Mapping the Scientific Outputs in the Field of Physiotherapy: A Co-Word Analysis

Introduction: Evaluation and analysis of scientific outputs and between-keywords relationship could provide the investigators with useful information. The aim of this study was mapping of scientific outputs in the field of physiotherapy, with applying the co-word analysis in the ISI Web of Science database. Methods and Materials: This study was a scientometric approach using the co-word and network analyses in the field of physiotherapy. Published papers from 2000 to 2018 were reviewed and the results were analyzed by Excel, UCINET, Netdraw and VOSviewer. Results: Results showed an increasing trend of scientific outputs in the field of physiotherapy. United States of America (USA) achieved the first rank (7400 documents) followed by England and Australia. Among the Middle East countries, Turkish with 981 documents achieved the first rank while Iran with 235 documents owned the third rank. Regarding the frequently used subjects, the most scientific outputs in the field of physiotherapy were shared with Physical medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopedic, Neuroscience, Sport medicine, Internal medicine, Surgery, Rheumatology, Health medicine, Pediatrics, and Pulmonology. Results revealed rehabilitation, physiotherapy, exercise, physical therapy, and management based on degree centrality and disability, therapy, physiotherapy, outcome based on both of the betweenness and closeness centrality had the most impact on the network. Conclusion: Regarding the trend of scientific outputs, physiotherapy is most related to orthopedic, neuroscience, and pediatric. Moreover, scientific interaction to increase scientific outputs in Iran and other Middle East countries seems to be essential. Additionally, mapping of co-word analyses could provide the policy makers with information regarding the research, key words, and the relationship between key words in the field of physiotherapy. Therefore, they can plan essential and appropriate programs to improve both the quality and quantity of the scientific outputs in this field

The classification of gene products in the molecular biology domain: Realism, objectivity, and the limitations of the Gene Ontology

Background: Controlled vocabularies in the molecular biology domain exist to facilitate data integration across database resources. One such tool is the Gene Ontology (GO), a classification designed to act as a universal index for gene products from any species. The Gene Ontology is used extensively in annotating gene products and analysing gene expression data, yet very little research exists from a library and information science perspective exploring the design principles, philosophy and social role of ontologies in biology. Aim: To explore how molecular biologists, in creating the Gene Ontology, devised guidelines and rules for determining which scientific concepts are included in the ontology, and the criteria for how these concepts are represented. Methods: A domain analysis approach was used to devise a mixed methodology to study the design of the Gene Ontology. Concept analysis of a GO term and a critical discourse analysis of GO developer mailing list texts were used to test whether ontological realism is a tenable basis for constructing objective ontologies. A comparison of the current GO vocabulary construction guidelines and a study of the reasons why GO terms are removed from the ontology further explored the justifications for the design of the Gene Ontology. Finally, a content analysis of published GO papers examined how authors use and cite GO data and terminology. Results: Gene Ontology terms can be presented according to different epistemologies for concepts, indicating that ontological realism is not the only way objective ontologies can be designed. Social roles and the exercise of power were found to play an important role in determining ontology content, and poor synonym control, a lack of clear warrant for deciding terminology and arbitrary decisions to delete and invent new terms undermine the objectivity and universal applicability of the Gene Ontology. Authors exhibited poor compliance with GO data citation policies, and in re-wording and misquoting GO terminology, risk exacerbating the semantic problems this controlled vocabulary was designed to solve. Conclusions: The failure of the Gene Ontology to define what is meant by a molecular function, the exercise of power by GO developers in clearing contentious concepts from the ontology, and the strict adherence to ontological realism, which marginalises social and subjective ways of classifying scientific concepts, limits the utility of the ontology as a tool to unify the molecular biology domain. These limitations to the Gene Ontology design could be overcome with the development of lighter, pluralistic, user-controlled ‘open ontologies’ for gene products that can work alongside more traditional, ‘top-down’ developed vocabularies

Measuring the Effect of Community Leadership Development Programs on Leadership Role Participation within Community Organizations

Community leadership development programs (CLDPs) purport to train and equip individuals for leadership role participation in 5,500 communities across the United States. These communities seem to see value in these programs, yet there is little accountability for what graduates are actually doing in the community after program completion. The purpose of this observational, empirical, quantitative study was to use the Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation to test the effect of CLDP completion on the individual graduates’ behavior of leadership role participation within community organizations, measured using the Chapin Social Participation Scale (CSPS). The primary research question was what effect completion of a CLDP has on leadership role participation within community organizations. The population for this study was individuals who had the opportunity to complete one or both of two CLDPs in a mid-sized community in the Southeastern United States, approximately 14,700 individuals comprising the email lists of the two CLDPs’ sponsoring organizations. Recruitment over an 8-week period produced 252 usable survey respondents, distributed unequally between CLDP graduates and non-graduates. The data failed Levene’s test for homogeneity of variance, so the nonparametric independent samples Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare medians across groups. The results showed that completion of a CLDP has a statistically significant effect on leadership role participation. Results may be used to enhance CLDPs’ impacts in their communities. Improving the participation of trained leaders in community organizations could lead to more effective organizations, increasing that community’s capacity for positive social change

Impacto de las políticas brasileñas de Ciencia y Tecnología en la actividad investigadora de las universidades federales: Un estudio cienciométrico del período 2003-2015

En las últimas décadas Brasil se ha convertido en un país que a pesar de sus carencias supo salir adelante y hacer uso de sus recursos para expandirse y acrecentar su presencia en la esfera internacional. Por su dimensión geográfica, población y el peso de su economía, juega un papel fundamental especialmente en la región de América del Sur. Desde que se considera parte del grupo de países BRICS al ser una potencia emergente, ya se han ofrecido diversos marcos teóricos que buscan explicar este fenómeno. Han sido largos años de definición de programas y estrategias orientadas a transformar el país, para que hoy en día sea posible decir que ha logrado captar y retener el interés de la comunidad internacional. El delineamiento de sus políticas públicas para la ciencia, tecnología e innovación han influido sobre todo en la promoción de la investigación científica, en el desarrollo tecnológico y en los procesos de democratización de acceso y de internacionalización de la educación superior brasileña. En este contexto, la presente tesis doctoral se presenta como un estudio cienciométrico cuyo objetivo es analizar el impacto de tres de estas políticas públicas (Programa de Apoyo a los Planes de Reestructuración y Expansión de las universidades Federales, Programa Ciencia sin Fronteras y la Ley de la Innovación Tecnológica de 2004) en la actividad investigadora del sistema universitario brasileño, entre los años 2003-2015. Por ser un sistema heterogéneo, diversificado y segmentado, se profundiza en el caso de las 63 universidades federales. Para desarrollar el estudio se han analizado las políticas mencionadas para identificar sus objetivos y definir sus puntos comunes. Seguidamente se ha elaborado un marco analítico que permitió delimitar tres dimensiones: CRECIMIENTO, CALIDAD e INTERNACIONALIZACIÓN de la actividad científica, para cuya operacionalización se ha construido una matriz de indicadores de inputs y de outputs. Utilizando fuentes de información oficiales y bases de datos bibliográficas, en cada una de las dimensiones abordadas se han identificado las variables más relevantes utilizando test estadísticos descriptivos y multivariantes. Si bien el mayor aporte de la presente tesis es el desarrollo conceptual y metodológico, los resultados obtenidos permiten observar que el crecimiento y la intensidad de la actividad de las universidades federales, durante el período estudiado, ha sido exponencial (en términos de número de alumnos, becas de investigación, profesorado, instituciones creadas), al igual que su producción científica y tecnológica (publicaciones y patentes). En cuanto a la calidad, esta es creciente especialmente en la formación de recursos humanos, pero no tanto en su producción. Por su parte, el notable impulso a la internacionalización, también ha tenido resultados positivos en diferentes aspectos como la colaboración científica junto a centros extranjeros. Estos resultados evidencian que Brasil, y especialmente las universidades federales, han hecho un esfuerzo importante en pos de la mejora y actualización del sistema universitario que está empezando a dar sus frutos. Como conclusiones se puede apreciar que la expansión del sistema universitario brasileño y su entrada en la comunidad internacional ya se han producido, pero queda aún por dar un paso más hacia la mejora de la calidad.In recent decades, Brazil has become a country that, despite its shortcomings, has managed to move forward and make use of its resources to expand and increase its presence in the international sphere. Due to its geographical dimension, population and the weight of its economy, it plays a fundamental role especially in the South American region. Since it is considered part of the group of BRICS countries to be an emerging power, various theoretical frameworks that seek to explain this phenomenon have already been developed. There were long years of defining programs and strategies aimed at transforming the country, so that today it is possible to say that it has managed to capture and retain the interest of the international community. The delineation of its public policies for science, technology and innovation influenced, above all, the promotion of scientific research, technological development and the processes of democratization of access and internationalization of Brazilian higher education. In this context, the present doctoral thesis is presented as a scientometric study whose objective is to analyze the impact of three of these public policies (Program to Support the Restructuring and Expansion Plans of the Federal Universities, Science Without Borders Program and the Law of Technological Innovation of 2004) in the research activity of the Brazilian university system, between the years 2003-2015. As it is a heterogeneous, diversified and segmented system, the case of the 63 federal universities is detailed. The aforementioned policies were analyzed to identify their objectives and define their common points. Next, an analytical framework was elaborated that allowed to delimit three dimensions of the scientific activity: GROWTH, QUALITY and INTERNATIONALIZATION. A matrix of indicators of inputs and outputs was built. Using official information sources and bibliographic databases, in each of the dimensions the most relevant variables were identified using descriptive and multivariate statistical tests. Although the main contribution of this thesis is the conceptual and methodological development, the results obtained allow us to observe that the growth and intensity of the activity of the federal universities, during the period studied, was exponential (in terms of the number of students, research grants, teaching staff, institutions created), as well as its scientific and technological production (publications and patents). In terms of quality, this is growing especially in the training of human resources but not so much in their scientific production. The remarkable impulse to internationalization also had positive results in different aspects such as scientific collaboration with foreign research centers. These results show that Brazil, and especially the federal universities, made an important effort in order to improve and update the university system that is starting to give results. As conclusions can be seen that the expansion of the Brazilian university system and its entry into the international community have already occurred, but there is still one more step towards improving quality.Nas últimas décadas, o Brasil tornou-se um país que, apesar de suas deficiências, conseguiu avançar e fazer uso de seus recursos para expandir e aumentar sua presença na esfera internacional. Dada sua dimensão geográfica, população e peso da sua economia, esse país desempenha um papel fundamental, especialmente na região sul-americana. Desde que foi considerado parte do grupo BRICS de países emergentes, vários quadros teóricos já surgiram para explicar esse fenômeno. Foram longos anos de definição de programas e estratégias voltadas para a transformação do país de modo que, atualmente, é possível dizer que conseguiu-se capturar e reter o interesse da comunidade internacional. O delineamento de suas políticas públicas de ciência, tecnologia e inovação tem influenciado, sobretudo, a promoção da pesquisa científica, o desenvolvimento tecnológico e os processos de democratização do acesso e internacionalização da educação superior brasileira. Nesse contexto, a presente tese de doutorado apresenta-se como um estudo cientométrico cujo objetivo é analisar o impacto de três dessas políticas públicas (Programa de Apoio aos Planos de Reestruturação e Expansão das Universidades Federais, Programa Ciência sem Fronteiras e Lei de Inovação Tecnológica de 2004) na atividade de pesquisa do sistema universitário brasileiro, entre os anos 2003-2015. Por se tratar de um sistema heterogêneo, diversificado e segmentado, detalha-se no caso das 63 universidades federais. Para desenvolver o estudo, as políticas mencionadas foram analisadas para identificar seus objetivos e definir seus pontos comuns. Em seguida, elaborou-se um quadro analítico que permitiu delimitar três dimensões da atividade científica: CRESCIMENTO, QUALIDADE e INTERNACIONALIZAÇÃO. Para operacionalização, construiu-se uma matriz de indicadores de entradas (inputs) e saídas (outputs). Utilizando fontes de informação oficiais e bases de dados bibliográficas, em cada uma das dimensões abordadas, as variáveis mais relevantes foram identificadas por meio de testes estatísticos descritivos e multivariados. Embora a principal contribuição desta tese seja o desenvolvimento conceitual e metodológico, os resultados permitem observar que o crescimento e a intensidade da atividade das universidades federais, no período estudado, tem sido exponencial (em termos de número de alunos , bolsas de pesquisa, corpo docente, novas instituições criadas), bem como sua produção científica e tecnológica (publicações e patentes). Quanto à qualidade, observou-se que está crescendo, especialmente em quanto à formação de recursos humanos, mas não tanto na produção cientifica. Por outro lado, o notável impulso à internacionalização também teve resultados positivos em diferentes aspectos, como na colaboração científica com centros estrangeiros. Esses resultados mostram que o Brasil, e especialmente as universidades federais, fizeram um esforço importante para melhorar e atualizar o sistema universitário que está começando a dar frutos. Em conclusão, ressalta-se que a expansão do sistema universitário brasileiro e sua entrada na comunidade internacional já ocorreram, mas ainda faltam dar alguns passos no sentido de melhorar a qualidade.Esta investigación no habría podido concretarse sin la financiación de la beca de doctorado en el exterior otorgado por la agencia CAPES de Brasil (proceso n. 0846-13-9), y a la beca Iberoamérica Santander investigación 2016/2017.Programa Oficial de Doctorado en Documentación: Archivos y Bibliotecas en el Entorno DigitalPresidente: José Carlos García Zorita.- Secretario: Carlos A. Suárez Balseiro.- Vocal: Leilah Santiago Bufre

Biological Invasions in South Africa

This open access volume presents a comprehensive account of all aspects of biological invasions in South Africa, where research has been conducted over more than three decades, and where bold initiatives have been implemented in attempts to control invasions and to reduce their ecological, economic and social effects. It covers a broad range of themes, including history, policy development and implementation, the status of invasions of animals and plants in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments, the development of a robust ecological theory around biological invasions, the effectiveness of management interventions, and scenarios for the future. The South African situation stands out because of the remarkable diversity of the country, and the wide range of problems encountered in its varied ecosystems, which has resulted in a disproportionate investment into both research and management. The South African experience holds many lessons for other parts of the world, and this book should be of immense value to researchers, students, managers, and policy-makers who deal with biological invasions and ecosystem management and conservation in most other regions

Pour une analyse géographique des espaces transfrontaliers: Contribution théorique et méthodologique

Résumé : Dans le panorama dynamique et divers des recherches sur les frontières, en géographie comme dans d’autres sciences humaines et sociales, les angles d’approche ont généralement en commun de privilégier le contexte voire la monographie, ainsi que la perspective d’une seule discipline scientifique. Ce constat est en dissonance avec les déclarations de principe énoncées dans les ouvrages de référence sur les border studies, plaidant notamment pour des recherches interdisciplinaires (Brunet-Jailly 2005, Wastl-Walter 2013, Wilson et Donnan 2011). L’objectif est de contribuer à ce débat scientifique dans le cas des frontières nationales européennes. La recherche menée s’inscrit principalement dans trois enjeux scientifiques : -Montrer qu’une approche globale et comparative des espaces transfrontaliers est possible et permet un gain dans la prise en compte des dynamiques frontalières, en contre-point des exercices monographiques généralement menés ; -Montrer l’intérêt d’associer les questions d’aménagement avec les démarches d’analyse spatiale pour améliorer la connaissance des espaces transfrontaliers ; -Resituer l’apport de la géographie par rapport à celui d’autres disciplines scientifiques, dans la mesure où les contributions disciplinaires restent assez largement cloisonnées et où l’interdisciplinarité est susceptible de faire progresser la connaissance. Pour répondre à ces enjeux, la recherche a principalement été menée dans le champ disciplinaire de la géographie et de l’aménagement, avec quelques incursions dans les champs voisins de la sociologie et de la linguistique à travers la participation à des groupes interdisciplinaires. En termes de connaissances des espaces transfrontaliers, plusieurs axes de recherche sont suivis : -Un axe morphologique, en termes des conditions de comparabilité de différents espaces transfrontaliers. Au-delà des contextes caractérisant chaque dyade, le travail a contribué à définir conceptuellement la nature de ces espaces, et à tester différentes options méthodologiques pour la mesure de leurs caractéristiques (espaces situés entre la France d’une part et la Belgique, le Luxembourg, l’Allemagne et la Suisse d’autre part). -Une axe fonctionnel, en termes de mise en relation transfrontalière à travers les flux domicile-travail ou la nuptialité frontalière. Les modalités de mise en relation des espaces soulèvent la question de la cohésion des espaces transfrontaliers, sans cesse soumis à une tension entre appartenance nationale et opportunités liées à la proximité de l’altérité. -Un axe cartographique, en termes de modes de représentation harmonisés pour des espaces hétérogènes. Les différences de maillage entre pays rendent incontournable la question du MAUP (Modifiable Areal Unit Problem). Différentes solutions sont testées, notamment celle du calcul des potentiels dans un voisinage gaussien. -Un axe imaginaire, en termes de l’image que les populations frontalières peuvent avoir de la frontière. En recourant aux cartes mentales et avec une méthodologie d’ordre qualitatif, des investigations sont suivies pour cerner si la « frontière nationale » est une catégorie importante aux yeux d’une population habituée aux transactions entre les deux côtés de la frontière. Au fil de l’avancement de ces axes de recherche, plusieurs pistes sont ouvertes, notamment sur les frontières de la géographie. En effet, les frontières nationales peuvent être considérées comme un sous-ensemble des limites auxquelles sont confrontés les individus, au même titre que les limites sociales ou linguistiques. Un travail interdisciplinaire, nécessaire pour évaluer le rôle et la portée de ces différents types de frontière, a été initié dans le Groupement de recherches transfrontalières interdisciplinaires (GRETI). L’objet de la recherche étant multidimensionnel, la démarche se doit d’embrasser différentes perspectives. Trois entrées ont été suivies : une entrée reliant systématiquement les questionnements théoriques avec la méthodologie, dans le souci d’apporter des éléments quantifiables ; une entrée associant approches quantitatives et qualitatives, afin de combiner les points de vue sur l’objet « frontière » ; une entrée par le travail collectif, à travers l’inscription dans différents réseaux de recherche : -La démarche de recherche se situe principalement dans les champs croisés de l’aménagement et de l’analyse spatiale appliqués aux frontières nationales. Plusieurs concepts géographiques sont envisagés ici, tels que ceux de discontinuité, de polarisation, de cohésion territoriale, d’accessibilité aux services ; ils sont considérés sous un angle à la fois théorique méthodologique. L’interaction est continue entre la théorie et son application, la méthodologie employée ainsi que ses résultats amenant à redéfinir les concepts. Cette démarche nécessite d’une part un travail important d’interrogation de la nature de l’information territoriale, qui est collectée sur une base nationale et suivant des découpages hétérogènes ; d’autre part le test de modes de représentation multiscalaires, dans la mesure où les espaces transfrontaliers sont des lieux où interagissent les logiques locales et nationales. -La démarche articule également approches quantitatives et qualitatives, en considérant que chaque approche apporte des éléments éclairant un angle différent de l’objet, et que leur association est susceptible d’engendrer un gain de connaissance. Cette articulation est opérée à plusieurs moments du mémoire de HDR, notamment entre les chapitres 1 et 2 où une approche littéraire de la revue de littérature (chapitre 1) est complétée par une analyse bibliométrique (chapitre 2). De la même façon, le chapitre 5 livre une analyse quantifiée des réseaux frontaliers à travers une mesure géographique et sociologique du poids des mariages frontaliers ; le chapitre 6 replace ces résultats dans la perspective des représentations des individus, grâce à une analyse qualitative menée dans une entreprise frontalière. -Cette combinaison des angles d’approche et des méthodologies a été rendue possible grâce à la participation à des projets de recherche collectifs. Les appartenances successives ou concomitantes à différents groupes ont largement influencé ce travail, qu’il s’agisse des questions d’aménagement et d’analyse spatiale à l’échelle européenne (dans l’UMS RIATE alors dirigée par Claude Grasland), à une échelle locale / régionale (au CEGUM dans l’équipe de Sophie de Ruffray puis au LOTERR), ou encore des projets transfrontaliers et interdisciplinaires avec le GRETI depuis 2013. Les deux premiers chapitres posent les bases épistémologiques et théoriques de ce travail. Il ressort de la revue de littérature que peu de travaux portent sur les frontières sous l’angle de l’aménagement, ainsi que sous l’angle de l’analyse spatiale. La recherche sur les frontières est de fait très cloisonnée, avec un manque de connections entre les frontières considérées comme objets d’étude (telles qu’elles sont étudiées en géographie, économie ou en sciences politiques) et les frontières comme catégories analytiques (telles qu’elles sont étudiées en sociologie et en anthropologie). Cela légitime le programme de recherche retenu, tout en interrogeant les modalités d’une prise en compte des frontières dans la diversité de leurs manifestations. Les chapitres 3 et 4 contribuent à montrer le potentiel d’une recherche associant analyse spatiale et questions d’aménagement dans les espaces transfrontaliers. Avec l’exemple des espaces situés sur la frontière nord-est de la France (dans un espace allant de Dunkerque jusqu’à Genève), la faisabilité d’une analyse globale des espaces transfrontaliers est testée à travers des concepts d’aménagement tels que l’information territoriale transfrontalière, les discontinuités ou la cohésion territoriale. La méthodologie et les images cartographiques produites contribuent à donner une représentation originale de ces espaces. Les chapitres 5 et 6 abordent la question des frontières de la géographie. A travers une comparaison entre l’approche géographique et l’approche sociologique des réseaux frontaliers, et à travers une analyse interdisciplinaire au croisement de la géographie, de la sociologie et de la linguistique, l’apport et les limites de l’explication d’ordre géographique sont soulignés ainsi que les opportunités du dialogue avec d’autres disciplines pour envisager toute la complexité de ce qui fait frontière

Forward-Looking Strategies for Safely Adopting Digital Transformation in Aviation

Aviation leaders in the U.S. federal government face challenges in adopting technical evolution and advancing modernization while adhering to the rigor of a deeply entrenched safety culture. The purpose of this qualitative modified Delphi study was to determine how a panel of 21 aerospace experts based in Washington, DC viewed strategies for adopting to new technologies while ensuring safety. The management concepts that framed the study were safety culture and digital transformation. The study addressed the research question of how a panel of aviation experts viewed the desirability, feasibility, and importance of forward-looking strategies for adopting digital transformation while adhering to the rigor of a deeply entrenched safety culture in aviation. Data analysis included content analysis of narrative responses to the digital transformation statements, statistical analysis of desirability and feasibility ratings to determine consensus, weighted average calculations to determine the importance ranking, and statistical analysis to determine confidence in the final results. The purposively selected panelists completed four rounds of data collection and reached consensus on the 10 most desirable, feasible, and important strategies in four categories derived from the Federal Aviation Administration Strategic Plan for 2019–2022. Aviation leaders may use the results to positively impact the safe adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and impact social change by fostering stronger economic conditions for aviation customers and improving quality of life for travelers

Fungal Secondary Metabolism of Basidiobolus meristosporus: a Novel Natural Product Reservoir

Secondary metabolites (SMs) play an integral role in the life history of most fungal species. Fungal metabolomic studies provide insights into how fungi perform certain ecological functions, how they compete and interact with other organisms, and the breadth of fungal chemodiversity. Fungal SMs have also been utilized for a variety of applications including as pest control agents in agriculture, as food additives, and as pharmaceuticals to treat a variety of ailments. Dikaryotic fungi have been the primary focus of fungal metabolomic studies, resulting in large groups of Kingdom Fungi remaining understudied in terms of SM production. Fungi from atypical environments, such as gut-associated fungi, have been shown to be effective for the targeted discovery of novel SMs. The herptile gut symbiont, Basidiobolus meristosporus, has gained recent attention in phylogenetic, multiomic, and ecological studies, but its secondary metabolism has yet to be studied extensively. Genome annotations and gene predictions for B. meristosporus CBS 931.73 revealed an elevated potential for SM production compared to other closely related fungal species. Additionally, the need for novel pharmaceuticals to address medically important issues, such as the emergence of multi-drug resistant human pathogens, has stoked a resurgence in natural product discovery (NPD) efforts over the past few decades. This resurgence presents an opportunity for the integration of recent technological advances with traditional NPD methodologies to enable more effective approaches for the discovery of novel bioactive products. Genome-directed NPD can be utilized to mitigate the chance of product rediscovery and better target novel natural products (NPs) and identify taxa to act as novel NP reservoirs. Based on gene predictions and the gut-associated ecology of B. meristosporus CBS 931.73, we hypothesized that NPs extracted from B. meristosporus tissue would exhibit biological activities detectable using traditional NPD screening techniques. The efficacy of B. meristosporus CBS 931.73 as a novel NP reservoir was assessed using an assortment of bottom-up and top-down techniques including genome-directed selection of target biological activities, manipulation of culture conditions, bioactivity-guided fractionation, and computational workflows designed to analyze SM extract profiles and identify bioactive constituents. Our results demonstrate a reproducible differentiation of SM production as a response to controlled variation of culturing conditions for clonal cultures grown in laboratory conditions. SM extracts from cultures grown in certain media conditions, particularly in yeast peptone soluble starch (YPSS) broth, were found to selectively inhibit gram-positive bacteria, including drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium. Sixteen unique features with antibacterial activity were identified using computational analyses of LC-MS/MS and bioactivity data. Consistent with SM core gene predictions, fourteen of the putatively active compounds were identified as cyclic peptides. While further isolation and characterization of these compounds is necessary, our findings demonstrate the potential of B. meristosporus as a novel NP reservoir and the efficacy of a hybrid approach to NPD utilizing genome-based direction, traditional bioactivity screening methods, and computational workflows for the assessment of novel NP systems

Biological Invasions in South Africa

This open access volume presents a comprehensive account of all aspects of biological invasions in South Africa, where research has been conducted over more than three decades, and where bold initiatives have been implemented in attempts to control invasions and to reduce their ecological, economic and social effects. It covers a broad range of themes, including history, policy development and implementation, the status of invasions of animals and plants in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments, the development of a robust ecological theory around biological invasions, the effectiveness of management interventions, and scenarios for the future. The South African situation stands out because of the remarkable diversity of the country, and the wide range of problems encountered in its varied ecosystems, which has resulted in a disproportionate investment into both research and management. The South African experience holds many lessons for other parts of the world, and this book should be of immense value to researchers, students, managers, and policy-makers who deal with biological invasions and ecosystem management and conservation in most other regions

Biological Invasions in South Africa

This open access volume presents a comprehensive account of all aspects of biological invasions in South Africa, where research has been conducted over more than three decades, and where bold initiatives have been implemented in attempts to control invasions and to reduce their ecological, economic and social effects. It covers a broad range of themes, including history, policy development and implementation, the status of invasions of animals and plants in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments, the development of a robust ecological theory around biological invasions, the effectiveness of management interventions, and scenarios for the future. The South African situation stands out because of the remarkable diversity of the country, and the wide range of problems encountered in its varied ecosystems, which has resulted in a disproportionate investment into both research and management. The South African experience holds many lessons for other parts of the world, and this book should be of immense value to researchers, students, managers, and policy-makers who deal with biological invasions and ecosystem management and conservation in most other regions