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.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Cobalt (II) porphyrazine catalysed reduction of nitrite
- Authors: Thamae, Mamothibe , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/293162 , vital:57061 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0728(99)00224-7"
- Description: Studies on the catalytic reduction of nitrite on carbon electrodes modified with Co(II) tetra-2,3-pyridinoporphyrazine (CoTppa, 1), N,N′,N′′,N′′′-tetramethyltetra-2,3-pyridinoporphyrazine ([CoTm-2,3-tppa]4+, 2) and Co(II) N,N′,N′′,N′′′-tetramethyltetra-3,4-pyridinoporphyrazine ([CoTm-3,4-tppa]4+, 3) are reported. There is a close correspondence between the proximity of the methyl groups to the porphyrazine ring and the catalytic activity of the porphyrazine complexes. Bulk electrolysis gave ammonia and hydroxylamine as some of the products. The catalytic activity of the cationic complex, 3, towards the detection of low concentrations of nitrite (less than 10−9 M) in water containing sodium sulfate, was compared with the activities of the anionic cobalt(II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine ([CoTSPc]4−, 4) and the mixed [CoIITm-3,4-tppa]4+·[CoTSPc]4− (5) complexes. Complex 5 showed the best catalytic activity of the three in that large currents were obtained for very low concentrations of nitrite.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
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
Collection of urban tree products by households in poorer residential areas of three South African towns
- Authors: Kaoma, Humphrey , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180980 , vital:43678 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2014.02.002"
- Description: The high rates of urban in-migration and poverty common in many developing country towns potentially increases the reliance of urban populations on the direct benefits provided by trees. Yet understanding of the extent of such use and the sources of these tree products is limited. Here we report on the extent of use of urban tree products by 450 households in the poorer areas of three towns along a rainfall gradient based on household questionnaires. We considered the proportion of households making use of each of several tree products and the collection or purchasing frequency which we disaggregated by source of the product, including trees in homesteads, urban spaces, edges of towns and via purchase from traders. Most households (91%) used firewood, which was most frequently collected from the urban fringe or purchased, although one-third at times also collected firewood from trees on their home plot. All households used fruits, most commonly sourced through purchase (98%), but nearly half of whom also supplemented by harvesting fruits from their home plot. Other products used included wood for building, fencing and utensils, herbal medicines, planting material and mulch. Collection of products from urban homestead trees was highest amongst households in the informal settlements and least in the more established townships. Residents of new low-cost housing areas made extensive use of urban tree products harvested in urban spaces because they had fewer homestead trees than residents of informal areas or townships. Overall, urban residents made use of a wide array of tangible products from trees which they sourced from a variety of places, including their homestead plot. This urges that planning agencies ensure that homestead plot sizes or other urban spaces that provide tree products are large enough to support the direct needs of poorer urban residents.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Combination of photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy and ciprofloxacin to combat S. aureus and E. coli resistant biofilms
- Authors: Openda, Yolande Ikala , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/360384 , vital:65084 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.103142"
- Description: Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) coupled with an antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (CIP), was investigated using two indium metallated cationic photosensitizers, a porphyrin (1) and a phthalocyanine (2). Applying PACT followed by the antibiotic treatment led to a remarkable reduction in the biofilm cell survival of two antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, S. aureus (Gram-positive) and E. coli (Gram-nenative). Treating both bacteria strains with PACT alone showed no significant activity at 32 µM with 15 min irradiation, while CIP alone exhibited a minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC) at 4 and 8 µg/mL on S. aureus and E. coli, respectively following 24 h incubation. The combined treatment resulted in the complete eradication of the matured biofilms with high log10 reduction values of 7.05 and 7.20 on S. aureus and E. coli, respectively, at low concentrations. It was found that 15 min PACT irradiation of 8 µM of complexes (1 and 2) combined with 2 µg/mL of CIP have a 100% reduction of the resistant S. aureus biofilms. Whereas the total killing of E. coli was obtained when combining 8 µM of complex 1 and 16 µM of complex 2 both combined with 4 µg/mL of CIP.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Comparative behavior of conjugates of tantalum phthalocyanines with gold nanoparticles or single walled carbon nanotubes towards bisphenol A electrocatalysis
- Authors: Chauke, Vongani P , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/247152 , vital:51551 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2011.06.019"
- Description: The characterization of tantalum phthalocyanine conjugates with gold nanoparticles and single wall carbon nanotubes as well as their electrocatalytic oxidation of bisphenol A is hereby presented. The formation of the conjugates was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope techniques. Single walled carbon nanotube conjugates of TaPc complexes showed the best catalysis as well as less passivation for bisphenol A detection and significant recovery of ∼98% compared to gold nanoparticle conjugates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Comparative efficiency of immobilized non-transition metal phthalocyanine photosensitizers for the visible light transformation of chlorophenols
- Authors: Agboola, Bolade , Ozoemena, Kenneth I , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/286043 , vital:56233 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2005.12.009"
- Description: Photolysis of aqueous solutions of chlorophenols (4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol) in the presence of immobilized non-transition metal phthalocyanine photosensitizers onto Amberlite® is presented. The photosensitizers studied are: Al (AlOCPc) and Zn (ZnOCPc) octacarboxyphthalocyanines; Al (AlPcS4) and Zn (ZnPcS4) tetrasulfophthalocyanines; sulfonated phthalocyanine complexes (containing mixtures of differently substituted derivatives) of Al (AlPcSmix), Zn (ZnPcSmix), Ge (GePcSmix), Si (SiPcSmix) and Sn (SnPcSmix). Photolysis of the chlorophenols resulted mainly in the formation of chlorobenzoquinone derivatives. The complexes showed order of activity towards the transformation of pentachlorophenol as follows: ZnOCPc > SiPcSmix > SnPcSmix > ZnPcSmix > GePcSmix > ZnPcS4 > AlPcSmix > AlOCPc > AlPcS4. The generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) by these immobilized MPc photosensitizers was found to play a major role in their photoactivities towards the transformation of these chlorophenols. Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) kinetic model studies showed that the ZnOCPc, GePcSmix and ZnPcSmix photocatalysis occurred on the catalysts surface. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Comparative electrocatalytic studies of nanocomposites of mixed and covalently linked multiwalled carbon nanotubes and 4-(4, 6-diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio) phthalocyaninato cobalt (II)
- Authors: Nyoni, Stephen , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/189285 , vital:44834 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2015.05.038"
- Description: Electrocatalytic behavior of 4-(4,6-diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio) phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) (CoPyPc) when mixed or covalently mixed to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is reported. Infra-red spectroscopy was used to confirm amide linkage of the covalently linked nanocomposite. Rotating disk electrode (RDE) and cyclic (CV) voltammetry studies were used for the electrochemical characterization of the prepared phthalocyanine and MWCNT nanocomposite. The electrocatalytic effects of the nanocomposites of the cobalt phthalocyanine derivative were then investigated towards L-cysteine oxidation using both RDE and CV experiments, and the electrocatalytic performance of the covalently linked cobalt phthalocyanine-MWCNT was found to be superior over the mixed nanocomposite.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Comparative electrocatalytic studies of nanocomposites of mixed and covalently linked multiwalled carbon nanotubes and 4-(4,6-diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio) phthalocyaninato cobalt(II)
- Authors: Nyoni, Stephen , Nyokong, Tebello
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7285 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020332
- Description: Electrocatalytic behavior of 4-(4,6-diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio) phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) (CoPyPc) when mixed or covalently mixed to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is reported. Infra-red spectroscopy was used to confirm amide linkage of the covalently linked nanocomposite. Rotating disk electrode (RDE) and cyclic (CV) voltammetry studies were used for the electrochemical characterization of the prepared phthalocyanine and MWCNT nanocomposite. The electrocatalytic effects of the nanocomposites of the cobalt phthalocyanine derivative were then investigated towards l-cysteine oxidation using both RDE and CV experiments, and the electrocatalytic performance of the covalently linked cobalt phthalocyanine-MWCNT was found to be superior over the mixed nanocomposite. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2015.05.038
- Full Text: false
Comparative electrochemistry and electrocatalytic activities of cobalt, iron and manganese phthalocyanine complexes axially co-ordinated to mercaptopyridine self-assembled monolayer at gold electrodes
- Authors: Ozoemena, Kenneth I , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/286054 , vital:56234 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2005.08.007"
- Description: Comparative surface electrochemistry and electrocatalytic properties of solid ultrathin monolayer films of metallophthalocyanine (MPc) complexes of cobalt (CoPc), iron (FePc) and manganese (MnPc) self-immobilised, via axial ligation reaction, onto preformed 4-mercaptopyridine self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold electrodes have been described. Surface electrochemical parameters of the modified electrodes showed that these MPc-SAMs are densely packed with flat orientations. The electrochemical, electrocatalytic and stability properties of these MPc complexes follow this order: FePc > MnPc > CoPc. This finding is remarkable as it suggests that the success of using this method of self-assembling of MPc onto gold electrode is largely dependent on the bond distance between the pyridine linker and the central metal of the MPc; the shorter the distance, the faster the co-ordination and the better the electrocatalytic properties towards L-cysteine and thiocyanate. Thus, the superiority of FePc-based SAM over those of the MnPc and CoPc, has been proposed to be the result of the more favorable axial co-ordination properties of FePc with pyridine (i.e. shorter Fe–N(pyridine) bond length.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Comparative electrooxidation of nitrite by electrodeposited Co (II), Fe (II) and Mn (III) tetrakis (benzylmercapto) and tetrakis (dodecylmercapto) phthalocyanines on gold electrodes
- Authors: Agboola, Bolade , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281212 , vital:55702 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2007.01.031"
- Description: This work reports on the electrooxidation of nitrite using Co(II), Fe(II) and Mn(III) tetrakis (benzylmercapto) and tetrakis (dodecylmercapto) phthalocyanines electrodeposited onto a gold electrode. Good catalytic activity (in terms of lowering overpotential) was obtained for these molecules when compared to previously reported MPc catalysts. The catalytic current was found to vary linearly with nitrite concentration in the range employed in this work (0.1–1 mM) and high sensitivities ranging from 6.9 to 9.9 μA mM−1 were observed for all the modified electrodes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Comparative electrooxidation of sulphite by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of Co (II), Fe (II), Ni (II) and Mn (III) tetrakis benzylmercapto and dodecylmercapto metallophthalocyanines complexes on gold electrodes
- Authors: Agboola, Bolade , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281223 , vital:55703 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2006.11.042"
- Description: This work reports on the use of Co(II), Fe(II), Mn(III) and Ni(II) tetrakis benzylmercapto and dodecylmercapto phthalocyanine complexes for gold electrode modification for electrooxidation of sulphite ions. The complexes were successfully used to modify gold electrodes by self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technique. The self-assembled films are stable and showed blocking characteristics towards the following Faradaic processes; gold surface oxidation, underpotential deposition (UPD) of copper and solution redox chemistry of [Fe(H2O)63+]/[Fe(H2O)62+]. All the modified electrodes showed improved catalytic activities than the unmodified gold electrode towards sulphite ion electrooxidation with all the modified electrodes exhibiting high resistance to electrode surface passivation. Better catalytic performance were obtained for the CoPcs, FePcs and MnPcs which have metal based redox processes within the range of the sulphite electrooxidation peak, while the NiPcs which did not show metal based redox reaction performed less. The catalytic current was found to be linear with sulphite ion concentration in the concentration range employed in this work (0.1–1 mM) and sensitivities ranging from 1.68 to 2.96 μA/mM were observed for all the modified electrodes. Mechanisms of the catalytic oxidation of sulphite ions are proposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Comparative photocatalytic efficiency of oxotitanium (IV) phthalocyanines for the oxidation of 1-hexene
- Authors: Tau, Prudence , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/271193 , vital:54520 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2007.04.005"
- Description: The comparative photocatalytic activities of aryloxy and arylthio tetrasubstituted oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanine complexes for the oxidation of 1-hexene in DCM are reported for the first time. The singlet oxygen quantum yield, photostability and photocatalytic properties are investigated. The catalysts effectively catalyse 1-hexene to 1,2-epoxyhexane and 1-hexen-3-ol as major and minor products respectively. The photooxidation products are formed via two reaction mechanisms, namely via singlet oxygen (Type II) and radical (Type I) reaction pathways. These are also dependent on the singlet oxygen quantum yields and photostabilities of the phthalocyanines. Complex 1a that is peripherally substituted with phenoxy groups exhibited the best activity in terms of overall performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Comparative photophysicochemical behavior of nanoconjugates of indium tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanines covalently linked to CdTe/ZnSe/ZnO quantum dots
- Authors: Oluwole, David O , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:7294 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020357 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2015.07.009
- Description: This work reports on the photophysicochemical behavior of different nanoconjugates of core/shell/shell (GSH-CdTe/ZnSe/ZnO), core/shell (GSH-CdTe/ZnSe) and core (GSH-CdTe) (quantum dots QDs) with indium tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanines ((OH)InTCPPc) in dimethylsulfoxide. The fluorescence quantum yields (Φf) and lifetimes (τf, in brackets) of QDs ranged from 0.20 (13.9 ns) to 0.42 (25.6 ns). The highest Φf value was obtained for GSH-CdTe/ZnSe/ZnO (4.5) while the least was observed in GSH-CdTe/ZnSe/ZnO (7.6), the numbers in brackets refer to the sizes. For (OH)InTCPPc alone a Φf and τf values of 0.02 and 2.43 ns, respectively were obtained. In the nanoconjugates, pivotal decrease in the Φf and τf of the QDs were observed with increase in the triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields of (OH)InTCPPc. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2015.07.009
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2015
Comparative photosensitised transformation of polychlorophenols with different sulphonated metallophthalocyanine complexes in aqueous medium
- Authors: Ozoemena, Kenneth , Kuznetsova, Nina , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/291520 , vital:56883 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S1381-1169(01)00243-6"
- Description: The relative efficiencies for the oxidation of trichlorophenol (TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP), sensitised by sulphonated phthalocyanine complexes containing Zn, Al, Sn and Si as central metals, were studied in aqueous solutions. For the first time, sulphonated silicon and tin phthalocyanines were synthesised and their activity towards photosensitisation of singlet oxygen and photo-oxidation of polychlorophenols was examined. The efficiency of the sensitised photo-oxidative degradation of polychlorophenols depends not only on singlet oxygen quantum yield of sensitiser, but also on its stability. The influence of substrate structure and the pH of the solution on the photo-oxidation efficiency, as well as on the sensitiser photodegradation were studied. It was found that the contribution of the Type II (singlet oxygen-mediated) mechanism to the relative efficiency of the photosensitised photo-oxidation of the phenol, decreased from phenol to p-chlorophenol, TCP and PCP, whereas Type I radical pathway increased. The results obtained for PCP give evidence that electron transfer from the excited sensitiser to the substrate in its unionised form is responsible for enhanced sensitiser photodegradation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
Comparative phototransformation of environmental pollutants using metallophthalocyanines supported on electrospun polymer fibers
- Authors: Zugle, Ruphino , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190509 , vital:45001 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/app.38381"
- Description: The fluorescence and photoactivity of a series of Zn and Lu phthalocyanine complexes incorporated in various polymer fibers were investigated for the phototransformation of 4-chlorophenol, 4-nitrophenol, and methyl orange. The phthalocyanine complexes functionalized on polystyrene and polysulfone polymer fibers could be applied in the degradation of 4-chlorophenol, 4-nitrophenol, and methyl orange with 4-chlorophenol being much more susceptible to degradation while methyl orange was the least. Also polymer fibers of polystyrene were found to be reusable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Comparison of carbon screen-printed and disk electrodes in the detection of antioxidants using CoPc derivatives
- Authors: Matemadombo, Fungisai , Apetrei, Constantin , Nyokong, Tebello , Rodríguez-Méndez, María Luz , de Saja, José Antonio
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/244371 , vital:51251 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2012.02.088"
- Description: Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) and cobalt phthalocyanine carboxylic derivatives (CoTCPc and CoOCPc) have been used as electrocatalysts for the detection of the antioxidants vanillic acid, caffeic acid, pyrogallol, and ascorbic acid on screen-printed carbon and disk electrode surfaces. The cobalt phthalocyanines were used to detect vanillic acid (with limit of detection ranging from 1.15 μM to 2.42 μM at potentials of 0.55–0.88 V vs. Ag|AgCl), caffeic acid (with limit of detection ranging from 1.17 μM to 2.20 μM at potentials of 0.30–0.81 V vs. Ag|AgCl), pyrogallol (with limit of detection ranging from 1.16 μM to 3.63 μM at potentials of 0.52–0.63 V vs. Ag|AgCl), and ascorbic acid (with limit of detection ranging from 1.16 μM to 1.58 μM at potentials of 0.34–0.46 V vs. Ag|AgCl). The kinetic studies also demonstrate diffusion-controlled processes at the electrode surface. The SPCE electrodes have better detection properties towards vanillic acid, caffeic acid, pyrogallol while the disk electrodes had better ascorbic acid detection properties as proven by kinetic studies. Both types CoPc-influenced electrodes show 100% discrimination of the antioxidants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Comparison of plant diversity in protected and communal lands in the Bushbuckridge lowveld savanna, South Africa
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181885 , vital:43777 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(00)00001-X"
- Description: Patterns of higher plant species richness and beta diversity were assessed using standard Modified-Whittaker plots in relation to land use, slope position and mean annual rainfall across a rainfall gradient in the savanna areas of the Bushbuckridge lowveld, South Africa. In particular, comparison of communal areas with adjacent protected areas was important in showing the impacts of potential changes in land use within an overarching catchment management plan. Although most of the protected areas considered preservation of biodiversity as their primary goal, they were characterised by significantly fewer plant species than the adjacent, highly utilised, communal lands, at both the plot and point scale. Slope position also had a significant effect on plant species richness, with eutrophic bottomlands having c. 30% more species than the dystrophic toplands. This adds weight to the need for greater public awareness for the judicious use and management of the sensitive bottomlands, which fringe the primary drainage lines that are vital for sustained supplies of good quality surface water in this semi-arid environment. The total number of species increased with increasing mean annual rainfall across the rainfall gradient. This suggests that, if the catchment management plan aims to identify additional areas for conservation, the higher rainfall areas should be the first to be assessed. Species turnover was greater along the rainfall gradient than the catenal gradient between toplands and bottomlands.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
Comprehensive data on the mechanical properties and biodegradation profile of polylactide composites developed for hard tissue repairs
- Authors: Abraham K. Aworinde , Samson O. Adeosun , Festus A. Oyawale , Eyere Emagbetere , Felix A. Ishola , Obafemi Olatunji , Stephen A. Akinlab , Sunday O. Oyedepo , Oluseyi O. Ajayi , Esther T. Akinlabi
- Date: 2020
- Type: Journal Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/4152 , vital:44032
- Full Text:
Conjugates of low-symmetry Ge, Sn and Ti carboxy phthalocyanines with glutathione caped gold nanoparticles
- Authors: Masilela, Nkosiphile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/247003 , vital:51536 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2011.08.009"
- Description: This work reports on conjugation of low symmetry Ge (GeMCPc), Ti (TiMCPc) and Sn (SnMCPc) carboxy phthalocyanines with glutathione capped gold nanoparticles (GSH-AuNPs). The photophysical behaviour of the novel phthalocyanines–GSH-AuNPs conjugate was investigated and compared to the monocarboxy Pcs and to the mixture of Pc with GSH-AuNPs without a chemical bond. Blue shifting of Q band of the phthalocyanines was observed on linking to GSH-AuNPs. An improvement in triplet lifetimes was obtained for all the MPcs–GSH-AuNPs-linked conjugates compared to the MPcs alone. The highest triplet quantum yield of 0.75 and the longest triplet lifetime of 130 μs were obtained for the GeMCPc–GSH-AuNPs-linked conjugate. Fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes were low for the conjugates due to quenching by the nanoparticles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011