20 research outputs found
Drowning in data, thirsty for information and starved for understanding: A biodiversity information hub for cooperative environmental monitoring in South Africa
The world is firmly cemented in a notitian age (Latin: notitia, meaning data) – drowning in data, yet thirsty for information and the synthesis of knowledge into understanding. As concerns over biodiversity declines escalate, the volume, diversity and speed at which new environmental and ecological data are generated has increased exponentially. Data availability primes the research and discovery engine driving biodiversity conservation. South Africa (SA) is poised to become a world leader in biodiversity conservation. However, continent-wide resource limitations hamper the establishment of inclusive technologies and robust platforms and tools for biodiversity informatics. In this perspectives piece, we bring together the opinions of 37 co-authors from 20 different departments, across 10 SA universities, 7 national and provincial conservation research agencies, and various institutes and private conservation, research and management bodies, to develop a way forward for biodiversity informatics in SA. We propose the development of a SA Biodiversity Informatics Hub and describe the essential components necessary for its design, implementation and sustainability. We emphasise the importance of developing a culture of cooperation, collaboration and interoperability among custodians of biodiversity data to establish operational workflows for data synthesis. However, our biggest challenges are misgivings around data sharing and multidisciplinary collaboration
Switching the Adhesive State of Catecholic Hydrogels using Phototitration
A polyacrylamide hydrogel system
that can be liquefied by remote
activation using UV irradiation is investigated as a degradable adhesive.
The linear polyacrylamide copolymer, formed by conventional free-radical
polymerization, contains biomimetic catechol–iron-mediated
cross-linkers that are sensitive to pH changes. Hydrogel films and
bulk gels are prepared by basic titration of a polymer solution doped
with a photoacid generator, diphenyliodonium chloride, generating
an ionic cross-linked network via the catechol pendant groups. Irradiation
of these hydrogels with UV light affords a viscous liquid solution,
demonstrating a gel–sol transition with a subsequent decrease
in the adhesive strength of the material. These gels may be prepared
in high throughput and require few synthetic steps with commercially
available precursors
Switching the Adhesive State of Catecholic Hydrogels using Phototitration
A polyacrylamide hydrogel system
that can be liquefied by remote
activation using UV irradiation is investigated as a degradable adhesive.
The linear polyacrylamide copolymer, formed by conventional free-radical
polymerization, contains biomimetic catechol–iron-mediated
cross-linkers that are sensitive to pH changes. Hydrogel films and
bulk gels are prepared by basic titration of a polymer solution doped
with a photoacid generator, diphenyliodonium chloride, generating
an ionic cross-linked network via the catechol pendant groups. Irradiation
of these hydrogels with UV light affords a viscous liquid solution,
demonstrating a gel–sol transition with a subsequent decrease
in the adhesive strength of the material. These gels may be prepared
in high throughput and require few synthetic steps with commercially
available precursors
The effect of cognitive behavioral stress management on perceived stress, biological stress markers and weight loss/regain, from a diet-induced weight loss program: A randomized controlled trial
Obesity and psychosocial stress are inter-related chronic conditions which lead to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this parallel randomized controlled trial was to determine whether the addition of a structured cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) on to a commercial online weight loss program, resulted in greater weight loss than the standard weight loss program in isolation. Eligible participants were adults between the ages 18–65, BMI 30–45 kg/m2, with no major systemic or psychiatric conditions. Seventy-four participants were assigned according to simple randomization using computer generated random numbers to either a 3-month online Weight Watchers® program (n = 36), or Weight Watchers® plus 10 weekly sessions of CBSM (n = 38). The primary outcome was weight at 3 months compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes were weight at 12 months and subjective/objective stress system measures and metabolic markers at 3 and 12 months. The study was powered at 90% to detect a 5 kg difference in weight between the two groups at 3 months. Independent sample t-tests were used to analyze the difference in weight (in kg) between the groups and paired sample t-tests were used to analyze the difference within group at different time intervals. At follow-up, there was no significant difference in weight loss between the groups (1.8 kg, 2.1 kg). However, CBSM was effective in reducing psychological measures of stress (p \u3c 0.05) and salivary cortisol (waking, 20-min post-waking) at 3-months; with the effect on stress persisting at 12-months within the CBSM group. The reduction in PSS at 3 months was significantly greater in the CBSM group (3.84, p = 0.028) compared to WW only group at 3 months. Addition of CBSM to a standard weight loss intervention did not improve the weight loss over the standard approach on its own, but the CBSM intervention improved psychological stress parameters and cortisol secretion in participants living with obesity
Paracingulate asymmetry in anterior and midcingulate cortex: sex differences and the effect of measurement technique
Drowning in data, thirsty for information and starved for understanding : a biodiversity information hub for cooperative environmental monitoring in South Africa
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL : TABLE S1: List of all biodiversity data stakeholders in SA, collated to encourage collaborative partnerships that can leverage combined expertise and datasets. TABLE S2: List of online biodiversity databases highlighting the magnitude of the challenge behind heterogeneous data integration. TABLE S3: Challenges (red) and opportunities (green) for biodiversity informatics in South Africa illustrated in Figure 1.DATA AVAILABILITY : No data was used for the research described in the article.The world is firmly cemented in a notitian age (Latin: notitia, meaning data) – drowning in data, yet thirsty for information and the synthesis of knowledge into understanding. As concerns over biodiversity declines escalate, the volume, diversity and speed at which new environmental and ecological data are generated has increased exponentially. Data availability primes the research and discovery engine driving biodiversity conservation. South Africa (SA) is poised to become a world leader in biodiversity conservation. However, continent-wide resource limitations hamper the establishment of inclusive technologies and robust platforms and tools for biodiversity informatics. In this perspectives piece, we bring together the opinions of 37 co-authors from 20 different departments, across 10 SA universities, 7 national and provincial conservation research agencies, and various institutes and private conservation, research and management bodies, to develop a way forward for biodiversity informatics in SA. We propose the development of a SA Biodiversity Informatics Hub and describe the essential components necessary for its design, implementation and sustainability. We emphasise the importance of developing a culture of cooperation, collaboration and interoperability among custodians of biodiversity data to establish operational workflows for data synthesis. However, our biggest challenges are misgivings around data sharing and multidisciplinary collaboration. We recommend a system that is free, user friendly, functional, stable, integrative and designed to cater for different data access agreement levels. Sharing data through this pipeline will directly advance the science and practice of conservation, giving multiple stakeholders and decision-makers access to valuable biodiversity data to support research and biodiversity conservation.The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) and the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS) research programme: Advancing Biodiversity Informatics and Ecological Modelling.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/biocon2023-09-28hj2023Zoology and Entomolog