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Investigation of photophysicochemical properties of zinc phthalocyanines conjugated to metallic nanoparticles

  • Authors: Dube, Edith , Nwaji, Njemuwa , Oluwole, David O , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/233425 , vital:50089 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2017.09.020"
  • Description: The syntheses of zinc(II) tetra–[3–(4–phenoxy) (propanoic acid) phthalocyanine] (2) and zinc(II) mono–[3–(4–phenoxy) (propanoic acid) phthalocyanine (3) are reported in this work. Compounds 2 and 3 were covalently linked to glutathione capped silver (AgNPs–GSH), gold (AuNPs–GSH) and silver-gold alloy (Ag3Au1NPs–GSH) nanoparticles (NPs) via an amide bond formation to afford the conjugates: 2–AgNPs–GSH, 3–AgNPs–GSH, 2–AuNPs–GSH, 3–AuNPs–GSH, 2-Ag3Au1NPs–GSH and 3-Ag3Au1NPs–GSH. The photophysicochemical behaviours of the compounds and their conjugates with NPs were assessed in solution. The conjugates afforded a decrease in fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes with improved triplet quantum yields in comparison to the compounds. Accordingly, the AgNPs and AuNPs conjugates with the compounds afforded high singlet quantum yields. On the contrary, the conjugates of the alloy afforded decreased singlet quantum yields probably due to the screening effect. The compounds and their conjugates with NPs could serve as a viable and efficacious photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Laser induced photodegradation of Orange G using phthalocyanine–cobalt ferrite magnetic nanoparticle conjugates electrospun in polystyrene nanofibers

  • Authors: Mapukata, Sivuyisiwe , Chindeka, Francis , Sekhosana, Kutloano E , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188617 , vital:44769 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcat.2017.06.028"
  • Description: Conjugates of zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnTCPPc) and zinc tetraaminophenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnTAPPc) with amine and carboxyl functionalised cobalt ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (CoFe2O4 MNPs), respectively were electrospun into polystyrene (PS) fibers. The resulting composites; ZnTCPPc-CoFe2O4/PS and ZnTAPPc-CoFe2O4/PS were compared based on their photophysical properties and photocatalytic efficiencies in degrading Orange G (OG) using laser as the photoexcitation source. The photocatalytic efficiencies of ZnTCPPc-CoFe2O4/PS and ZnTAPPc-CoFe2O4/PS were compared based on them having different lengths in the linkage chains between the Pcs and CoFe2O4 MNPs and different sizes. Covalent linkage of the Pcs to the CoFe2O4 MNPs enhanced the singlet oxygen and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of the Pcs and CoFe2O4, respectively hence ZnTCPPc-CoFe2O4/PS and ZnTAPPc-CoFe2O4/PS were found to be more effective photocatalysts than their respective Pcs and CoFe2O4 MNPs. Moreover, the kinetic analyses of the photodecomposition of OG showed that the degradation was in agreement with both pseudo-first order kinetics and followed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Nanocomposites of sulphur-nitrogen co-doped graphene oxide nanosheets and cobalt mono carboxyphenoxy phthalocyanines for facile electrocatalysis

  • Authors: Shumba, Munyaradzi , Centane, Sixolile , Chindeka, Francis , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/239665 , vital:50753 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2017.03.006"
  • Description: Nanocomposites consisting of cobalt mono carboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine (CoMCPhPc) either covalently linked to graphene oxide nanosheets (GONS), sulphur doped graphene oxide nanosheets (SDGONS), nitrogen doped graphene oxide nanosheets (NDGONS) or sulphur/nitrogen co-doped graphene oxide nanosheets (SNDGONS) or sequentially added were used to modify glassy carbon electrode. The modified electrodes were characterised using several techniques: voltammetry, X-ray photon spectroscopy and scanning electron spectroscopy before testing their activity on the detection of hydrogen peroxide at pH 7. The presence of SNDGONS had a significant improvement on the currents as compared to CoMCPhPc modification alone in both sequentially added or covalently linked to MPcs. CoMCPhPc-SNDGONS(seq)-GCE and CoMCPhPc-SDGONS(linked)-GCE resulted in impressive limits of detection and catalytic rate constant values of 1.58 nM and 5.44 nM, 3.07 × 105 M−1 s−1 and 3.01 × 103 M−1 s−1 respectively. Gibbs energy value was determined to be −21.22 kJ mol−1 for CoMCPhPc-SNDGONS(linked)-GCE indicative of a facile spontaneous electroreduction reaction on the surface of this electrode.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Nanosecond optical nonlinearities in low symmetry phthalocyanine nanoconjugates studied using the Z-scan technique

  • Authors: Nwaji, Njemuwa , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188172 , vital:44729 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2017.08.053"
  • Description: In this study, the photophysical, and nonlinear optical limiting properties of low symmetry tris[(4-benzo[d] thiazol-2-ylphenoxy)-2-phenoxyl acetic acid phthalocyaninato] zinc (II) (3) conjugated to metallic nanoparticles have been investigated using open aperture Z-scan techniques at 532 nm. The nonlinear optical response demonstrated that the studied complex and the nanoconjugates exhibits higher excited state absorption cross-section resulting from S1 and T1 compared to ground state absorption. Enhanced optical limiting performance was observed when the complex was conjugated to nanoparticles with 3SA-AuNPs showing the best optical limiting threshold of 0.39 J/cm2.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Nonlinear optical dynamics of benzothiazole derivatized phthalocyanines in solution, thin films and when conjugated to nanoparticles

  • Authors: Nwaji, Njemuwa , Jones, Benjamin , Mack, John , Oluwole, David O , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190426 , vital:44993 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2017.05.042"
  • Description: Benzothiazole phthalocynines complexes: tetrakis[(benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylphenoxy)phthalocyaninato] indium(III) chloride (1) and tetrakis[(benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylthio)phthalocyaninato] indium(III) chloride (2) were synthesisized and their nanosecond nonlinear optical behaviours in solution, solid state and when conjugated to metallic nanoparticles were examined and compared to those of the corresponding ZnPc and GaPc which are designated as: tetrakis[(4-benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylphenoxy)phthalocyaninato] zinc(II) (3), tetrakis[(4-benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylphenoxy)phthalocyaninato] gallium(III) chloride (4), tetrakis[(4-benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylthio)phthalocyaninato] zinc(II) (5) and tetrakis[(4-benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylthio)phthalocyaninato] gallium(III) chloride (6). Trends in the electronic structures were identified through a comparison of the UV–vis absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy of the complexes and calculated spectra predicted by time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). Of all the complexes and nanoconjugates, complex 2 (containing sulphur linkages and In as a central metal) gave the best optical limiting behaviour.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Photophysical behavior and photodynamic therapy activity of conjugates of zinc monocarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine with human serum albumin and chitosan

  • Authors: Oluwole, David O , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188497 , vital:44759 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2016.09.032"
  • Description: Zincmonocarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnMCPPc) was linked to human serum albumin (HSA) and chitosan via amide bond formation. The photophysical behavior and photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity (against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7 cells) of ZnMCPPc alone and its conjugates were investigated. The conjugates showed improved fluorescence, triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields when compared to ZnMCPPc alone. The in vitro dark cytotoxicity and PDT studies were carried out at a dose of 3.6 μg/mL to 57.1 μg/mL. The in vitro dark cytotoxicity studies of ZnMCPPc showed cell viability more than 50% at 28.6 μg/mL and 57.1 μg/mL, while the conjugates showed > 50% in all their tested concentrations (3.6 to 57.1) μg/mL. Thus, conjugation of ZnMCPPc to HSA and chitosan improves its dark cytotoxicity, an important criteria for molecules meant for photodynamic therapy. Complex 1 showed the most efficacious PDT activity with cell viability more than 50% at concentration range of (14.3 to 57.1) μg/mL in comparison to the conjugates which only showed more than 50% cell viability at 28.6 μg/mL and 57.1 μg/mL for 1-HSA and 57.1 μg/mL for 1-Chitosan.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Photophysical properties of a series of alloyed and non-alloyed water-soluble l-cysteine-capped core quantum dots

  • Authors: Adegoke, Oluwasesan , Nyokong, Tebello , Forbes, Patricia B
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188486 , vital:44758 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.10.276"
  • Description: Photophysical properties of quantum dots (QDs) such as their photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY), exciton lifetime and PL stability are important parameters used to unravel their chemical and physical characteristics. In this work, we have comparatively investigated the photophysical properties of a series of L-cysteine-capped non-alloyed (CdTe and CdSe) and alloyed (CdZnTe, CdSeS, CdSeTe and CdSeTeS) core QDs. Each of the QDs varied in their size and PL emission wavelength. We observe no physical relationship between the PL QY of the QDs and their PL stability. Based on the PL stability assessment, CdTe QDs with a high PL QY value of 88% exhibited poor PL stability while moderate PL stability was observed for CdZnTe (QY = 78%); CdSe (QY = 3%); and CdSeTe QDs (QY = ∼3%). Alloyed CdSeS (QY = ∼69%) and CdSeTeS (QY = 23%) QDs exhibited good PL stability and can serve as potential fluorophores for a wide range of chemical and biological applications. Generally, it is proposed that the structural nature of the QDs played a significant role in their overall photophysical properties. The information provided in this work will assist in the selection of core QDs suitable for different applications.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Photophysical properties of GaCl 5, 10, 15, 20-tetra (1-pyrenyl) porphyrinato incorporated into Pluronic F127 micelle

  • Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Britton, Jonathan , Amuhaya, Edith K , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/233101 , vital:50056 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2016.12.043"
  • Description: GaCl 5,10,15,20-Tetra(1-pyrenyl)porphyrin (GaClTPyP) was successfully synthesised and encapsulated into Pluronic F127. The unmetallated 5,10,15,20-tetra(1-pyrenyl)porphyrin (H2TPyP) precursor was also encapsulated into Pluronic F127. The fluorescence quantum yield for GaClTPyP at 0.045 was lower than that of H2TPyP at 0.13 due to the heavy atom effect of Ga in the former which encourages intersystem crossing to the triplet state, lowering the fluorescence. Fluorescence quantum yield values increased when GaClTPyP or H2TPyP were encapsulated in Pluronic F127. GaClTPyP/Pluronic F127 showed higher values of the binding constant (Kb) as well as Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv) when compared to H2ClTPyP/Pluronic F127. It was determined from fluorescence quenching studies for GaClTPyP was located more in the inner core (hydrophobic) of Pluronic F127 and H2TPyP more on the outer region. Single oxygen quantum yields (Ф△) were determined to be 0.32 and 0.53 for GaClTPyP and GaClTPyP/Pluronic F127 respectively, an increase for the latter compared to the former.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Photophysical studies of meso-tetrakis (4-nitrophenyl) and meso-tetrakis (4-sulfophenyl) gallium porphyrins loaded into Pluronic F127 polymeric micelles

  • Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Ngoy, Bokolombe P , Mafukidze, Donovan M , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/233132 , vital:50060 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2017.08.033"
  • Description: 5,10,15,20-Tetra(4-nitrophenyl) porphyrinato gallium chloride (ClGaTNPP) and 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-sulfophenyl) porphyrinato gallium chloride (ClGaTSPP) and their metal free derivatives were successfully synthesised and were added to Pluronic F127 polymeric micelles to form ClGaTNPP-F127 (or H2TNPP-F127) and ClGaTSPP-F127 (or H2TSPP-F127), respectively. The fluorescence and singlet oxygen generating behaviour of the porphyrins were investigated following incorporation. The fluorescence lifetimes were short-lived upon incorporation into the polymer, compared to the porphyrin alone; suggesting the quenching of the lifetimes of the porphyrin by the polymers. Singlet oxygen quantum yields were determined to be 0.55 and 0.59 for ClGaTSPP and ClGaTSPP-F127, respectively. Thus there is an increase in singlet oxygen quantum yields in the presence of Pluronic F127 compared to the porphyrin alone. ClGaTSPP-F127 (or H2TSPP-F127) showed higher values of the binding constant (Kb) as well as high values of the Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv) compared to ClGaTNPP-F127 (or H2TNPP-F127).
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Photophysicochemical behaviour of anionic indium phthalocyanine when grafted onto AgxAuy and porous silica nanoparticles

  • Authors: Dube, Edith , Oluwole, David O , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188899 , vital:44796 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2017.05.071"
  • Description: This work reports on the synthesis of glutathione functionalised Ag3Au1 (Ag rich alloy, denoted as AgAu) and Ag1Au3 (Au rich alloy – denoted as AuAg) nano alloys as well as aminopropyl triethoxylsilane capped Ag1Au3 doped silica nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were covalently linked to indium(III) chloride 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)–tetra–(3–carboxyphenoxy)phthalocyanine (1) via amide bond to form 1–AgAuNPs–GSH and 1–AuAgNPs–GSH. The AgAuNPs were also doped into aminopropyl triethoxylsilane (APTES) silica NPs (SiNPs-APTES) followed by linkage to complex 1 to form 1–AgAu-SiNPs–APTES. The photophysicochemical behaviour of complex 1 and its nanoconjugates were investigated. Decrease in the fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes was observed in the conjugates in comparison to 1 alone. The singlet oxygen quantum yield for 1–AgAuNPs–GSH and 1–AuAgNPs–GSH decreased probably due to the screening effect caused by the NPs, while that of 1–AgAu-SiNPs–APTES increased in dimethylsulfoxide probably due to the permeability of the porous silica matrix to molecular oxygen.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Photophysicochemical behaviour of metallophthalocyanines when doped onto silica nanoparticles

  • Authors: Oluwole, David O , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188518 , vital:44761 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2016.08.053"
  • Description: Aluminum(III) chloride 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)–tetra–(4–tert–butylphenoxy)phthalocyanine (1), zinc(II) 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)–tetra–(4–tert–butylphenoxy)phthalocyanine (2), zinc(II) 1,8(11),15(18),22(25)–tetra–(4–tert–butylphenoxy) phthalocyanine (3) and zinc(II) 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)–tetra–(4–carboxylphenoxy) phthalocyanine (4) were doped onto silica nanoparticles (SiNPs). There were no significant changes in fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes of the metallophthalocyanines ( MPcs) when doped onto SiNPs. The triplet quantum yields of the MPcs alone range from 0.22 to 0.85 and in the presence of SiNPs the values range from 0.17 to 0.89. We observed a general decrease of triplet quantum yields of phthalocyanines in the conjugates except for 2 where there was an increase. The values were highly affected by aggregation. Complexes 1 and 3 were highly aggregated when doped onto SiNPs, while 2 and 4 did not show much aggregation.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Population size and development history determine street tree distribution and composition within and between Eastern Cape towns, South Africa

  • Authors: Gwedla, Nanamhla , Shackleton, Charlie M
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180468 , vital:43392 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.04.014"
  • Description: Street trees are a common feature of urban nature, providing ecological, economic and social benefits. These public functions are highly dependent on specific design principles, including the composition and diversity of tree species within the urban forest. Consequently, it is important to understand the patterns and correlates of street tree distribution and diversity to assess benefit flows. This requires sampling across and within towns. This paper reports on an assessment of the distribution, composition and diversity of street trees between and within multiple South African towns, and ascertains the correlations between tree density and composition with social contexts. Randomly selected streets were sampled in the affluent, township and low cost housing suburbs of ten Eastern Cape towns. Sixty-nine out of 300 sampled transects had street trees, with 888 trees enumerated, spanning 97 species. Alien tree species accounted for 71% of all the enumerated trees while indigenous trees species accounted for 12%. Tree density and composition were significantly lower in smaller towns and those marginalised during the previous racially-based political regime. Within towns, the poor areas had fewer street trees, with many streets having none. Collaboration and constant communication between the various government departments involved in suburb development is crucial to ensure a more rigorous incorporation of green infrastructure into the building and development plans of new housing developments.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

The effect of point of substitution and silver based nanoparticles on the photophysical and optical nonlinearity of indium carboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine

  • Authors: Oluwole, David O , Ngxeke, Sixolisile M , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188596 , vital:44768 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2017.07.032"
  • Description: Indium(III) chloride 1,8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetra-(3-carboxyphenoxy) phthalocyanine (1) and indium(III) chloride 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetra–(3-carboxyphenoxy) phthalocyanine (2) were covalently linked to glutathione capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs–GSH) and silver selenide/zinc sulfide (Ag2Se/ZnS–GSH) quantum dots via amide bond formation. The photophysical and nonlinear optical behaviour of the metallophthalocyanines and their conjugates with nanoparticles were investigated using the open aperture Z–scan technique. Complex 2 showed enhanced photophysical properties compared to 1. The conjugates revealed improved triplet state quantum yields (except for 1-AgNPs-GSH which afforded lower triplet state quantum yields in comparison to 1) and nonlinear optical activities in comparison to the Pc complexes. The synthesized complexes, nanoparticles and their conjugates could be potential nonlinear optical materials due to their good nonlinear optical activities.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

The photophysical studies of Pluronic F127/P123 micelle mixture system loaded with metal free and Zn 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis [4-(benzyloxy) phenyl] porphyrins

  • Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Ngoy, Bokolombe P , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188932 , vital:44799 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2017.02.018"
  • Description: Binary mixtures of Pluronics are studied as drug nanocarriers in this work. H2 and Zn 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(benzyloxy) phenyl] porphyrin were encapsulated onto binary micelle mixture of Pluronic F127/P123. The fluorescence and singlet oxygen generating behaviour of the porphyrins were investigated following incorporation. The fluorescence quantum yield for H2TBnOPP (ΦF = 0.034) was higher than that of ZnTBnOPP (ΦF = 0.023) and decreased when ZnTBnOPP or H2TBnOPP when in the presence of Pluronic F127/P123 binary mixtures. The kq values were 2.8 × 108 and 3.7 × 108 M−1 s−1, for H2TBnOPP + Pluronic F127/P123 and ZnTBnOPP + Pluronic F127/P123 in water, respectively. The binding constants (Kb) were 1.58 × 105 M−1 and 1.02 × 105 M−1 for ZnTBnOPP + Pluronic F127/P123 and H2TBnOPP + Pluronic F127/P123, respectively.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

The relevance of cross-scale connections and spatial interactions for ecosystem service delivery by protected areas: Insights from southern Africa

  • Authors: de Vos, Alta , Cumming, Graeme S , Roux, Dirk J
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/416438 , vital:71348 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.11.014"
  • Description: The ecosystem services (ES) concept can frame the value of protected areas (PAs) to society and identify management actions that bridge biodiversity conservation and human benefits. In this special issue on ES flows to and from southern African PAs we consider two themes: (1) water as a biophysical and social-ecological connector; and (2) cross-scale interactions and connections as influences on cultural ecosystem service (CES) provision. Freshwater flows have supporting, regulating, and cultural elements, leading to complexities in governance as well as place attachment, intellectual, and recreational services. Scale dependence in CES creates trade-offs that challenge the usefulness of the ES framework for PA management. Ecosystem service production can potentially create political support for PAs and helps to build connections and feedbacks that increase PA resilience. Papers in the feature highlight a need to understand trade-offs in optimising for biodiversity vs. particular bundles of ES; impacts of investment in built infrastructure on ES use; how managers facilitate ES; scale and heterogeneity as influences; the role of adaptive monitoring of PAs as social–ecological systems; and services and benefits from PAs that are not well-articulated in ES classifications. PA research can thus add nuance, depth and substance to broader thinking around CES.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Understanding spatial variation in the drivers of nature-based tourism and their influence on the sustainability of private land conservation

  • Authors: Baum, Julia , Cumming, Graeme S , de Vos, Alta
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/416481 , vital:71352 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.05.005"
  • Description: Protected areas connect socio-economic and ecological systems through their provision of ecosystem goods and services. Analysis of ecosystem services allows the expression of ecological benefits in economic terms. However, cultural services, such as recreation opportunities, have proved difficult to quantify. An important challenge for the analysis of cultural services is to understand the geography of service provision in relation to both human and ecological system elements. We used data on visitation rates and measures of context, content, connectivity, and location for 64 private land conservation areas (PLCAs) to better understand geographic influences on cultural service provision. Visitation to PLCAs was influenced by a combination of ecological and socio-economic drivers. Variance partitioning analysis showed that ecology explained the largest proportion of overall variation in visitation rates (26%), followed by location (22%). In tests using generalized linear mixed models, individual factors that significantly explained visitation rates included the number of mammal species, the number of Big 5-species (ecological variables), the number of facilities provided (infrastructure) and average accommodation charges (affordability). Our analysis has important implications for the economic sustainability of PLCAs and more generally for understanding the relevance of spatial variation for analyses of cultural services.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Antibacterial effects of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. and Thonn.) Müll. Arg extracts and compounds on gastrointestinal, skin, respiratory and urinary tract pathogens

  • Authors: Siwe-Noundou, Xavier , Krause, Rui W M , van Vuuren, Sandy , Tantoh Ndinteh, Derek , Olivier, D K
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/195418 , vital:45563 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.12.043"
  • Description: Ethnopharmacological relevance:The leaves, stems and roots ofAlchornea cordifolia(Schumach. andThonn.) Müll. Arg. are used as traditional medicine in many African countries for the management ofgastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tract infections as well as for the treatment of wounds.Aim of the study:To determine the in vitro antibacterial activity of the crude extracts of leaves and stemsofA. cordifoliaon gastrointestinal, skin, respiratory and urinary tract pathogens and to identify thecompounds in the extracts that may be responsible for this activity.Materials and methods:The antibacterial activities of crude extracts [hexane, chloroform (CHCl3), ethylacetate (EtOAc), ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH) and water (H2O)] as well as pure compounds isolatedfrom these extracts were evaluated by means of the micro-dilution assay against four Gram-positivebacteria, i.e.Bacillus cereusATCC 11778,Enterococcus faecalisATCC 29212, Staphylococcus aureusATCC25923 andS. saprophyticusATCC 15305,as well as four Gram-negative bacterial strains, i.e.EscherichiacoliATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniaeATCC 13883, Moraxella catarrhalisATCC 23246 andProteus mir-abilisATCC 43071. The isolation of the active constituents was undertaken by bio-autographic assays inconjunction with chromatographic techniques. The identification and characterisation of the isolatedcompounds were done using mass spectrometry (MS) and Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry(FTIR) as well as 1D- and 2D- nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses.Results:The leaves and stems ofA. cordifoliaexhibited varied antibacterial activity against all eight pa-thogens. Most of the MIC values ranged between 63 and 2000mg/ml. The highest activities for the crudeextracts (63mg/ml) were observed againstS. saprophyticus[stem (EtOAc, CHCl3and hexane), leaves(MeOH, EtOH, EtOAc and CHCl3)],E. coli[stem (MeOH and EtOH), leaves (MeOH, EtOH, EtOAc andCHCl3)],M. catarrhalis[leaves (EtOAc and CHCl3)],K. pneumoniae[stem (CHCl3), leaves (CHCl3)] andS.aureus[leaves (CHCl3)]. Seven constituents [stigmasterol (1), stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one (2), friedelin (3),friedelane-3-one-28-al (4), 3-O-acetyl-aleuritolic acid (5), 3-O-acetyl-erythrodiol (6) and methyl-3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate (methyl gallate) (7)] were isolated from the stem MeOH extract. All these com-pounds displayed some antibacterial activity against the eight pathogens with highest activity againstS.saprophyticus(2mg/ml). Furthermore, this is thefirst report of compounds1,2,3,4,6and7isolated fromA. cordifoliaand where a complete set of 2D-NMR data for fridelane-3-one-28-al (4) is presented.Conclusion:The study demonstrated that the antibacterial activities ofA. cordifoliaextracts may be dueto the presence of the seven isolated compounds, where compounds3–6showed the best activity. Theobserved activity against gastrointestinal, skin, respiratory and urinary tract pathogens supports thetraditional use for the treatment of such ailments.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Can local use assist in controlling invasive alien species in tropical forests?: The case of Lantana camara in southern India

  • Authors: Kannan, Ramesh , Shackleton, Charlie M , Krishnan, Smitha , Shaanker, Ramanan U
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180423 , vital:43387 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2016.06.016"
  • Description: Many invasive alien species (IAS) are used by local communities for a variety of subsistence and income generating purposes. This frequently poses a conflict of interest for their removal due to forest conservation and biodiversity concerns. However, if local use can simultaneously check or control specific IAS, the conflict can be avoided and both development and forest conservation perspectives accommodated in the short to medium term. We examine this for Lantana camara invasion in southern India through assessment of the demand for and impacts of harvesting on this globally problematic IAS. We interviewed local artisans regarding their knowledge and quantities of Lantana used, along with forest surveys to estimate Lantana densities and size classes in harvested and unharvested sites, and lastly we undertook controlled cutting in moist and dry deciduous forests in both the wet and dry seasons to examine rate of regrowth and mortality. Over the entire study area the abundance of Lantana far outweighed local demand, but at small scales around villages, density and size classes were significantly reduced through harvesting. The controlled cutting experiment showed marked seasonal differences, with the most severe cutting intensity resulting in significant mortality when Lantana plants were cut in the wet season, but with limited effect when cut in the dry season. We conclude that promoting local use of IAS may be a feasible approach in controlling them and thereby limiting their impacts in forests.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2016

Co-designing research on transgressive learning in times of climate change

  • Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Ali, Million B , Mphepho, Gibson , Chaves, Martha , Macintyre, Thomas , Pesanayi, Tichaona V , Wals, Arjen E , Mukute, Mutizwa , Kronlid, David O , Tran, Duc , Joon, Deepika , McGarry, Dylan K
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182472 , vital:43833 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2016.04.004"
  • Description: This paper reflects on the epistemological context for the co-design of a research programme on transformative, transgressive learning emerging at the nexus of climate change, water and food security, energy and social justice. It outlines a sequence of learning actions that we, as a group of collaborating partners in a Transformative Knowledge Network (TKN) undertook to co-design a research programme, firstly in situ in various case study contexts, and secondly together across case study contexts. Finally, it provides some reflections and learning points.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Collaborative learning of water conservation practices: cultivation and expansion of a learning network around rainwater harvesting demonstration sites in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Pesanayi, Tichaona V , Weaver, Kim N
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/392086 , vital:68720 , xlink:href="https://www.ajol.info/index.php/sajae/article/view/138570"
  • Description: Learning together in mediated voluntary networks can mobilise skills and innovations that help to facilitate learning and uptake of rainwater harvesting and conservation practices. It boosts extension capacity while at the same time growing farmer capabilities, tapping on the distributed cognition. These practices help to heal wicked problems of drought and global change challenges affecting marginalised farmers in South Africa. South Africa has water, nutrition and food security challenges, especially the Eastern Cape Province where there is a relatively high level of poverty. These challenges place heavy pressure on the agricultural sector as it is the main user of the allocated water in the country. In this paper, the learning of and agency for rainwater harvesting and conservation practices are explored as responses to these challenges. Despite existing cultural histories of such practices among the amaXhosa people, information on these practices is not readily available to small-scale rural farmers who thus struggle for the want of knowing. This research forms part of a Water Research Commission project, Amanzi for Food, whose intention is to mediate collaborative and co-engaged learning among networked farmers, extension workers, researchers and agricultural educators through course-mediated use of Water Research Commission rainwater harvesting and conservation materials.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2016
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