Faculty of Natural Science
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The Faculty of Natural Sciences is developing a reputation as an important centre of research in South Africa. It equips graduates with solid academic and research skills and gives them the ability to succeed in the market place.
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Additional resources are available from the Division For Postgraduate Studies (DPGS).
Research publications are accessible in the Research Repository.
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Isolation and Characterization of Natural Products from Siphonochilus aethiopicus
(University of the Western Cape, 2009)Plants have formed the basis of traditional medicinal systems that have been in existence for thousands of years. Traditional medicines play an important role in protecting, maintaining and restoring the health of people. ... -
A statistical investigation into the admissions criteria for the Electrical- and Mechanical Engineering courses at the Peninsula Technikon
(University of the Western Cape, 1995)Concern was expressed by the School of Electrical- and Mechanical Engineering and Computer Data Processing (School of EMC) regarding the School's admissions criteria for the Electrical- and Mechanical Engineering courses. ... -
Polyphenolic, tannin and chemical compositional changes in leaves of sub-tropical grasses and fynbos shrubs at elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations
(University of the Western Cape, 2002)The effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations on plant polyphenolic concentration, tannin concentration and chemical composition were investigated in leaves of sub-tropical grass species and fynbos shrubs. The ... -
Adenine nucleotides and selected chemical Parameters as potential markers for fertility assessment
(University of the Western Cape, 1997)Diagnostic andrology with its descriptive approach to the diagnosis of defective sperm for the last 40 years has focused mainly on the macro- and microscopic appearance of the ejaculate. More emphasis has recently been ... -
a comparative study of the influence of different copper concentrations on the growth, chemical composition and activities of certain copper containing enzymes in atriplex nummularia lindl. and a. vestita (thunb.) Aell.
(University of the Western Cape, 1990)The total amount of native copper in soil depends on the amount of copper in the parent material (Tisdale .et .al.1968). It is usually in greater concentration in the soil than in parent rock because of weathering of the ... -
Population and Physiological Studies of selected Geophytics Species of Lowland Coastal Fynbos in the Southwestern Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 1990)Population and physiological studies were conducted in coastal fynbos in the South-western Cape. Minor ecophysiological studies were also conducted such as the soil moisture content and pH. Two species, viz. Haemanthus ... -
Handwritten alphabet character recognition using audio signatures and machine learning
(University of the Western Cape, 2023)This research investigates the creation of an audio-based character recognition system that is able to segment, process and recognise uppercase English letters continuously drawn by the user on a given writing surface ... -
Identification and prioritization of areas for riparian buffer restoration in the Sout River catchment, Overberg District, Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2023)River catchments in areas dominated by agricultural activities are prone to contamination by nutrient-rich sediments whereby phosphorus is most concern. Phosphorus binds to fine sediments and gets transported to the ... -
Genetic variation between two subspecies of Reedfrogs in the genus Hyperolius (Anura: Hyperoliidae)
(University of the Western Cape, 1993)The frog genus Hyperolius is the largest of 19 genera in the Hyperoliidae (Channing, 1939). The members of the genus display considerable morphological homogeneity with a diversity of dorsal colour patterns. The genus is ... -
An approach to groundwater targeting in the Springbok region, central Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2003)Namaqualand is a semi-arid region where water is not only a necessity and basic need, but also very much a luxury. As a consequence, various studies were undertaken to find water sources, whether surface or groundwater, ... -
An evaluation of the biopesticidal characteristics of Hetichrysum marifolium and Helichrysum patulum and their effects on animal metabolism
(University of the Western Cape, 2002)There ate a number of pesticides that are suspected to be endocrine disrupters' Many of these pesticides are man-made. Endocrine disrupters are chemicals that can lead to an increase in birth defects, sexual abnormalities, ... -
An assessment of carpobrotrn actnacifurmis and cissampelos capensis as potential antimicrobial agents and their effects on animal metabolism
(University of the Western Cape, 2002)An assessm entof Carpobrotus acinaciformib and Cissampelos capensis as potential antimicrobialagentsandtheireffectsonanimalmetabolism -
An evaluation of the Bronchodilator properties of Mentha longifolia and Artemisia afra, traditional medicinal plants used in the Western Cape.
(University of the Western Cape, 2002)The overall objective of this study was to investigate the claims that Mentha longifulia (ML) and Artemisia afra (AA) have anti-asthmatic properties. To realize this objective we were to determine the effects that the ... -
A molecular investigation of the prevalence of suspected periodontopathogens and their association with preterm birth
(University of the Western Cape, 2010)More than 20 million infants in the world (15.5 % of all births) are born with low birth weight. Ninety-five % of them are in developing countries. oral colonization of gram-negative anaerobes has been implicated as a risk ... -
A study of the problems and possibilities of using the marine intertidal zone for teaching principles of ecology in senior secondary schools: A survey of biology teachers in the western cape.
(University of the Western Cape, 1994)In this study I investigate the attitudes of a group biology teachers in the Western Cape, to using the marine intertidal zone for teaching principles of ecology in senior secondary schools, by exploring the problems ... -
Stigmatization of and discrimination against people who are HIV positive, or have AIDS - a female perspective in Zwartwater, Eastern Cape Province
(University of the Western Cape, 2011)The aim of this study is to investigate the perceived stigmatization of and discrimination against people who are HIV positive or people who are living with AIDS. One questionnaire was used to collect qualitative and ... -
The isolation and characterisation of a novel siderophore from the marine bacterium Thalassomonas viridans
(University of the Western Cape, 2023)Natural products (NPs) produced by bacteria, fungi, plants, and marine animals include a large group of diverse chemical entities that display a broad range of biological activities. NPs are widely used for various ... -
Detection of phycotoxins along the South African coast: a comparison of three different biological assay systems and instrumental analysis by high performance liquid chromatography
(University of the Western Cape, 1998)In recent years, harmful algal blooms have been of growing concern in many parts of the world. These blooms often result in deterioration in water quality, large-scale mortalities in marine life, and shellfish poisonings ... -
Carbon dot – polythionine nanocomposite sensor for the remediation of antibiotics in water
(University of the Western Cape, 2023)Antibiotics are a necessary part of the world today where their main purpose is to counter bacteria and diseases. Antibiotics are used in many areas which include apiculture, domestic, livestock and medically. Since ... -
Listeria in food and water in the Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 1998)Listeria are glam positive non-spong rods that were found in diverse environments including water, seafood, dairy products and vegetables. Outbreaks of listeriosis due to the consumption of foods contaminated L.monocytogenes, ...
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