A gold–chitosan composite with low symmetry zinc phthalocyanine for enhanced singlet oxygen generation and improved photodynamic therapy activity
- Dube, Edith, Oluwole, David O, Prinsloo, Earl, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Dube, Edith , Oluwole, David O , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/233397 , vital:50087 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NJ00801A"
- Description: Novel zinc(II) 3-(4-((3,17,23-tris(4-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenoxy)phthalocyanine-9-yl)oxy)phenyl)propanoic acid (complex 3) was synthesised. Complex 3 was subsequently reacted with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), chitosan (CT) and a gold–chitosan (AuCT) hybrid to form 3-AuNPs, 3-CT and 3-AuCT, respectively. The conjugates afforded a decrease in fluorescence quantum yield with a corresponding increase in the triplet and singlet quantum yields compared to complex 3. The in vitro dark cytotoxicity and photodynamic therapy activity (PDT) of complex 3 and 3-AuCT composites were investigated against epithelial breast cancer cells (MCF-7) with both the samples showing minimum dark cytotoxicity. They both accounted for a cell viability of ≥90% at a concentration of ≤59.2 μg mL−1. 3-AuCT showed better PDT activity (compared to 3 alone) with less than 50% viable cells at a concentration of ≥29.6 μg mL−1 making it potentially applicable for PDT. On the other hand, AuCT displayed some activity against cancer cells, probably due to photothermal activity since gold is a light absorber, however it had more than 50% viable cells at a concentration of ≤59.2 μg mL−1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dube, Edith , Oluwole, David O , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/233397 , vital:50087 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NJ00801A"
- Description: Novel zinc(II) 3-(4-((3,17,23-tris(4-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenoxy)phthalocyanine-9-yl)oxy)phenyl)propanoic acid (complex 3) was synthesised. Complex 3 was subsequently reacted with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), chitosan (CT) and a gold–chitosan (AuCT) hybrid to form 3-AuNPs, 3-CT and 3-AuCT, respectively. The conjugates afforded a decrease in fluorescence quantum yield with a corresponding increase in the triplet and singlet quantum yields compared to complex 3. The in vitro dark cytotoxicity and photodynamic therapy activity (PDT) of complex 3 and 3-AuCT composites were investigated against epithelial breast cancer cells (MCF-7) with both the samples showing minimum dark cytotoxicity. They both accounted for a cell viability of ≥90% at a concentration of ≤59.2 μg mL−1. 3-AuCT showed better PDT activity (compared to 3 alone) with less than 50% viable cells at a concentration of ≥29.6 μg mL−1 making it potentially applicable for PDT. On the other hand, AuCT displayed some activity against cancer cells, probably due to photothermal activity since gold is a light absorber, however it had more than 50% viable cells at a concentration of ≤59.2 μg mL−1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
More than just fields: Reframing deagrarianisation in landscapes and livelihoods
- Hebinck, Paul, Mtati, Nosiseko, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Hebinck, Paul , Mtati, Nosiseko , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180322 , vital:43353 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2018.01.004"
- Description: This paper discusses the emergent properties of deagrarianisation processes in two villages in the central Eastern Cape, South Africa. The claim of is that much of the deagrarianisation literature and debate does not acknowledge the importance of landscapes and the interaction between their constituent elements, notably people, forests, grasslands, fields, grazing lands, open spaces, built environments and homesteads, all of which contribute to shaping and, in turn, are shaped by livelihoods. Conceptualising a landscape as a spatial entity and associated assemblage of practices, discourses and history, this paper dissects the landscape in terms of land uses for residential and cultural purposes, growing, grazing and gathering. These land use categories together represent the rural domain to which the villagers are attached as a place and a home. Their use of the land is not necessarily oriented to fully exploring its productive potential. The article explores the transformation from a productive landscape to one which largely hinges on consumption. The blurring of boundaries between the formally designated land use categories signifies the transformations occurring in many of the rural areas in the former homelands of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Hebinck, Paul , Mtati, Nosiseko , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180322 , vital:43353 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2018.01.004"
- Description: This paper discusses the emergent properties of deagrarianisation processes in two villages in the central Eastern Cape, South Africa. The claim of is that much of the deagrarianisation literature and debate does not acknowledge the importance of landscapes and the interaction between their constituent elements, notably people, forests, grasslands, fields, grazing lands, open spaces, built environments and homesteads, all of which contribute to shaping and, in turn, are shaped by livelihoods. Conceptualising a landscape as a spatial entity and associated assemblage of practices, discourses and history, this paper dissects the landscape in terms of land uses for residential and cultural purposes, growing, grazing and gathering. These land use categories together represent the rural domain to which the villagers are attached as a place and a home. Their use of the land is not necessarily oriented to fully exploring its productive potential. The article explores the transformation from a productive landscape to one which largely hinges on consumption. The blurring of boundaries between the formally designated land use categories signifies the transformations occurring in many of the rural areas in the former homelands of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Wood preservation with gold hydroxyapatite system
- Ion, Rodica-Mariana, Nyokong, Tebello, Nwahara, Nnamdi, Suica-Bunghez, Ioana-Raluca, Iancu, Lorena, Teodorescu, Sofia, Dulama, Ioana D, Stirbescu, Raluca M, Gheboianu, Anca, Grigorescu, Ramona M
- Authors: Ion, Rodica-Mariana , Nyokong, Tebello , Nwahara, Nnamdi , Suica-Bunghez, Ioana-Raluca , Iancu, Lorena , Teodorescu, Sofia , Dulama, Ioana D , Stirbescu, Raluca M , Gheboianu, Anca , Grigorescu, Ramona M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187840 , vital:44702 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-018-0202-5"
- Description: Over centuries, the external factors such as fire, low temperature, light or microbiological agents, act on the wood and induce some degradation processes, sometimes irreversible, identified by discoloration, fragility and unsightly appearance. Although there are numerous literature reports about different nanomaterials used for preservation and restoration of wood surfaces (calcium hydroxides, magnesium hydroxides, hydroxyapatite, or even organic resins as Paraloid B72), in this paper it is proposed a new system—gold hydroxyapatite (AuHAp), tested on the hazelnut wood samples (young and aged specimens), as a new solution for preservation of some wooden artifacts. This paper addresses a broad range of analytical methods: X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, chromatic parameters and hardness test. Also, humidity sorption/desorption measurements are used for humidity sorption and desorption evaluation. The adsorption and desorption tests determined the hydroscopic sorption properties of the wood specimens by measuring the mass of the specimens in equilibrium with air at a specific temperature and RH. All the results concluded that after the application of the new system on the hazelnut wood surface, a well distributed and uniform layer consisting from AuHAp systems with a network aspect are observed, which covers the wood vessels and fibers, filling the voids and stopping the wood weathering process, more accentuated at aged wood than at the young species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Ion, Rodica-Mariana , Nyokong, Tebello , Nwahara, Nnamdi , Suica-Bunghez, Ioana-Raluca , Iancu, Lorena , Teodorescu, Sofia , Dulama, Ioana D , Stirbescu, Raluca M , Gheboianu, Anca , Grigorescu, Ramona M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187840 , vital:44702 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-018-0202-5"
- Description: Over centuries, the external factors such as fire, low temperature, light or microbiological agents, act on the wood and induce some degradation processes, sometimes irreversible, identified by discoloration, fragility and unsightly appearance. Although there are numerous literature reports about different nanomaterials used for preservation and restoration of wood surfaces (calcium hydroxides, magnesium hydroxides, hydroxyapatite, or even organic resins as Paraloid B72), in this paper it is proposed a new system—gold hydroxyapatite (AuHAp), tested on the hazelnut wood samples (young and aged specimens), as a new solution for preservation of some wooden artifacts. This paper addresses a broad range of analytical methods: X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, chromatic parameters and hardness test. Also, humidity sorption/desorption measurements are used for humidity sorption and desorption evaluation. The adsorption and desorption tests determined the hydroscopic sorption properties of the wood specimens by measuring the mass of the specimens in equilibrium with air at a specific temperature and RH. All the results concluded that after the application of the new system on the hazelnut wood surface, a well distributed and uniform layer consisting from AuHAp systems with a network aspect are observed, which covers the wood vessels and fibers, filling the voids and stopping the wood weathering process, more accentuated at aged wood than at the young species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Photophysical studies of graphene quantum dots-Pyrene-derivatized porphyrins conjugates when encapsulated within Pluronic F127 micelles
- Managa, Muthumuni, Achadu, Ojodomo John, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Achadu, Ojodomo John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187971 , vital:44714 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2017.09.031"
- Description: Pyrene-derivatized H2, GaCl, and Zn porphyrins were immobilized on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) to form (GQDs-H2TPrP, GQDs-GaClTPrP, and GQDs-ZnTPrP) conjugates through the π-π stacking interaction method followed by encapsulating into Pluronic F127 micelles to form (GQDs-H2TPrP + F127, GQDs-GaClTPrP + F127, and GQDs-ZnTPrP + F127). Spectroscopic evidence shows that the resultant conjugates were stable due to the strong π-π stacking interaction between the GQDs and the porphyrins. The fluorescence and singlet oxygen generating behaviour of the porphyrins were investigated following incorporation. GQDs-GaClTPrP + F127 showed highest values of the binding constant (Kb). The Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv) for GQDs-ZnTPrP + F127 were the highest compared to other porphyrins derivatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Achadu, Ojodomo John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187971 , vital:44714 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2017.09.031"
- Description: Pyrene-derivatized H2, GaCl, and Zn porphyrins were immobilized on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) to form (GQDs-H2TPrP, GQDs-GaClTPrP, and GQDs-ZnTPrP) conjugates through the π-π stacking interaction method followed by encapsulating into Pluronic F127 micelles to form (GQDs-H2TPrP + F127, GQDs-GaClTPrP + F127, and GQDs-ZnTPrP + F127). Spectroscopic evidence shows that the resultant conjugates were stable due to the strong π-π stacking interaction between the GQDs and the porphyrins. The fluorescence and singlet oxygen generating behaviour of the porphyrins were investigated following incorporation. GQDs-GaClTPrP + F127 showed highest values of the binding constant (Kb). The Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv) for GQDs-ZnTPrP + F127 were the highest compared to other porphyrins derivatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Photophysics and NLO properties of Ga (III) and In (III) phthalocyaninates bearing diethyleneglycol chains
- Managa, Muthumuni, Khene, Samson M, Britton, Jonathan, Martynov, Alexander G, Gorbunova, Yulia G, Tsivadze, Aslan Y, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Khene, Samson M , Britton, Jonathan , Martynov, Alexander G , Gorbunova, Yulia G , Tsivadze, Aslan Y , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/237822 , vital:50556 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424618500128"
- Description: This work reports on synthesis and characterizations of Ga(III) and In(III) complexes, formed by 2,3-bis[2′′-(2′′′′-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]-9,10,16,17,23,24-hexa-nn-butoxy phthalocyanine (1H2) coordinating acetatoindium(III) (1InOAc) and hydroxogallium(III) (1GaOH) Photophysical properties of hydroxogallium(III) phthalocyaninate 1GaOH and acetatoindium(III) phthalocyaninate 1InOAc were studied by UV-vis, fluorescence spectroscopy and time-resolved methods. The nonlinear absorption of the complexes was studied using the Z-scan technique at 532 nm and 10 ns pulse in DMSO and in thin films formed by composite with poly(bisphenol A carbonate) — PBC. The magnitude of absorption coefficients and other nonlinear optical parameters estimated in this work showed that complex 1InOAc exhibited the strongest nonlinear optical behavior in comparison with 1GaOH in solution and a reverse tendency when embedded in PBC thin films. DFT calculations were used to rationalize these results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Khene, Samson M , Britton, Jonathan , Martynov, Alexander G , Gorbunova, Yulia G , Tsivadze, Aslan Y , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/237822 , vital:50556 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424618500128"
- Description: This work reports on synthesis and characterizations of Ga(III) and In(III) complexes, formed by 2,3-bis[2′′-(2′′′′-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]-9,10,16,17,23,24-hexa-nn-butoxy phthalocyanine (1H2) coordinating acetatoindium(III) (1InOAc) and hydroxogallium(III) (1GaOH) Photophysical properties of hydroxogallium(III) phthalocyaninate 1GaOH and acetatoindium(III) phthalocyaninate 1InOAc were studied by UV-vis, fluorescence spectroscopy and time-resolved methods. The nonlinear absorption of the complexes was studied using the Z-scan technique at 532 nm and 10 ns pulse in DMSO and in thin films formed by composite with poly(bisphenol A carbonate) — PBC. The magnitude of absorption coefficients and other nonlinear optical parameters estimated in this work showed that complex 1InOAc exhibited the strongest nonlinear optical behavior in comparison with 1GaOH in solution and a reverse tendency when embedded in PBC thin films. DFT calculations were used to rationalize these results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Singlet oxygen generating properties of different sizes of charged Graphene quantum dot Nanoconjugates with a positively charged Phthalocyanine
- Matshitse, Refilwe, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Matshitse, Refilwe , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187614 , vital:44680 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-018-2247-y"
- Description: Various sizes of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) denoted as GQD2, GQD6 and GQD10 (increasing in size) were non-covalently attached to 2,9,16,23-tetrakis[4-(N-methylpyridyloxy)]-phthalocyanine (ZnTPPcQ) to form GQDs-ZnTPPcQ nanoconjugates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that increasing sizes of GQDs decreases the atomic concentrations of oxygen, which leads to blue shift in spectra of the GQDs. Relative to Pcs alone (0.03), the presence of GQDs improved the singlet oxygen quantum yields with the following values: GQD2-ZnTPPcQ (0.17), GQD6-ZnTPPcQ (0.27) and GQD10-ZnTPPcQ (0.11). GQD2-ZnTPPcQ nanoconjugate system had the most ZnTPPcQ loading, but did not generate the most singlet oxygen species due to aggregation. This study shows that, the quantity of oxygen, size and quality of GQDs as well as amount of Pc loading are amongst the vital properties to consider when constructing GQD-nanoconjugate systems with optimal singlet oxygen quantum yields.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Matshitse, Refilwe , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187614 , vital:44680 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-018-2247-y"
- Description: Various sizes of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) denoted as GQD2, GQD6 and GQD10 (increasing in size) were non-covalently attached to 2,9,16,23-tetrakis[4-(N-methylpyridyloxy)]-phthalocyanine (ZnTPPcQ) to form GQDs-ZnTPPcQ nanoconjugates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that increasing sizes of GQDs decreases the atomic concentrations of oxygen, which leads to blue shift in spectra of the GQDs. Relative to Pcs alone (0.03), the presence of GQDs improved the singlet oxygen quantum yields with the following values: GQD2-ZnTPPcQ (0.17), GQD6-ZnTPPcQ (0.27) and GQD10-ZnTPPcQ (0.11). GQD2-ZnTPPcQ nanoconjugate system had the most ZnTPPcQ loading, but did not generate the most singlet oxygen species due to aggregation. This study shows that, the quantity of oxygen, size and quality of GQDs as well as amount of Pc loading are amongst the vital properties to consider when constructing GQD-nanoconjugate systems with optimal singlet oxygen quantum yields.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Evaluation of the photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic therapy activity of nanoconjugates of zinc phthalocyanine linked to glutathione capped Au and Au3Ag1 nanoparticles
- Oluwole, David O, Manoto, Sello L, Malabi, Rudzani, Maphanga, Charles, Ombinda-Lemboumba, Saturnin, Mthunzi-Kufa, Patience, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Oluwole, David O , Manoto, Sello L , Malabi, Rudzani , Maphanga, Charles , Ombinda-Lemboumba, Saturnin , Mthunzi-Kufa, Patience , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/237886 , vital:50563 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2017.11.019"
- Description: We report on the synthesis of glutathione capped gold (AuNPs–GSH) and gold–silver (Au3Ag1NPs–GSH) nanoparticles and their covalent attachment to Zn monocarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine (1) via amide bond formation. The photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity of the complex and its nanoconjugates were assessed. The conjugates afforded improved triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yield as well as PDT activity (except for 1-Au3Ag1NPs which afforded decreased activity) in comparison to complex 1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Oluwole, David O , Manoto, Sello L , Malabi, Rudzani , Maphanga, Charles , Ombinda-Lemboumba, Saturnin , Mthunzi-Kufa, Patience , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/237886 , vital:50563 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2017.11.019"
- Description: We report on the synthesis of glutathione capped gold (AuNPs–GSH) and gold–silver (Au3Ag1NPs–GSH) nanoparticles and their covalent attachment to Zn monocarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine (1) via amide bond formation. The photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity of the complex and its nanoconjugates were assessed. The conjugates afforded improved triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yield as well as PDT activity (except for 1-Au3Ag1NPs which afforded decreased activity) in comparison to complex 1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Postgraduate writing groups as spaces of agency development
- Oluwole, David O, Achadu, A, Asfour, Fouad-Martin, Chakona, Gamuchirai, Mason, Paul, Mataruse, P, McKenna, Sioux
- Authors: Oluwole, David O , Achadu, A , Asfour, Fouad-Martin , Chakona, Gamuchirai , Mason, Paul , Mataruse, P , McKenna, Sioux
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187194 , vital:44578 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.20853/32-6-2963"
- Description: Academic writing is a peculiar phenomenon – it varies greatly from discipline to discipline and its requirements are rarely made overt. Taking on the writing practices of the academy has implications for identity and it is thus unsurprising that it is seen to be a risky endeavour. This article analyses the experiences of postgraduate scholars who have participated in writing groups that meet weekly to read each other’s work and provide supportive critique. Thirty-two people provided detailed, anonymous evaluations of their writing groups and these were studied using a discourse analysis. Three main findings are discussed here. Firstly, writing circles allowed for academic writing development to be engaged with as a social practice, where the disciplinary norms could be made more explicit through peer deliberation, and where they could also be challenged. Secondly, the lack of hierarchical power in the writing groups was key to making safe spaces for agency development, and also for providing positive peer pressure whereby participants were spurred on to work on their writing. Thirdly, the fact that the groups were interdisciplinary, within cognate disciplinary families, provided an interesting challenge in that the students had to consider what these non-specialist readers would or would not understand. This process assisted students in clarifying their writing. Participants’ evaluation of the writing groups revealed an overall sense that these contributed to postgraduate student wellbeing and were places of significant agential development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Oluwole, David O , Achadu, A , Asfour, Fouad-Martin , Chakona, Gamuchirai , Mason, Paul , Mataruse, P , McKenna, Sioux
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187194 , vital:44578 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.20853/32-6-2963"
- Description: Academic writing is a peculiar phenomenon – it varies greatly from discipline to discipline and its requirements are rarely made overt. Taking on the writing practices of the academy has implications for identity and it is thus unsurprising that it is seen to be a risky endeavour. This article analyses the experiences of postgraduate scholars who have participated in writing groups that meet weekly to read each other’s work and provide supportive critique. Thirty-two people provided detailed, anonymous evaluations of their writing groups and these were studied using a discourse analysis. Three main findings are discussed here. Firstly, writing circles allowed for academic writing development to be engaged with as a social practice, where the disciplinary norms could be made more explicit through peer deliberation, and where they could also be challenged. Secondly, the lack of hierarchical power in the writing groups was key to making safe spaces for agency development, and also for providing positive peer pressure whereby participants were spurred on to work on their writing. Thirdly, the fact that the groups were interdisciplinary, within cognate disciplinary families, provided an interesting challenge in that the students had to consider what these non-specialist readers would or would not understand. This process assisted students in clarifying their writing. Participants’ evaluation of the writing groups revealed an overall sense that these contributed to postgraduate student wellbeing and were places of significant agential development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Temporal dynamics and motivations for urban community food gardens in medium-sized towns of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Roberts, Sky, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Roberts, Sky , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/179768 , vital:43178 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land7040146"
- Description: Urban agriculture is said to be increasing with global urbanization. However, there is little examination of the temporal or spatial dynamics of urban agriculture. We investigated the benefits and challenges experienced by community gardeners in four towns in South Africa, along with GIS analysis of the number, area, and location of urban food community gardens over the last three decades. Common reasons for practicing community gardening were cash poverty (37%) and the need to grow food (34%). The most common benefits reported by respondents were a healthy lifestyle (58%) and consumption of the food produced (54%). Theft of garden infrastructure or produce was a noteworthy challenge to continued motivation and engagement in urban community gardening. There were declines in the number and area of urban community gardens, and more central location over the last three decades. Only 16% of the gardens present in the 1980s were still operating in the 2000s. Clearly community gardening is temporally and spatially dynamic, which requires context-sensitive policy initiatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Roberts, Sky , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/179768 , vital:43178 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land7040146"
- Description: Urban agriculture is said to be increasing with global urbanization. However, there is little examination of the temporal or spatial dynamics of urban agriculture. We investigated the benefits and challenges experienced by community gardeners in four towns in South Africa, along with GIS analysis of the number, area, and location of urban food community gardens over the last three decades. Common reasons for practicing community gardening were cash poverty (37%) and the need to grow food (34%). The most common benefits reported by respondents were a healthy lifestyle (58%) and consumption of the food produced (54%). Theft of garden infrastructure or produce was a noteworthy challenge to continued motivation and engagement in urban community gardening. There were declines in the number and area of urban community gardens, and more central location over the last three decades. Only 16% of the gardens present in the 1980s were still operating in the 2000s. Clearly community gardening is temporally and spatially dynamic, which requires context-sensitive policy initiatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The Primary Demonstration of Exciton Coupling Effects on Optical Limiting Properties of Blue Double-Decker Lanthanide Phthalocyanine Salts
- Sekhosana, Kutloano E, Nkhahle, Reitumetse, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Sekhosana, Kutloano E , Nkhahle, Reitumetse , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/234614 , vital:50213 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.201800597"
- Description: In this manuscript, novel green and blue sandwich-type rare-earth phthalocyanines (LnPc2) are presented. This parent green LnPc2 complex is named bis-{2(3),9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetra(4-tert-buylphenoxy) phthalocyaninato} neodymium (III) (2) and modified into blue LnPc2 complexes (3), (4) and (5) based on hexadecyltrimethylammonium ion, mononeodymium(III) diacetate and monodysprosium(III) diacetate as counter ions, respectively. These stable blue lanthanide Pc salts are highly soluble in many organic and inorganic solvents. All complexes 2, 3, 4 and 5 were studied for optical limiting for the first time using Z-scan at nanosecond regime in the visible absorption spectral wavelength (532 nm). Our studies reveal the advantage of exciton coupling in blue sandwich-type rare-earth phthalocyanines over the π-radicals (characterized by blue valence at 485 nm) in the green counterpart which are in resonance with the 532 nm wavelength for optical limiting application. Large singlet ground state to excited state absorption cross section ratios were found, particularly for complex 5 in comparison to that of complex 2.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Sekhosana, Kutloano E , Nkhahle, Reitumetse , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/234614 , vital:50213 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.201800597"
- Description: In this manuscript, novel green and blue sandwich-type rare-earth phthalocyanines (LnPc2) are presented. This parent green LnPc2 complex is named bis-{2(3),9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetra(4-tert-buylphenoxy) phthalocyaninato} neodymium (III) (2) and modified into blue LnPc2 complexes (3), (4) and (5) based on hexadecyltrimethylammonium ion, mononeodymium(III) diacetate and monodysprosium(III) diacetate as counter ions, respectively. These stable blue lanthanide Pc salts are highly soluble in many organic and inorganic solvents. All complexes 2, 3, 4 and 5 were studied for optical limiting for the first time using Z-scan at nanosecond regime in the visible absorption spectral wavelength (532 nm). Our studies reveal the advantage of exciton coupling in blue sandwich-type rare-earth phthalocyanines over the π-radicals (characterized by blue valence at 485 nm) in the green counterpart which are in resonance with the 532 nm wavelength for optical limiting application. Large singlet ground state to excited state absorption cross section ratios were found, particularly for complex 5 in comparison to that of complex 2.
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- Date Issued: 2018
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