UWCScholar

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

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Reconstructed wood carbon aerogel with single-atom sites for flexible Zn–air batteries
(American Chemical Society, 2025) Iwuoha Emmanuel; Chen, Zehong; Zhong, Linxin
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have become vital air cathodes for metal−air batteries, but fabricating monolithic SACs with high catalytic activity and mechanical strength is currently lacking. Herein, an all-natural wood carbon aerogel with single-atom sites is reconstructed via modulating the multi-interactions within lignocellulosic components. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) constitutes an oriented scaffold via physical interweaving and strong electrostatic repulsion, while lignosulfonate, acting as a multifunctional bioligand, coordinates with metal ions and forms hydrogen bonds with CNF to prevent the agglomeration of adjacent metal atoms. The resulting carbon aerogel features a biomimetic channel-ordered microstructure with M−N4 active sites (M = Cu, Fe, and Co), leading to outstanding mechanical elasticity and oxygen reduction and evolution activities with a half-wave potential of 0.881 V. Therefore, the SA-Cu@NCA-based aqueous Zn−air battery (ZAB) exhibits a high specific capacity of 779.3 mA h g−1 and long-term stability, while the flexible ZAB with SA-Cu@NCA as an integrated cathode delivers a high specific capacity and impressive operating stability even under harsh structural deformations. This study presents a viable approach for the sustainable production of flexible SACs for wearable and portable electronics.
Inadequate last-mile pharmaceutical waste management is a neglected threat to environmental and public health: a call to action
(BMJ Publishing Group, 2025) Ravinetto, Raffaella; Coetzee, Renier; Bradley, Hazel
In 2024, the WHO’s Division on Access to Medicines and Health Products issued a call to action for sustainability in the pharmaceutical sector. The initiative, ‘Greener Pharmaceuticals’ Regulatory Highway’, underscored the need to reduce the environmental footprint of medical products. It explicitly called on the regulatory community to adopt initiatives towards ‘innovative approaches in the manufacturing, distribution, and usage of medical products. This timely initiative aligns with the growing recognition of interconnectedness between climate change, pollution— including ‘pharmaceutical pollution’—and public health. However, the need to decrease greenhouse gas emissions should not overshadow other relevant areas for action in the pharmaceutical sector. Here, we focus on the negative environmental impact of the inappropriate elimination of pharmaceutical waste generated at the last mile in healthcare
Supporting children and their families in Gauteng public schools: the roles of school social workers
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025) Sithole, Mbongeni Shadrack; Khumalo, Gift; Ngcobo, Nolwazi
School social work practice in the South African context is a growing field; however, there is limited research regarding the roles and responsibilities of school social workers, particularly in the Gauteng province. This province is unique in that school social workers are employed by multiple institutions, including individual schools and the education and social development departments. This study aimed to explore and describe the roles and responsibilities of school social workers in the Gauteng province, recognizing them as critical specialists in addressing learners’ psychosocial needs within school settings. An explorative qualitative design was used in this study. Data were collected from 22 purposively selected participants, comprising school social workers, supervisors, and provincial managers of school social work programs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, and thematic analysis was employed to identify themes. The findings revealed context-specific roles of school social workers, including the creation of conducive teaching and learning environments, advocacy for social justice and child protection, conducting interviews and psychosocial assessments, providing counseling and trauma debriefing, conducting home visits and offering family services, removing abused learners from harmful environments, including their respective homes, and providing parental skills training and support. As a conclusion, this study highlights the need for standardized national and provincial guidelines to formalize and support school social work practice. It is recommended that the identified roles be incorporated into future practice frameworks. Furthermore, it is suggested that a uniform assessment tool be developed to promote consistency and guide school social workers in the initial evaluation processes.
Photochemical ozone production along flight trajectories in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere and route optimisation
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025) Shallcross, Dudley Edmund; Foster, Allan; Derwent, Richard
Aviation is widely recognised to have global-scale climate impacts through the formation of ozone (O3) in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), driven by emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX). Ozone is known to be one of the most potent greenhouse gases formed from the interaction of aircraft emission plumes with atmospheric species. This paper follows up on previous research, where a Photochemical Trajectory Model was shown to be a robust measure of ozone formation along flight trajectories post-flight. We use a combination of a global Lagrangian chemistry-transport model and a box model to quantify the impacts of aircraft NOX on UTLS ozone over a five-day timescale. This work expands on the spatial and temporal range, as well as the chemical accuracy reported previously, with a greater range of NOX chemistry relevant chemical species. Based on these models, route optimisation has been investigated, through the use of network theory and algorithms. This is to show the potential inclusion of an understanding of climate-sensitive regions of the atmosphere on route planning can have on aviation’s impact on Earth’s Thermal Radiation balance with existing resources and technology. Optimised flight trajectories indicated reductions in O3 formation per unit NOX are in the range 1–40% depending on the spatial aspect of the flight. Temporally, local winter times and equatorial regions are generally found to have the most significant O3 formation per unit NOX; moreover, hotspots were found over the Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Preferences of South African adolescents living with HIV in the Western Cape Province regarding the use of digital technology for self-management
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025) Weyers, Leonie; Crowley, Talitha; Tokwe, Lwandile
Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) face significant challenges in self-managing their chronic condition. Digital health technology (DHT) has become increasingly common and understanding ALHIVs’ preferences is essential for developing interventions tailored to this unique population. This study aimed to explore the preferences of ALHIV regarding the use of DHT for self-management. A qualitative research approach with an exploratory and descriptive design was used. Participants were recruited using a purposive sampling method. Data were gathered through six nominal focus groups with 29 participants at two Community Health Centers in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The participants were ALHIV aged 15–24 years. Discussions focused on current technology usage and the ranking of desired DHT features. The transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged: (1) everyday usage of digital technology where participants frequently used digital devices for communication, social media, and finding information; (2) the role of digital technology in self-management; a strong interest in digital technology that provides medication reminders, health education, and peer support; and (3) factors influencing digital technology, including the cost of data, limited connectivity, and issues of privacy related to participants’ HIV status. The ALHIV showed a strong willingness to use digital platforms for health information, reminders, and peer support, although concerns about connectivity, data cost, and privacy remain. These findings underscore the need for flexible, user-centered approaches when designing DHT interventions for self-management in South Africa.