2026-06-26T19:23:46Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/31585405 2026-06-11T08:37:15Z category_24328 category_26335 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

Effect of temperature, substrate-to-inoculum ratio, nutrient augmentation and inoculum acclimation on the anaerobic digestion of primary winery wastewater sludge Walusungu Kaira (23407318) Bioprocessing, bioproduction and bioproducts Water treatment processes Winery waste Winery wastewater sludge Anaerobic digestion The aim of the research is to reduce the volume of primary winery wastewater sludge (PWWS) through anaerobic digestion (AD) and simultaneously generate biogas and digestate that can be potentially used as a biofertilizer. This study investigated the variability of PWWS from six wineries and the optimization of AD of the PWWS for methane (CH4) production. The study evaluated the influence of key parameters such as inoculum acclimation, substrate composition, operational temperature, inoculum-to-substrate ratio, and micronutrient supplementation on CH4 yields and process stability. This was achieved through biomethane potential assays conducted in 0.5–2 L reactors, comprising three experiments, each structured around a multi-level categorical experimental design. 2026-06-11T08:37:15Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.31585405.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Effect_of_temperature_substrate-to-inoculum_ratio_nutrient_augmentation_and_inoculum_acclimation_on_the_anaerobic_digestion_of_primary_winery_wastewater_sludge/31585405 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

oai:figshare.com:article/31410072 2026-06-11T08:36:55Z category_26761 category_26770 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

Pico-scale wind turbine system for sustainable electricity provision in off-grid rural regions John Temilola (19924593) Energy generation, conversion and storage (excl. chemical and electrical) Numerical modelling and mechanical characterisation Wind turbine Numerical simulation pico-scale wind turbine vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) rural energy solutions sustainable energy This research investigates the practical feasibility of deploying pico-scale vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), specifically of the Darrieus configuration, as decentralized power generation solutions for remote rural communities without access to grid electricity. The overarching goal is to provide sustainable, low-cost electrical energy for essential end-uses such as mobile phone charging, small communication devices, and LED lighting. The Darrieus VAWT topology was selected for its compact footprint, omnidirectional wind capture capability, and relatively favorable aerodynamic performance in low to moderate wind speed regimes. 2026-06-11T08:36:55Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.31410072.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Pico-scale_wind_turbine_system_for_sustainable_electricity_provision_in_off-grid_rural_regions/31410072 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

oai:figshare.com:article/31369822 2026-06-11T08:36:40Z category_27100 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

Person- and family-centred support services for affected persons supporting substance-dependent individuals: A technology-enabled intervention approach Chantal Settley (23202856) Health informatics and information systems affected persons contextualized substance use disorders (sud) person and family centered care psychological wellbeing needs social support from significant others Salutogenic health Social support theory ehealth implementations sense of coherence (SOC) Behavioural sciences Nursing Informatics This study examined how a technology-enabled, peer-led intervention by providing support can improve the psychological well-being of people affected by a loved one's substance use disorder. The persons affected were referred to as 'Affected Persons' (APs). The research investigated person and family support services and how well they meet the emotional, social, and practical needs of APs - specifically in underserved communities. The research used a transdisciplinary approach to design an online intervention. It was guided by Aaron Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence (SoC) theory, which focused on how APs can strengthen their resilience, meaning, and coping under challenging circumstances. Key stressors were identified, such as mental health strain, financial pressure, and complex family relationships. The co-designed online support, referred to as an Online Peer-led Social Support Group (OPSSG), provided a safe space for sharing lived experiences, sharing practical advice, and offering support. It ascertained that interactive, accessible, and inclusive digital tools such as the online platform can enhance engagement, well-being, and sustained participation.This data describes a research study focused on helping the families and loved ones( the affected persons) of individuals struggling with substance use disorders. Instead of focusing solely on the person with the addiction, this research looks at how to protect the mental health and resilience of the people supporting them. 2026-06-11T08:36:40Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.31369822.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Person-_and_family-centred_support_services_for_affected_persons_supporting_substance-dependent_individuals_A_technology-enabled_intervention_approach/31369822 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Open Access after 2028-02-19

oai:figshare.com:article/31525375 2026-06-11T08:36:02Z category_25468 category_25486 category_25507 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

An evaluation of good governance in town two sst settlemen3ts in ward 93, Khayelitsha, Cape Town metropolitan municipality Bazisiwe Kakaza (23328793) Corporate governance Leadership Public sector organisation and management accountability corruption good governance municipality service delivery transparency Persistent service delivery shortcomings have become endemic within local government structures as residents face serious challenges with accessing public services that include waste removal, clean water and electricity. Given the existence of progressive laws and constitutional safeguards nationally, the causes of unsatisfactory service delivery can be directly linked with municipal governance. Good governance has emerged as the standard for measuring public sector service performance, adopted by most democratic countries, including South Africa (SA). Owing to the service delivery protests that have plagued municipalities, this study was conducted in two SST Settlements in Ward 93, Khayelitsha, Cape Town (Ward 93 K-SST Settlements) to determine the level of good governance in the ward regarding service delivery, transparency, accountability, legislative compliance and participation. A quantitative approach was adopted, with closed-ended questionnaires administered to a purposively selected sample of 100 youths, 7 municipal officials and 4 ward committee members. Overall, all the participant groups showed an understanding of local government concepts. The ward is not performing well in terms of good governance as it is marred by a lack of transparency and corruption. Municipal officials and ward committee members had contrasting views, however, insisting that the ward was performing well with regard to good governance. The youths and the other sampled groups also had contrasting views on the challenges that were affecting good governance in the ward. The youths claimed that there was corruption, a lack of accountability and transparency, ineffectual laws, and poor engagement in the ward, while the other sampled groups disagreed, only assenting to the existence of ineffectual laws and poor engagement. The sampled groups also had contrasting responses on whether measures were in place to address these challenges. It was suggested that municipal officials be properly trained, that municipal laws be strictly enforced, that corrupt officials be arrested and punished, and that the youth be involved in ward governance matters. The creation of good governance awareness programmes and setting up a monitoring and evaluation framework were other measures suggested for promoting good governance in the ward. 2026-06-11T08:36:02Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.31525375.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/An_evaluation_of_good_governance_in_town_two_sst_settlemen3ts_in_ward_93_Khayelitsha_Cape_Town_metropolitan_municipality/31525375 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

oai:figshare.com:article/31532875 2026-06-11T08:35:38Z category_26482 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

Improvement of power plant controller for emergency reserve service Ntanganedzeni Tshinavhe (23273011) Electrical engineering not elsewhere classified Load frequency controlPID controller, renewable energy sources, battery energy storage system, Zebra Optimisation Algorithm, Ziegler-Nichol’s technique This research addresses frequency stability challenges in low-inertia power systems with high penetration of renewable energy sources (RES), particularly photovoltaic (PV) generation, whose intermittency can cause significant frequency deviations that conventional load frequency control (LFC) methods struggle to mitigate. The study develops and simulates single-area and two-area power system models integrating PV and a battery energy storage system (BESS) in MATLAB/Simulink to evaluate advanced optimisation-based LFC strategies for emergency reserve services. A baseline assessment is performed without control and then with a PID controller tuned using the Ziegler–Nichols method, followed by optimisation of PID parameters using the Zebra Optimisation Algorithm (ZOA). System performance is evaluated under varying operating conditions, including load disturbances, different PV penetration levels, BESS integration and generation loss, using metrics such as overshoot, undershoot, settling time, steady-state error, and frequency deviation. Results demonstrate that while conventional PID control improves stability, ZOA-optimised PID improves the dynamic performance by reducing frequency deviations, eliminating steady-state error and oscillations and improving robustness to changing conditions.Comparative analysis with Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) shows ZOA achieves better overshoot and undershoot reduction, whereas PSO yields slightly faster settling times. Extension of the ZOA-based controller to a two-area system further confirms its effectiveness in higher-order, interconnected power systems. 2026-06-11T08:35:38Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.31532875.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Improvement_of_power_plant_controller_for_emergency_reserve_service/31532875 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

oai:figshare.com:article/31820395 2026-06-11T08:35:19Z category_26209 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

An a/r/tographic and arts-based exploration of lived experiences in compromised contexts Peneria Venessa Ansley George (23598571) Other education not elsewhere classified NEET youth substance-dependant individuals A/R/Tography arts-based research (ABR) Interpretive phenomenology autoethnography lived experience situated practice FIDREC_212005162/2017AbstractThe compromised social context during and after the COVID-19 pandemic provided a situational frame for investigating the lived experiences of unemployed and substance-dependent individuals in rural areas of the Western Cape, South Africa. This study responds to the growing body of arts-based research (ABR) literature, which emphasises creative processes as pathways for generating new forms of research knowledge and understanding lived realities. ABR invites openness to uncertainty and multiple interpretations, encouraging a “trust-the-process” stance in which the artist-researcher-teacher (a-r-t) engages with unexpected insights emerging through artistic practice. Bibliometric mapping using VOSviewer identified a gap in the literature: concepts such as storytelling and creative reflection appear in isolation and remain weakly connected. This study addresses that gap by integrating these ideas through a participatory and creative approach grounded in A/R/Tography. The research explored how individuals in compromised contexts experience their lived realities, how in situ creative engagement between researcher and participants can deepen understanding, and what insights emerge through artistic reflection. Situational inquiry was conducted through an A/R/Tographic perspective that integrated interpretive phenomenology, arts-based research, and autoethnography. The researcher adopted interconnected roles of artist, researcher, and teacher—conceptualised as CARER (Creator, Artist, Reflector, Ethnographer, Revealer)—to guide creative engagement, data generation, and reflection. Data were collected through creative workshops, body mapping, observations, reflections, field notes, and online and face-to-face interactions with purposively selected participants. The findings highlight the value of creative processes in enabling reflection, expression, and the development of 21st-century skills among NEET youth and substance-dependent individuals. Methodologically, the study contributes an integrated, practice-led research approach that combines arts practice, social science inquiry, and reflective design methods for exploring complex lived experiences in vulnerable contexts. 2026-06-11T08:35:19Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.31820395.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/An_a_r_tographic_and_arts-based_exploration_of_lived_experiences_in_compromised_contexts/31820395 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

oai:figshare.com:article/32147044 2026-06-11T08:02:48Z category_24358 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

Microbiome Analyst input files: Actinobacterial community analysis of Agulhas National Park (ANP) marine sediment samples Siphosethu Dyani (23591848) Alaric Prins (18599707) Marilize Le Roes-Hill (9087560) Microbial ecology Actinobacteria; marine sediments; microbial community; Agulhas National Park Marine sediments collected from the Agulhas National Park (ANP) underwent total environmental DNA (eDNA) extraction. Three sites were targeted: sediments from dry beach sand (ANP Dry), sediments around rocky areas on the beach (ANP Rocky), and sediments below the low tide mark and therefore always inundated with seawater (ANP Ocean). The eDNA was used to amplify out sequences associated with actinobacteria, a group of bacteria known to play key roles in the marine environment (e.g., biogeochemical cycling). The amplicons were subjected to IonTorrent sequencing, resulting in raw sequence data available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra. To access the data, search for the following SRA:ANP Rocky: SRS17735296, SRS17735295, SRS17735302, SRS17735304, SRS17735305, SRS17735301ANP Ocean: SRS17735299, SRS17735298, SRS17735338, SRS17735337, SRS17735331, SRS17735336ANP Dry: SRS17735328, SRS17735330, SRS17735318, SRS17735303, SRS17735297, SRS17735294 Data were processed as described in Prins et al. (2024; https://doi.org/10.1186/s13213-024-01766-7). For further analysis using the online tool, Microbiome Analyst (https://www.microbiomeanalyst.ca/MicrobiomeAnalyst/home.xhtml), the dataset provided here was used for statistical analyses, determining the core microbiome, diversity indices, etc., for the MSc thesis of Siphosethu Samantha Dyani. 2026-06-11T08:02:48Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.32147044.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Microbiome_Analyst_input_files_Actinobacterial_community_analysis_of_Agulhas_National_Park_ANP_marine_sediment_samples/32147044 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

oai:figshare.com:article/32089927 2026-06-11T08:02:27Z category_23989 category_24001 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

Physicochemical, Nutritional, and Sensory Properties of Gluten-free conventional and steamed bread from Bambara groundnut, Sorghum, Cassava, and Cocoyam flour composite. Rinae Ndou (23785719) Food chemistry and food sensory science Food sustainability Gluten-free bread Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc] Sensory evaluation results nutritional properties of legumes cocoyam cassava (Manhiot esculenta) celiac disease (CD) Linear Programming Approach Bread is a worldwide staple food eaten by all age group and plays an important role as a primary component of the the breakfast and lunch diet in regions like South Africa. However there is high rise in patients who are following a strict gluten-free diet due to celiac disease, while others follow gluten-free diet for lifestyle reasons and changing habits. Celiac patients cannot tolerate the gliadin fraction of wheat and the prolamins of rye, barley, and oats. Thereby, there is a high demand for gluten-free products. In this project a mixture of underutilised crops such as Bambara groundnut, sorghum, cassava and cocoyam, were used to produced quality and nutritious gluten-free bread. Bambara groundnut and sorghum has been utilised in food production due to their nutritional content. High in protein, minerals, fibre, and iron, and are known to survive in harsh environmental condition. While cassava and cocoyam possess attractive properties such as thickening ability water absorption capacity and lower gelatinisation. With the use of linear programming gluten-free flour formulations were obtained. The aim was to evaluate the functional, nutritional and organoleptic properties of conventional and steamed gluten-free bread from the composite flour blend. The viability of this approach was confirmed by consumer acceptance of the the gluten-free bread produced. Four gluten-free formulation namely, maximum carbohydrates (MaxCHO), minimum carbohydrates (MinCHO), maximum protein (maxProtein) and maximum protein carbohydrates to fibre ratio (CHO-FIB) were successfully produced. Due to lack of gluten protein in gluten-free formulation, guar gum was introduced to improve the texture of gluten-free bread. This study demonstrated the potential of using Bambara groundnut, sorghum, cassava and cocoyam to produce gluten-free bread with physical and nutritional properties comparable to those of wheat bread. Gluten-free bread made from minCHO (50%bgn, 30% sorghum, 10%cocoyam and 10% tapioca) received intermediate score from consumers as neither liked or dislike, suggesting the potential of acceptability. 2026-06-11T08:02:27Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.32089927.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Physicochemical_Nutritional_and_Sensory_Properties_of_Gluten-free_conventional_and_steamed_bread_from_Bambara_groundnut_Sorghum_Cassava_and_Cocoyam_flour_composite_/32089927 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

oai:figshare.com:article/32189772 2026-06-11T08:02:09Z category_24325 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

High performance liquid chromatography results: biocatalytic conversion of quercetin Siphosethu Dyani (23591848) Biocatalysis and enzyme technology HPLC Quercetin Biocatalysis Oxidatve enzymes During the biocatalytic conversion of the plant phenolic, quercetin, new products may be formed that can be analysed using different chemical analytical tools, including high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The data presented here is in an Excel workbook with seven worksheets:Worksheet 1: Acquisition details - this worksheet contains the details of how the samples were analysed using HPLC. These details include the acquisition wavelength, the instrument used, column used, mobile phases, flow rate, and acquisition time. This should enable other researchers to reproduce the analyses.Worksheet 2: Standards - this worksheet summarises the samples analysed (different concentrations of quercetin in both pH4 and pH8 buffers). From the calculated peak areas, the standard curves for the quercetin at pH4 and the quercetin at pH8 could be generated.Worksheet 3-7: TvL, SLAC, B40MCO1, B40MPOL, and BL21 - these worksheets contain the integrated area and calculated quercetin remaining in the different treatments where the biocatalysis reactions were prepared in different concentrations of organic solvents (EtAc - the organic solvent, ethyl acetate; EtOH - the organics solvent ethanol). The names of the worksheets represent the enzyme used in the biocatalysis reaction: TvL = the Trametes versicolor laccase; SLAC = the small laccase from Streptomyces coelicolor; B40MCO1 = the multicopper oxidase (MCO) produced by Streptomyces sp. B40; B40MPOL = the multicopper polyphenol oxidoreductase laccase (MPOL) produced by Streptomyces sp. B40; and BL21 = the expression host (Escherichia coli) used for the production of SLAC, B40MCO1, and B40MPOL. The latter three enzymes were applied in a partially purified form and the use of BL21 in biocatalysis allowed for the differentiation of conversion due to the enzymes of interest or due to proteins produced by strain BL21.Worksheets 3-7 also contain graphs indicating the % utilisation of the quercetin under the different biocatalysis conditions used in this study. 2026-06-11T08:02:09Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.32189772.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/High_performance_liquid_chromatography_results_biocatalytic_conversion_of_quercetin/32189772 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

oai:figshare.com:article/32147152 2026-06-11T08:00:54Z category_24151 category_24325 portal_313 item_type_3 month_year_06_2026

Thin-layer chromatography plate images: Biocatalytic conversion of resveratrol and ferulic acid Siphosethu Dyani (23591848) Enzymes Biocatalysis and enzyme technology Thin-layer chromatography Biocatalysis Oxidative enzymes Plant phenolics Oxidative enzymes can be applied in the conversion of a range of compounds, including plant phenolics, resulting in a change in structure and bioactivity. This Word document contains images of silica thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plates on which the conversion of the plant phenolics, resveratrol and ferulic acid, was evaluated. After a biocatalysis reaction is stopped, samples are added to the baseline of the TLC plate, the plate is placed in a solvent system, and the compounds are separated on the TLC plate based on their chemical structure and their ability to interact with water/solvents vs the silica on the TLC plate. The plates can be visualised under a 250nm ultraviolet light, giving the plates a green colouration, while the compounds appear a deep blue/purple colour. Differences between the control (c) samples and the biocatalysis samples (EtOH for those in ethanol, and EA for those in ethyl acetate) can be seen as an indicator that biocatalytic conversion has taken place. All samples containing a ‘c’ are controls (no enzyme added), and the numbers indicate the % (v/v) of solvent in the sample. BMCO = Streptomyces sp. B40 MCO; BMPO = Streptomyces sp. B40 MPOL; SLAC = small laccase from Streptomyces coelicolor. 2026-06-11T08:00:54Z Dataset Dataset 10.25381/cput.32147152.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Thin-layer_chromatography_plate_images_Biocatalytic_conversion_of_resveratrol_and_ferulic_acid/32147152 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 eyJtZXRhZGF0YVByZWZpeCI6ICJvYWlfZGMiLCAidmVyYiI6ICJMaXN0UmVjb3JkcyIsICJvYWlfaGFuZGxlciI6IHRydWUsICJpbnN0aXR1dGlvbl9pZCI6IDMxMywgInBhZ2UiOiAyLCAieEN1cnNvciI6ICJJbHN4TnpneE1UWTBPRFUxTURBd0xDQXpNakUwTnpFMU1sMGkuQUo3elV1V3JFWkFDclg5UTR1N2VkZVFnMGRZIiwgImV4cGlyYXRpb24iOiAiMjAyNi0wNi0yNiAyMDoyMzo0NiJ9