17 research outputs found
Ion Beam, Synchrotron Radiation, and Related Techniques in Biomedicine: Elemental Profiling of Hair
Elements play an imperative role in the physiological and metabolic processes of the human body. When elemental levels deviate from physiologically accepted levels due to for example poor nutrition, the body’s intricate elemental and metabolic balance is disturbed. Over time, disease may develop as a result of elemental dyshomeostasis or alternatively, disease may trigger elemental dyshomeostasis as an adaptive metabolic response to an unhealthy environment. There is now a growing interest in screening human tissue to identify and quantify elemental changes as biomarkers of disease or alternatively, as outcomes of disease. The unique properties of human hair brand it the ideal substrate for the quantitative identification of elements in the body. Hair bioaccumulates elements, provides a historical overview of elemental status depending on length, and is easy and economical to sample and store. The fundamental outcome and application of hair elemental screening, however, are strongly influenced by a range of factors, including choice of analytical method. This chapter will provide a background summary of ion beam and synchrotron radiation techniques and its diverse applications for unraveling the elemental signature of hair in various fields
From exclusion to informal segregation: The limits to racial transformation at the University of Natal
In the context of higher education transformation in South Africa, this paper
attempts to capture a series of observations about transformation at the
forme r University ofNatal. From a descriptive, multidisciplinary perspective
it critiques racial transformation at the University as driven by concerns of
representivity over the need for desegregation. We base this discussion on
three sets of observations: an analysis of institutional policy, a review of
demographic change in the staff and student bodies and a study ofstudents '
lived experiences of segregation on campus. During the past decade a great
deal ofchange has occurred in the overall racial demographics of the student
and staff bodies. While demographic transformation efforts at the University
do echo national trends, a closer inspection ofthe policy, practice and lived
experience oftransformation at the University reveals that all is not well. In
particular, institutional policy with respect to transformation has tended to be
reactive and superficial and students experience camp us as a segregated and
racialized space. Thus, racial transformation at the University has only been
partially successful: while overt racist exclusion is withering, informal
segregation and attendant racialization remain
System dynamic modelling to assess economic viability and risk trade-offs for ecological restoration in South Africa
Can markets assist by providing support for ecological restoration, and if so, under what conditions? The
first step in addressing this question is to develop a consistent methodology for economic evaluation of
ecological restoration projects. A risk analysis process was followed in which a system dynamics model
was constructed for eight diverse case study sites where ecological restoration is currently being pursued.
Restoration costs vary across each of these sites, as do the benefits associated with restored
ecosystem functioning. The system dynamics model simulates the ecological, hydrological and economic
benefits of ecological restoration and informs a portfolio mapping exercise where payoffs are matched
against the likelihood of success of a project, as well as a number of other factors (such as project costs
and risk measures). This is the first known application that couples ecological restoration with system
dynamics and portfolio mapping. The results suggest an approach that is able to move beyond traditional
indicators of project success, since the effect of discounting is virtually eliminated. We conclude that
systems dynamic modelling with portfolio mapping can guide decisions on when markets for restoration
activities may be feasible.The Water Research Commission (WRC) and Africa's Search for Sound Economic Trajectories (ASSET Research)http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jenvmanhb201
Mitigating losses: how scientific organisations can help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early-career researchers.
Scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and to build international partnerships as part of science diplomacy is a well-established notion. The international flow of people and ideas has played an important role in the advancement of the 'Sciences' and the current pandemic scenario has drawn attention towards the genuine need for a stronger role of science diplomacy, science advice and science communication. In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, visible interactions across science, policy, science communication to the public and diplomacy worldwide have promptly emerged. These interactions have benefited primarily the disciplines of knowledge that are directly informing the pandemic response, while other scientific fields have been relegated. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientists of all disciplines and from all world regions are discussed here, with a focus on early-career researchers (ECRs), as a vulnerable population in the research system. Young academies and ECR-driven organisations could suggest ECR-powered solutions and actions that could have the potential to mitigate these effects on ECRs working on disciplines not related to the pandemic response. In relation with governments and other scientific organisations, they can have an impact on strengthening and creating fairer scientific systems for ECRs at the national, regional, and global level
Fungi associated with the skin of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) from South Africa
CITATION: Reeb, D. et al. 2010, Fungi associated with the skin of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) from South Africa, Mycology, 1(3), 155-162, doi:10.1080/21501203.2010.492531.The original publication is available at http://www.tandfonline.com/Cutaneous fungi are known to affect parts of the outermost skin layers of mammals, including the epidermis, stratum spinosum
and stratum corneum, as well as mucocutaneous membranes, genitalia or external ears. Relatively little is known about fungal
infections of Mysticete cetaceans and studies are needed to determine the fungal diversity associated with these marine
mammals. This case report was aimed at identifying the fungi associated with the skin of a diseased neonatal southern right
whale (Eubalaena australis) found stranded in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Initial physical examination on
site revealed hyperplasia of the follicular and epidermal epithelium. Preliminary examination of skin biopsies using scanning
electron microscopy indicated that the skin was colonized by fungal hyphae. Isolation methods yielded a number of fungal
isolates, which were identified using standard morphology and rDNA sequence data. These analyses confirmed colonization of
the cutaneous layers by species belonging to the genera Fusarium, Chaetomium and Penicillium. Moreover, all isolates
were capable of degrading keratin, indicating that skin may act as a natural substrate for these fungi. This study is the first
report of the association of these fungi with southern right whale skin.Post-prin
Multidimensional Profiling of Human Body Hairs Using Qualitative and Semi-Quantitative Approaches with SR-XRF, ATR-FTIR, DSC, and SEM-EDX
This study aimed to assess the potential of a multidimensional approach to differentiate body hairs based on their physico-chemical properties and whether body hairs can replace the use of scalp hair in studies linked to forensic and systemic intoxication. This is the first case report controlling for confounding variables to explore the utility of multidimensional profiling of body hair using synchrotron synchrotron microbeam X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) for longitudinal and hair morphological region mapping) and benchtop methods, including attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) (complemented with chemometrics analysis), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) (complemented with heatmap analysis), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis (complemented by descriptive statistics) to profile different body hairs in terms of their elemental, biochemical, thermal, and cuticle properties. This multidimensional approach provided supportive information to emphasize the intricate and rather complex interplay between the organization and levels of elements and biomolecules within the crystalline and amorphous matrix of different body hairs responsible for the differences in physico-chemical properties between body hairs that are predominantly affected by the growth rate, follicle or apocrine gland activity, and external factors such as cosmetic use and exposure to environmental xenobiotics. The data from this study may have important implications for forensic science, toxicology and systemic intoxication, or other studies involving hair as a research matrix
Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and the effect of explanatory variables in paramedic trainees
Fjeldheim, C. B. et al. Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and the effect of explanatory variables in paramedic trainees. BMC Emergency Medicine, 14(1):11, doi:10.1186/1471-227X-14-11.The original publication is available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-227X/14/11Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.Abstract Background: Emergency healthcare workers, including trainees and individuals in related occupations are at
heightened risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression owing to work-related stressors.
We aimed to investigate the type, frequency, and severity of direct trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress
symptoms and other psychopathology amongst paramedic trainees. In order to create a risk profile for individuals
who are at higher occupational risk of developing PTSD, we examined risk and resilience factors that possibly
contributed to the presence and severity of posttraumatic symptomatology.
Methods: Paramedic trainees (n = 131) were recruited from a local university. A logistic regression analysis was
conducted using the explanatory variables age, gender, population group, trauma exposure, depression, alcohol
abuse, alcohol dependence, resilience and social support.
Results: 94% of paramedic trainees had directly experienced trauma, with 16% meeting PTSD criteria. A high rate
of depression (28%), alcohol abuse (23%) and chronic perceived stress (7%) and low levels of social support was
found. The number of previous trauma exposures, depression, resilience and social support significantly predicted
PTSD status and depression had a mediating effect.
Conclusion: There is a need for efficient, ongoing screening of depressive and PTSD symptomatology in trauma
exposed high risk groups so that early psychological supportive interventions can be offered.
Background
Emergency healthcare workers, including trainees and individuals in related occupations are at heightened risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression owing to work-related stressors.
We aimed to investigate the type, frequency, and severity of direct trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms and other psychopathology amongst paramedic trainees. In order to create a risk profile for individuals who are at higher occupational risk of developing PTSD, we examined risk and resilience factors that possibly contributed to the presence and severity of posttraumatic symptomatology.
Methods
Paramedic trainees (n = 131) were recruited from a local university. A logistic regression analysis was conducted using the explanatory variables age, gender, population group, trauma exposure, depression, alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, resilience and social support.
Results
94% of paramedic trainees had directly experienced trauma, with 16% meeting PTSD criteria. A high rate of depression (28%), alcohol abuse (23%) and chronic perceived stress (7%) and low levels of social support was found. The number of previous trauma exposures, depression, resilience and social support significantly predicted PTSD status and depression had a mediating effect.
Conclusion
There is a need for efficient, ongoing screening of depressive and PTSD symptomatology in trauma exposed high risk groups so that early psychological supportive interventions can be offered.Publishers' Versio