Development of palladium nickel/tin metal oxide catalysts on carbon nanotube supports for direct alcohol fuel cells

>Magister Scientiae - MScPalladium can be used as an anodic catalyst for the alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells (ADAFCs). Palladium has displayed high tolerance towards carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and high catalytic activity for alcohol oxidation reaction in alkaline medium. Palladium-based catalysts have arisen as an alternative to performing alcohol oxidation reaction, especially when combined with other transition metals and multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as a support, which induces changes in the palladium electronic structure, and thus, increasing its activity. This research is focused on the development of palladium catalysts incorporated with nickel and tin (transitional metals) on multi walled carbon nanotubes for alkaline direct glycerol fuel cells

Provincial differences in the number of antenatal care visits for pregnant women in South Africa: evidence from the 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The aim of this study was to analyse the levels of antenatal care in South Africa, investigate the provincial differences in antenatal care visits, and examine the sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors associated with antenatal care visits in South Africa. Producing these will makes it possible for the government to have a more justice focused approach to undertaking antenatal care services in every place of need, which will in turn make previously underprivileged groups receive greater priority when addressing increase in antenatal care services. This study used the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis was conducted using Stata 14. The findings of this study revealed a significant association between provinces and antenatal care visits and that there are differences between provinces in terms of number of antenatal care visits. Maternal age, maternal population group, and maternal place of residence were also significantly associated with the maternal report of four or more antenatal care visits. Based on the objectives of this study, this study suggested that there should be a special focus on provinces that are geographically challenged and socioeconomically lagging to address inequalities, mobile clinics should be placed in rural areas, and lastly, further research should be conducted

Corporate governance dynamics : contending with egocentric leadership and enhancing board efficacy

This study investigates the critical role of corporate governance in facilitating positive organisational transformations and countering the detrimental impacts of egocentric leadership. By embracing a qualitative descriptive methodology, a comprehensive systematic review of literature was conducted, exploring the myriad facets of corporate governance, including its principles, processes, systems, legal frameworks, regulations, and corrective mechanisms. Findings from the review reveal an inverse relationship between robust corporate governance and the prevalence of egocentric leadership. A significant challenge identified is the limitation faced by boards of directors, metaphorically described as being “without a spare wheel”, which hinders their capacity to address these governance challenges effectively in today’s dynamic work environment. Furthermore, conflicts of interest were found to severely compromise the integrity of governance practices. It is recommended that boards failing to rectify non-compliance within their tenure should be subject to dissolution, contingent upon the specifics of the case. Additionally, it is imperative that organisations conduct thorough assessments and reviews of the effectiveness of their corporate governance, enhancing internal controls to enforce governance principles rigorously. This study is pioneering in integrating the transformation of corporate governance while delineating the obstacles encountered, concluding that organisations can promote and uphold exemplary governance by implementing stringent measures against violations and by rewarding adherence among stakeholders.peer-reviewe