List of Titles

Quick View

Perceptions of health care professionals regarding facilitation of resilience in the workplace

- Smith, G

Authors: Smith, G
Subjects: Nurses -- Job stress , Resilience (Personality trait) , Nursing -- Psychological aspects
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: vital:10086 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020948
Description: A person’s career takes up a large portion of his or her life for a minimum of 8 hours per day. A large portion of their time is spent performing their duties which are often accompanied by various demands or pressure that can result in an employee experiencing stress. Over time this build-up of stress due to job demands affects their ability to perform at work. This study aimed to identify, explore and describe the factors that facilitate the resilience of healthcare professionals working at a Campus Health Service at a Higher Education Institution. An exploratory descriptive study consisting of a qualitative nature was employed. Data was obtained from semi-structured interviews. The questions that were posed to participants read as follows: (1) “Tell me about the demands placed on you in your current work situation”, (2) “How do you cope with the demands placed on you?”, (3) “What can be done to assist you to cope better at work?”, and lastly (4) “Any additional questions/comments?”. The fourth question was added by the researcher in order for participants to have the opportunity to add to what they have said previously. Data was gathered until data saturation was reached. Tesch’s model of content analysis as well as Guba’s model of trustworthiness was employed, in order to analyse the data. An independent coder was subsequently employed to ensure the trustworthiness of the data. The findings revealed that all participants found workplace demands to be stressful, in terms of physical, emotional and time-related demands placed on them. Participants identified strategies that could help them cope with their demands such as open air activities, debriefing with colleagues or making use of a wellness line, maintaining a positive attitude, support from management and colleagues, the ability to practice initiative and autonomous decision-making, and lastly, religious practices. In addition, participants made recommendations on how employers can help relieve their stress. The recommendations included developing an in-house wellness programme, providing sufficient staff of the correct categories, providing adequate facilities and equipment to improve efficiency, providing developmental opportunities, scheduling training programmes for less busy times of the year, and lastly, introducing elements of structured flexi-time for employees.
Full Text:

Quick View

Photodynamic inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus using low symmetrically substituted phthalocyanines supported on a polystyrene polymer fiber

- Masilela, Nkosiphile, Kleyi, Phumelele, Tshentu, Zenixole, Priniotakis, Georgios, Westbroek, Philippe, Nyokong, Tebello

Authors: Masilela, Nkosiphile , Kleyi, Phumelele , Tshentu, Zenixole , Priniotakis, Georgios , Westbroek, Philippe , Nyokong, Tebello
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:7330 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020591
Description: This work reports on the antimicrobial photo-activities of a series of low symmetrically substituted phthalocyanine complexes in solution and in a fiber matrix. Phthalocyanine complexes were successfully electrospun into a polystyrene polymer. The fiber diameter ranged from 240 nm to 390 nm in average. The modified polymer fiber showed successful singlet oxygen production with the Ge monocarboxy phthalocyanine modified fiber giving the highest singlet oxygen quantum yield value of 0.46 due to lack of aggregation when in the polymer. All the unsymmetrically substituted complexes showed antimicrobial activity towards S. Aureus under illumination with visible light. The symmetrical ZnPc and ZnTPCPc showed no activity under illumination with light in the fiber matrix due to low singlet oxygen production. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2012.10.001
Full Text: false

Quick View

Photophysical and photochemical properties of a novel thiol terminated low symmetry zinc phthalocyanine complex and its gold nanoparticles conjugate

- Mthethwa, Thandekile P., Tuncel, Sinem, Durmuş, Mahmut, Nyokong, Tebello

Authors: Mthethwa, Thandekile P. , Tuncel, Sinem , Durmuş, Mahmut , Nyokong, Tebello
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:7329 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020590
Description: A novel thiol functionalized zinc phthalocyanine complex (ZnPcSH) is reported in this work. This complex was conjugated to gold nanoparticles. The photophysical and photochemical properties of the complex and the conjugate were investigated. Upon conjugation a blue shift was observed from the UV-Vis spectra. The conjugate showed a decrease in the fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime. An increase in the triplet quantum yield and lifetime was observed for ZnPcSH following conjugation to gold nanoparticles. Both ZnPcSH and its conjugate with gold nanoparticles showed high singlet oxygen quantum yields with the conjugate being higher than the Pc alone. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C3DT32698E
Full Text:

Quick View

Physicochemical properties of a zinc phthalocyanine – pyrene conjugate adsorbed onto single walled carbon nanotubes

- Ogbodu, Racheal O, Antunes, Edith M, Nyokong, Tebello

Authors: Ogbodu, Racheal O , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:7328 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020589
Description: A conjugate between zinc monoamino phthalocyanine (ZnMAPc) and pyrene (Py) represented as ZnMAPc–Py (complex 3) was synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and by elemental analysis. This manuscript also reports on the photochemical and photophysical properties of 3. This new compound exhibited higher triplet, fluorescence and singlet oxygen quantum yields in comparison to the phthalocyanine alone, hence showing the advantages of attaching pyrene to the Pc without breaking the conjugation. We also observed a decrease in photophysical parameters upon adsorbing the ZnMAPc–Py complex onto single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). However, ZnMAPc–Py still generated some singlet oxygen when adsorbed onto SWCNT. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C3DT50335F
Full Text:

Quick View

Rehabilitation of children with severe acute malnutrition with ready-to-use therapeutic food compared to F100 at Clairwood Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal

- Nomvete, Anele Yoliswa

Authors: Nomvete, Anele Yoliswa
Subjects: Malnutrition in children -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Dietary supplements -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Rehabilitation
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: vital:10087 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020982
Description: Background: The World Health Organisation (WHO) initially recommended F100 formula in the treatment of severe malnutrition. F100 is made with full cream milk powder, sugar, oil and water with added minerals and vitamins. Ready to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is a highly nutrient dense food enriched with minerals and vitamins, with a similar nutrient profile but greater energy and nutrient density than F100. RUTF has shown to be effective in the treatment of severe and moderate wasting and is associated with an increased recovery rate. In South Africa no studies are available on the recovery rate of children with severe acute malnutrition treated with RUTFs. Aim: To compare the recovery of clinically stable severe acute malnourished children, between the age of 12 and 60 months, treated with either F100 or RUTF as nutrition supplement. Methods: A randomised clinically controlled trial was performed. All children referred to Clairwood hospital with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), defined as a weight for height measurement of <70 percent of the median and/or < -3 SD below the mean WHO reference values or the presence of bilateral oedema were included in this study. Children were stratified according to age and gender and subsequently randomly assigned with randomisation tables to either the RUTF or F100 group. A total of 35 children were included in this study and data from 34 were analysed with 17 in each group. Results: Most children included in this study were between 12 and 18 months with boys in the majority. Both groups had a large percentage of HIV-infected children (70 percent in the RUTF group and 76 percent in the F100 group), with Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection in some of the children. One child died due to HIV related complications. The rate of weight gain was 7.77g/kg/day in the RUTF group and 6.11g/kg/day in the F100 group. There was no statistical significant difference established between groups (p = 0.46). The majority of children recovered within 21 days on the RUTF while the majority of children in the F100 group recovered after 6 weeks. There were no changes in height during the rehabilitation of these children. MUAC changes were observed with 92 percent having a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of > 11.5cm after a 6 week intervention with RUTF and F100. Conclusion: RUTF resulted in better rates of recovery and can be used efficiently in rehabilitating children with SAM in a supervised facility setting. These preliminary results also point towards significant potential savings regarding hospitalisation costs since faster recovery has been demonstrated by children in the RUTF group.
Full Text:

Quick View

Surface patterning using scanning electrochemical microscopy to locally trigger a “click” chemistry reaction

- Quinton, Damien, Maringa, Audacity, Griveau, Sophie, Nyokong, Tebello, Bedioui, Fethi

Authors: Quinton, Damien , Maringa, Audacity , Griveau, Sophie , Nyokong, Tebello , Bedioui, Fethi
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:7331 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020592
Description: We report on the surface micropatterning of conductive surfaces via the electrochemical triggering of a click reaction, the copper(I) catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) by SECM via a two-step approach: (i) functionalization on the entire surface with azido-aryl groups by using the diazonium approach followed by (ii) the covalent linkage of alkyne-bearing ferrocene by CuAAC within a local area by SECM. More precisely, the click reaction was triggered by Cu(I) catalyst generation for 30 min at the SECM tip positioned ≈ 10 μm above the azido-aryl modified surface. The dimension of the spot obtained under these conditions was ≈ 75 μm. The electrochemical imaging by SECM of the ultra thin area locally clicked with ferrocene moieties was made thanks to the electrocatalytic properties of the ferrocene modified surface towards ferrocyanide electrooxidation. This local clicking procedure opens the gate to further controlled functionalization of restricted small substrates. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2013.03.021
Full Text: false

Quick View

The development of catalytic oxovanadium(IV)-containing microspheres for the oxidation of various organosulfur compounds

- Ogunlaja, Adeniyi S, Khene, M Samson, Antunes, Edith M, Nyokong, Tebello, Torto, Nelson, Tshentu, Zenixole R

Authors: Ogunlaja, Adeniyi S , Khene, M Samson , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello , Torto, Nelson , Tshentu, Zenixole R
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:7324 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020574
Description: The development of poly[allylSB-co-EGDMA] beads containing a tetradentate ligand was achieved via suspension polymerization. The catalyst poly[allylSB-co-EGDMA]-VO was synthesized by reacting VIVOSO4 with poly[allylSB-co-EGDMA]. XPS and EPR were used to confirm the presence of vanadium (V4+) on the beads. The synthesized catalyst (poly[allylSB-co-EGDMA]-VO) was found to have a BET surface area of 22 m2 g−1 and porosity of 135 Å, with the atomic force microscopy (AFM) showing more insight on the porous nature of the beads. Oxidation of thiophene (TH), benzothiophene (BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) was carried out using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) as oxidant. An overall conversion of 60%, 82%, 98% and 87% was achieved for thiophene (TH), benzothiophene (BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6 dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) respectively at higher (t-BuOOH) to substrate ratio and at a temperature of 40 °C. The efficient oxidation of the various organosulfur compounds presents potential for the possible application of this catalyst in oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of crude oil. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2013.05.004
Full Text: false

Quick View

The human resource department as a strategic business partner in organisations

- Sakonda, Archford

Authors: Sakonda, Archford
Subjects: Human capital -- Management , Strategic planning , Employment agencies
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: vital:9431 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020178
Description: The human resource department in many organisations is at a crossroad of relevance, constantly being faced with the challenge to prove that it can add value towards the objectives of the business. The Human Resource (HR) department is also faced with a reality that, if the department does not add value to the organisation, it will be farmed out to independent contractors, who can deliver the HR functions at a more efficient and cost effective way. However, organisations have a great opportunity to achieve excellence and competitive advantage through the utilisation of the organisation‟s human resources. Many scholars and authors argued that organisations can achieve the most out of its human resources if the HR department is a Strategic Business Partner (SBP) in these organisations. A thorough literature review has led to the discovery that, despite the appraisal of the Strategic Business Partners (SBP) approach to the management of human resources, little progress has been made with the reinvention of the HR departments from support function towards being a SBP (Lawler & Morhman, 2003; Keith, 2007). The slow progress in the transformation of the HR department was attributed to a wide range of factors including the lack of competencies to take up Strategic Business Partnership roles, lack of management support, and incongruent organisational cultures (Keith, 2007; Sanders & Frenkel, 2009; Ulrich & Brockbank, 2005). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with HR professionals, Managing Directors and other Directors, who sit on a strategic table, to identify the challenges and opportunities the HR department faced as a SBP in organisations. A self-administered questionnaire, based on an existing questionnaire (Ulrich & Cornell (1997) HR role assessment survey) was used to gather the perception of employees regarding the roles the HR departments play in organisations. In this study organisational culture was identified as having a huge impact towards the implementation of HR departments as SBPs. The study also identified the competencies needed for the effective execution of SBP roles, the challenges HR departments may face in the process as well as the important roles the HR department should be devoting most of its time and resources to.
Full Text:

Quick View

The perceptions of educators, in the Queenstown education district, of the labour dispute resolution system

- Rataza, Themba Theophilus

Authors: Rataza, Themba Theophilus
Subjects: Labor disputes -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: vital:9434 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020542
Description: The objective of this study is to conduct a survey concerning the perceptions of educators in the Queenstown education district of the labour dispute resolution system. The education department is one of the biggest departments in the Eastern Cape’s Provincial Administration system. The likelihood of disputes is high when there are many employees. The focus of the study therefore is on how educators perceive the role of the department in terms of ensuring that labour disputes with the department are resolved efficiently and speedily. The advent of a democratic dispensation resulted in the ushering in of progressive labour legislation such as Labour Relations Act 55 of 1995. The objective of this Act is to facilitate economic development, social justice, labour peace and democratization of the workplace. In other words this Act gave birth to the manner in which labour disputes should be resolved. The study was carried out not only to explore the perceptions of educators but also with a view to making recommendations on the findings in order to help contribute towards labour peace and productivity in the workplace. The attitudes of one hundred and forty-one educators were surveyed via questionnaires and six educators who have had labour disputes with the department were interviewed. The key findings of the study revealed that both the educators who were surveyed and those interviewed lack confidence in the effectiveness of the labour dispute procedures in the district; they perceive the system as being inaccessible to them; time taken to resolve disputes is too lengthy; the system lacks necessary independence from the department of education or government and the department is seen as not adhering to its own policies and legislation. Hence there are many disputes and there is a great need for more awareness and for improved training in handling labour dispute resolution systems for district officials and educators. The study recommends more awareness and training sessions for both district officials responsible for labour relations and educators at large. It also calls for an increasingly proactive role by teacher unions in partnership with the department of education to avoid labour disputes. Although the findings cannot be generalized toother districts of the province, they do however highlight critical areas in labour dispute resolution where attention can be paid and focus made in order to ensure labour peace in the workplace for improved productivity and effective teaching and learning.
Full Text:

Quick View

Ultra-high precision manufacturing

- Abou-El-Hossein, Khaled

Authors: Abou-El-Hossein, Khaled
Subjects: Machining , Diamond turning , f-sa
Language: English
Type: text , Lectures
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20878 , vital:29410
Description: One of the engineering areas focusing on the research and development of highvalue components and manufacturing technologies is precision engineering. Precision engineering represents a variety of engineering and science disciplines ranging from areas such as mechanical, electronics and industrial engineering to chemistry, physics, optics and materials science. This paper aims at familiarising the reader with the recent advances in ultra-high precision manufacturing technologies and their applications for the production of various critical components employed in different sectors of the industry. In this paper, the principles of ultra-high precision manufacturing will be discussed followed by examples of its use in various industrial applications. The status of ultra-high precision manufacturing in terms of current research issues and future trends will be discussed. In addition, research activities and projects in the area of precision manufacturing that are currently conducted at the NMMU will be also highlighted. Finally, the author looks forward to presenting herewith comprehensive information that could be useful to the reader and easy to understand by the bigger NMMU’s community.
Full Text:

Quick View

Ultrafast Photodynamics of the Indoline Dye D149 Adsorbed to Porous ZnO in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

- Rohwer, Egmont, Richter, Christoph, Heming, Nadine, Strauch, Kerstin, Litwinski, Christian, Nyokong, Tebello, Schlettwein, Derck, Schwoerer, Heinrich

Authors: Rohwer, Egmont , Richter, Christoph , Heming, Nadine , Strauch, Kerstin , Litwinski, Christian , Nyokong, Tebello , Schlettwein, Derck , Schwoerer, Heinrich
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:7326 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020576
Description: We investigate the ultrafast dynamics of the photoinduced electron transfer between surface-adsorbed indoline D149 dye and porous ZnO as used in the working electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells. Transient absorption spectroscopy was conducted on the dye in solution, on solid state samples and for the latter in contact to a I−/I3− redox electrolyte typical for dye-sensitized solar cells to elucidate the effect of each component in the observed dynamics. D149 in a solution of 1:1 acetonitrile and tert-butyl alcohol shows excited-state lifetimes of 300±50 ps. This signature is severely quenched when D149 is adsorbed to ZnO, with the fastest component of the decay trace measured at 150±20 fs due to the charge-transfer mechanism. Absorption bands of the oxidized dye molecule were investigated to determine regeneration times which are in excess of 1 ns. The addition of the redox electrolyte to the system results in faster regeneration times, of the order of 1 ns. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cphc.201200715
Full Text: false

Showing items 1241 - 1256 of 1256