data
- Strümpher, Werner P, Sole, Catherine L, Villet, Martin H, Scholtz, Clarke H
- Authors: Strümpher, Werner P , Sole, Catherine L , Villet, Martin H , Scholtz, Clarke H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442253 , vital:73970 , https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12074
- Description: Trogidae constitute a monophyletic and biologically unique family within Scarabaeoidea, being the only keratinophagous group in the superfamily. Traditionally, the family has been divided into three distinctive genera, Polynoncus Burmeister, Omorgus Erichson and Trox Fabricius. Although the taxonomy of the group is relatively well studied, changes to the existing classification have recently been proposed and the family as currently constituted has not been subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Here we present a molecular phylogeny for this cosmopolitan family based on three partially sequenced gene regions: 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA (domain 2). Included in the analyses are representatives belonging to four of the five extant genera (and three of the four subgenera) from all major zoogeographic regions, representing about 20% of the known trogid species diversity in the family. Phylogenetic analyses performed included parsimony and Bayesian inference. We deduce their historical biogeography by using trogid fossils as calibration points for divergence estimates. Our analyses resolved relationships between and within genera and subgenera that are largely congruent with existing phylogeny hypotheses based on morphological data. We recovered four well‐supported radiations: Polynoncus, Omorgus, Holarctic Trox and African Phoberus MacLeay. On the basis of this study, it is proposed that taxonomic changes to the generic classification of the family be made. The subgenera Trox and Phoberus should be elevated to genera to include the Holarctic and all the Afrotropical species, respectively, and Afromorgus returned to subgeneric rank. Estimates of divergence time are consistent with a Pangaean origin of the family in the Early Jurassic. The subsequent diversification of the major lineages is largely attributed to the break‐up of Pangaea and Gondwana in the Middle Jurassic and early Late Cretaceous, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Strümpher, Werner P , Sole, Catherine L , Villet, Martin H , Scholtz, Clarke H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442253 , vital:73970 , https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12074
- Description: Trogidae constitute a monophyletic and biologically unique family within Scarabaeoidea, being the only keratinophagous group in the superfamily. Traditionally, the family has been divided into three distinctive genera, Polynoncus Burmeister, Omorgus Erichson and Trox Fabricius. Although the taxonomy of the group is relatively well studied, changes to the existing classification have recently been proposed and the family as currently constituted has not been subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Here we present a molecular phylogeny for this cosmopolitan family based on three partially sequenced gene regions: 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA (domain 2). Included in the analyses are representatives belonging to four of the five extant genera (and three of the four subgenera) from all major zoogeographic regions, representing about 20% of the known trogid species diversity in the family. Phylogenetic analyses performed included parsimony and Bayesian inference. We deduce their historical biogeography by using trogid fossils as calibration points for divergence estimates. Our analyses resolved relationships between and within genera and subgenera that are largely congruent with existing phylogeny hypotheses based on morphological data. We recovered four well‐supported radiations: Polynoncus, Omorgus, Holarctic Trox and African Phoberus MacLeay. On the basis of this study, it is proposed that taxonomic changes to the generic classification of the family be made. The subgenera Trox and Phoberus should be elevated to genera to include the Holarctic and all the Afrotropical species, respectively, and Afromorgus returned to subgeneric rank. Estimates of divergence time are consistent with a Pangaean origin of the family in the Early Jurassic. The subsequent diversification of the major lineages is largely attributed to the break‐up of Pangaea and Gondwana in the Middle Jurassic and early Late Cretaceous, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Polyamide nanofiber membranes functionalized with zinc phthalocyanines
- Goethals, Annelies, Mugadza, Tawanda, Arslanoglu, Yasin, Zugle, Ruphino, Antunes, Edith M, Van Hulle, Stijn W, Nyokong, Tebello, De Clerck, Karen
- Authors: Goethals, Annelies , Mugadza, Tawanda , Arslanoglu, Yasin , Zugle, Ruphino , Antunes, Edith M , Van Hulle, Stijn W , Nyokong, Tebello , De Clerck, Karen
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241505 , vital:50945 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/app.40486"
- Description: Electrospinning is an efficient method for the production of polyamide nanofiber membranes that are suitable for water filtration. Previous studies have shown that nanofiber membranes have high clean water permeability. The pathogen removal efficiency can be improved by functionalization with (organic) biocides. However, these membranes, like other membranes, are vulnerable to fouling which reduces the filtration efficiency. Therefore the present article investigates the potential of zinc phthalocyanines, which can produce singlet oxygen in the presence of visible light, as a functionalizing agent. The polyamide nanofiber membranes were functionalized with phthalocyanines using both a pre-functionalizing and post-functionalizing method. Only the post-functionalization method shows to result in nanofiber membranes capable of producing singlet oxygen. After 30 min 45% of 1,2-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF), used as an oxygen quencher, was removed by reaction with singlet oxygen. This resulted in a removal rate of 0.33 mol DBPF mol−1Zn min−1. During short term leaching tests, phthalocyanines could not be detected.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Goethals, Annelies , Mugadza, Tawanda , Arslanoglu, Yasin , Zugle, Ruphino , Antunes, Edith M , Van Hulle, Stijn W , Nyokong, Tebello , De Clerck, Karen
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241505 , vital:50945 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/app.40486"
- Description: Electrospinning is an efficient method for the production of polyamide nanofiber membranes that are suitable for water filtration. Previous studies have shown that nanofiber membranes have high clean water permeability. The pathogen removal efficiency can be improved by functionalization with (organic) biocides. However, these membranes, like other membranes, are vulnerable to fouling which reduces the filtration efficiency. Therefore the present article investigates the potential of zinc phthalocyanines, which can produce singlet oxygen in the presence of visible light, as a functionalizing agent. The polyamide nanofiber membranes were functionalized with phthalocyanines using both a pre-functionalizing and post-functionalizing method. Only the post-functionalization method shows to result in nanofiber membranes capable of producing singlet oxygen. After 30 min 45% of 1,2-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF), used as an oxygen quencher, was removed by reaction with singlet oxygen. This resulted in a removal rate of 0.33 mol DBPF mol−1Zn min−1. During short term leaching tests, phthalocyanines could not be detected.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Positioning non-timber forest products on the development agenda
- Shackleton, Charlie M, Pandey, Ashok K
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Pandey, Ashok K
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180992 , vital:43679 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2013.07.004"
- Description: Non-timber forests products (NTFPs) provide multiple livelihood benefits to local communities and regional and national economies. And yet this knowledge is rarely drawn upon in debates around and design of poverty alleviation or land use policies, strategies and projects. Unless the accumulating wealth of empirical evidence can be translated into policies and approaches at higher levels, and integrated into poverty alleviation programmes, it will have little impact on local and national poverty profiles. In this paper we propose and briefly discuss eight steps to facilitate integration of NTFPs into the development agenda, for the benefit of local communities. These include: (1) proper inventory of NTFP stocks, (2) research on NTFP ecology and sustainable harvest levels, (3) introduction of extension services for NTFPs, (4) inclusion of NTFPs in land management and trade-off decisions, (5) integration of NTFPs into sectoral policies, (6) ensuring NTFP commercialisation is not at the expense of local livelihood needs, (7) promoting security of access and use, and (8) examination of local contextual drivers of unsustainable use. Each is presented along with examples or proposals towards implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Pandey, Ashok K
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180992 , vital:43679 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2013.07.004"
- Description: Non-timber forests products (NTFPs) provide multiple livelihood benefits to local communities and regional and national economies. And yet this knowledge is rarely drawn upon in debates around and design of poverty alleviation or land use policies, strategies and projects. Unless the accumulating wealth of empirical evidence can be translated into policies and approaches at higher levels, and integrated into poverty alleviation programmes, it will have little impact on local and national poverty profiles. In this paper we propose and briefly discuss eight steps to facilitate integration of NTFPs into the development agenda, for the benefit of local communities. These include: (1) proper inventory of NTFP stocks, (2) research on NTFP ecology and sustainable harvest levels, (3) introduction of extension services for NTFPs, (4) inclusion of NTFPs in land management and trade-off decisions, (5) integration of NTFPs into sectoral policies, (6) ensuring NTFP commercialisation is not at the expense of local livelihood needs, (7) promoting security of access and use, and (8) examination of local contextual drivers of unsustainable use. Each is presented along with examples or proposals towards implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Predicting the geographic distribution of Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina (Diptera Calliphoridae) in South Africa
- Williams, Kirstin A, Richards, Cameron S, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Richards, Cameron S , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440681 , vital:73803 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC158017
- Description: Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae: Luciliinae) have medical, veterinary and forensic importance. Knowing their distribution in South Africa would allow more effective management and utilisation of these flies. Their predicted geographic distributions in South Africa were modelled using maximum entropy analysis of selected climatic variables. The most important environmental variables in modelling the distributions were the magnitude of monthly rainfall and the magnitude of the monthly maximum temperature for L. sericata and the seasonal variation in monthly mean humidity and magnitude of monthly rainfall for L. cuprina. A clear geographical bias was shown in museum records and supports the need for focused surveys. There was no correlation between the predicted distribution of L. cuprina and sheep farming in South Africa, nor between the predicted distribution of L. sericata and human population density. Although their patterns of occurrence differed, both species are widely distributed in South Africa and therefore one cannot identify these flies by locality alone - morphological or molecular identification is necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Richards, Cameron S , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440681 , vital:73803 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC158017
- Description: Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae: Luciliinae) have medical, veterinary and forensic importance. Knowing their distribution in South Africa would allow more effective management and utilisation of these flies. Their predicted geographic distributions in South Africa were modelled using maximum entropy analysis of selected climatic variables. The most important environmental variables in modelling the distributions were the magnitude of monthly rainfall and the magnitude of the monthly maximum temperature for L. sericata and the seasonal variation in monthly mean humidity and magnitude of monthly rainfall for L. cuprina. A clear geographical bias was shown in museum records and supports the need for focused surveys. There was no correlation between the predicted distribution of L. cuprina and sheep farming in South Africa, nor between the predicted distribution of L. sericata and human population density. Although their patterns of occurrence differed, both species are widely distributed in South Africa and therefore one cannot identify these flies by locality alone - morphological or molecular identification is necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Pregnancy among young women in South Africa
- Macleod, Catriona I, Tracey, Tiffany
- Authors: Macleod, Catriona I , Tracey, Tiffany
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/434371 , vital:73052 , ISBN 978-1-4899-8025-0 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8026-7
- Description: In 1994, South Africa witnessed its first democratic elections after centuries of colonial and then apartheid rule. As time passes since that euphoric moment in 1994, the difficulties of transformation have become evident. In terms of sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS is acknowledged as one of the most significant challenges, with South Africa having one of the highest infection rates globally. Pregnancy among teenage women is receiving increasing attention as well. For example, public concern has been expressed that the recently introduced Child Support Grant (CSG) acts as a ‘perverse incentive’ for young women to bear children. This emotional claim was refuted by separately commissioned reviews of research on girls who received the grant. National statistics paint an interesting picture that negates the popular opinion in South Africa that rates of teenage pregnancy and childbearing are escalating. The 1998, the South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS) indicated that 35 % of women had had a child by the age of 19 years, while in the 2003 SADHS survey, this had decreased to 27 %. The rights-based approach adopted by the South African government to sexual and reproductive health enshrines a young woman’s right to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, to plan a pregnancy with her partner should they wish, to make an independent decision concerning the outcome of a pregnancy, to terminate that pregnancy safely should she wish, and to access non-discriminatory prenatal and postnatal care should she take the pregnancy to term. While there are still many obstacles and challenges associated with the issues of ‘adolescent pregnancy,’ it is important to remember the success represented by, and that arises from, this rights-based legislation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Macleod, Catriona I , Tracey, Tiffany
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/434371 , vital:73052 , ISBN 978-1-4899-8025-0 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8026-7
- Description: In 1994, South Africa witnessed its first democratic elections after centuries of colonial and then apartheid rule. As time passes since that euphoric moment in 1994, the difficulties of transformation have become evident. In terms of sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS is acknowledged as one of the most significant challenges, with South Africa having one of the highest infection rates globally. Pregnancy among teenage women is receiving increasing attention as well. For example, public concern has been expressed that the recently introduced Child Support Grant (CSG) acts as a ‘perverse incentive’ for young women to bear children. This emotional claim was refuted by separately commissioned reviews of research on girls who received the grant. National statistics paint an interesting picture that negates the popular opinion in South Africa that rates of teenage pregnancy and childbearing are escalating. The 1998, the South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS) indicated that 35 % of women had had a child by the age of 19 years, while in the 2003 SADHS survey, this had decreased to 27 %. The rights-based approach adopted by the South African government to sexual and reproductive health enshrines a young woman’s right to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, to plan a pregnancy with her partner should they wish, to make an independent decision concerning the outcome of a pregnancy, to terminate that pregnancy safely should she wish, and to access non-discriminatory prenatal and postnatal care should she take the pregnancy to term. While there are still many obstacles and challenges associated with the issues of ‘adolescent pregnancy,’ it is important to remember the success represented by, and that arises from, this rights-based legislation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Real-time monitoring of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation using a commercially available electric cell-substrate impedance sensor system
- Kramer, Adam H, Joos-Vandewalle, Julia, Edkins, Adrienne L, Frost, Carminita L, Prinsloo, Earl
- Authors: Kramer, Adam H , Joos-Vandewalle, Julia , Edkins, Adrienne L , Frost, Carminita L , Prinsloo, Earl
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431171 , vital:72751 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.12.123"
- Description: Real-time analysis offers multiple benefits over traditional end point assays. Here, we present a method of monitoring the optimisation of the growth and differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes using the commercially available ACEA xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analyser Single Plate (RTCA SP) system. Our findings indicate that the ACEA xCELLigence RTCA SP can reproducibly monitor the primary morphological changes in pre- and post-confluent 3T3-L1 fibroblasts induced to differentiate using insulin, dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and rosiglitazone; and may be a viable primary method of screening compounds for adipogenic factors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Kramer, Adam H , Joos-Vandewalle, Julia , Edkins, Adrienne L , Frost, Carminita L , Prinsloo, Earl
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431171 , vital:72751 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.12.123"
- Description: Real-time analysis offers multiple benefits over traditional end point assays. Here, we present a method of monitoring the optimisation of the growth and differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes using the commercially available ACEA xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analyser Single Plate (RTCA SP) system. Our findings indicate that the ACEA xCELLigence RTCA SP can reproducibly monitor the primary morphological changes in pre- and post-confluent 3T3-L1 fibroblasts induced to differentiate using insulin, dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and rosiglitazone; and may be a viable primary method of screening compounds for adipogenic factors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Relationship between soil alteration index three (AI3), soil organic matter and tree performance in a 'Cripps Pink/'M7 apple orchard
- Meyer, André H, Wooldridge, John, Dames, Joanna F
- Authors: Meyer, André H , Wooldridge, John , Dames, Joanna F
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/444038 , vital:74180 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC157392
- Description: Alteration index three (AI3), which calculates the balances between three microbially-secreted enzymes, potentially enables differences between soils due to contrasting management practices to be quantified in relative terms. The ability of AI3 to distinguish between apple orchard soils under conventional and organic production protocols, and to reflect tree performance, were tested in a maturing 'Cripps Pink'/M7 apple orchard. Activities of β-glucosidase, phosphatase and urease were determined colourimetrically in extracts of tree-row top-soils (0-15 cm) taken during September and January over five consecutive seasons. Soil organic matter content was determined by dichromate oxidation. Stem circumference and yield were measured manually. AI3 correlated significantly (p = 0.05) with soil organic matter, yield and yield efficiency. AI3 may thus be a useful indicator of relative apple tree performance under organic and conventional soil surface management practices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Meyer, André H , Wooldridge, John , Dames, Joanna F
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/444038 , vital:74180 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC157392
- Description: Alteration index three (AI3), which calculates the balances between three microbially-secreted enzymes, potentially enables differences between soils due to contrasting management practices to be quantified in relative terms. The ability of AI3 to distinguish between apple orchard soils under conventional and organic production protocols, and to reflect tree performance, were tested in a maturing 'Cripps Pink'/M7 apple orchard. Activities of β-glucosidase, phosphatase and urease were determined colourimetrically in extracts of tree-row top-soils (0-15 cm) taken during September and January over five consecutive seasons. Soil organic matter content was determined by dichromate oxidation. Stem circumference and yield were measured manually. AI3 correlated significantly (p = 0.05) with soil organic matter, yield and yield efficiency. AI3 may thus be a useful indicator of relative apple tree performance under organic and conventional soil surface management practices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Selective modulation of plasmodial Hsp70s by small molecules with antimalarial activity
- Cockburn, Ingrid, Boshoff, Aileen, Pesce, Eva-Rachele, Blatch, Gregory L
- Authors: Cockburn, Ingrid , Boshoff, Aileen , Pesce, Eva-Rachele , Blatch, Gregory L
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431192 , vital:72752 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1515/hsz-2014-0138"
- Description: Plasmodial heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) chaperones represent a promising new class of antimalarial drug targets because of the important roles they play in the survival and pathogenesis of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. This study assessed a set of small molecules (lapachol, bromo-β-lapachona and malonganenones A, B and C) as potential modulators of two biologically important plasmodial Hsp70s, the parasite-resident PfHsp70-1 and the exported PfHsp70-x. Compounds of interest were assessed for modulatory effects on the steady-state basal and heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40)-stimulated ATPase activities of PfHsp70-1, PfHsp70-x and human Hsp70, as well as on the protein aggregation suppression activity of PfHsp70-x. The antimalarial marine alkaloid malonganenone A was of particular interest, as it was found to have limited cytotoxicity to mammalian cell lines and exhibited the desired properties of an effective plasmodial Hsp70 modulator. This compound was found to inhibit plasmodial and not human Hsp70 ATPase activity (Hsp40-stimulated), and hindered the aggregation suppression activity of PfHsp70-x. Furthermore, malonganenone A was shown to disrupt the interaction between PfHsp70-x and Hsp40. This is the first report to show that PfHsp70-x has chaperone activity, is stimulated by Hsp40 and can be specifically modulated by small molecule compounds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Cockburn, Ingrid , Boshoff, Aileen , Pesce, Eva-Rachele , Blatch, Gregory L
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431192 , vital:72752 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1515/hsz-2014-0138"
- Description: Plasmodial heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) chaperones represent a promising new class of antimalarial drug targets because of the important roles they play in the survival and pathogenesis of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. This study assessed a set of small molecules (lapachol, bromo-β-lapachona and malonganenones A, B and C) as potential modulators of two biologically important plasmodial Hsp70s, the parasite-resident PfHsp70-1 and the exported PfHsp70-x. Compounds of interest were assessed for modulatory effects on the steady-state basal and heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40)-stimulated ATPase activities of PfHsp70-1, PfHsp70-x and human Hsp70, as well as on the protein aggregation suppression activity of PfHsp70-x. The antimalarial marine alkaloid malonganenone A was of particular interest, as it was found to have limited cytotoxicity to mammalian cell lines and exhibited the desired properties of an effective plasmodial Hsp70 modulator. This compound was found to inhibit plasmodial and not human Hsp70 ATPase activity (Hsp40-stimulated), and hindered the aggregation suppression activity of PfHsp70-x. Furthermore, malonganenone A was shown to disrupt the interaction between PfHsp70-x and Hsp40. This is the first report to show that PfHsp70-x has chaperone activity, is stimulated by Hsp40 and can be specifically modulated by small molecule compounds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Spectral properties and photophysical behaviour of water soluble cationic Mg (II) and Al (III) phthalocyanines
- Idowu, Mopelola A, Arslanoğlu, Yasin, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Idowu, Mopelola A , Arslanoğlu, Yasin , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241549 , vital:50949 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.2478/s11532-013-0388-z"
- Description: Peripherally and non-peripherally tetrasubstituted-[(N-methyl-2-pyridylthio)]phthalocyaninato magnesium (II) (5 and 6) and chloro aluminium (III) (7 and 8) tetraiodide have been synthesized and characterized. The photophysical properties of the complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and aqueous medium in the presence and absence of cremophore EL have been studied. These complexes show high solubility in aqueous medium though they were aggregated. The triplet state quantum yields (FT) and the triplet lifetimes (tT) were found to be higher in DMSO with ΦT ranging from 0.32 to 0.51, while tT ranged from 282 to 622 ms in DMSO, compared to aqueous medium (pH 7.4 buffer) where ΦT ranged from 0.15 to 0.19 and tT from 26 to 35 ms. Addition of cremophore EL in aqueous solution resulted in partial disaggregation and increased photoactivity. The fluorescence lifetimes of the complexes showed strong dependence on their immediate environment. The ionic magnesium(II) and aluminium(III) phthalocyanines strongly bind to bovine serum albumin (BSA).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Idowu, Mopelola A , Arslanoğlu, Yasin , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241549 , vital:50949 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.2478/s11532-013-0388-z"
- Description: Peripherally and non-peripherally tetrasubstituted-[(N-methyl-2-pyridylthio)]phthalocyaninato magnesium (II) (5 and 6) and chloro aluminium (III) (7 and 8) tetraiodide have been synthesized and characterized. The photophysical properties of the complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and aqueous medium in the presence and absence of cremophore EL have been studied. These complexes show high solubility in aqueous medium though they were aggregated. The triplet state quantum yields (FT) and the triplet lifetimes (tT) were found to be higher in DMSO with ΦT ranging from 0.32 to 0.51, while tT ranged from 282 to 622 ms in DMSO, compared to aqueous medium (pH 7.4 buffer) where ΦT ranged from 0.15 to 0.19 and tT from 26 to 35 ms. Addition of cremophore EL in aqueous solution resulted in partial disaggregation and increased photoactivity. The fluorescence lifetimes of the complexes showed strong dependence on their immediate environment. The ionic magnesium(II) and aluminium(III) phthalocyanines strongly bind to bovine serum albumin (BSA).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Successful identification of the final instar nymph of Quintilia carinata (Thunberg)(Hemiptera: Cicadidae) by DNA extraction from the exuvium
- Bouwer, Nicolette, Midgley, John M, Timm, Alicia E, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Bouwer, Nicolette , Midgley, John M , Timm, Alicia E , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442347 , vital:73977 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2013.836759
- Description: Despite being taxonomically and phylogenetically informative, the morphology of the immature stages of cicadas has received comparatively superficial attention. One reason for this is the difficulty of positively identifying immature stages, particularly as these stages are fossorial. We present a method for identifying cicada exuviae using DNA sequence data and describe a set of characters and character states for the final instar nymph of Quintilia carinata (Thunberg). The identification of immature stages using molecular methods will increase our knowledge of African cicadas, allowing for the initiation of future phylogenetic and ecological comparisons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Bouwer, Nicolette , Midgley, John M , Timm, Alicia E , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442347 , vital:73977 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2013.836759
- Description: Despite being taxonomically and phylogenetically informative, the morphology of the immature stages of cicadas has received comparatively superficial attention. One reason for this is the difficulty of positively identifying immature stages, particularly as these stages are fossorial. We present a method for identifying cicada exuviae using DNA sequence data and describe a set of characters and character states for the final instar nymph of Quintilia carinata (Thunberg). The identification of immature stages using molecular methods will increase our knowledge of African cicadas, allowing for the initiation of future phylogenetic and ecological comparisons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014